Condi Rice in Mexico... Lauds Impressive Mexican Institutional Function?

The Word Unheard out of Mexico City today is that Condolezza Rice has been infected with the State Logic Abandonment Malfunction, or SLAM. Seemingly immune from SLAM since her appointment as Secretary of State, she proved herself a mere mortal in Mexico City today, only to be outdone by Alistair Bell, Arshad Mohammed and their editors at Reuters.

In an article headlined Rice Tries to Calm Troubled Waters on Mexico Visit, the first of only two sentences quoted from Dr. Rice reads:

"We have been enormously impressed with how Mexico carries out its democratic enterprise, how Mexican institutions function," she told a joint news conference.

First, let's deal with Secretary Rice. It is understood that we need to applaud and support any and all positive changes resulting in a more transparent and functional democracy, wherever it occurs.

But with all due respect, can anyone prepare even a short bulleted list of anything about 'Mexican Institutions' that points to 'Impressive Function'? The Word Unheard has neither the time nor inclination to go digging around for the one or two examples that may indeed exist somewhere.

One of the basic necessities of human survival is a fresh water supply. One cannot drink the water when traveling to Mexico without great risk (nay probability) of gastrointestinal bacterial infection. If the basic puclic necessities and public works cannot 'function impressively', what are the odds that more complex 'Mexican Institutions' 'function impressively'? Mexican Institutions function from top to bottom on a system of bribery, payoffs, kickbacks and extortion. The scale of their inherent and pervasive corruption is what is impressive.

Dr. Rice, please cease and desist with the insincere diplomatic niceties.

But, why stop there? As if on cue, the Reuters staff took the ball from Dr. Rice and gave the additional push needed to carry 'crazy' over the goal line for the score by adding into the folds of their newswire tale:

The United States needs Mexican cooperation on border security against possible terrorist infiltration and Rice, who also struck a deal on sharing water from the Rio Grande on her visit, was conciliatory, recommending Mexico as a model for emerging democracies.

The United States needs Mexican cooperation on Border Security like NORAD needs Canadian cooperation for Missile Defense. Sure, it'd be awful nice. But by all means, feel free to stay home if you have a problem with it.

What the United States needs is to double the size and capabilities of the US Border Patrol. What the United States needs is to demand from President Bush the restoration of at least a 2,000 agent increase this year from it's currently and inexplicably pared back 210 agent increase. What the United States needs is just a small touch of common sense and a lot less congratulatory kindness and misplaced priorities.

Not satisfied, the Reuters hacks toss in this bit while focusing on Mexican politics:

CIA director Porter Goss mentioned Mexico as a possible source of political instability in testimony he gave to the Senate Intelligence Committee in February.

And what did FBI Director Meuller say to Congress about Mexico in March? Not important within the context of a story about US/Mexican relations, apparently.

"We are concerned, Homeland Security is concerned about special interest aliens entering the United States," Mueller said, using a term for people from countries where al-Qaida is known to be active.

Under persistent questioning from Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, Mueller said he was aware of one route that takes people to Brazil, where they assume false identities, and then to Mexico before crossing the U.S. border.

But, that's insignificant. A minor detail. Fear mongering. You know..."playing on our fears!"

Remember, this is the same Mexico that had soccer fans cheering "Osama! Osama! Osama" barely a year ago during a US-Mexico game.

We cannot depend on Mexico for Border Security cooperation, nor should we.

Why can we not assume proper responsibility and take unilateral actions within our own borders?

Just a little common sense. That's all we ask.