Several weeks ago when Shrub and Fox were courting the Hispanic vote, Shrub said something to the effect that, ‘Mexico was our closest ally’ (sorry I can’t find the speech but it was repeated frequently). To me this was a deliberate slap to our closest ally, Canada. There were a few press rumblings but I suppose we expect our leaders to lie in order to pass whatever legistlation they’re hawking, so not much was made of it.
This week on TV I’ve watched the ceremonies in Canada, London, Rome, Paris, etc., and have even seen a shaken Arafat denounce what has happened. I know that Fox is as shaken as anyone else, but where is the Mexican support? The two Spanish language TV stations here have reported non-stop since Tuesday (as have the other foreign language channels), but they’re American channels reporting American events. I’m disappointed that reporting was not done from Mexico City cathedrals and that Fox’ words were not shared with us. Is this simply an oversight by the networks or has Mexico been relegated to an unimportant nation status? Why the silence?
I think Shrub said “We have no relationship which is more important than Mexico” which many Canadians assumed put the two countries on equal footing, but doesn’t have to. In fact, this is what was assumed by The Globe and Mail (but some other newspapers here did interpret this as a slap in the face). I assume the majority of Mexicans are as upset about this as anyone else and the media is not focussing on this.
“As I said, Mexico is an incredibly important part of the United States’ foreign policy. It is our most important relationship, because Mexico is our neighbor, and neighbors must work together. And we do.”
It was a bit of a snub but we are used to it.
Realistically there are also more problematic issues between mexico and the US whereas the relationship with canada is already extremely close. In economic terms we are by far the largest trade partner to the US but the numbers are relatively static. Trade with Mexico, on the other hand, is growing at a high rate and could outpace canada in years to come.
These factors make mexico a high priority for diplomatic efforts. It doesn’t mean the country has the same sort of relationship shared by long term international allies.
Don’t overlook the obvious. There are far more Mexican-American voters than Canadian-American ones, their numbers are growing rapidly, and they’re predominantly Democratic in orientation. To maintain the GOP’s long-term viability, it has to court them, or at least pull them away from the Democrats.
I don’t think Bush was snubbing Canada at all (well, maybe taking it for granted, but you’re used to that too, eh?).
I don’t think it’s so much silence as the U.S. press doesn’t typically take much interest in Mexico’s daily goings-on, Bush’s affinity notwithstanding.
Mexico’s foreign secretary Jorge G. Castañeda made a general statement to the effect of supporting the U.S. as needed, and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD, the party of Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas) immediately called for his resignation, on the basis of Mexico’s traditional and legally vested non-interventionist approach. Both Fox and Castañeda have hinted that they’d press the Congress to enact legislation allowing Mexico to take a more internationalist role, especially with regard to “leading” Latin America as a regional bloc.
There has been a radio report of a federal deputy from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) saying on the congressional floor that the events of September 11 were an orchestrated conspiracy to reinvigorate the U.S. economy. PRI legislators are known for such brilliance.
However, a <a ref="http://www.camaradediputados.gob.mx/sprensa/boletines.html#0633"Congressional press release</a> says that all parties in the Chamber “expressed their support and solidarity with the victims of the terrorist acts.” Most of the individual statements were tempered with calls that the acts not give rise to continued aggression or race- or religion-based discrimination.
I seem to recall hearing that about 20 Mexican nationals are unaccounted for in the WTC.
Also, one of my sisters in law has claimed that the U.S. had this tragedy coming “because of all their invasions.” Rather than trying to reason with her, I’m thinking up a measured response involving her, razor wire, a bucket of elephant smegma and Clint Howard.