TITLE: 'Priorities for the Summit'

TOPICS: Canada Visas, Immigration; Narco-Trafficking;

Plan Merida; Security; Climate Change

ON THE SAFE: Economic Crisis

La Cronica de Hoy, Mexico

Guadalajara: This isn't a Summit, it's a Lecture!

"What we did find out before they appeared before us - and they let us know without vaseline or painkillers - is that they aren't attending a dialogue, much less a summit meeting; instead, they are simply informing us of their future plans for the region."

By Carlos Ferreyra

Translated By Douglas Myles Rasmussen

August 9, 2009

Mexico - La Cronica de Hoy - Original Article (Spanish)

We still aren't finished with the last one, and we’re already stuck with another. We've barely gotten rid of [ousted Honduran President] Zelaya and his nonsense, his rude gestures and his ridiculous fascade, and we're already rolling out the red carpet for the U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. 

Just like Zelaya, who upon arrival on Mexican soil said he was coming for the unconditional support of Mexico for his impossible return to power (which we gave him), those attending the so-called Guadalajara Summit have announced in advance that they aren't interested in the issues that should concern our leaders. 

It's impossible to know how much it cost the Mexican people for the personal promotion tour of - let’s call him what he is - the ex-president of Honduras, much less how much was invested in receiving the two illustrious imperial visitors. 

What we did find out before they appeared before us - and they let us know without vaseline or painkillers - is that they aren't attending a dialogue, much less a summit meeting; instead, they are simply informing us of their future plans for the region, especially those that have to do with the domestic security of the United States. 

Washington is counting on Canada’s consent to the integration of any joint border security between their two countries. It is trying to get the same from Mexico, which would extend the power of the United States to control, on a continuing basis and without interruption, down to the Panama border. 

We would end up under the “jurisdiction” of one of the two [U.S.] military commands [NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM] that govern the American continent, covered under an ingenious, sophisticated anti-nuclear umbrella. This complaint has been made repeatedly, while Washington insists that Mexico contribute peacekeeping forces wherever it considers our country necessary. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

By the way, that was one of the tasks entrusted to the husband of Carla Bruni, a certain Mr. Sarkozy, who recently partied it up in Mexico where he demanded that we assume, as members of the U.N. Security Council, full responsibility - which includes military issues. 

For Obama, and let’s make it clear that this commentary is being written well before the conversations in Guadalajara get underway, two things have been vetoed: reviewing, if not opening up, the Free Trade Agreement between the three nations; and the issue of undocumented immigrants, which he is putting off until 2010, with no guarantee of a solution.

“At a time when Mexico has suffered a double blow, not only from the collapse of its economy but also from the effects of the H1N1 virus on tourism, we probably want to make the economy more stabilized before we have a longer discussion around further trade negotiations.” [President Obama's comments on Saturday.]

However you say it, one can read between the lines. 

Meanwhile, Harper rejected President Felipe Calderón's proposal to reverse the imposition of visas for Mexicans traveling to Canada. To be clear, the Canadian prime minister said through a spokesperson that no changes to the policy were anticipated and he warned that, “each government has things to protect and preserve.”

One thing is in doubt: the trio will meet in the Hospicio Cabañas to exchange ideas, but not negotiate. The visitors have already expressed what they will bring to the table. But Mexico … what will its contribution be?  And for what?

Or will we be, as the trend of our diplomacy suggests, simple recipients? Something like a basket in which you can deposit anything? …

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US August 10, 8:30pm]