Fox stresses U.S., Mexico still close despite Iraq flap (In your dreams, Vicente)

Houston Chronicle Mexico City Bureau ^ | DUDLEY ALTHAUS

[WilliamWallace1999]

MEXICO CITY -- Seeking to mend ties frayed by his nation's refusal to support the Iraq war, President Vicente Fox said Tuesday that it is time for Mexico and the United States to forget about their past differences and focus on terrorism and other common concerns.

"Mexico had a different opinion in the way the possession of weapons of mass destruction or chemical weapons could have been resolved," Fox said of his country's unwillingness to support a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the U.S.-led war against Iraq.

"But things happened the way they happened," he said at a meeting with foreign correspondents on his first day of public appearances after almost two months of convalescence from back surgery.

Fox pointed to U.S. and Mexican economic interdependence fostered by the North American Free Trade Agreement and emphasized his country's "complete readiness to continue working closely in the struggle against terrorism."

He said Mexican Interior Minister Santiago Creel will begin two days of meetings with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge in Tijuana today to discuss bolstering anti-terrorism security along the border.

"We are keeping this bilateral relationship very intense," Fox said. "We think we can keep on building on it and narrowing the differences of opinion that we have."

Mexico holds one of 10 revolving seats on the 15-member U.N. Security Council and currently serves as the body's president.

Bush administration officials had unsuccessfully lobbied Fox for a favorable vote when they tried to win Security Council approval of a resolution authorizing force to disarm Saddam Hussein. Faced with almost certain defeat, the United States, Great Britain and Spain dropped plans for a vote and launched the war without the resolution.

In the weeks leading up to the military campaign, polls showed that Mexican public opinion was running as high as 80 percent against the war.

Mexican foreign policy has long favored a hands-off approach to other nations' affairs, though the Fox administration has taken a slightly more activist stance than its predecessors, especially in pushing for international respect for human rights.

Political scientist Rafael Fernandez de Castro, an authority on U.S.-Mexico relations, said a "certain disillusion" has dampened U.S. enthusiasm toward the Fox administration because of Mexico's opposition to the war.

For its part, the Fox government was disappointed when an expected push by President Bush for a new agreement guaranteeing the rights of Mexican immigrants failed to materialize following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Although strong trade ties and an array of other shared interests guarantee that the U.S.-Mexico relationship will remain solid, Fernandez de Castro said the dispute over Iraq eroded the once warm personal relationship between Fox, Bush and their respective administrations.

"We have lost high-level contacts," Fernandez de Castro said. "What has been lost is the possibility of deepening NAFTA and of having an immigration accord."

At Tuesday's meeting with journalists, Fox said again that his government believes Saddam's regime could have been disarmed without an invasion.

But Fox also said that he wanted to "send a greeting" to Bush through the journalists

[WilliamWallace1999]

But Fox also said that he wanted to "send a greeting" to Bush through the journalists

You just crack me up, Vicente.

[Conspiracy Guy]

"At Tuesday's meeting with journalists, Fox said again that his government believes Saddam's regime could have been disarmed without an invasion."

In other words he is still an idiot.

[fooman]

Ring! RIng! No Puedo Escucharte, tio FOX.

[american spirit]

He's not that much of an idiot....he's figured out that as long as he sends all his oveflow population up north, he'll not be forced to reform his corrupt regime anytime soon.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Sooner or later we will send them back. If he just keeps flapping his jaws things will change. Besides it wasn't even his idea, it a Mexican tradition.

[Mears]

I just hope GW feels the way most of us feel about Mexico,but I'm afraid the politician in him will win out---Hispanic votes are what he wants.

Sad,isn't it?

[schaketo]

OK America! Here's the Plan!!!

1) The US will apologize to the world for our "interference" in their affairs, past & present. You know; Hitler, Mussolini and the rest of them good old boys'. We will never "interfere" again.
2) We will withdraw our troops from all over the world, starting with Germany, South Korea and the Philippines. They don't want us there. We would station troops at our borders. No more sneaking through holes in the fence.
3) All illegal aliens have 90 days to get their affairs together and leave. We'll give them a free trip home. After 90 days the remainder will be gathered up and deported immediately, regardless of who or where they are. France would welcome them.
4) All future visitors will be thoroughly checked and limited to 90 days unless given a special permit. No one from a terrorist nation would be allowed in. If you don't like it there, change it yourself, don't hide here. Asylum would not ever be available to anyone. We don't need any more cab drivers.
5) No "students" over age 21. The older ones are the bombers. If they don't attend classes, they get a "D" and it's back home baby.
6) The US will make a strong effort to become self sufficient energy wise. This will include developing non polluting sources of energy but will require a temporary drilling of oil in the Alaskan wilderness. The caribou will have to cope for a while.
7) Offer Saudi Arabia and other oil producing countries $10 a barrel for their oil. If they don't like it, we go someplace else.
8) If there is a famine or other natural catastrophe in the world, we will not "interfere". They can pray to Allah or whomever, for seeds, rain, cement or whatever they need. Besides' most of what we give them is stolen or given to the army. The people who need it most get very little, if any anyway.
9) Ship the UN Headquarters to an island some place. We don't need the spies and fair weather friends here. Besides, it would make a good homeless shelter or lockup for illegal aliens.
10) All Americans must go to charm and beauty school. That way, no one can call us "Ugly Americans" any longer.

Now, ain't that a winner of a plan!

If you agree, pass it on. If not....well..."If you're not with us, you're with them!"

[Flyer]

[Paulus Invictus]

Let's hope there will never be an "immigration accord" at all! As for Fox claiming that we can work this out, I still recall the Mexicans trying their best to burn down our embassy and won't forget that insult for a long time. Wet backs, go home!

[american spirit]

Don't think it's going to happen....these folks are footsoldiers for the reconquista / Aztlan movement that now has huge influence in gov't, education, medical and business communities. That's why these folks get so much assistance with housing, food, medical, etc. It's the largest corporate welfare scam in history and I'm sure there have been some good ones. Keyword "aztlan" and "reconquista"...this problem is far worse than we've been led to believe.

[Servant of the Nine]

Fox ... emphasized his country's "complete readiness to continue working closely in the struggle against terrorism."

Then he won't complain if we put troops on the border to see that no one crosses illegally.

So9

[skeeter]

El pis encima de una cuerda, Vincente mi amigo.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Some have been aware, more are becoming aware. Awareness drives change. Fox has done much damage to his own cause. We must press for him to be held accountable.

[american spirit]

I agree but the people who really need to accountable are all these political/fed'l bureaucrat types that grease the skids for Fox to essentially get whatever he wants. I think some of this alleged strain on relations is nothing more than a smokescreen to have us believe someone in the fedgov might actually be looking out for the American public. I'm not holding my breath. Illegal immigration = national suicide.

[Conspiracy Guy]

We must push and pray. Frequently.

[Desecrated]

There are already folks who say that southwestern US is "occupied mexican territory" and are trying to draw similarties between mexico and palestine. It could get ugly, and it will only get worse before it gets better.

[Flyer]

As individuals we can all help.

• DON'T hire illegals to do your yard work

• DON'T hire illegals to clean your house

• DON'T hire illegals to baby-sit your children

• DON'T patronize businesses that hire illegals

If we aren't part of the solution we are part of the problem.

[Let's Roll]

"But Fox also said that he wanted to "send a greeting" to Bush through the journalists"


"through the journalists"? Dubya must be screening Vicente's phone calls.

[american spirit]

When they get the numbers where they we'll all see a very aggressive approach taken by their leadership to gain even more for "their community". Expect marches, disruptions of council and school board meetings, strikes by all suddenly underpaid municipal and commericial workers, etc. Marches, demonstrations, boycotts, etc. have become part of living in places like Calif. where the Brown berets, Mecha, La Raza and the rest have huge growing power bases. Just watch when Cal's fiscal crisis suddenly cuts some or all the benefits to the folks within these groups. It's been a fear all along that millions of these folks have been enticed with all the freebies, get here and start living the good life, then one day it comes to a screeching halt. What happens then?

[american spirit]

Forget about praying...those that love this country need to get really informed on facts about this then go down and kick some of these squirrelly, sniveling bureaucrats right in the A$$.