|
|
Posted on 10/20/2003 10:26:22 AM PDT by Pubbie
President Bush sought Monday to repair relations with Mexico, asking President Vicente Fox to set aside disputes over immigration and Iraq.
Bush called Fox last week ahead of their meeting at an economic conference here to tell him he was eager to meet. At the summit, the presidents discussed immigration, trade and Iraq reconstruction, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said.
She reported no progress on a migration pact, and no timetable emerged.
"They would rather get this issue right, rather than try to move it quickly," she said.
Mexico wants to bring a measure of legality to the 4 million or more undocumented Mexicans (search) living in the United States. The Bush administration set aside such initiatives in its efforts to tighten borders after Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The relationship was strained further when Fox canceled a visit to Bush's ranch last year to protest the execution in Texas of a man Fox said was a Mexican national. And Mexico refused to back an Iraq war resolution before the United Nations in March.
The two leaders discussed the same thorny issues at the same summit last year in Cabo San Lucas (search), Mexico. Then, too, they emerged without making any headway, nor did they produce a timetable.
Monday, the two had a "relaxed and really warm discussion, and they're looking forward to meeting again," Rice said.
Bush thanked Fox for Mexico's vote as part of the unanimous approval last week of a U.N. Security Council resolution urging all U.N. nations to help rebuild Iraq.
The two leaders also discussed the North American Free Trade Agreement (search), she said.
"President Fox has been very concerned, as everyone knows, about the fact that there is not an equal distribution of the benefits of NAFTA throughout Mexico, and how to improve the competitiveness of North America in the world trading system," she said.
Bush's sought to put past differences behind them, telling Fox on the phone, "What happened has happened," Rice said. It was a message similar to the one Bush gave German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder last month, when he told Schroeder, another opponent of the Iraq war, "We have had differences and they are over."
But Mexico's top diplomat suggested earlier this month they are not, from his country's perspective, over.
"No state can impose on another its own security agenda, nor the order of its priorities," said Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez.
She reported no progress on a migration pact, and no timetable emerged.
"They would rather get this issue right, rather than try to move it quickly," she said."
My hope is that Bush doesn't do anything to make the Illegal Immigration issue worse between now and 2008.
After 2008, I hope then President Bill Owens finally closes the border and starts deporting illegal immigrants...
Man, this guy has been hitting the UN water cooler way too much. Well, he probably has a job waiting in the U.S. Sate Department if he wants it.
A brilliant observation, Luis. Remember that when you are trying to demand that we forget the fact that some significant percentage of YOUR COUNTRY'S population is living illegally within our borders.
It'd sure be easy enough ---- a few boy scout troops could go in and conquer Mexico now ---- all their working age (and fighting age) men are in the USA. The sons of the elites still in Mexico aren't about to fight. Mexico isn't even being smart ---- they've got all that oil just sitting there and they aren't doing much with it.
1) Underminded our efforts on the war on terrorism
2) Attacked the war on Iraq and sought to veto it in the security council
3) Made sure to come here in person to protest the RIGHTFUL exectution of undeniably gulity scumbag murderers.
4) Heaped praise on commie dictator Fidel Castro and made visits to "aid" him behind our back (Mexico's one of only two Latin American countries still supporting this jerk, BTW)
5) Demanded free college for illegals
6) Demanded free health care for illegals
7)Demanded free driver's licenses for illegals
8) Forced the U.S. to accept Mexican Conselete cards as "ID" when the states weren't passing out free driver's licenses quick enough for him.
9) Never paid us back for that billion dollar "loan" we gave Mexico to bail out their crappy Peso a few years back
10) Never paid us back for NAFTA
11) Supported UN global efforts for "gun control" to disarm law-abiding citizens around the world
12) Meet with Bill Clinton behind Dubya's back
13) Never threw corrupt PRI officials in jail or even indicted them
14) Promoted the likes of Gray Davis, George Ryan, Bill Richardson, etc. as American role-models
15) Blasted the new U.S. repatriation strategy
16) "Boycotted" trip to Texas to protest YET MORE executions (yes, stay home, Vicente)
17) Refused to hand over known terrorists hiding out in Mexcio
18) Never bothered to send troops to assist in the war on terrorism, but did keep a database of U.S. troops of "Mexican decent" and encouraged them to support the Mexican POV
19) Refused to support pro-Israel resolution or any other U.S. backed resolution to the world community
20) Will not talk about anything OTHER than amnesty (the Communist-party member he appointed as Foreign Minister demanded "the whole enchalatia") whenever Bush invites him to the ranch/white house/air force one/presidential trip to wine and dine the guy at taxpayers expense.
Gee, with such a selfless, concitary, and helpful attitude like that, I wonder why Bush can't work out an "migration deal" with the guy. < /sarcasm>
Be sure to remind Dubya just how helpful his "best friend" has been for the last THREE YEARS.
Why doesn't 'our' President feel this way?!
|
|
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.