Mexican Soldiers Demand U.S. Marines 'Disarm'

NewsMax Wires ^ | July 5, 2004

[Kaslin]

SAN LUIS DE LA PAZ, Mexico (AP) -- Mexican soldiers with automatic weapons interrupted the July 4 funeral of a U.S. Marine and demanded the Marine honor guard give up ceremonial replicas of rifles they carried.

Hundreds of friends and relatives packed a small cemetery for the funeral on Sunday of 22-year-old Juan Lopez, who was born in this sun-scorched farming town, immigrated to Dalton, Georgia, as a teenager and became a Marine.

He was killed in an ambush in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, on June 21. Maj. Curt Gwilliam presented an American flag to Lopez's widow, Sandra Torres, who clutched a bouquet of yellow and white flowers while tears streamed down her face.

While the funeral demonstrated the close human ties of Mexico and the United States, problems began moments after the start.

Four U.S. Marines marched solemnly to the grave carrying an American flag and the colors of the Marine Corps. Two of the men had rifles that looked real, but could not be fired, strapped to their backs.

[Kaslin]

This is disgusting

[Bogey78O]

Mexican soldiers aren't known for their class or professionalism. It probably pissed them off to see real soldiers outshing them while burying a man who is a ton more macho then they'll ever be.

"The Mexican Defense Department banned plans for a 21-gun salute by Marines because Mexico's Constitution bans foreign soldiers from carrying firearms here."

I wonder how well this law works at keeping hostile enemies out of the country.

[NewRomeTacitus]

This story sure is getting posted a lot.

[Kaslin]

This story sure is getting posted a lot.

Maybe from other sources. Look at the date and click on the source for the time

[Finalapproach29er]

I understand their insecurity. They're probably worried that a U.S. Marine honor guard could defeat their pitiful military.

[Tacis]

That's tough! The USMC either pays El Presidente Fox his bribes or this is what you gringos can expect! Dope, kerrorist and illegal alien numbers heading norte are slowing and Fox (and, especially, Mrs. Fox) have to meet revenue targets. Revenue from Cuba is also slowing since you gringos changed the visitation rules.

[dennisw]

More Mex-idiocy. We are shackled to an ungrateful corpse. http://www.vdare.com/sailer/mexico.htm

[A.A. Cunningham]

Newsmax can be lethargic at times on posting wire service articles.

Mexico Troops Interrupt Funeral of Marine

[Screaming_Gerbil]

This story sure is getting posted a lot.

Probably because it makes a lot of people angry - myself included.

Marine Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez, 22, of Whitfield, Ga.

The marines were eventually allowed to proceed with the coffin

[RonHolzwarth]

My personal opinion is that this was the action of some local troupes, and did not reflect the official policy of the Mexican government.

There's another point to be made, perhaps. Mexico has never won a war, the only war they were ever in was with the United States, and they lost. Because of losing that war, New Mexico, California, (and maybe Arizona also) are part of the United States, and not part of Mexico anymore. Many Mexicans still feel a great sense of loss over that.

But you know, that does remind me of another point. We got our Western States, to keep forever, by winning a war, but Israel doesn't get to keep any territory it won in war?

[humblegunner]

Marine Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez, 22, of Whitfield, Ga.

Semper Fi and my appreciation to Corporal Lopez.
What a guy, we need more like him.

[DumpsterDiver]

Mexico has never won a war, the only war they were ever in was with the United States, and they lost.

Well, they did win their independence from Spain.

Because of losing that war, New Mexico, California, (and maybe Arizona also) are part of the United States, and not part of Mexico anymore. Many Mexicans still feel a great sense of loss over that.

Although it's past time for them to get over that, their government keeps on fueling those sentiments and a resentment towards the U.S.

We got our Western States, to keep forever, by winning a war, but Israel doesn't get to keep any territory it won in war?

Never trust the government of any country, including ours. Sometimes I thnk that Israel is too civilized (considering who they have to deal with).

[Kaslin]

U.S. Marine Maj. Curt Gwilliam speaks on his cell phone after Mexican soldiers interupted the funeral of a Mexican-American who became a U.S. Marine because of the presence of non-working, ceremonial rifles. 22-year-old U.S. Marine Juan Lopez, was buried in his hometown of San Luis de la Paz in central Mexico, Sunday, July 4, 2004. Lopez emigrated to Georgia as a teenager, joined the Marines and was killed in an ambush in Iraq (news - web sites) on June 21. .(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

[vetvetdoug]

Mexico has no respect for the US. Remember the soccer games? Mexican across the border intervention in Arizona by the Mexican armed military? The protection of drug running Mexicans that run from the US into Mexico?

They are probably pissed because one of the few honorable brave men from Mexico left Mexico and became a Marine.

[RonHolzwarth]

You pointed out, correctly:
"Well, they did win their independence from Spain."


BUT! Later, in the Spanish-American war (1890s), we showed Mexico that kicking Spain in the rear was real easy.

And just recently in Madrid, we learned that in order to win a war with Spain, all you have to do is put a bomb on a train track.

[Siamese Princess]

There's another point to be made, perhaps. Mexico has never won a war, the only war they were ever in was with the United States, and they lost. Because of losing that war, New Mexico, California, (and maybe Arizona also) are part of the United States, and not part of Mexico anymore. Many Mexicans still feel a great sense of loss over that.

If the Southwest were still a part of Mexico, it would be one vast dump, just like Mexico.

[Michael.SF.]

Newsmax can be lethargic at times

Thanks for posting the link to a real article. You are being kind to NewsMax. I would not call them lethargic, I would term them purposefully incendiary.

This article being a good example of that.

[DumpsterDiver]

...we showed Mexico that kicking Spain in the rear was real easy.

Point taken! Who do you think would win if France ever invaded Mexico?

Inquiring minds and all that... ;^)

[Little Ray]

France, uh, Hands down...

Camerone:
http://www.fuziondigital.com/Camerone.htm

[DumpsterDiver]

That info on Camerone was interesting. Now, for more news regarding the French and the Mexicans:

1838: Mexico declares war on France in what is called the "pastry war," since one of the points of dispute is a bill for damages to a pastry shop. Santa Anna becomes a national hero in this war when he loses a leg defending Veracruz. He will later have the leg buried with lavish honors in a full military funeral.