David McCloskey

But one thing that they absolutely will need is documentation for the diplomats to leave.

And there are different options for this.

We talked about how even alias American documentation would probably be a bad idea.

They could all go out on different nationalities

But you think about how do you make it credible if they're talking to a border guard or someone at immigration control that this person matches this passport.

And if you have someone who, let's say, the passport says they're German and they don't speak German and the immigration officer can speak a few words in German, you're done.

So this is another, I mean, Canadian angle here makes a lot of sense because they could, it's a North American English language.

They could all look Canadian.

So, from a cover standpoint, no matter what your sort of overall story is and how you backstop it, having Canadian passports in alias is something you're going to want no matter which plan you use.

So, Mendez flies to Ottawa in late December with his deputy.

And he goes to meet a Canadian official that he calls Lon Delgado at the US embassy in Ottawa.

And the reason for the trip is to get Canadian passports.

And Gordon, I sense you're going to jump in with some more

commentary on Canadian high politics.

And the Canadians do this without any American pressure.

They just do it.

So, by the time Mendez shows up, he's kind of thinking he might have to negotiate with the Canadians over these passports.

And when he's meeting with this official he calls, Lon Delgado, after Mendez explains what he needs, Delgado is like, I think we've already done that.

So, he shows Mendez the piece of paper that's got this seal on it and the order in council has already been passed through that closed session of parliament.

They have the passports.