Bush Tries to Win Latam Friends at Tough Summit

[Say_What]

A$$hole Bush trying to bully LatAm countries with plenty of protests going on in Monterrey. Check remarks from Hugo Chavez in last part of the article.

<clips>

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Latin American nations fiercely resisted a U.S. proposal to punish corrupt governments on Monday even as President Bush (news - web sites) tried to win friends and isolate rivals at a regional summit.

The United States wants the 34 leaders at an Americas-wide summit in Mexico to agree to sanction the region's most corrupt governments by barring them from future meetings, but many were wary that it would lead to more U.S. dominance.

The corruption proposal seemed certain to fail. Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham said it met "a lot of resistance" because it was too vague and too difficult to apply.

"All countries have some corruption, including our own," he told reporters. "Who will determine the criteria for that and who is the person who will decide whether a country is invited (to meetings) or not?"

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040112/wl_nm/americas_dc_12


Mexican activist hold up a placard which read 'Welcome to Mexico,backyard of the United States! Out with the FBI (news - web sites) from Mexico!' at Mexico City's international airport, January 8, 2004. He was protesting security measures taken at Mexico's airport under U.S. pressure. Mexico's human rights ombudsman has said passengers were 'mistreated and humiliated' by the security personnel. REUTERS/Henry Romero

[bemildred]

1. Off to a good start, I see.

I wonder if these talks will collapse early too.

[Say_What]

2. Marches and protests planned for the next two days

Protests planned over the next two days during the Summit.


An anti-globalization protester holds a placard against U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites), during a march against the Summit of the Americas in Monterrey, Mexico, January 12, 2004. Leaders from the Western Hemisphere, including U.S. President George W. Bush, are taking part in the summit and are expected to discuss a wide range of issues including a U.S. proposal to punish corrupt governments. REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar

[0007]

3. Not a word about Bolivia - I think they're a little upset also!

[young_at_heart]

4. One protest after another!

Surely even the diehards will take notice....he's not very popular is he?

[drscm]

5. Who cares what all those "furrinners" think?

Bush doesn't.

[Say_What]

6. Bush, a murdering imperialistic rat...

<>
A protester holds up a anti-US sign that says 'Bush, a murdering imerialist rat, kill it where you find it' during a protest march against the Special Summit of the Americas in the city of Monterrey, northern Mexico on Monday Jan. 12, 2004. (AP Photo/Victor Ruiz Caballero)

[yellowcanine]

7. I guess Bush isn't planning on attending future meetings

Or maybe he is not counting on winning the election in November. Because if corrupt governments are barred from future summits that would leave his government out, no?

[peacebuzzard]

17. EXACTLY!

Dead on, dude! Latin America is exploding with anti-americanism. Anti Bush is meshing with anti americanism is general. I was afraid that tone would set in. Please, dear Lord we have GOT TO PUT A DEMOCRAT in office.

[readmylips]

8. Did Prez Fox put the protestors in a 'boosh no see' zone?

I wonder just how restricted the Mexican protestors are, and if boosh is kept out of sight from watching real democracy in action.

[Judi Lynn]

9. All dressed up, nowhere to go!

Looks like this conference may not be going anywhere at all, according to this article:

(snip) Expectations Are Low at Americas Conference
By TIM WEINER and ELISABETH BUMILLER

Published: January 12, 2004


MONTERREY, Mexico, Jan. 11 — President Bush and 33 elected leaders of the Americas will meet here on Monday without a common vision for the future of the Western Hemisphere.

Expectations for great progress are low and friction on important proposals is high. The leaders of Brazil and Argentina do not see eye to eye with Mr. Bush on his free-trade agenda. President Vicente Fox of Mexico will press him to do more for migrants than his proposition of temporary work permits.

The national security needs of the United States are being viewed by some leaders as imperious demands on their sovereignty. American agricultural subsidies are seen by some as crushing small peasant farmers and stifling competition.

Government ministers from the 34 nations at this Summit of the Americas, who have met here since Thursday, had not even agreed on a common declaration to be issued by their leaders. An American official here said there were only "possibilities at the margins" for the United States' agenda of advancing trade, security and migration control.

"There's a tremendous amount of discontent in Latin America with the United States," said Arturo Valenzuela, a former senior National Security Council staff member.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/12/international/americas/12LATI.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Those photos give a lot of depth to this story, Say_What. Thanks.

[peterh]

10. I think the new guy up North….

Could provide some real entertainment tomorrow….I like his style so far…

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/040112/w011266.html


Earlier Monday, Martin said he will take a distinctly Canadian approach in defending his country's interests when he meets Bush.

He said that he's facing a formidable task in establishing a rapport and finding common ground with Bush.

Martin signalled he will champion the Canadian approach to social development, adding disillusionment expressed by Latin American leaders is the result of narrowness of U.S. economic theories.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Really decent article!

Martin, however, distanced himself from criticism he might get too cozy with the United States.

"I'm going to put forward the Canadian view, period," he said. "We are an independent sovereign nation and we will make our own decisions."

Isn't THAT refreshing to hear? _Bush can't buy or bully them ALL, we hope.

It'll be great if we learn he has learned to maintain his own course.

[PaDUer]

18. His reputation

precedes him..lol

[Say_What]

11. 'Discontent in LatAm with the US' --wins the no sh*t sherlock award

From the article "They are working in restaurants, they are picking mushrooms, they are harvesting broccoli, working in McDonald's, working at Wal-Mart," he said of millions of illegal Mexican migrants. They should have the right, he said, to be "documented and legal," and to "go and work, return home and see their family, return and work. That's the idea, the idea that we want to endorse."

Reminds me of a cartoon I saw recently. LOL

<http://www.caglecartoons.com/images/preview/{4EC01C29-43BA-453F-9939-3454FA1BD02E}.gif>

[Jazzgirl]

15. I read that and thought it was so racist.

"...picking mushrooms, harvesting broccoli..." Reminded me of "pickin' cotton in da fields." What a load of crap. I don't know what to think about Fox. The whole thing is so demeaning.

[Art_from_Ark]

16. Interesting opening line from the article

"President Bush and 33 elected leaders of the Americas..."

[Judi Lynn]

20. Ohmigod! It just finally hit me!

He's BOUND to feel out of place, with 33 leaders who were actually elected.

No wonder he's acting strange. Did you see the photo of him glaring at Chavez? Say_What also said he's on tape somewhere with his face twitching today.

Must be murder rubbing shoulders with so many elected Presidents.

[Say_What]

12. Effigy of Bush burned outside the US embassy

An effigy of President Bush (news - web sites) is burned during a protest outside the US Embassy in Monterrey, Mexico at the start of the Special Summit of the Americas. (AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme)

[Judi Lynn]

14. I note their expressions are very serious and thoughtful

Looks as if Latin Americans have learned a whole lot, in human sufferning, from the days they rioted when Richard Nixon visited, with "Yanqui Go Home" signs.

[revcarol]

19. Notice the swaztika on the hat.

Guess they're just being "unpatriotic" to notice the similarities between the Bush administration and the fascist regime.

[Judi Lynn]

21. Thanks for pointing it out. I would have missed it.

I did see a couple of effigies on another thread holding out one of their arms, as in Nazi salutes.