Mexican minister shuffles to the right [Excerpt] "He's also taken a different a different tack on Mexico's relations with Cuba. A long time Cuban ally, Mexico has traditionally abstained from votes to censure Cuba's human rights record. But while Mexico abstained from the vote last April, during the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Castaneda blasted Cuba's record on human rights. He drew praise from some - and ire from old friends in Havana. Castaneda eventually met with Helms, a one time critic, to iron out issues raised by Mexican abstention. …………… For the last seven, eight years, his democratic credentials are indisputable. He was one of the first leftist intellectuals who began to call Cuba what it is, said Oppenheimer, best speech I've heard from any foreign minister on Cuba but I would like him to follow through on that." [End Excerpt] -
The Latino Reporte Story by David Cisneros (June 21, 2001)
Cuba Turns on 'Diabolical' Mexican Foreign Minister [Excerpt] "The man guilty for what happened in Monterrey is called Jorge Castaneda," said a red-letter, front-page banner headline above the statement in the party's official newspaper Granma. Castro normally writes such statements.
"Mexico's extremely strange policy over the incident has a diabolical and cynical architect -- Jorge Castaneda," it added of the former communist who is now a member of President Vicente Fox's right-leaning Mexican government.
Castro eventually attended the development summit, but, after a typically fiery, anti-capitalist speech, created a diplomatic flurry with a dramatic walkout. He returned to Cuba alluding to a "special situation" created by his presence in Monterrey.
Cuban officials later alleged Castro was pressured by Mexico, on behalf of the United States, first not to attend, then to leave before the arrival of Bush, whom they said was threatening to boycott the summit if Castro was there. [End Excerpt]
Castaneda is dangerous because he knows the ideaology from the inside. These "socialists" are control freaks!
It's what the Berlin Wall was really all about.
Several opposition politicians, including members of the former ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, said they would ask Castaneda to appear before Congress as soon as next week to explain what happened. And while they're at it, they can ask him if Don Genaro really flew, and if he made up Don Juan out of scratch.
Castro is so used to playing the belligerent mendicacy trick -- slapping your face while asking for favors -- that he forgot, just for a moment, that he was dealing with Latinos and not guilt-ridden Liberals. He has insulted Mexico, and if there's one thing worse than being insulted by the world's greatest superpower, it's being called names by a no-account beggar who had just enjoyed your hospitality.