STEALING MEXICO - by Greg Palast

[kpete]

STEALING MEXICO
Published by Greg Palast June 30th, 2006 in Articles
BUSH TEAM HELPS RULING PARTY “FLORIDIZE” MEXICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

by Greg Palast

Friday, June 30 — GEORGE Bush’s operatives have plans to jigger with the upcoming elections. I’m not talking about the November ‘06 vote in the USA (though they have plans for that, too). I’m talking about the election this Sunday in Mexico for their Presidency.

.......................

Crucial to the surprise victory of the ruling party was the introduction of computer voting machines and the centralization of voter databases. Observer Andrew Reding of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs reported that ruling party operatives had special access codes denied the opposition.

Whether the US “War on Terror” lists will find a use in Sunday’s election, we cannot know. But the use of American government resources to interfere in south-of-the-border campaigns is an open secret. The GOP’s International Republican Institute has run training sessions for the PAN youth wing, funded by US taxpayers through the “National Endowment for Democracy.”

Foreign — that is, American — interference in political campaigns is a crime. That didn’t stop Team Bush. However, when the theft of its citizen files was discovered, Argentina threatened to arrest ChoicePoint contractors until the company returned the tapes — and Mexico’s attorney general did in fact arrest the ChoicePoint data thieves to avoid his party from looking too much the stooge of its Washington patron. Whether George Bush gave back his copy, no one will say.

Wholesale theft is expected on Sunday in forms both subtle and brutal. How the US’ purloined “counterterrorism” lists will be used, we don’t know. We are certain however, that the Administration did not siphon off these Latin voter files to fight a War on Terror. It appears, rather, part of the Bush Administration’s and GOP’s hemispheric War on Democracy — along a battle line which runs from Florida to Ohio to Juarez.

more at:
http://www.gregpalast.com/stealing-mexico#more-1439
http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/2006/063006Palast.shtml

[autorank]

1. Choicepoint again...the author of our ills spreads the wealth. R!

Excellent article by Palast. You just know it's going to be uglyi when the WH and their wrecking crew get involved. Of course these massivei data file indicents had a longer term purpose.

[zeemike]

2. Doesn't surprise me at all.

And all paid for with tax payers monies.

[jasmeel]

3. This is fucking sick! I figured they wouldn't let anyone get elected

that would hurt the cheap labor American businesses depend on from Mexico. The National Endowment for Democracy has done shady stuff interfering with multiple other countries elections as well. I wonder if anyone in Mexico is paying attention to this upcoming fraud. Anyone know?

[formercia]

4. I wish someone in Canada was paying attention

when Reed became advisor to the Conservatives on the past election.

Unfortunately, they will just have to learn from our mistakes.

[unlawflcombatnt]

5. Thanks for the post

The NeoCon-Artists would hate to see someone in charge of Mexico who might make their investments in Mexico less lucrative. Obrador might show some concern for Mexican workers and wages, which certainly would work against Corporate America's global search for the cheapest, most exploitable labor.

Obrador might not work to increase Corporate control of Mexico, unlike the Bush dictatorship's hand-picked candidate Calderon.

unlawflcombatnt

EconomicPopulistCommentary

EconomicPatriotForum

___________
The economy needs balance between the "means of production" & "means of consumption."

[FogerRox]

6. Kickin for sanity, and for Palast

[ProgressiveEconomist]

7. Kick

[Kurovski]

8. Welcome to DU, ProgressiveEconomist.

Welcome.