Fox: "Mexico Doesn't Fear U.S...."

The Guardian ^ | Wes, March 05,2003

[yankeedame]

Fox: Mexico Doesn't Fear U.S. Reprisal

Wednesday March 5, 2003

MEXICO CITY (AP) - President Vicente Fox said Tuesday Mexico isn't worried abut the United States' reprisal if it doesn't back a resolution supporting war with Iraq, and said Mexico would not accept any unilateral U.S. action to disarm Iraq.

Also Tuesday, officials confirmed that Mexico's foreign secretary had tried to revive a Canadian compromise proposal on the conflict in a Saturday meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Mexico, a member of the U.N. Security Council, is one of several nations that has declined to say how it would vote on a U.S.-backed resolution paving the way for war with Iraq.

Mexicans largely oppose military action against Iraq, and Fox doesn't want to offend voters before crucial congressional elections this summer. Some Mexicans, however, fear a vote against their powerful northern neighbor would anger the United States, the destination for more than 85 percent of Mexican exports.

Recent statements by Fox stressing the need to disarm Saddam Hussein appeared to indicate Mexico was edging closer to the U.S. position.

But on Tuesday Fox told a meeting of businessmen in the central state of Aguascalientes: ``We are not going to accept any unilateral decisions.''

``We say 'No war, yes to peace,''' Fox told the crowd. ``Imagine what kind of world we would have if everybody took unilateral decisions about starting a war.''

Fox also said Mexico shouldn't fear retaliation from the United States if it stuck to its pro-peace stance.

``We are in an almost daily dialogue, they know our position and we're convinced there won't be any reprisals.''

British officials met with their Mexican counterparts Friday and Saturday in Mexico in a bid to sway undecided Security Council nations.

Powell and Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez spoke by telephone on Monday and met Saturday at Powell's home in the Virginia suburbs, Foreign Relations Department spokesman Allan Nahum said.

Nahum said Derbez asked Powell about a compromise plan of the type proposed by Canada - a sign that Mexico is looking for a way to please both sides. The Canadian proposal would set a series of benchmarks Iraq would have to meet by the end of the month.

[Blue Collar Christian]

"The UN has hit rock bottom."

Soon to be null and void.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I noticed in your profile your in Texas......Say no mo.....

[MEG33]

Peacekeeping is as close as it gets to being relevent, and massacres have occurred while they ducked. I hate worrying about Camaroon's vote.

[MEG33]

You're too kind,sir.

[KickRightRudder]

God that's a depressing future. We didn't get to vote on it.

[KickRightRudder]

I'm glad I didn't have ancestors who fought in the war with Mexico or Spain. We are forfeiting everything won and paid for in American blood. What a disgrace.

Mexico and Saudi has always been GWB's blind spot. My family has been in the US for 153 years and I feel like a foriegner in my own country.

[c-b 1]

Mexico doesnt seem to have a problem about not having U.N permission for its unilateral American invasion.

Well said.

[c-b 1]

Fox is a blithering idiot!!

No he isn't, he is doing a masterful job of sucking millions of dollars out of the U.S.

Our leaders are the blithering idiots.

[FenianOfEire]

"War On Drugs"...the border stays open..."War On Terror"...the border stays open...Almost daily news alerts regarding border patrols engaging or confronting armed illegals or Mexican military personnel... I hate to be the one to break the news...it's not an accident that the government keeps on tearing at the Constitution, while it leaves one of the most vulnerable and porous areas unprotected. Fox wants the South-West back, it's been stated, and Bush is going along with it... Bush is a Trojan Horse and an aspiring dictator, that being said, bring on the knee-jerk Conservatives try to slam me... Clinton couldn't have got away with half of what Bush is doing.

[Joe Hadenuf]

BINGO......Unfortunately, you are correct.......

[Joe Hadenuf]

Fox wants the South-West back

He wants more than that and they are getting it!.......Look no further than the huge increases of illegal aliens in states all over, including Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Utah, Washington, Colorado, Ohio, Oregon, ......Not to mention Arizona, and Texas..and the rest of the southwest...

[FenianOfEire]

The dumbing down and impoverishing of America... Welcome to the Third World Feudal dream of the powers that be.

[MEG33]

I love George Bush.

[WaterDragon]

What a twerp Fox turned out to be. He will be afraid if necessary to our defense. And he knows it.

He shames Mexico's Spanish heritage with this prissy-boy act.

[WaterDragon]

Me, too.

[Clinton Is Scum]

Why should they fear us? They know that neither Bush nor Congress is going to do anything to shore up the border. They know that benefits to illegal aliens, such as ID cards, in-state tuition discounts, and organ transplants, are not going to be cut off. They view us as suckers, and they are right.

[Joe Hadenuf]

And his little dog is soooo cute....

[MEG33]

Which buddy? President Bush?