Posted on 6/11/2007, 6:09:43 AM by Sleeping Beauty
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Washington's failure to change its immigration laws is a blow to pro-U.S. Mexican President Felipe Calderon as he faces his toughest challenges since taking office in December.
Winning a relaxation of U.S. immigration laws has been the main foreign policy goal of Mexico for years and would earn credit for Calderon, a conservative with a Harvard degree who only won last July's election by under a percentage point.
While not as close to Washington as his predecessor Vicente Fox, Calderon is an advocate of free trade who is seen as a natural ally of Bush against Latin American leftist leaders like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
"It's a shame because Mexico has been permanently supporting the United States on security and drug trafficking," said Sen. Jose Luis Lobato, an opposition member of the Mexican Senate's foreign relations committee.
Calderon has sent thousands of troops to fight drug cartels in rural Mexico in a war that should cut the flow of cocaine and marijuana across the border.
But Mexico's narco gunmen have hit back at police and soldiers and Calderon complains Washington has done little to curb demand for illegal drugs in the United States or the flow of U.S. arms to the cartels.
Apart from the drug war, Calderon's other main push is for economic reforms. A former energy minister, he wants to allow more private companies into Mexico's closed oil sector and U.S. firms would benefit.
But any hint of foreigners taking control of Mexico's oil raises nationalist hackles, even though the government has no plans to privatize state energy monopoly Pemex.
Looser immigration laws in the United States might help Calderon gain an energy reform sought by Washington.
"Those people who want to adjust oil policy in ways that might be helpful to the United States are operating from a far weaker position when the United States is being uncooperative on an issue like immigration," said Hakim.
Let's follow the dollar.... Have you noticed that's always where the answers are?
"Should" being an operative word in this sentence, likely written with a straight face. Of course, most of those "thousands" are about as legitimate as a Chicago District Attorney about 75 years ago.
“”Those people who want to adjust oil policy in ways that might be helpful to the United States are operating from a far weaker position when the United States is being uncooperative on an issue like immigration,” said Hakim.”
Hakim? Who the heck is Hakim?
-—Calderon, a conservative with a Harvard degree-—
Bush and Calderon have more in common with each other than with their respective peoples.
If it’s all about oil, then start drilling. And walk or run around the block for a change, instead of driving out of nothing more than boredom.
I guess Mexico doesn't want its borders compromised and they wish to preserve opportunities for their own people. Who could fault them for that? In fact, it sounds like a pretty good idea.
They have had that for 97 years.
So we just have to give up our sovereignty, the rule of law, any chance of conservative gains, and our way of life? No problem.
Well, we have ANWAR if we want it, and vast reserves off the Florida coast. I would guess (call me infantile), but the globalists prefer that we not be a sovereign nation.
Clearly, the Plutocrats and Neocons have decided there is so much to be gained economically -- that it is worth it.
You sound cynical (and I don't blame you) but I can see where they believe they are acting in the interest of national security (particularly pinpointing the exact location of millions of foreigners living in the US).
Well, our leaders (who you refer to as globalists) are actually concerned with the sovereignity of the geo-political continent of North America. From outerspace, it looks like one big place -- protected by two oceans -- sitting on vast reserves of oil.
I'm not defending the agenda -- but I can see the logic in it.
That is ridiculous. They refuse to do that NOW. Why should more words on a piece of paper mean they will do it after a bill is signed?
The president has abdicated his responsibility and ignored the rule of law, breaking his Oath of Office in the process.
The congress does everything possible to gut any actual enforcement, from pulling back the border patrol when they were making strides with interior enforcement, to stalling the fence.
Nobody could believe this was GOOD for the UNITED STATES. They never EVER say anything about American citizens, only about the poor widdle illegal invaders. They have groups of racists who want to conquer the U.S. advising them on this bill. They don’t care a bit about the illegal criminals killing and raping women and children, operating gangs, and killing people by driving drunk.
Anyone who was for this bill is against the best interests of this country. And our GA senators are going to find out what GEORGIANS want, when we kick them out of office.
Yes, the logic is that we are a global economy, and that Americans are ancillary to that goal.
Logical or not, we happen to live on a planet that has a global economy.
Our leaders (creating this agenda) see us as NORTH Americans. (The combined power of the land mass, resources, and population north of Panama.)
Don't shoot the messenger -- I'm just explaining the strategic thinking that most if us feel as a betrayal.
Mexico’s screwed in ways....like Russia. Unless they change their ways.
But perhaps I’m jaded.
No lettuce for oil!!
Just say NO to Amnesty!! Keep calling!! It’s NOT OVER!!
U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
White House comments: (202) 456-1111
Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep
Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
“a relaxation of U.S. immigration laws”
How the hell can it get any easier?
Any dolt, criminal or uneducated cherry picker can come across now and get a job. Any fat pregnant mama to be can come across the border and get free health care and have her ten kids and I have to foot the bill.
I would suggest a good study of PEMEX and exactly who hurts worse if it isn’t subsidized by the USA.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.