Posted on 11/19/2005 11:46:33 AM PST by Kitten Festival
Latin America: With all the wounded puffery of a bully, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez last week singled out the president of Mexico with the hoary epithet of U.S. "lap dog." It's proof he's losing his own war over free trade.
Ahead of July's Mexican presidential election, the four-point rise in the polls of Vicente Fox's PAN party on the heels of the Chavez outburst signals it's clearly backfiring. Mexicans are rallying around their president.
Chavez attacked Fox precisely because Mexico is one of the world's leading emblems of free trade. It has signed 27 trade pacts, more than any other country except Chile, and not just with the U.S. and Canada. It's also doing business with heavies like Japan, the European Union, South Korea and rising stars like Chile. It's about to sign another with Central America.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
Fox is hardly our lapdog, but Chavez is definitely Castro's.
Yep, as I think the WSJ points out from time to time protectionism is always a loser in US electoral politics too. This only makes sense every where as more people are consumers and benefit from free trade than the few who produce items that might be protected.
Clearly that the protectionist always find themselves on the same side as autocrats like Chavez, Castro, Stalin, Mao, Lenin etc and self interested big unions and big businesses might give them a hint. But alas it often does not.
You're both right on all fronts. When the prime minister of mighty India says he wants to be just like Mexico, you know Mexico must have done something right.
I don't think Chavez's intended audience was Mexico. He's playing to his own people and other potential allies in some South American countries.
I agree with you that Chavez was playing to a domestic audience but I am sure he means war on us. The bitter craziness of his words, and the fact that they are 'just not done' in diplomacy signals creepy aggressive intentions. Since Chavez's lunatic talk, there have been banks bombed in Mexico over free trade. His ambassador who was kicked out was in bed with the bombers. Those bombers are active in the US. I fear that when he says 'war' on free trade, he intends to take it to us and Mexico. Fox better get ready to fight because he might have to. The thug has struck, not just with words but physically too now.
If any bombings in Mexico or the U.S. can be positively connected to Chavez and his henchnen there would definately be fighting.
Judging from the number of Indians I'm seeing here in Kalifornicate -- they're getting close!
Semper Fi
ping
I had not heard the Indian Prime Minister had said that but you are right it is a good sign that Mexico is despite the rhetoric on here sometimes making progress.
They are especially efficient at exporting citizens!
And they got you eating tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, gringo.
Ummmmmmmm!
I have recently wondered if a Indian subcontinent free trade area would be possible? Of course India want more to join one with Thailand, S.Korea, Taiwan etc. Is India in any regional blocs?
They are starting one called 'SAFTA' after NAFTA. It has the seven south Asian nations thus far and will soon add Afghanistan. From Sri Lanka to Bangladesh to Nepal to Afghanistan! What a magnificent mosaic of countries that one will be!
Yes it would and would hopefully spur much growth in the area. I can remember what a basket case India was within my lifetime. They have made much progress themselves.
See the link at post 14
Chavez is intending mexican audience, he has been both attacking Fox and flattering "the mexican people", ALL the latinamericans already know Chavez is Castro's heir and that he has a international agenda (is believed that he sponsors all the socialist parties in Latin America)
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