cannabisnews.com: Bush's Relations With Mexico Rooted in Symbols Bush's Relations With Mexico Rooted in Symbols Posted by FoM on February 12, 2001 at 21:12:04 PT By Kevin Sullivan, Washington Post Foreign Service Source: Washington Post It was July 1995, and President Ernesto Zedillo needed a boost. Mexico's economy was in tatters, saved only by an emergency loan from Washington, and world leaders were conspicuously staying away.But not George W. Bush. Then governor of Texas, he came to lunch with Zedillo, then held a high-profile news conference at the presidential compound here to declare confidence in Zedillo and Mexico: "I think it's important for him to know what's in my heart about Mexico," Bush said of Zedillo. "I came here as a friend." That moment, perhaps more than any other, has defined President Bush's relationship with Mexico, where he will make his first foreign trip as president on Friday. In a land where symbols and gestures are deeply important, the image that has endured for many Mexicans is the strong feeling that Bush is a friend."You know your friends best when you are in trouble," said Antonio Ocaranza, who was Zedillo's spokesman in 1995. "What we saw was a friend in George Bush when few people wanted to stand up for Mexico. He put his hands in the flames for Mexico and he wasn't afraid of getting burned."Much has been made of Bush's experience with Mexico. When he was criticized during the campaign for scant knowledge of the world beyond U.S. borders, Bush leaned hard on Mexico, and in November he won support from 35 percent of the 5.5 million Hispanic voters in the United States. A close look at the record shows that Bush's dealings with Mexico have often been more ceremonial than substantial, but nonetheless meaningful to Mexicans.Although he often sprinkles his remarks with Spanish words, Bush is not generally regarded as a man with deep Mexican policy experience. But he is widely seen as a rare American leader with many Mexican friends, who has made a genuine and sustained effort to know Mexico, and who is ready to give this nation a warm bear hug."He has a relationship with Mexico; he has been in touch with Mexican politics and politicians," said political analyst Jesus Silva-Herzog Marquez. "It might be very superficial in terms of historical knowledge, but he has a network of personal relationships that is unusual for an American president."By having lunch with Mexican President Vicente Fox on Friday, Bush will begin his foreign policy portfolio in a setting as unthreatening as his own living room -- in his cowboy boots, on a ranch, chatting with a world leader he has met before (and one who speaks English). Fox's home town in Guanajuato state is so close to Texas that Bush will be able to fly home to his own ranch in time for dinner.But beyond the atmospherics, Mexican officials looking to move relations forward say privately that they are counting more on Bush's affinity for Mexico than on the depth of his policy experience.Bush's record on Mexico has been spun and polished to give it the highest possible sheen. Recent U.S. news reports have said Bush is going to Mexico to meet with his "old friend" Fox, a man he has met three times, all since 1996. At least one of those meetings lasted less than an hour. And the fact that Bush's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, is married to a woman of Mexican origin has been portrayed at times as something akin to foreign policy experience.According to the Texas secretary of state's office, in almost six years as governor, from early 1995 to late 2000, Bush made eight or nine trips to Mexico. But he ventured only two or three times beyond the border region. At least four of his trips were for ceremonies to open a bridge or wastewater treatment plant.When he was governor, Bush had little authority over the nation-to-nation issues that have been among the most important and difficult for the United States and Mexico -- immigration and illegal drug trafficking, which will be at the heart of his agenda for the meeting with Fox. Most of the issues Bush dealt with were border projects, such as bridges, roads and health programs, essentially state matters that benefited Texans as much as Mexicans.But even critics acknowledge that as leader of a border state inextricably linked culturally, economically, even politically with Mexico, Bush has had extensive firsthand experience with Mexico and Mexicans. In Texas, nearly 30 percent of the population is Hispanic, mainly Mexican. As governor, Bush met with dozens of Mexican officials and business leaders, and had many meetings with Zedillo.Bush presided over booming increases in trade between Texas and Mexico; more than half the $250 billion in annual U.S.-Mexico trade crosses the Texas border. He provided tuberculosis vaccines and emergency drinking water to his Mexican neighbors.He angered Mexico, too, by allowing the executions of two Mexican citizens during his tenure and supporting a proposal to locate a low-level nuclear waste dump in a Hispanic community near the border, prompting one Mexican official to go on a hunger strike until the plan was scrapped.Over the years Bush has gone out of his way to work for Mexico and Mexicans living in Texas -- even to the point of challenging members of his own Republican Party. For years Bush's approach to Mexico, unlike that of many other U.S. officials, has been cooperation rather than confrontation."For those who want to wall off Mexico from Texas, I say you're dead wrong," Bush said during a visit to Washington in 1998. "For people who want to isolate Mexico from Texas through a psychological war of words, there could be nothing worse. We share problems, we share a long border. But the best way to solve our common problems is to do so in the spirit of friendship and to treat each other decently."When California Gov. Pete Wilson in 1994 endorsed Proposition 187, which essentially would have done away with all but emergency state services for illegal immigrants, Bush was a forceful voice against him. "Children already living in Texas should not be denied an education because of where they were born," Bush said on a visit to Mexico in 1995.Francisco Barrio, then the governor of Chihuahua state, which borders Texas, recently recalled a cross-border governors' meeting at which reporters listened to Wilson's defense of Proposition 187, then asked Bush for his opinion."He was in a very, very delicate position and I was expecting him to give some ambiguous answer," said Barrio, now a member of Fox's cabinet. "But he didn't. He said, 'Every child of an undocumented family in Texas will have access to health services and education, at least while I am governor.' I always found him to have a very, very open and cooperative attitude."Fox is relying on such an attitude to press an agenda with Bush that includes expanding trade, more opportunities for Mexicans to work legally in the United States and eventual relaxing of the border. Bush last summer told Fox he would "enforce the border." But he expressed agreement with Fox's long-term vision of reducing border problems by improving the Mexican economy.That echoed something Bush has said many times, including in a 1995 speech prodding Congress to bail Mexico out of its economic troubles: "What is good for Mexico is good for the United States."Complete Title: Bush's Relations With Mexico Rooted in Symbols, FriendshipSource: Washington Post (DC) Author: Kevin Sullivan, Washington Post Foreign ServicePublished: Tuesday, February 13, 2001; Page A16 Address: 1150 15th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20071Copyright: 2001 The Washington Post Company Contact: letterstoed washpost.comWebsite: http://www.washingtonpost.com/Feedback: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm Related Articles:Bush's Mexico Trip Will Aim to Launch New Era http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8643.shtmlBush Wants Latin American Legacyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8633.shtmlCannabisNews Articles - George Bushhttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=George+Bush Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #13 posted by kaptinemo on February 14, 2001 at 16:50:20 PT: Now you know Like a bucket of water from the Arctic Ocean down your back, isn't it? The kind of revelation that literally leaves you gasping in astonishment.Twenty-one years ago, I was a college senior at a very small - but very good - State college in Maryland. One of my Poli Sci profs, a native of Taiwan, had made an interesting comment during a discussion as to whether political elites exist. He said flat-out that the American political structure was controlled by none other than the Council on Foreign Relations.Needless to say, almost everyone in the room was wearing a question mark on their faces; they've never heard of it.Everyone but me.I'd known of their existence for some time, courtesy of a book my Marine Dad had, called "None Dare Call it Treason", after a rhyme by an old English lord:Treason doth never prosper; what's the reason?If treason doth prosper, none dare call it treason.The book provided a primer on the background of the de facto oligarchy running this country...and what their surmised aims might be. I thanked the professor for his honesty...and wound up giving an impromptu lecture of some of the more easily verified points...while the professor sat back and watched.Two weeks after my graduation, I received a letter. From the CFR. Asking if I was interested in joining them.I know now - I didn't know then - that that invitation, despite it's rather 'form-letter' appearence, had to have originated from the professor; you have to be nominated for membership. I had thrown the letter in the trash. I already knew enough about the monsters who bankrolled every dictator in the then 20th Century (and I mean every) and knew that, just as I had broke with my faith for it's having the blood of millions of innocents on its' hands in its' 2,000 year history, I wanted no part of these butchers, either.I've watched their machinations for years; the DrugWar is a very handy vehicle for their endgame, as they have very nearly torn the Constitution to shreds and wiped their bungholes with it. To decimate civil liberties to create their version of Paradise has always been a goal - and they have very nearly completed it.But the future is not written in stone, and they have made some big mistakes. If the reform movement succeeds, the antis Puppet Masters will have been dealt a withering blow; civil liberties are always the first to be hostages, the first to be held captive. To thwart the ever-increasing encroachment upon civil liberties and the restoration of freedoms out Grandfathers knew is what is at the core of the reform movement.When we succeed - and, yes, I do believe we will, because the only other alternatives require bloodshed - it will be a supreme irony. Because it will be all those who have been spurned by society and made outcast who may yet save it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Lehder on February 14, 2001 at 06:06:25 PT bosses of all bosses When I finally realized the truth about the drug war and the monstrous criminals who have enslaved this country - that's when I realized that the discontents who use words like 'Nazi', 'police state', 'terror squad' are not just using rhetorical fluorishes for effect, but mean to be taken literally. Because these are apt descriptions of what we're dealing with.Recently we saw an article here about the opening of a new branch office of the drug war in Thailand. It works like a sleazy mob scam. The big shots move in a few craps tables, some booze and some broads into a jerkwater, pay off a few cops, and open up an illegal casino and bordello to make big bucks. It's the same deal when drug warriors move in - fix the local system, fix the border crossings to raise the price of dope, broadcast their propaganda about children and drug scourge, make a big mess of some small country and make a lot of bread. The drug war is just a big scam by international gangsters. As dddd has mentioned elsewhere there are two brands of drug warriors - first there are the unwitting many who administer pee tests, wield clubs and slam cell doors, or just don't do anything at all except play along. Then there are the witting few, the true war criminals. These are the guys what drop their guises of ignorance and patriotism behind closed doors and among themselves choose their next victim all the while calculating their new prices for dope and the profits to be made. Our country is run by Colombians and South American money and dope money form all over. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by dddd on February 13, 2001 at 23:17:22 PT violation of honor Toker00.................Thank You! The exuberance you have expressed after your innocence finally experienced the 'popping of its' cherry',is an inspiration to me(*).Like many other people,I've been aware of these shocking things for years,and when I first realized all this,was saying the same type things as you.I began to launch a crusade to expose this shit, with a "no more mr. nice guy"attitude. Like I said previously,most people will react to your attempts to explain this stuff,by thinking you have somehow gone off the edge.It is not an easy thing to try and convince people that such a grand deception exsists,and that they have been completely faked out on such a large scale.It's a big step to admit that you have been the unwary victim of such masterfully fabricated dissinformation,and eloquently formulated propaganda on such a large scale.No one can believe that something so huge could have escaped them.No one can believe that CNN,Peter Jennings,or the L.A. Times,would not have reported on such a massive conspiracy,,,after all,,the press and national media is free and independent from outside influence,,,isn't it? The truth is,most people would rather not know the truth,even if it's true.As long as people are sortof comfortable in the here and now,they would rather not hassle with aknowledging the exsistance of such gruesome realities.I have several friends who I have explained many of these undeniably shocking items to,and even though they believe me,and they know I am talking about actual,factual realities,,,,,,,,they, perhaps wisely,choose to not concern themselves with such monstrous scandals.Their lives are already saturated with the stressful realities of exsistance,,jobs,,families,,,relationships,,etc.;and the thought of adding such a ghastly concept to their already stressmaxed worlds,is not possible. Dont,,,please dont let any of my comments dampen your zeal.The world needs more people like you.You have inspired me,and revived my galactic mojo.Keep on keepin' on..................dddd ..................(*)my apologies to anyone who is offended by this crude analogy [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Toker00 on February 13, 2001 at 21:01:00 PT But my spirit they will NEVER touch. Thanks FoM, dddd. The loss of my innocence and other things have done nothing but stengthen the one thing they will NEVER touch. My SPIRIT!I'm gonna become the proverbial thorn in their side. Their worst nightmare. I will become Taz's evil twin, to them. You don't rip my heart and faith out and get away with it. We have to be more determined than ever to stand up against this wall of evil. I don't care what it takes. Violence is DEFINITELY not out of the question. But we HAVE to do something. I am TOTALLY committed to regain my honor.Peace? Not anymore. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by dddd on February 13, 2001 at 19:28:29 PT Outasight! Toker00.Your new awakening almost brought tears to this old hippies eyes.I share your disgust for the devious and demented demockracy we now have.Your sudden realization brings home one of the most frightening aspects of all.That is,that we have a brainwashed public that actually believes that our country is run by honorable people,with honorable intentions.When you suddenly realize that the world has been silently taken over by dark,and obscure entities,,the first reaction is shock and disbelief.If you try to explain it people,most will think you are off your rocker.They will make you feel as if you've gone off the edge,and suspect that you are becoming paranoid and delusional.....After all,,most people think that if such things were true,,they would have read about them in the Washington Post,or that Tom Brokaw,or Ted Koppel would have surely reported on such things.Keep on keepin' on my friend.JAH be with you...................................................................................................................................dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 13, 2001 at 18:26:10 PT I know what you mean Bless Your Heart Toker00 [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Toker00 on February 13, 2001 at 18:23:31 PT My heart is boken, my mind is blown... And to think I agreed to defend this government with my life. I'm sending my Honorable Discharge back to the pentegaon. It is no longer an honorable document. It is smeared with lies and deceit. It is smeared with the blood of my countrymen who died, unknowingly, for corporate fascism. Our government has become the very demon their bravory sought to defeat. With it, I will send every title of every book and every link to every site, that I know of, that exposes them for what they are. My patriotism has been castrated. My pride, incinerated. My heart broken, and my mind blown. No longer will I rise up in anger when I see terrorist attacks on this government. For their attacks, in my eyes, are justified. Forever more I will roam this beautiful country and gather the peices of a shattered dream I would have once died for.A dream that is now replaced with a nightmare. When I meet my Creator, I will show him the pieces and explain that this is what I defended in your name, Creator. Not what it has become.Peace. Legalize Cannabis, for it IS the tree of Life. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by mom on February 13, 2001 at 16:09:22 PT Deep Depression Me too [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 13, 2001 at 13:20:39 PT My 2 cents Hi Everyone, I've been battling a really bad case of the flu for a few days now and have felt depressed. I thought it was because I was sick but it's not. I'm truly afraid for where our country is heading. I hope and pray that we see change soon or what will happen? This country will rebel. They have raised a generation that believes they have rights. When they find out they don't have the rights they believe that we have anything could happen. We could have a war within our own country and Cannabis is really only symbolic to our very freedom as a whole I believe. I hope I'm wrong and I hope it is the flu. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by defenderoffreeworld on February 13, 2001 at 13:07:10 PT: Toker00, i am aware and scared sh-tless i might as well recommend a book with very good information regarding the new world order, and all these soon-to-come governmental reforms. Its called "Project Lucid" and can be easily found on the net. I encourage you to read it, for you won't believe the factual info that it contains. i know that it caused me to lose my innocence over night. spread the word, cause shit is going to go down soon, we might as well be prepared for it. and you're right toker00, legalizing cannabis is the least of our worries, but a worry that can bring us together in the fight towards the government. cause legalization is merely a part of our fight for civil liberties and freedom. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by jAHn on February 13, 2001 at 07:30:13 PT The mother of 'em all... http://www.copvcia.comTry this one!PLUS... The HighTimes issue with Snoop Dogg on the cover has news about Skull and Bones. Two more issues, following the Snoop edition, also have further detailed reports about Skull and Bones.P.S. Don't take the Big Media "News" programs too seriously, they're a FRAUD! They don't want you to know half of this shit! These days are doomed. The Nazi agenda is moving forth, once again!P.S.S. In the beginning days of World War II, Readers' Digest praised Hitler and his "beautiful army." Uniformity is the Way....Conformity gets a Say. ...WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE? "They're NOTHING--- ---Compared To a Machine." first page [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dddd on February 12, 2001 at 23:13:34 PT The Outer Limits I know exactly how you feel i_rule.When you first find out about some of these things,and realize that many of these theories are quite plausible,,it send a chill up your spine.....The cold and clammy grip of gruesome astonishment is indeed,,,,,a SHOCK!....you start to wonder if anyone else is aware of this shit.,,,and if they are,why isnt someone doing something about it,and spreading the news,,sounding a warning.Welcome to the twilight zone my friend.Here are some areas to explore,,,most of these sites are sort of reserved.If you're interested,I can supply you some other more far out sites..................d.....d..............d...................d...................most peculiar...........most peculiar indeed!http://www.shout.net/~bigred/cn2.htmlhttp://prorev.com/demohits.htmhttp://www.disinfo.com/pages/categories/Conspiracies/http://www.disinfo.com/pages/categories/Mind_Control/http://emporium.turnpike.net/P/ProRev/fema.htmhttp://emporium.turnpike.net/P/ProRev/fascist.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Toker00 on February 12, 2001 at 22:03:56 PT Skull and bones society? Trilateral commission? WHAT THE HAY??? Did anyone else watch the history channel tonight about secret societies? Skull and bone society? Man, this stuff is nightmarish!! We are to have a GLOBAL NAZI GERMANY TYPE GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? So THAT is what the WTO protesters were about? Sorry. I am totally shocked. Can someone direct me to more info about this crap? If what I saw tonight is true, legalizing Cannabis is the LEAST of our worries. I am truly stunned...MAN. I suspected a shadow government, now I am totally convinced. Sorry if I sound so dumb about this. Sheeeeesh!!!!NO WTO! WE ARE SO SCREWED!! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: