Cannon: U.S. Will Not Punish Mexico on Iraq

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | March 17, 2003 | CHRISTOPHER SMITH

[sarcasm]

WASHINGTON -- Congress is unlikely to retaliate with trade or immigration sanctions against Mexico over the neighboring nation's hesitancy to endorse a U.S. military invasion of Iraq, says Utah 3rd District Rep. Chris Cannon, Republican vice chairman of a new U.S.-Mexico congressional caucus.
    "The reluctance of support on the war will not largely affect a relationship that is so complex and so deep as this one," Cannon said during a recent news conference to launch the bipartisan caucus aimed at improving business dealings between the two countries.
    Rep. David Drier, R-Calif., chairman of the House Rules Committee and co-chairman of the new organization of two dozen House members, added that Mexico's support or rejection of a new U.N. resolution authorizing force against Iraq "will have nothing to do" with efforts to solidify and expand the $250 billion annual trade partnership between the United States and Mexico. "It's one of the most important relationships on Earth," he said.
    But just as Congress has taken to renaming french fries "Freedom fries" on the menus of Capitol Hill cafeterias to demonstrate members' irritation over France's opposition to a U.S.-led war with Iraq, Mexico worries it may do long-term financial damage to its U.S. ties if it doesn't march in step with the White House on using military force to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
    Mexican President Vicente Fox's stand against the U.S. invasion "has triggered pride in our government" wrote the Mexican leftist La Jornada newspaper, which cheered the "felicitous failure of the U.S. president in his effort to coerce the Mexican government into changing its position."
    But the Mexican government is trying to maintain economic and cultural ties to the U.S. at the same time it opposes the war on Iraq. Appearing at the Capitol Hill announcement of the new U.S.-Mexican congressional caucus, Mexican Ambassador to the United States Juan Jose Bremer declined to answer questions about whether the caucus announcement Wednesday was meant to offset the rising chorus of Mexican opposition to a U.S. invasion of Iraq. Instead, Bremer emphasized the importance to both nations of maintaining Mexico as a U.S. trading partner.
    "In only one day, products worth $700 million are exchanged," said Bremer. "Mexico buys more U.S. products than the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Italy combined."
    While Mexican leaders do not expect immediate, overt payback from the Bush administration or Congress if the nation should vote against the United States on a new Iraq resolution, there is fear of losing the good will that has made the United States an economic wellspring for millions of Mexican nationals, many of whom are working and living in the United States illegally.
    While declining to link U.S. immigration policy changes to Mexico's position on war with Iraq, Cannon said he believes Congress plans to look closely at immigration of undocumented workers on America's southern border this session.
    "I can assure you those issues that relate to immigration of a very large number of Mexicans who are in America without documents is a major, major issue and one where we will take significant action," said Cannon, a member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims.
    "It takes time in our system to do that, and we were set back by the attacks on America on Sept. 11. But that has now turned around and we are going to make some serious progress."
    In an appearance on CNN last month, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson -- now governor of New Mexico -- said that if Mexico backs the U.S. war with Iraq, it would renew Bush's support for a long-delayed proposal to let millions of undocumented Mexicans work legally in the United States.
    French newspapers have been more direct, reporting that Bush has offered Mexican President Vicente Fox a quid pro quo deal on immigration amnesty for Mexicans illegally in the United States in exchange for a "yes" vote on the U.N. resolution.

[UncleSamUSA]

How many undocumented illegal aliens actually live in Utah?

Seems like these Sens want to stick it to other states, particularly California, who are at the forefront of the Mexican immigration problem.

But the larger question is: why should we cave in on a 3-year amnesty for illegals as Bush has allegedly proposed just to get Mexico's vote on a war we are going to wage anyway? Was it that important for us to get UN backing? No, it was important for Tony Blair.

So the upshot is: we were evidently willing to give amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants in our country from Mexico because Labour backbenchers in the British Parliament were giving Tony Blair a hard time.

What a hell of a world we live in.

[TLI]

""-purportedly 9 billion dollars are sent home to Mexico annually--not 93 billion as I had reported. ""

Give it a couple of years....

[Dark Wing]

Bear this in mind when I spoke of Bush and the Republicans doing nothing to Mexico because of politics.

[conservativecorner]

It's past time to start keeping a scorecard on what are so-called allies are doing to harm the USA. There must be a penalty for not supporting the USA against a dictatorship in Iraq.

[MissAmericanPie]

"In only one day, products worth $700 million are exchanged," said Bremer. "Mexico buys more U.S. products than the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain and Italy combined."

Yeah, they buy our products with the 9 billion a year they steal out of the US economy from US workers and send back home. Now that the illegals have been toss'ed out of airport jobs legal Americans have flooded airlines with applications for those jobs. So much for doing jobs Americans won't do.

Tancredo for President 2004

[Valin]

U.S. Will Not Punish Mexico on Iraq

Given how much emphasis George Bush places on loyality I wouldn't place a very large bet on this.

[Valin]

Can you say "One Term President", senor Jorge Bush????

No. No matter how much you may want it. Ain't gonna happen.

[Thud]

It doesn't matter what the politicians say. If the American people want to bash Mexico over this, it will happen. If they don't, it won't.

[rintense]

Let me just say this. The Bush/Fox 'relationship' was already in dire straits. Now, Mexico basically joins the ranks of France and Germany.

France, Germany, Mexico, and Canada will pay the price for their ignorance. Do not be fooled. GWB is making a list, and WILL be checking it twice.

[Clinton Is Scum]

"France, Germany, Mexico, and Canada will pay the price for their ignorance. Do not be fooled. GWB is making a list, and WILL be checking it twice."

Do not be fooled: Mexico will pay no price.

[rintense]

I think you're wrong. They already ARE paying a price. Has Fox gotten anything he's asked for? Nope.

[Risa]

>>Well....he's aware of the old chestnut about no-one ever losing money betting against the intelligence of the American public, I guess....<<

I am hoping that the major problem is inattention, rather than sheer american stupidity.

You know, I have lived among many different economic classes of people. Yet, it wasn't until I was a neighbor of the working-poor in Portland, Maine, where the Cambodian and Vietnamese gangs ran rampant in the mid-1990s, that I became aware of the menace that America's wanton immigration polices impose on the poor.

These young immigrant Asian men (they were mostly 30 year olds, posing as 18 year olds) had been in and out of prison for armed robberies and rape, and were fighting violent drug turf wars on the streets.

They voiced hatred for America and for young American high-school-aged guys. My best friend's daughter's boyfriend, a wonderful 17 year-old kid, was murdered by them, other kids had parts of their ears or fingers macheted off.

These immigrants engaged in sexual activity and impregnated stupid adolescent American girls--so they could 'work the system' they'd say, and they treated these girls terribly, stealing from them, and physically abusing them.

Some of them knowingly spread tuberculosis to unsuspecting and stupid adult American women. The fish factory jobs that unskilled Mainer's had occupied for generations were taken by these Asians willing to work for cheaper wages--and many--despite having families, spent their money on cocaine.

I was aghast that the people we elect to make laws would do this to their constituents. No one seemed to know why these people were here. They took it as inevitable.

This is when I began to look into the horror that is our immigration policy, and found our Senators and House Reps., as well as the 'charitable' businesses, Catholic and Lutheran charities, and immigration lawyers, were repsonsible- a lot of money is to be made by bringing these people here.

The gangs are gone now, because of a strong police force, and many of these characters in prison. But hard-working American citizens have have been permanently damaged.

When I began to inform family and friends, who existed in their upper- and middle-economic class worlds, obliviously, they were shocked, too.

People just assume while they go about their busy lives that their legislators will do what is best for them--

We have to educate others--that is the key.

(I hope I haven't gone beyond the pale of your attention here, I apologize if I have).

risa

[jragan2001]

Although I back Pres. Bush 100% and thought his speech
was right on, it was disturbing to hear him say nothing
about beefing up security or sealing our border with
our corrupt neighbor to the south!!! Trust me my
friend, if he EVEN thinks about granting amnesty, he
will NOT get my vote in 2004. I will not be yet
another white sellout in this country.

[SUSSA]

They will get amnesty. It will not be called amnesty, but it will have the same effect.

[jragan2001]

Tancredo for President in 2004.

[Right Wing Professor]

French newspapers have been more direct, reporting that Bush has offered Mexican President Vicente Fox a quid pro quo deal on immigration amnesty for Mexicans illegally in the United States in exchange for a "yes" vote on the U.N. resolution.

I don't beleive this for a second. Bush wouldn't promise what he knows he can't deliver.

[SUSSA]

From your keyboard to God's ear!!

[SCalGal]

(I hope I haven't gone beyond the pale of your attention here, I apologize if I have).

Good post. This is the type of information that we need, and everyone needs to be aware of what's going on.

[dennisw]

I agree. GWBush may have made offers short of amnesty