Thread: The U.S. and Mexico: A Newly Courting Couple?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01189.html

The U.S. and Mexico: A Newly Courting Couple?
Friday, February 9, 2007; 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON -- During his first visit to Washington after being elected president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon didn't sound that different from other Mexican presidents trying to make a splash here. He frequently repeated his desire to make Mexico "one of the best places to invest in the world," and added that Mexico's prosperity would help reduce the number of illegal immigrants coming to the U.S. Instead of having "people crossing the border looking for capital ... we need capital crossing the border looking for people," he said.

If some of us who heard him speak to Washington Post editors and reporters seemed a bit skeptical, you couldn't blame us. Not only had many of us heard similar pronouncements before, but here was a man who had won the presidency on such a close vote that the runner-up tried to form a parallel government and members of Congress sought to prevent Calderon from being sworn in.

But Calderon has acted swiftly and confidently since his chaotic inauguration in December. He deployed thousands of troops to half a dozen Mexican states plagued by a growing and gruesome wave of drug violence. And he cleared the way for the extradition of 15 drug traffickers to the United States, including some major figures such as Osiel Cardenas Guillen, head of the powerful Gulf Cartel.

Calderon recognizes that Mexico must be safer to attract more investment. In the process, he has also managed to wed Mexico's economic aspirations to U.S. security interests.

Washington couldn't be happier. "President Calderon has hit the ground running," U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez said during a visit to Mexico last week. As if taking cues directly from Calderon, he added, "we applaud his commitment to making Mexico one of the world's top 10 economies."

Gutierrez is the latest U.S. Cabinet official to visit Mexico in a procession that began with U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and will continue next week with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. President Bush is set to follow with a visit in March.

If such a parade weren't evidence enough of Washington's positive response, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon recently made it absolutely clear: "If he's (Calderon) prepared to act so boldly, we need to be prepared to act so boldly ... and look for ways that we can deepen our cooperation."

Some of this cooperation will likely involve increased information-sharing and more coordination in law enforcement efforts against organized crime. While not new -- for nearly two years under the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, Canada, Mexico and the United States have committed to jointly prevent and respond to security threats within North America -- renewed cooperation could surely improve on current efforts that have fallen short. In the last two years, drug-related killings in Mexico have nearly doubled.

Almost as if surprised by their good fortune in finding an ally who is taking decisive action, U.S. officials are scrambling to assist Calderon.

In an interview Tuesday, Gutierrez insisted that security was not an issue during his visits with Mexican officials last week. But another U.S. official, who asked not to be named because of not having permission to speak about the issue on the record, acknowledged that determining how Washington can help the Mexican leader in securing his territory "is increasingly on the minds of everybody in Washington and their staff."

There is even talk of substantially increasing U.S. monetary assistance, a heresy to some in this country but more realistic today considering the current climate. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, has introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress to provide Mexico $850 million in aid during the next five years, including funds for helicopters and police training.

There are obstacles to $850 million worth of cooperation. Many here believe that Mexico, as a middle-income country, has enough resources to help itself or is too corrupt to properly utilize funds. Mexicans too have been traditionally suspicious of U.S. intentions in their territory and, as Cuellar says, "We cannot erase that history." If more assistance does become a reality it would likely be targeted mostly for Mexico's poorer southern regions, according to a U.S. official.

The first couple of months of Calderon's administration and Washington's enthusiastic support stand in direct contrast to the malaise that characterized U.S.-Mexican relations over the last five years of Vicente Fox's presidency. There was a lot of hope and optimism when Bush and Fox reveled in their affinities in 2001, but as it turned out their relationship proved to be all honeymoon on horseback and little else.

Perhaps with Calderon, the U.S. and Mexico might find themselves in a working marriage.

Marcela Sanchez's e-mail address is desdewash@washpost.com.

More like a second honeymoon.

Sounds like the Mexican government is not satisfied with the 20 billion being sent in by illegals Now they want Americans to invest in Mexico. More US dollars to steal from Americans.

He frequently repeated his desire to make Mexico "one of the best places to invest in the world," and added that Mexico's prosperity would help reduce the number of illegal immigrants coming to the U.S. Instead of having "people crossing the border looking for capital ... we need capital crossing the border looking for people," he said.

Sounds like blackmail to me!

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, has introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress to provide Mexico $850 million in aid during the next five years, including funds for helicopters and police training.

Guess it's working.

I get the sinking feeling that this will become another Mexican money pit. If we seal the tunnels, cut off the jobs, fine the illegal employers massive amounts of money (since this is the only thing that seems to hurt them) cut off all the freebies the majority will self deport. Once that is done seal off the tunnels, build the wall, man it with armed forces with orders to use force when necessary, this problem would eliminate itself.

One of the best life lessons I’ve learned
Was don’t hurt them with your fist, hurt them where it hurts most

IN THE POCKET $$$

I can think of about 100 differnt places to Blow 800 million




http://www.fugitivehunter.org/usmostwanted.html

From what I have read on this forum about Mexico's laws regarding foreign investors - this doesn't need money, just a change in the laws. If companies could feel assured that Mexico wouldn't steal everything they had, they could set up businesses over there, and hire people over there. That would be great, but we should keep our money right in our own pockets.

this is not a marriage... when you have to pay, it's prostitution!..... i guess that is an area our government does have some expertise in.

Originally Posted by Beckyal

Sounds like the Mexican government is not satisfied with the 20 billion being sent in by illegals Now they want Americans to invest in Mexico. More US dollars to steal from Americans.

exactly. dont we help them enough already?

The skeptical lawmakers are correct. I want to help Mexico too, but not until they fix their own crime corruption.

we applaud his commitment to making Mexico one of the world's top 10 economies

they are a top 10 Economy according to the World Bank they out rank Australia, Russia and Brazil.

It's like giving money to the family of a rich man because the rich man refuses to share anything with his children. It just allows Mexico to become even more corrupt. They shouldn't get a dime!