← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · jeffersonian
Thread ID: 19152 | Posts: 7 | Started: 2005-07-14
2005-07-14 23:51 | User Profile
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Is The US Being Threatened With Extortion?
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Editorial - Ginger Berlin
Since the London bombings national security is back on the front page. However, not being widely acknowledged is the blatant extortion attempt espoused by a former Mexican Marxist, previous member of the communist party and now a 2006 Mexican presidential candidate, Jorge Castaneda.
There is a horrifying silence from the Senate regarding the rancor from former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda. In a news release by FAIR [Federation for American Immigration Reform] states, ââ¬ÅOn Tuesday, four days after the bombings on the London transit system refocused Congress and the American public on the threat of global terrorism, former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that "No border security is possible without Mexican cooperation" and that "there can be no cooperation [from the Mexican government] without some sort of immigration reform package." Castaneda, now a professor at New York University, went on to describe immigration reform as amnesty for all Mexicans living illegally in the U.S., the admission of some 5 million additional Mexican citizens to the U.S. over the next ten years, and massive increases in U.S. aid to that country.ââ¬Â
Castanedaââ¬â¢s supplication is outright blackmail. If the US wants Mexico to assist in the war on terror here in North America, then the US better pony-up or else! FAIR reports, ââ¬ÅAccording to Castaneda, in exchange for the admission and legalization of millions of Mexicans, and billions of dollars in U.S. assistance, Castaneda said that Mexico would offer "tough" but "non-coercive" assistance in the effort to prevent terrorists from entering the U.S. via Mexico. Castaneda conceded that Mexico has lost control of its own southern border, and cannot verify the true identities of people to whom it has issued ID documents.ââ¬Â So in other words, we canââ¬â¢t really assist you, but you better pay-up anyway.
Mexico was currently slapped by the House of Representatives on June 27, 2005 by a 327-98 vote to approve Rep. Bob Beauprez, [R-CO] amendment to Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill that threatened to stop $66 million in U.S. aid to Mexico if they, without strings attached do not extradite suspected cop-killers. The bill does not single out just Mexico. In a press release from Beauprez, he stated: ââ¬ÅThe intent of this amendment is simple: to return cop killers back the U.S. to stand trial in our country - the same country they committed their unthinkable crimes. This problem was brought to my attention last month after Denver Police Detective Donnie Young was allegedly executed by Raul Gomez-Garcia. After killing Detective Young and shooting and wounding his partner, Gomez-Garcia fled to Mexico where he was tracked down and arrested weeks later. The Mexican government now refuses to extradite him back to the U.S. if there is any chance he could spend life in prison without parole. Detective Young's widow and his two children now face the further tragedy of partial justice or no justice at all being served for her husband's killer. In another case, in 2002, a convicted felon who had been deported three times allegedly shot and killed a Los Angeles County sheriff following a routine traffic stop before fleeing to Mexico where he remains today, essentially escaping justice.ââ¬Â
While Beauprezââ¬â¢s amendment is clearly a step in the right direction and should be praised for dealing with Mexico, it also fails to fully address the strong hold Mexico via Castaneda is attempting to inflict upon the national security of America. In essence, Castanedaââ¬â¢s attempted extortion of the US, if ignored by Congress will clearly send a message to terrorist, that while the US may claim not to negotiate, we really do negotiate. What message will that send to not only terrorist, but other nations?
"Jorge Castaneda is not some obscure voice from Mexico's distant political past," observed Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "He served as foreign minister in the current Mexican administration. It is imperative that the Fox government issue a formal repudiation of Castaneda's remarks and assure the American public that their cooperation in the war against terrorism will not come at the price of extortion."
FAIR also continued to report, ââ¬ÅAs disturbing as Castaneda's remarks were, the reaction of the senators to the extortion demands of a former top Mexican government official is even more disconcerting. Leading members of the Senate, including John McCain and Richard Lugar, seemingly accepted Castaneda's demands for open borders as a legitimate price for even tepid Mexican cooperation in dealing with the terrorist threat.ââ¬Â
"When anyone, much less a former foreign minister of a supposedly friendly nation, comes before a committee of the United States Senate, and issues ultimatums and thinly veiled threats against the United States, one would expect outrage and condemnation from members of Congress. Instead, we got meek acquiescence or deafening silence from the members who were present," said Stein. "If the government of Mexico is not prepared to join us in this struggle, without conditions, then they cannot claim to be an ally and our government must view them as such. Allies do not engage in extortion."
It would be wise for Congress to stop placating to our ââ¬Åalliesââ¬Â at the sake of our ââ¬Ësafetyââ¬â¢ and our sovereignty. The lack of outrage by those present during Castanedaââ¬â¢s inexcusable threats is even more disturbing than Castanedaââ¬â¢s comments. Who do you represent, Senator McCain, and Lugar- Mexico or the US?
071405
2005-07-15 14:19 | User Profile
Jeffersonian- little off topic, but I think that instead of the newly naturalized citizens of this country should have to repeat the words of Sam Adams in your sig rather than the current oath that they are not required to take.
2005-07-15 14:21 | User Profile
Jeffersonian- little off topic, but I think that instead of the newly naturalized citizens of this country taking the current oath should have to repeat the words of Sam Adams in your sig.
2005-07-15 14:39 | User Profile
[QUOTE=jeffersonian]Thursday, July 14, 2005
Is The US Being Threatened With Extortion? ...........................................................................................................................
former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that "No border security is possible without Mexican cooperation" and that "there can be no cooperation [from the Mexican government] without some sort of immigration reform package." Castaneda, now a professor at New York University, went on to describe immigration reform as amnesty for all Mexicans living illegally in the U.S., the admission of some 5 million additional Mexican citizens to the U.S. over the next ten years, and massive increases in U.S. aid to that country.ââ¬Â [/QUOTE] If that isn't extortion--I'd give my pension to find out what is. Methinks that Castaneda needs to be send packing--along with all of his illegal countrymen.
Oh, and Mr. Castaneda, border security IS possible without the cooperation of you corrupt homeland---if you have doubts, ask the United States Army, OK?
2005-07-15 14:49 | User Profile
[QUOTE=formerfreeper] Oh, and Mr. Castaneda, border security IS possible without the cooperation of you corrupt homeland---if you have doubts, ask the United States Army, OK?[/QUOTE]
Not only is it possible, it is necessary not to have Mexico's [I]corrupteration[/I].
2005-07-16 00:35 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Bardamu]Not only is it possible, it is necessary not to have Mexico's corrupteration.[/QUOTE] EXCELLENT! I've learned a new word!
:-)
2005-07-16 02:59 | User Profile
glad to be of assistance, FF.