Softwoods White House Slush Fund Via Canada?

Softwood deal pours $450 million straight into White House, says U.S. lawyer.

So, here we have the government of Canada requiring that Canadian private parties sign over $450 million to an escrow fund slated to be conveyed to the White House. The agreement does not mention Congress, and the Bush administration says that Congress will not be involved in any way with this agreement. The government of Canada thus is making a gift of $450 million to be spent by the president.