[CIMC-work] Mexico/Iraq: Fox warns on possible US reprisals

[donald goldhamer]

CIMC too should be prepared to post a feature on this if/when reprisals begin.
I'll see if I can get Emile to post stories directly if that happens.
--Don
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From: Zola2642@aol.com
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 16:48:54 EST
Subject: Mexico/Iraq: Fox warns on possible US reprisals

From: Emile Schepers

I have been monitoring the Mexican press on the Iraq war issue. As you know, 
Mexico is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and thus has a 
vote on the resolution issue.   70% of Mexican public opinion is strongly 
anti-war.  There have been stories that the United States has been making 
threats to Mexico that if it does not support the US on the war resolution, 
there could be reprisals against Mexican imports and against Mexican 
immigrants living in the US.

In today's left-wing Mexico City daily la Jornada, president Vicente Fox 
Quezada is quoted as saying that Mexico is pro-peace and against any 
unilateral action, which he denounced in fairly strong terms, for him.  
However, he also warned the group of businessmen he was talking to that there 
might well be (negative?) consequences for "our compatriots" living in the 
US, and for  Mexican exporters, if Mexico thwarts the US war frenzy.  This 
suggests that Mexico's resolve may have stiffened, and that threats against 
the Mexican economy and Mexican immigrants in the US have really been made by 
Bush and Powell.  Up to now, many in and outside Mexico have regarded Fox as 
a US puppet.  If he caves in to Bush and Powell, he will face outrage in his 
own population; if he hold firm WE HAVE TO BE READY TO PROTEST any attacks by 
the US on Mexico (which will be in the economic field, mostly) and against 
Mexican immigrants.   These are GANGSTER TACTICS that Bush and Powell are 
using on our neighbors, and must be loudly and publicly denounced.