Home | Columns | Media Watch | Reports | Links | About Us | Contact

MEXIDATA . INFO
Column 071309 Brewer

Monday, July 13, 2009

Mexico, a Strategic Hub in the Americas Scheme of
Things
By Jerry Brewer
While Mexico’s opposition Institutional Revolutionary
Party, the PRI, claimed victory and moved towards
aspirations of a presidential victory in 2012, the Mexican
internal political struggle must come to grips with Latin
America’s revolving cognitive dissonance.
The pivotal role of Mexico as merely a spoke in a
whirlwind of turmoil contiguous to the United States,
places acute focus on democracy as a fragile Latin
American commodity. It is hoped that voters were not
simply punishing the National Action Party (PAN) for its
alleged “shortcomings,” at great risk to revolutionary
leftists throughout the Americas as potential suitors.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s false form of
democracy, known as Bolivarian Socialism, is indicative
of true revolutionary government. A government of
subterfuge in its processes that include elections, parties, a
congress and courts, each of which has been manipulated
by its national leader who professes to know what the
common good should be and what the people need.
Chavez slyly oblivious to US aid to Latin America which
amounted to US$1.6 billion in 2006 alone.
Chavez’s contributions included vast sums of Venezuela’s
oil revenue in purchasing Russian weapons. It is estimated
that Latin America spends US$50 billion on weapons and
soldiers.
Chavez led the charge in Argentina of mob demonstrators
touting US Imperialism. Bolivia’s President Evo Morales
joined his mentor Chavez in professing to be
“Washington’s nightmare,” as head of the “Movement
Towards Socialism.”
Are leftist leaders in the Americas blowing smoke with
their threats and tough dialogue?
Hardly, as the Western Hemisphere is inundated with
death and violence from paramilitary trained assassins and
enforcers with sophisticated explosives and firearms.
Violent and ruthless gang culture assimilation has found
its way from South America, through Central America,
Mexico, and into US prisons. Where are these so-called
tough talking democratic leftist leaders in denouncing this
scourge on humanity and offering to be a part of the
solution?
Mexico, ranking only second to Canada as a US trading
partner, has graphically suffered in senseless death and
mayhem from drug wars and criminal drug syndicates. US
aid has been substantial and the Mexican government’s
commitment to the cause has been inspiring. The sweep
into Michoacan and arrest of over 25 mayors and
government officials was truly indicative of courageous
dedication by Mexican officials on the frontlines of an
organized criminal hierarchy hunt.
True democratic commitment to the people, by
recognizing the value of human life and freedoms, must
not be a scarce phenomenon in the Americas. It is
suggested that 300 of 365 million people in Latin America
live under left-wing governments.
The recent Summit of the Americas in Trinidad saw leftist
solidarity vying for Latin American support, and agendas
that cleverly mask the desire of a left-leaning political shift
to prevail. The likes of President Rafael Correa of
Ecuador, Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, Evo Morales of
Bolivia, and Mauricio Funes, the newly elected President
of El Salvador, joined Venezuela’s Chavez.
Caribbean leaders appear to be suspicious of Venezuela’s
growing economic and political clout in the region. In a
four-day summit in Guyana, there were complaints about a
growing number of Caribbean trade bloc countries joining
the Cuban and Venezuelan-led Bolivarian Alternative for
the Americas (ALBA).
What might this significant leftist movement throughout
the hemisphere mean to Mexico's new leadership
majority? First off, it is no secret what the geographical
location of Mexico means to anti-US leaders. The
Russians have long benefited from their espionage hub in
Mexico City against the US and its military, as has the
Cuban DGI intelligence apparatus.
Although Mexican President Felipe Calderon has received
high marks for his courage and due diligence with his
military offensive against the organized drug criminals and
their intense and ruthless killing machines, voters chose to
make changes.
As Venezuelan President Chavez continues to vociferously
speak out against US policy in revolutionary fashion,
nations sitting on the fence of indecision could be unduly
influenced by Chavez’s relentless globetrotting in support
of his agendas. Global influence is only as good as the
carrot extended at this level. Chavez’s coercive non-lethal
weapon of choice is Venezuela’s oil revenue. He has
utilized this extensively for his left-leaning allies in
Bolivia and Cuba, as well as western Africa. Too, his
massive expenditures in purchasing high-tech weaponry
from Russia must be scrutinized as to motive versus the
needs of the Venezuelan citizenry.
Mexico must maintain its vigilance on Latin American
dictators in sheep’s clothing. A political party’s
acquisition of power, perceived to be via a rejection or
“lesson” to the administration, makes it ripe for media
restrictions, election tampering, and new corruption bred
by leftist influences seeking a solid footing on strategic
geographical land.
——————————
Jerry Brewer is C.E.O. of Criminal Justice International
Associates, a global risk mitigation firm headquartered in
Miami, Florida. His website is located at
www.cjiausa.org. jbrewer@cjiausa.org