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 Editorials | At Issue
Amnesty Calls on New Government to Improve Mexico's Justice System
 thelawyer.com
Mexico's public security and criminal justice system has been slammed in a new report by Amnesty International. Entitled 'Laws Without Justice', the report published earlier this month highlights the absence of the 'presumption of innocence' clause in the constitution and claims that this has contributed to a lack of confidence in Mexican justice.
Fewer Illegal Border Crossings Accompanied by More Violence
 Michael Martinez & Oscar Avila
Illegal border crossings are declining because of tougher enforcement. All sectors on the southern border are showing drops in apprehensions of illegal migrants.But the crackdown has been accompanied by deadlier tactics by the most daring smugglers.
US Democrats Signal a Wider Battle Lasting the Rest of President's Term
 Peter Baker
After enjoying great deference in the conduct of national security for his first six years in office, President Bush now faces an assertive opposition Congress that has left him on the defensive. The nonbinding resolution passed on a largely party-line vote seems certain to be the first of a series of actions that will challenge Bush for the remainder of his presidency.
What Really Happened in Border Shooting?
 Pauline Arrillaga
The prairie where it all happened is quiet now, but for the occasional Border Patrol vehicle passing by. A sign rests near a muddy ditch, "Stop Illegal Immigration," left behind by protesters who have visited in homage to two ex-agents, imprisoned for shooting a drug smuggler in the backside as he sprinted toward Mexico.
Mexico Moves to Decriminalize Drug Possession - So It Can Concentrate on Drug Traffickers
 Drug War Chronicle
Legislators have introduced a bill in the Mexican Senate that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs for "addicts." An even stronger drug reform bill that included higher personal drug possession limits and would have applied to all drug consumers passed both the Mexican Senate and Congress, only to be vetoed by then President Vicente Fox after strong objections from Washington.
Switzerland: Too Many Languages?
 Domenico Maceri
Unlike some other countries which try to stick to one language, the presence of several languages in the country has not prevented the Swiss from establishing a strong economy and a high standard of living for its citizens. The Swiss, in fact, have used their multilingualism and multiculturalism as a strength.
The Rise and Fall of a Great Mexican Newspaper
 Michael Werbowski
The mysterious murder of journalist Jose Manuel Nava, and its unclear motive ended another chapter in the long, glorious, and at times sordid saga of what was, historically speaking; one of Mexico's most famed newspapers - "El Excelsior."
Mexico Gangs Strong Despite Crackdown
 Traci Carl
Roberto Campa, executive secretary of Mexico's National Public Security Council, said the military offensive has been successful in regaining a few drug strongholds, but other areas remain under the thumb of traffickers.
Mexican Smugglers Create U.S. Border War Zone
 Judicial Watch
The competition among Mexican human smugglers is so fierce that large portions of the U.S. border have been transformed into crime-infested corridors where gunfire and murder are commonplace.
Will the Watada Mistrial Spark an End to the War?
 Jeremy Brecher & Brendan Smith
On the surface, the ruling by Lieut. Col. John Head appears to result from a procedural technicality, but in fact it is a defeat for the Army's central goal in prosecuting the 28-year-old officer. The judge had gone to extraordinary lengths to try to keep Watada from achieving his objective of "putting the war on trial."
Army Giving More Waivers in Recruiting Ex-Cons
 Lizette Alvarez
The number of waivers granted to Army recruits with criminal backgrounds has grown about 65 percent in the last three years, increasing to 8,129 in 2006 from 4,918 in 2003, Department of Defense records show.
10 Billion 'Excess' U.S. Dollars in Mexico Tied to Drugs
 David E. Kaplan
America's drug habit – the world's largest – is making Mexican and Canadian dope dealers rich. Filthy rich, according to the latest data from U.S. counternarcotics analysts.
One in 5 Overseas Americans Unable to Vote in Elections
 Brian Knowlton
According to a survey conducted by the Overseas Vote Foundation, one in five overseas Americans who sought to vote in the 2006 midterm elections last November were unable to do so, often because the ballot arrived late, or not at all.
Evangelical Christians in Mexico Increasingly Persecuted by 'Traditional Catholics'
 Michelle Vu
Traditional Mexicans view Protestant Christianity as a threat to their culture, tradition, and Catholic faith, especially given the number of Mexicans in recent decades that have changed to evangelical Christianity after reading the Bible.
Groups: US Immigration-Police Operation Crossed the Line
 Katie Fairbank
Gov. Rick Perry's office pitched Operation Wrangler to the public as a statewide crackdown on cross-border criminals – gang members and smugglers of drugs and humans. Illegal immigrants were not targets, officials said.
Faces, Faces Everywhere
 Elizabeth Svoboda
Why do we see faces everywhere we look: in the Moon, in Rorschach inkblots, in the interference patterns on the surface of oil spills? Why are some Lay’s chips the spitting image of Fidel Castro, and why was a cinnamon bun with a striking likeness to Mother Teresa kept for years under glass in a coffee shop, where it was nicknamed the Nun Bun?
Searching for Greener Pastures Leads Immigrants into Perilous Ground
 Michael Becker
For many years, those who left Mexico were branded by successive PRI governments as traitors. When Vicente Fox, of the Partido Accion Nacional, ended the PRI's lock on power in the mid-1990s, he chose to instead celebrate the country's emigrants as heroes.
Wolfowitz Emerges as Key Figure in US Intel Manipulation
 Jason Leopold
Paul Wolfowitz, former under secretary of defense, has been identified in recently released grand jury transcripts as being involved in a White House smear campaign against Joseph Wilson, the former US ambassador who accused the Bush administration of manipulating intelligence in the run-up to the Iraq War.
Hope for the Poor in Latin America?
 Samuel Gregg
Few realize it, but May 2007 could be a decisive moment for Catholic Latin America, when Latin America’s Catholic bishops will meet in Brazil for the Fifth General Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Bishops to consider the profound challenges confronting the area.
New Same-Sex Law Challenged in Coahuila
 El Universal
State legislators from President Felipe Calderón´s conservative National Action Party (PAN) have asked the Supreme Court to overturn a same-sex civil union law in the northern state of Coahuila.
You Can’t Abuse Immigrants
 Domenico Maceri
“Hopefully this sends a message that you can’t point a gun at little kids,” stated Ronald Morales, referring to a jury’s verdict which convicted Roger Barnett of threatening a hunting party that he took for illegal immigrants with an assault rifle.
Carrillo Insists Collusion Ended ´Dirty War´ Probe
 El Universal
Ignacio Carrillo Prieto, who during the Fox administration investigated the state-sponsored campaign against leftists carried out a generation ago, said Saturday that his special prosecutor´s office was closed as 'punishment' for charging former President Luis Echeverría in connection with two massacres.
DoD Report Appears to Confirm Downing Street Memo
 Jason Leopold
A long-awaited report on the veracity of pre-war Iraq intelligence has found that a secretive policy shop exaggerated the Iraqi threat, providing the White House with cherry-picked information about links between Iraq and al Qaeda.
For U.S., No Handshakes - or Respect - from Mexicans
 Luis Arroyave
Exhibitions are an opportunity for a coach to learn about and make decisions about his team. At the same time, they also spark more questions, especially for fans. Here are some questions soccer fans might be asking after the United States' 2-0 exhibition victory over Mexico on Wednesday.
The U.S. and Mexico: A Newly Courting Couple?
 Marcela Sanchez
During his first visit to Washington after being elected president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon didn't sound that different from other Mexican presidents trying to make a splash here.
Latinos Lob a Few Words at California Governor
 Anna Gorman
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's off-the-cuff comments in recently released audio recordings about illegal immigration and the unwillingness of Mexicans to assimilate into American society have drawn angry responses this week from Latino community and political leaders.
Acapulco in the Front Line as Mexican Drug Cartels Hit Back at Government
 David Usborne
Frank Sinatra sang wistfully about it and Errol Flynn adopted it as his winter hang-out, but the scenic Mexican resort city of Acapulco is struggling to protect its image as a jet-set paradise amid an outbreak of street violence that is being blamed on warring drug cartels.
Mexican Peasants Want the Government's Ear on Corn Issues
 Caspar Weinberger Jr.
The issue is corn and the skyrocketing prices for tortillas, a flat bread made of white cornmeal. Since this food is the basic staple of the poor of Mexico, any dramatic rise in its price is bound to cause misery and outrage amongst the working and impoverished classes of America's southern neighbor.
Mistrial Could be End of Watada Case
 Mike Barber
The Army court-martial of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, which ended in a mistrial Wednesday, may have stranger turns ahead: Prohibitions against double jeopardy may keep prosecutors from having a second trial, his lawyer and another legal expert say.
Abuses Said Possible in Mexican Drug Sweep
 Reuters
Amnesty International raised concerns on Wednesday over President Felipe Calderon's use of troops to control Mexico's spiraling drug violence, fearing rights abuses and echoing worries of the United Nations.
Libby Testimony Points Directly to Bush, Cheney
 Jason Leopold & Marc Ash
According to trial transcripts obtained by Truthout, former White House staffer I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby testified before a grand jury in 2004 that Vice President Dick Cheney instructed him to divulge portions of a then-classified report to New York Times reporter Judith Miller. Libby testified that Cheney said authorization to leak a section of the report had come directly from President George W. Bush.
Residential Real Estate in Acapulco Battered by Rising Crime
 Augusta Dwyer
While Acapulco is popular, especially among visitors from Mexico City, real estate buyers are having second thoughts about the famous beach resort.
When Striking Teachers Face Death
 Derrick O'Keefe
If you thought the 2005 teachers strike in British Columbian was a tough fight, consider the risks run by teachers in Oaxaca, Mexico who walked out in May 2006 to demand better conditions for themselves and their students.
Spin It!
 David Lord
Ask yourself why a defendant in a criminal trail has more rights to legal counsel, due process and a fair impartial jury than US Veterans seeking compensation for wounds of war? The answer: because the VA is controlling all aspects of the claims process.
Parental Kidnappings Across the Border
 Angela Kocherga
The growing number of Americans living in Mexico make it an attractive hiding place for parents on the run. There are more than 200 such cases, U.S. officials say.
When a Visa Becomes a Headache
 Sara J. Welch
Travelers from emerging economies like India, China, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe are required to have visas to come to the United States (citizens of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan and Singapore do not require a visa for visits shorter than 90 days) and many complain that the process deters them from traveling there.
Calderón: We Must Update Constitution
 Kelly Arthur Garrett
On the anniversary of its adoption, President Felipe Calderón praised the Mexican Constitution as the foundation of "a modern and vigorous state" - and then called for an overhaul of the document.
In Orlando, a Law Against Feeding Homeless - and Debate Over Samaritans' Rights
 Associated Press
Orlando, population 200,000, works hard to conjure the image of a true-life Pleasantville. But its spotless sidewalks and twinkling skyline belie a real city with real maladies - most notably, a surging homeless population that authorities are struggling to control.
U.S. Set to Begin a Vast Expansion of DNA Sampling
 Julia Preston
The Justice Department is completing rules to allow the collection of DNA from most people arrested or detained by federal authorities, a vast expansion of DNA gathering that will include hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, by far the largest group affected.
The Last American Warlord
 Garrett Johnson
William Walker was executed by firing squad on September 12, 1860, in Honduras. In Central America there were celebrations. In Washington D.C. and London there was a collective sigh of relief. If anyone mourned his passing outside of the American South, they did in private.
Stand Against Iraq Sends US Officer to Trial
 Tomas Alex Tizon
Thousands of GIs have gone AWOL or voiced opposition to the war in Iraq, but when an officer says he will not go, the whole military machine must take note. It means dissent has crept up the chain of command, potentially undermining the war effort.
On Its Day, a Look at the Mexican Constitution
 Allan Wall
The U.S. Constitution was designed for a limited-government republic. In contrast, the Mexican Constitution of 1917 was designed for an activist state, entrusted with granting social justice to its citizens. Its social guarantees are pointed to with pride.
Illegal Children or U.S. Citizens?
 Domenico Maceri
“By virtue of being born in the United States, a child is a U.S. citizen. What more proof does the federal government need?” asked S. Kimberly Belshe, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. Belshe was questioning the new federal policy which states that children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants with low incomes no longer qualify automatically for health insurance through Medicaid.
In Death, Immigrants’ Return Home Matter of Culture
 K.O. Jackson
As more immigrants live in the United States, their daily lives and silent mournful moments are also becoming part of American culture. Being buried at home – surrounded by friends and family – isn’t the same for everyone.
Ethanol and its Unintended Consequences
 Deroy Murdock
Many Democrats and some Republicans applauded President Bush's State of the Union proposal for a 20 percent reduction in gasoline use over the next 10 years, largely through greater reliance on ethanol. Mr. Bush's idea, however, is adding corn-based fuel to protests in Mexico City.
Peso Wars at the Pizza Counter
 Philip Sherwell & Jacqui Goddard
To the founder of the Pizza Patron empire spread across the south-west of the United States, allowing customers to pay with Mexican pesos instead of dollars seemed sound business sense. But to some Americans, the "Pizzas for Pesos" promotion is further evidence that the country's identity is being overwhelmed by immigrants from Latin America.
Senators Vow to Defend Greater Press Freedoms
 El Universal
Defamation and calumny may soon cease to be criminal offenses in Mexico after key senators from all three major parties came out in favor Friday of legislation to decriminalize the so-called "honor crimes."
Death Penalty: Abolition, a Capital Issue
 Marie-Laure Colson
"A country passionate about freedom cannot retain the death penalty as part of its laws." These were the words with which Robert Badinter started his August 1981 plea in favor of abolition of the death penalty. A quarter-century later, the death penalty has definitively passed into history for France.
Zócalo Protest Calls Attention to High Prices
 Kelly Arthur Garrett
After two quiet months, demonstrators filled the capital´s central square Wednesday, protesting high food prices and clearly showing President Calderón his honeymoon is over.
Mexico Enacts Law on Domestic Violence
 E. Eduardo Castillo
President Calderon praised on Thursday a new law that obligates federal and local authorities to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women, and he promised a 'relentless' fight against gender-related abuse.
A Case for Impeachment
 Robert Scheer
How then is it possible that a Republican-controlled Congress impeached President Bill Clinton over his attempt to conceal marital infidelity but that a Democratic-led Congress will not even consider impeaching this president for far more serious transgressions against the public trust?
Recent Mexican Border Standoff Raises Questions
 Alicia A. Caldwell
A recent standoff between National Guardsmen and heavily armed outlaws along the Mexican border has rattled some troops and raised questions about the rules of engagement for soldiers who were sent to the border in what was supposed to be a backup role.
Mexican Prison is 'Hell,' Says Jailed Canadian
 Petti Fong
Starving in a Mexican jail and with little prospect of release, Mission, Canada resident Peter Kimber is still fighting mad. Now, with the help of a website and family members taking his plea public, Mr. Kimber hopes that he can draw attention to his case.
Mexico Leftist Leader Sees Strength Fade
 Ioan Grillo
Leftist leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has declared himself Mexico's 'legitimate president,' saw his strength wane as organizers of Wednesday's march to protest skyrocketing tortilla prices asked him to stay on the sidelines.
Lesbians Register Mexico's 1st Gay Union
 Juan Montano
The couple, Karina Almaguer and Karla Lopez, traveled to Saltillo from their home state of Tamaulipas to register as a "civil solidarity union" under a newly passed law that made Coahuila the first of Mexico's 31 states to grant recognition to such unions.
Mexican Migration Project Director Calls for a North American Union
 Christopher S.
According to Princeton University sociologist Douglas Massey, director of the Mexican Migration Project, the way for America to solve its immigration problem is for the U.S. and Canadian governments to pay for Mexico's infrastructure and "social projects" — leading to an eventual North American Union.
Man Sues Airline in Parental Abduction
 Kansas City Star
A former Kansas City man sued an airline this week, alleging that it negligently allowed his ex-wife to take their daughter to Mexico against his wishes. The mother and 3-old-daughter remain missing in Mexico, said Didier Combe, who filed the suit in federal court in Massachusetts.
Calderón Not Bothered by LatAm Leftists
 El Universal
President Felipe Calderón said Tuesday he is not worried by the emergence of left- leaning nationalist governments in Latin America, insisting the region´s countries can get along despite their policy differences.
Specter: Bush Not Sole 'Decision-Maker'
 Laurie Kellman
Senate Republican, Arlen Specter, on Tuesday directly challenged President Bush's declaration that 'I am the decision-maker' on issues of war.
Economic Policy Changes With New Latin American Leaders
 Mark Weisbrot
A new wave of Latin American leaders is changing the face of the region, and its relations with the United States, multilateral institutions, international financial markets, and foreign investors.
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