Thread: Gates urges Congress to avoid "slap" at Mexico

Gates urges Congress to avoid "slap" at Mexico

30 Apr 2008 03:28:32 GMT
Source: Reuters
By David Morgan

MEXICO CITY, April 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday urged Congress to approve a $500 million anti-drug program for Mexico, saying not to do so would be "a slap" against a crucial neighbor beset by drug violence.

Gates, only the second U.S. defense chief ever to visit Mexico, told reporters that U.S. congressional inaction on the program known as the Merida initiative would undermine Washington's ability to aid Mexico's counternarcotics fight.

President George W. Bush proposed the three-year, $1.4 billion initiative last October and put an initial $500 million segment for Mexico in the administration's fiscal 2008 supplemental request for Iraq and Afghanistan war funding.

Gates said he hoped Congress would vote to approve the program by the end of May.

"Failure to do so would be a real slap at Mexico and would be very disappointing and it clearly would make it more difficult for us to help Mexican armed forces and their civilian agencies deal with this difficult problem," the defense chief told reporters.

The initial segment, which also includes $50 million for Central America, would provide the Mexican army and navy with equipment such as helicopters, surveillance planes and inspection equipment to help interdict drug shipments headed for the United States.

Later segments would provide assistance to help build up Mexican law enforcement and judiciary agencies that U.S. critics say are often overwhelmed by corruption.

The measure has come under scrutiny by Democrats in Congress, including some who would prefer to see less emphasis on aid to the Mexican military, U.S. Senate aides said.

One knowledgeable source said U.S. lawmakers have discussed the possibility of scaling back the overall program by as much as $400 million.

BORDER SECURITY

Bush administration officials view the program as a possible lever for deepening U.S.-Mexican military relations at a time when Washington needs Mexico's help in shoring up border security against potential threats from Islamist militants.

"There is a greater picture. It has to do with counternarcotics but it also has to do with protecting national air space and maritime boundaries," said one senior defense official.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has won praise from Washington for deploying about 25,000 troops and federal police to fight half a dozen drug-smuggling cartels since he took office in December 2006. There have been more than 900 drug killings in Mexico this year.

The U.S. State Department's annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report identified Mexico as a major source of heroin, methamphetamines and marijuana and the transit country for 90 percent of the cocaine that reaches the United States.

The Pentagon sees crime, drugs and street gangs as the top security problems facing Latin America and wants the region's soldiers, not its police, to tackle them.

But U.S. officials and analysts say the Calderon government has already spent billions of dollars on its own to combat drug traffickers and that its successes have led to a reduction in cocaine and methamphetamines in the United States.

Armand Peschard-Sverdrup of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies agreed with Gates' position that U.S. congressional failure could insult Mexico.

"You'll have the president of Mexico looking like he had to walk away empty handed, and that could conceivably be seen as yet another snub," he said.

(Editing by Eric Beech)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N29382425.htm

Failure to do so would be a real slap at Mexico and would be very disappointing and it clearly would make it more difficult for us to help Mexican armed forces and their civilian agencies deal with this difficult problem," the defense chief told reporters.

Stop worrying about Mexico and dedicate that $500 million to the completion of our fence along the southern border.

It's a "slap" to the faces of American Citizens to even suggest money going to Mexico while our southern border remains wide open. That border was supposed to be secured over 20 years ago when the last amnesty was granted under Reagan.

What's the &^%$ is wrong with you people!

What happened to the money we've given Mexico over the years to fight drug violence??? It obviously wasn't used to stop the drug cartels, now was it? How many millions did we already give them and the drug cartels have gotten bigger? Mexico is one of the richest countries in the world, let them use their own money to fix their problems, we're tapped out!

Calderon is out there making deals with cuba and Iran and we are going to give him 1.4 billion dollars!

Here is a country who does not have jobs for its own people and they are going to start letting in cubans and central Americans? there all nuts!!

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

Calderon is out there making deals with cuba and Iran and we are going to give him 1.4 billion dollars!

Here is a country who does not have jobs for its own people and they are going to start letting in cubans and central Americans? there all nuts!!

I know SOSADFORUS! You couldn't make this stuff up in your wildest dreams. It's pure insanity!

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

Calderon is out there making deals with cuba and Iran and we are going to give him 1.4 billion dollars!

Here is a country who does not have jobs for its own people and they are going to start letting in cubans and central Americans? there all nuts!!

I know SOSADFORUS! You couldn't make this stuff up in your wildest dreams. It's pure insanity!

Ditto, NoBueno!!

let me explain this the best way I know how

Take your broke, corrupt A$$ back to Mexico (empty handed) and feel free to take your broke corrupt Illegal Alien hoard with you and clean up your broke country while we clean up ours.

Let me explain to you pieces of DUNG in DC. This is FRAUD / WASTE / ABUSE of Tax payers money and it's time for you fools to go to prison for defrauding the U.S. Citizens.... PERIOD.

Do Not Pass Go... Do Not Collect 200.00 ... GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL

Take your country back America.... why do we tolerate these broke A$$ Morally Corrupt USED CAR SALESMEN IN PLAID POLYESTER SUITS that someone other than you put into office

RUN THEIR GOLD DIGGING A$$ OUT of OFFICE... I AM SO POed reading this crap... it's time for this dung to end

Part of the Merida initiative money, not mentioned in this article, is intended to aid Mexico to secure its southern border.
Mexican President Calderon said he would NOT ACCEPT ANY CONDITIONS ATTACHED TO The Merida initiative money. He said, I NEED THAT TECHNOLOGY.

Bush administration officials view the program as a possible lever for deepening U.S.-Mexican military relations at a time when Washington needs Mexico's help in shoring up border security against potential threats from Islamist militants.

Mexico doesn't even respond to requests for help when our border agents are attacked.
Mexico has filed official complaints when our border agents responded in self defense with tear gas canisters.
Mexico has buildings next to our fence smugglers can hide in, tunnel beneath and jump from the roof across the fence.
Mexican border agents hand out booklets, maps, food, water and new clothes to illegal border crossers.
Gang members illegally crossing our border are terrorists in some cases.
What about the murderers, rapists, and pedophiles that cross?
Drug and illegal alien smugglers, in some cases, are assisted by Mexican officials.

Calderson and Castro have entered trade agreements and are working on 'immigration' between the two countries.
Calderon met with the former President of Iran in December and another official in Feb. How do we know technology from the Merida initiative wouldn't be sold to Iran?

A Mexican 'diplomat' took U.S. officials e-mail and blackberry equipment, which the Secret Service recovered, at the New Orleans meeting of Harper, Bush and Calderon.
Mexico has a network of 48, plus mobile, consulates in the U.S. which they use to meddle in U.S. affairs, laws, politics, policies, courts, deportment procedings, issue passports and Matricula Consular cards.

WASHINGTON - The Mexican identification cards that have eased access to financial and local government services for more than 1 million immigrants in the United States are prone to fraud and misuse by criminals and possibly terrorists, the FBI told a congressional panel Thursday.

http://www.americanpatrol.com/FBI/Shams ... 30726.html

That money will go in the pockets of the Mexican elite and won't do Mexico a bit of good. Another give-away by the fed to further the decrease in the value of the dollar..the more the fed hands out into circulation, the less the dollar is worth. The government is not interested in shoring up the dollar, they don't care, the goal in all of this is to bring on the Amero.

President George W. Bush proposed the three-year, $1.4 billion initiative last October and put an initial $500 million segment for Mexico in the administration's fiscal 2008 supplemental request for Iraq and Afghanistan war funding.

Funds to Mexico by, sneak it through before anyone has time to read it method !! Request for war funding !!

Bush administration officials view the program as a possible lever for deepening U.S.-Mexican military relations at a time when Washington needs Mexico's help in shoring up border security against potential threats from Islamist militants.

Shoring up border security.....LOL !! It's been 7 years since 9-11, our borders remain wide open, and they're worried about potential threats from Islamic militants !! That's the excuse they use to scare people every time they want to get something passed. A scare tactic they're very familiar with. It's a crock !!