Posted on 06/05/2005 3:55:49 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
For the U.S., Mexico and Canada, a secure and prosperous future hinges on an increased level of integration that would create a type of "North American Economic Community," Mexican presidential hopeful Jorge Castañeda told reporters during a speech in San Antonio on Saturday.
"I think the best possible alternative (to the status quo in North American relations) is an intensifying of NAFTA in the direction of a European Economic Community," said Castañeda, referring to the North American Free Trade Agreement and the European Economic Community, a treaty that worked toward the economic integration of several European nations and laid a foundation for the European Union.
Castañeda, who was secretary of foreign affairs of Mexico from 2000 to 2003, made his remarks to a group of about 25 journalists and other guests of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, which hosted its annual Transatlantic Journalists Forum outside of Washington or Europe for the first time.
Organizers said the forum's focus on immigration and borders made San Antonio a prime location for discussion.
Castañeda's vision is that the three nations can strike a "grand bargain" by tackling each country's most vexing problems simultaneously.
"The central issue is that the problems we face have not been solved by NAFTA," he said.
In its current form, NAFTA hasn't worked as its architects hoped, he said.
Productivity and growth rates for Mexico have been mediocre, and contrary to U.S. hopes, illegal immigration has reached an all-time high.
"It makes sense," Castañeda said. "The Mexican economy doesn't grow, the U.S. economy does grow, and well, people leave. It's not rocket science."
Another approach would be to take the biggest current issues — such as homeland security and immigration — and try to solve them from a North American perspective, rather than one country's, he said.
So if the U.S. wants Mexico's cooperation to secure its borders from terrorists, and Mexico wants the U.S.' help to ease the flow of migrants north and south of the border, there is an incentive to work together, Castañeda argued.
"Without security, nothing is sellable to the U.S., but without immigration, nothing is sellable to Mexico," Castañeda said.
He rapped the Bush administration's lack of urgency in reforming immigration.
He characterized the American perspective like this: "The migrants who come, come; the ones who die, die; the ones who are sent back are sent back, and they try again; and, what the hell, there's no real reason for changing something which does not seem in itself to be an unmanageable situation."
There should be urgency for immigration reform because America's security is tied to it, he said.
Terrorists will come to the same conclusion that the Mexican border is the easiest way to enter the U.S.
With more integration, Americans could have a more direct hand in screening passengers in Mexico before they reach the border.
"At some point, the security question will become a central one in the United States," Castañeda said. "The Mexican border is too porous from a security perspective."
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mcastillo@express-news.net
Jorge Castañeda gets it, why doesn't George Bush?
At some point, "We the People" are going to start shooting illegals as they try to enter. Take that to the bank.
And try to stop us.
Do you hear me, Mr. President? DO YOUR JOB!!
Shakedown time. They create the problem, then offer us a "solution".It's their way or the highway. Forget it! I don't want anything on these corrupt marixt scam artists terms. We CAN have our cake and eat it, too.
Mexican Presidential Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
The border between the United States and Guatemala will be much more secure. Castañeda is right, let's just annex Mexico.
European economic model? Lordy...
Well, when those waves of people start DISAPPEARING instead of the status quo, something will change. No coyotes, no illegals getting through, no new ones to hire on this side. Then there will be the camps. Work camps. Doing what? Building a wall. Digging trenches. Putting in the initial defensive trace. All in humane conditions - but with NO PAY. Don't like it? Good, then go back home to Mexico. If we catch you again, we put you to work for longer. Each time for longer. Eventually, you will never be able to pay off the "company store", and we OWN YOU. Then what, pendejo?
He hears us, but he doesn't care what we think because his puppetmasters have spoken, and he obeys.
Mexico needs us, we don't them and Castañeda knows it. Calls for "integration" are being made because it's far easier to dump someone else's problems onto the USA then confront and solve them on their own.
That's what I thought when I read of using the EU model. Good Lord, don't these losers read the news? We're not talking about some rural Indian here, this guy's part of their government.
I agree with you, Janet - but exactly who "they" are becomes the question.
That is exactly what should be done!
What's it going to take to get us awake enough to remember that our forefathers made their livings by teaching Empires and Kings named George their limits?
Exactly! "without immigration, nothing is sellable to Mexico".
I call your attention to a very interesting post yesterday from MadIvan "A Throne in Belgium" that discusses the origins of the European Union concept. It's freightening:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1416528/posts
Tell Castenada we're not interested in becoming a welfare state for Mexico.
I think his Daddy is one of his elite globalist masters. GWB's destructive policies can't be a coincidence. I believe that our sovereignty will be a thing of the past if America doesn't wake up and see what's happening to us.
The North American Union is coming to the surface more and more. Funny there isnt anybody chiming in with tinfoil hat comments.
I missed it, thanks! We have to stop the flood of illegals. Jesse Jane and hedgetrimmer have posted lots of links on 'American integration'. In canada and mexico it's being discussed by the media. Not here.
As much as I am a little uncomforable with the sound of this, it's going to take a well ground charismatic with little aspiration for holding power, to hold our leader's feet to the fire. They have disgraced themselves and our nation and it's high time someone called them on it.
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