George Putnam
Friday, Feb. 15, 2002

After 70 years of corruption and tyrannical rule by the PRI, we welcome President Vicente Fox. But let's take another look. Is America negotiating away her sovereignty?

I look askance at Fox's foreign minister, Jorge Castaneda, and his brazen statements. At a meeting of Latino journalists in Phoenix, Castaneda made it clear that he would brook no compromise.

Looking American journalists squarely in the eye, Castaneda said, "It's the whole enchilada or nothing; we can't slice it one piece at a time."

What is it that is included in Castaneda's list of demands? Basically, he wants a complete surrender of U.S. sovereignty over immigration policy.

America must legalize all Mexican illegal aliens, loosen its already lax border enforcement, establish a guest worker program in the midst of an economic downturn, and exempt Mexican immigrants from U.S. visa quotas.

Not only that, but also the demand that Mexicans living in the U.S. receive health care provided by the American taxpayer and in-state college tuition.

Speaking in Tijuana, Castaneda became even more bold; he aptly described such demands with this statement: "We must obtain the greatest number of rights for the greatest number of Mexicans in the shortest time possible."

Mind you, Castaneda is referring to rights for Mexicans in the U.S. – NOT in Mexico!

Perhaps we'd understand Castaneda better when we reflect upon some of his statements when he was identified as a Marxist. He wrote in his book "The Economics of Dependency," "Democracy is in absolute contradiction with capitalism."

Castaneda is quoted as saying, "Vicente Fox is exactly where he wants to be on open borders, setting the agenda in Washington and Canada."

And he added, "These are not negotiating proposals; these are big ideas – a vision – some will fly, some will not. I learned from him that he will bring a new emphasis to overseeing Mexico's 50 consulates in the U.S. and will try to insure better treatment of Mexicans living in the U.S." – the same Mexicans who send billions of dollars home every year.

"Castaneda's attitude and writings have been fairly anti-U.S.," says Roger Noriega, senior staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "Inasmuch [as] Mexico's relations [with] the U.S. [are] so important, we are hoping for someone in the Foreign Ministry who can play a constructive role in that relationship."

Noriega adds. "Oh yes, that may happen, but it remains to be seen whether Castaneda can put aside his anti-U.S. prejudices and work with us."

Plain to see, Jorge Castaneda, Vicente Fox's foreign minister, has spoken. Will George W. and the rest of us take him at his word?

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