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Mexico News Mar. 21

Posted by the Generals on March 21, 2011, 10:37 pm
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Subject: Mexico News DAILY March 21, 2011

LatinNews Daily - 21 March 2011
Pascual resigns in Mexico
Development: On 19 March the US ambassador to Mexico, Carlos Pascual, announced his resignation.
Significance: Pascual’s departure is a victory for President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, who had made it clear, particularly during his recent (2-3 March) trip to meet President Barack Obama in Washington, that he had no confidence in Pascual, following the ambassador’s comments about Mexico and the inefficiency and corruption of its police and army, as revealed in US State Department cables published by ‘WikiLeaks’. During the trip, the US had backed Pascual strongly. Pascual, however, has recognised, according to a State Department statement, that he had become a distraction in US-Mexico relations.
Key points:
• The vetting of a successor to Pascual by the US Senate is likely to be excruciating for Calderón and his government. A growing number of US policymakers believe that Mexico is well on the way to becoming a failed state and poses a major security threat to the US. These points are certain to be aired in the vetting process.
• Pascual’s decision wrong-footed Mexican policymakers. As recently as 16 March, Mexico’s foreign minister, Patricia Espinosa, was disagreeing with her president, arguing that Pascual was doing a decent job as US ambassador.
• Pascual had been in Mexico for 19 months. The State Department has asked him to remain in the country to “organise an orderly transition”.
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  • Mexico News Mar. 21 - the Generals March 21, 2011, 10:37 pm
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