Mexico won't back US Iraq resolution

Why is it that all of Bush's international "friends" are abandoning the US? Russia's Putin, whose soul had passed the Bush test, has already sided with the evil French in opposition to the US's "bomb Iraq" UN Security Council Resolution. In most ways, that was to be expected.

But now Bush's supposed best friend, Vicente Fox, has announced his opposition to the measure. Mexico has one of the rotating seats on the Council, and along with Ireland is one of the swing votes. Yet the Americans, who assumed Mexico would vote with them, are showing they are no one's bitch.

And Bush is pulling one of those famous temper tantrums he throws when he doesn't get his way.

Mexico is a crucial swing vote in the Security Council, and the lack of explicit support from President Fox is a setback to the United States in what American officials say will be the final days of the difficult deliberations.

Mr. Fox said Mexico's priority is to achieve a resolution with the broadest possible backing from the 15-nation Council.

"The crucial thing is collective action," he said a few hours after meeting for about 35 minutes with Mr. Bush, who seemed somewhat short-tempered after their discussion. American officials had expected that Mexico, one of the 10 nonpermanent members of the Council, would be what one called "an easy vote."

Fox had high hopes that Bush's close relationship with Mexico would lead to policies friendlier to Mexican immigrants in the US. However, the GOP's right wing swatted down trial balloons testing another amnesty for undocumented immigrants, and Bush has decided making peace with his wingnuts is more important than following through with promises to his friend Fox. Then there was the execution of a Mexican national which didn't go over very well with Fox or his people. While there is no evidence the two issues are linked, I'm sure this all had an effect on Mexico's willingness to stand up to their powerful neighbor.

Not to mention that the US has become so belligerent, that it has become politically popular for politicians in other countries to "stand up" to the US. The German left rode the issue to victory over the summer, and there's no doubt Fox will get a boost from giving Bush the middle finger.

And once again Bush is providing comic relief:

Mr. Bush says he will "lead a coalition to disarm Iraq" unilaterally if the 15-member Security Council does not pass a strongly worded American resolution for inspecting and dismantling Iraq's weaponry.

Unilaterally lead a coalition... And Republicans are proud of this guy?

Posted October 28, 2002 06:52 AM | Comments (8)