Do you think Mexico has the right to demand no accounting on purpose 1.4 billion anti-drug aid package?

MEXICO CITY: President Felipe Calderon on Wednesday accused U.S. presidential candidates of "swaggering, macho and anti-Mexican" posturing and warned the U.S. Congress not to impose conditions on a $1.4 billion anti-drug aid package.

"The only theme in the (U.S.) electoral campaign is to compete to see who can be the most swaggering, macho and anti-Mexican," Calderon told a local radio station, Enfoque. He did not name any particular candidate or party.

Mexican officials have been sharply disappointed at the failure of years of efforts to reform U.S. immigration policy to legalize the status of millions of undocumented Mexican workers in the United States.

"I find the greatest sensitivity in the U.S. government, some in Congress," Calderon said, but said there was "a total lack of understanding and aggravation, hostility toward Mexico" among Americans in general.

Calderon also appeared to reject any added conditions on a proposed $1.4 billion U.S. anti-drug aid package that had been negotiated with American officials, saying, "I cannot accept any submission or subordination."The proposal by the administration of President George W. Bush, dubbed the Merida Initiative, is meant to give Mexico aid, training and equipment to fight drug trafficking, which U.S. officials see as an American national security problem.

It still awaits approval in Congress, and some U.S. legislators have suggested the program may need safeguards to prevent corruption or human rights abuses by Mexican military and law enforcement personnel.

"I need that technology," Calderon said. "Give it to me. And give it to me without conditions."

Calderon also criticized U.S. involvement in Iraq, saying U.S. leaders were "spending Americans' money and putting the government into debt to finance their military adventure, and that is squeezing out private investment."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/0...

It sounds like Calderon is talking out the sides of his mouth again. Calderon is sounding exactly like President Bush on U.S. matters. Only one is the President of this country, while Calderon is not. Bush's speeches regard 50 billion dollars for the Iraq/Afghanistan wars without conditions. And it is after all our military that is being funded by American tax payer dollars for the most part. Whether or not Congress gives Bush what he wants in those regards is still to be seen. Because our Congress also has that right to deny Bush anything and everything he also wants.

1. The U.S. has every right to put conditions on whatever aid we extend to other countries at any time and every opportunity. Who is Calderon to tell us that we can't?! It is, if Calderon thinks about this, American tax payer dollars that would foot the bill for the technology he thinks he needs to "fight" drug trafficking.

2. When the Mexican officials change Mexico's immigration policies to legalize the millions of Hondurans and South Americans, and other illegals from around the world that sneak into his country, then Calderon, and the Mexican officials can complain about our policies.

Still they can complain all they want, and the U.S does not have to change our policies to compromise or coincide with anything Mexico officials and Calderon does, or wants. So if Calderon wants the 1.4 billion for aid, then he better think twice about turning it down. Because this opportunity might not be given to him again. Accept any and all of the conditions of the aid offered, and make American tax payers happy for a change.

edit: vantz - America can't be that stupid. Calderon may have oil, but it takes our refineries to make his oil worth a dime. And if we know this, then so does Calderon.

calderon studied in harvard?hipocrisy exist everywhere.thanks

Calderon sounds like a miniature version of Chavez in Venezuela. Typical of third world countries though --- give us tons of your money but don't expect any accounting, nor expect ever to be paid back. In the meantime we'll go on hating you and condemning you as vehemently as we possibly can.

Calderon......screw that pig!

Yes he does.

When Mexico was going to legalize several drugs the US stopped Mexico from passing the law. Now if the US wants Americans to stop taking drugs made south of the border they should fix America.

If America is going bully Mexico and tell it what kind of laws it can pass it should pay up and not ask questions.

Not only NO but HELL NO. Mexico needs to deal with its own problems and quit looking to the U.S to help their sorry butts out all the time. Im so sick of our country catering to mexico for everything. There is a hidden agenda behind it I can tell you that. The people of our country need to stand up and say enough is enough.

Calderon can go scr_w himself! I say take the 1.4 billion put it toward building the wall. Secure the damn border, cut off the hand outs, enforce the law and prosecute violators. Mexico needs us a helluva lot more than we need them. I hope Tancredo "swaggers" his "macho" anti-Mexican, self down there and kicks his bloody ****!

As far as I am concerned, Mexico, it's president, and it's citizens have NO RIGHTS to demand ANYTHING of ANYONE in the U.S. or any other country for that matter.

Should we go there demanding rights or anything else? I think we would be shot on sight if we did......

The nerve of this miserable bas*ard. Mexico has oil and I am certain that Calderon is using it as his hammer against America. I wouldn't give Mexico a dime for anti-drug training or toilet paper. The Mexicans are taking advantage of America's stupidity which is clear to any sensible person who can immediately see their tactics. If we give Calderon 1.4 billion dollars he will use $500 for the program, pocket $1 billion and use the rest for a new socker stadium. Not a dime to Mexico!!!

They want no accounting of what the money is used for,so that they can funnel tons of that money into their own pockets. As they have clearly done before with aid from the US,based on the zero % improvement in their society. We are fools if we send them one dime for anything,all that happens is a bunch of connected people get to split up the money. Instead how about we send them a bill for the billions their fellow citizens cost the US every year during their ongoing invasion of our country.

YTP

yes !

NOT A CHANCE.

However, I am against the whole deal. I'd help them, but want the technology in our own hands HOW MANY TIMES do we have to arm a 'friend' only to end up fighting our own technology and training? Look at the Zetas and Saddam, for that matter.

Their military is less corrupt than their police, but we see military vehicles and uniforms guarding cartels across the border relatively regularly. Mexico either doesn't comment or says people dress up as army in army uniforms with stolen materiel.

That looseness is enough for me to think we don't want to give them Blackhawks, etc.

If we behaved in the same manner they would be crying bloody murder. I think the only fair thing to do is withdrawn our aid. Since when do our canidates have to reach out to the leadership in Mexico.

Calder贸n is a hero, he's great and has done things great in Mexico, you Americans should also be happy because thanks his war angaist organized crime there's a lack of drugs in many US cities and their costs have greatly elevated. That's thanks to President Calder贸n so be greatful with him. God be praised that at last we have a good president after 200 years of independence!

Just to make things clear: Calder贸n is not demanding anything from the USA, the USA for once in history proposed to give some help to its neighbour instead of damaging it; anyhow, we would continue doing great without your help.

You can't deny that the things Calder贸n said are true.