Posted on 03/22/2011 1:44:13 PM PDT by La Lydia
The resignation of U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual, under pressure from President Felipe Calderon, is bad news for the Obama Administration. There is little doubt that this is a “blow to U.S.-Mexico relations, in that the personal overcame the institutional.” It will damage joint U.S.–Mexico efforts to fight organized crime in Mexico and protect U.S. security at home by turning a common fight against a real enemy into a political contest between national leaders.
Since assuming the key ambassadorship in 2009, Pascual played an active role in efforts to speed delivery of Plan Merida assistance to Mexico, stand up an effective U.S. team in Mexico to support Calderon’s law enforcement efforts, and craft a broad-based strategy directed against organized crime. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton went out of her way to praise Pascual for his work.
Calderon’s public displeasure began over comments made regarding the Mexican army in cables sent from Pascual’s embassy and released on WikiLeaks. Calderon’s displeasure became very public in 2011. In an interview with El Universal newspaper in Mexico City in February, Calderon said Pascual demonstrated his “ignorance” of Mexico in cables and was guilty of misrepresenting Mexico’s situation. Calderon also reportedly expressed displeasure with the U.S. envoy when he met with President Obama in the Oval Office in early March.
In recent weeks, U.S.–Mexico relations have been under increased strain. The murder and wounding of U.S. law enforcement officials in Mexico in February has opened pressures on the Mexicans to allow U.S. agents to arm themselves for self-protection.
Authorized flights of U.S. drones deep in Mexican territory for collecting counter-drug intelligence has provoked debate and backlash in Mexico. Finally, Calderon is unhappy over a program conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms that allegedly allowed weapons into Mexico from the U.S. in an attempt to roll up arms trafficking networks.
As President Obama heads home from his Latin American trip, he will find that his agenda just became even more complicated, as he must now deal with relations with a prickly Calderon and with resurgent Mexican nationalism.
Speaking the truth is not tolerated by this regime.
The bribes go so high it will not be stopped.
Book for later read.
Maybe if we stop sending AK47’s over the boarder things would be better?
Howsabout we seal the border from the south, and send back a few million wetbacks from the north?
Couldn’t hurt.
More than 18,000 illegal immigrants, plus 14,000 of their relatives, have gained U.S. visas under a new law since 2009 because they were victims of crime.
While many immigrants may still be unaware of the U visa, word is spreading fast in some communities.
Illegal immigrant charged for having machine gun
Snip: Authorities says the 35-year-old was found with a Colt M4 Commando machine gun, a Bushmaster assault rifle, a bullet proof vest and scales at a Phoenix house. A statement from the U.S. attorney's office says he was in Arizona as part of a drug trafficking organization.
While reading news on the web today, I noted a reference to illegal aliens as unauthorized population.
You got that right!
Stop the insanity...Now!!
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.