Mexico and Canada assess the cost of having opposed war in Iraq

International Herald Tribune ^ | 4-17-03 | Brian Knowlton

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON President Vicente Fox of Mexico said Wednesday that Mexico's strong opposition to the war in Iraq had caught the Bush administration by surprise, and he acknowledged that ties between the two countries had suffered, though not irreparably.

His comment came a day after the U.S. secretary of state, Colin Powell, had assured a Canadian questioner that the United States and Canada had always been "inseparable" and would remain so.

But that did not entirely allay concerns in Ottawa, where the cancellation of a planned visit next month by President George W. Bush was seen as a clear sign of U.S. displeasure over Canada's failure to support the war.

While analysts say that Bush has decided to heed advice from Tony Blair to be magnanimous in victory - he has begun mending fences with Russia, for example - those who vexed him in their opposition to the war are waiting warily. The countries that played major roles in the debate leading up to the war and particularly those in the United Nations Security Council that opposed war thus find themselves bracing for signs of U.S. displeasure; seeking to mollify it; and weighing what damage it might do to their relations.

In the case of the canceled Ottawa visit, White House aides explained that Bush was too busy dealing with the reconstruction of Iraq. But that claim appeared hollow, Canadian commentators said, after the White House then issued a prized invitation to the Bush ranch in central Texas to Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, whose country contributed troops to the U.S.- led coalition.

"Canadian-U.S. relations are bad at the top," Joseph Jockel, professor of Canadian studies at St. Lawrence University, said. "It's the lowest moment since the early 1960s" and was not helped this week when Prime Minister Jean Chretien urged the U.S. to rein in its rhetoric concerning Syria, and then went out to play golf with former President Bill Clinton.

Leading the list of worried countries, of course, is France, which earned what appears to be lasting antipathy in the White House for vocally leading the international opposition to war. The French say sales of wine and other exports to the United States have already suffered, and President Jacques Chirac attempted Tuesday to begin the recovery process by phoning President Bush.

The healing process between Washington and Berlin appears further along, in part because Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, after opposing the war during the German election campaign, then cooperated in areas such as the movement of troops through Germany.

The early friendship between Bush and President Vladimir Putin clearly was tested by Putin's stance against the war. But American diplomats said there would not even be short-term damage to the relationship.

And vital shared interests with Russia, such as defusing the North Korea crisis, have made cooperation almost inescapably important.

The same appears true of China, another opponent of the war. China recently played a key role in arranging new talks with the North Koreans. Shared interests in the U.S.-led war on terrorism have also helped it move past differences over Iraq with Pakistan, which remained uncommitted during the UN debates. Perhaps more vulnerable are three African countries Angola, Guinea and Cameroon, with total populations close to that of California which refused to support the U.S.-led war. Because they are small and poor, however, any retaliation in their direction might be criticized as harsh and petty.

Canada and Mexico are the largest U.S. trading partners and long-time U.S. allies, and Washington appears to have thought it natural that it would have their support for the war.

Some analysts said they thought the damage and strains would mainly be temporary. "I think in time everything will pass," said Barry Bosworth, a senior fellow at Brookings and a former member of the president's council of economic advisers. Relations between both countries and the United States had already been strained.

Bush and Chretien have had a troubled personal dynamic.

Fox was disappointed that an initial promise from Bush of close attention to Mexican issues, particularly immigration, had suffered after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

With the White House agenda centered on national security and the fight against terrorism, Bosworth said, "I just don't think Bush cares any more" about the issues of most interest to Mexico.

"I don't think he's interested in pursuing anything very aggressively with Mexico, and they're going to be angry about that," he said. "I think there's some damage to them."

Fox, referring to the Bush administration, told a radio interviewer in Mexico City: "I have to accept that they feel a little disappointed. But it's nothing that we can't overcome and it doesn't mean we can't continue maintaining a close relationship between the two countries."

[netmilsmom]

Some people and countries have to realize there are consequences to actions.

[Retrofire]

"I have to accept that they feel a little disappointed. But it's nothing that we can't overcome and it doesn't mean we can't continue maintaining a close relationship between the two countries."

LOL! Keep kidding yourself. And Chretien as well. There are many here who will NEVER forget.

[Use It Or Lose It]

"I don't think he's interested in pursuing anything very aggressively with Mexico, and they're going to be angry about that,"

Boo hoo. I keep hearing these people asking what the U.S. has to do to repair relations with France, Germany, etc. Has it ever occurred to anyone that these countries may be the offenders in this situation? We have nothing to apologize for.

The recent victory we have achieved in Iraq will be diminished considerably if we make nice with these two-faced, self-serving snakes.

[rj45mis]

"While analysts say that Bush has decided to heed advice from Tony Blair to be magnanimous in victory "

I don't think we had anything to worry about. President Bush just gets the job done and doesn't get into either arrogant or self-effacing demeanor.

[Cacique]

Bush and the government can do all they want. Americans have as their patriotic duty the boycott of all nations that opposed us. Close the border with Mexico and Canada. Break all commercial and economic relations with Germany, France and Canada. If Bush can't deliver on that voters will find someone who can.

[Dr. Luv]

"Close the border with Mexico and Canada."

These two countries supply us with an enormous amount of the natural resources we need to run the engine of our economy. Were we to close our borders to them today, by Monday the DOW would be down 25 percent and half the country would be enemployed...

[Kenton]

With the White House agenda centered on national security and the fight against terrorism, Bosworth said, "I just don't think Bush cares any more" about the issues of most interest to Mexico.

You mean like the "Reconquista" of "Aztlan"?

[wayoverontheright]

"It's the lowest moment since the early 1960s" and was not helped this week when Prime Minister Jean Chretien urged the U.S. to rein in its rhetoric concerning Syria, and then went out to play golf with former President Bill Clinton.

What? I had heard that Clinton had planned to play golf with Chretien but didn't know it had happened.

Speaking of the "lowest moment", this is a major below-the-belt punch from Clinton to Bush.

Is there any way this might harm Clinton politically?

[schaketo]

Just in case you would like to drop some of our ex-allies a note about how we feel about them in America – Have fun. Anyone have an address for that Nazi running Germany now?

French President Jacques Chirac
Monsieur Le President de la Republique
Palais de l'Elysee
55, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore
75008 Paris
FRANCE

Email: President of the Republic of France Jacques Chirac:
http://www.elysee.fr/ang/ecrire/mail.htm

Email: French Embassy:
http://www.info-france-usa.org/contactus.asp


Mexican President Vicente Fox
Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Palacio Nacional, Patio de Honor,
Primer piso, Col. Centro,
Mexico D.F. 06067
MEXICO
Fax: (+52 5) 515 5729 / 277 2376 / 516 5762

Office of the Prime Minister
Attn: Jean Chrétien, the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Canada
K1A 0A2

[schaketo]

NEVER FORGET!

Gotta keep this alive. Share this link with all like minded family and friends. They are feeling the heat.

15000 french products that you can boycott:

http://howtobuyamerican.leethost.com/b-db-boycottfrance.shtml

[ImpotentRage]

I wonder if that "half the nation unemployed" would be a fact if the illegals were sent back from whence they came.

[Gaelic]

They need the money that we pay for those resources more than we need them. It will cost us some money in the short run but it will hurt their economies deeply.

[Dr. Luv]

It will in fact ruin their economies. Unfortunately, it will also ruin ours. Given the amount of car parts manufactured in Canada for JIT delivery, the automotive business would be finished in days. Then there's the small fact that Canada and Mexico are our number one and number two export markets.

This will work as long as you don't have a job, need gas for your car, use solar heat for your house...

[Hila]

And Mexico's Fox, what are we in America gaining by putting up with your lack of resolve? Why does America have to be the place where uneducated Mexican nationals have to be dumped? I understand that employers benefit from hiring cheap labor all over the land, but at what cost. It opens the door for our American culture and land to be invaded and altered. There is a reason for borders! I say, let's keep the cold shoulder with Mexico and start deporting illegal workers. Hopefully a law would be instituted to forbid us from hiring undocumented workers and the INS be looking out for our national interest instead of any foreigner's.

[OldPossum]

Regarding the telehone call that ol' Jacque placed to President Bush, I read an account yesterday that Bush, not really wanting to talk to this jerk, was strictly business. Not impolite but I would suppose the tone was frosty.

[Semi Civil Servant]

President Jacques Chirac attempted Tuesday to begin the recovery process by phoning President Bush.

The healing process between Washington and Berlin appears further along

Bush and Chretien have had a troubled personal dynamic.

Touchy-feely Psych major gets job as "reporter"?

[sergeantdave]

I will not boycott all things Canadian. Goods from Montreal? Sure, that's a hotbed of anti-Americanism.

For a time Canadians were suffering a temporary psychosis called "Chretien." Many seem to be recovering now as Canadian polls are showing the Canadians, especially in Alberta, back our action against Iraq. Furthermore, Canadians proved their friendship to us during the Iranian hostage debacle when they protected out people and in Gulf War I. The turd Chretien will soon be flushed down the toilet.

So I look forward this summer to that evening I sit on a Canadian shore, sipping fine Canadian Moosehead beer and roasting walleye and duck potatoes over an open campfire.

[txdoda]

These two countries supply us with an enormous amount of the natural resources we need to run the engine of our economy>>>>>>>>

"enormous amounts of natural resources blah, blah, blah"

when did millions of illegals & tons of drugs from mexico
become *natural resources* ????

now, WATER is a natural resource, but last I heard mexico is
STILL years behind on their "water debt" to the USA.

[txdoda]

. Hopefully a law would be instituted to forbid us from hiring undocumented workers and the INS be looking out for our national interest instead of any foreigner's. >>>>>>

I believe we already HAVE laws against EMPLOYING ILLEGALS,
and entering the USA illegally.

What I hope for is, Americans to elect people who will
ENFORCE these laws !!!