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Monday, September 18, 2006

Border Issues Make U.S.-Mexico Alliances Critical

By Jerry Brewer


The immigration issue in the United States may be growing disproportionately to the available facts. It has indeed become the current U.S. political football. Many split decisively on the single word – threat. Partisan U.S. politicians on both sides of the two largest political parties are raising their voices vociferously, questioning the nation’s priorities.

Transference comes to mind as one debates the scale that leads to the tipping of public opinion. It is much easier to repudiate war with all its tragedy. The real issues are truly in the clarity of ones priorities.

Illegal immigration is a serious issue. Legal migration is not. After all, legal migration through the centuries, and the resulting melting pot that is the U.S., has forged the incredible progress of the nation. U.S. labor is now questioning the ramifications of possible new sanctions that would be imposed against many of the illegal laborers who are working throughout the nation. This curiously appears to be some vague looking solidarity of purpose.

One critical threat noted is the erosion of democratic rule and pursuit of those values. Unscrupulous politicians with higher aspirations of power in public office must avoid hypocrisy and not ignore their constituents’ needs and desires for confronting real problems. A glaring example of this impetuousness is in elected officials conspiring amongst each other to vote partisan across the board. This on issues requiring well-thought out and decisive action that lead to pragmatic victories against terrorism and addressing necessary immigration concerns.

Novel and creative aspects in problem solving and resolution are needed for the complex problem of immigration. We must not usurp the rights of free and open discussion and deliberation on these most important issues. Thinking must constantly be fluid. For any decision-making system to remain effective, it must continually challenge itself for the public good. Discussions are not always about right or wrong and good and evil. Many are multi-dimensional between two or more imperfect remedies or criteria, and require intense scrutiny and plausibility.

In keeping with the true clarity and narrow focus of our southern border’s immigration woes, an assessment of real threat to our nation must be a national priority. With that in mind, it is incumbent upon our nation’s leaders to remember just who is our southern neighbor.

Mexico is a nation of over 100 million people with an estimated 92 percent literacy rate. Their tourism revenue alone is estimated at over US$11 billion. Over 59 percent of Mexico’s imports are from the U.S. Mexico’s crude oil reserves were estimated in 2005 to be over 33 billion barrels.

And much of the violence and death over the last decade, on and near the U.S.-Mexico border and in some close by U.S. cities, have been attributed to a US$26 billion drug habit in the United States, much of which comes in via our southern border.

Mexican President Vicente Fox openly challenged leftist President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela last year during Argentina’s “Summit of the Americas.” This after Chavez harshly denounced and ridiculed the U.S. and President George W. Bush. Chavez blamed the U.S. and U.S. imperialism for Latin America’s poverty over the decades. Too, he lobbied hard to turn Latin American nations against the U.S., with President Fox standing firm against Chavez in his support for U.S. interests.

Immigration remains a difficult, comprehensive and emotional topic for both the United States and Mexico, albeit sensationalized by the media in reporting its true proportions. Others have described recommendations by some U.S. lawmakers, who are calling for walls and fences on the border, as coercive diplomacy. Many also see such walls as fortified barriers, and the retracting of a previously extended hand to Mexico as a neighbor and ally.

The United States continues to fight for, and to nurture, the new democracy in Iraq – plus it is fighting diligently against terrorism. Against terrorists, who are part of a shadowy enemy with no visible armies or countries.

In order to further strengthen its protection and this fight, the United States needs to strengthen its vigilance along the southern border as terrorists continue to face tough resistance throughout the Middle East. The open hostility to the U.S. by Venezuela’s Chavez, and his massive arms and military build-up, are also clear potential threats.

To counter such threats the United States needs the helping hand of Mexico. As well, Mexican voter’s rejection of the leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in the past presidential election demonstrates their allegiance.


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Jerry Brewer, a MexiData.info guest columnist, can be reached via e-mail at Cjiaincusa@aol.com.