WHY BUSH MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF LATIN AMERICA

摘要

It's not surprising that an Administration preoccupied with Iraq and terrorism has had little time for other crises. But the U.S. could be deeply engaged in fighting fanatics for years to come, and it is essential that other serious problems not fall off Washington's high-priority agenda. Case in point: Latin America. Consider Mexico. Just days before the September 11 attacks, Presidents George W. Bush and Vicente Fox were working toward a deal to resolve the status of the 3.5 million illegal Mexican workers in the U.S. But after September 11. progress stopped. As a result, millions of Mexicans still cross the border illegally, many subjected to physical abuse when caught. Undocumented workers who get into the U. S. find themselves at greater than ever risk because oi homeland-security concerns. All this is happening even as America needs productive Mexican workers. Moreover, labor issues have chilled cooperation between the U. S. and Mexico on trade, environmental protection, illegal narcotics traffic, and sharing of energy and water.