[Vision2020] Fwd: FW: Help from the South!

[Tom Trail]

>Visionaries:   Our neighbors to the south are sending assistance to the

Gulf States.

Tom Trail

>
>>
>>
>>
>>By MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press Writer
>>Wed Sep 7, 5:11 PM ET
>>
>>
>>
>>MEXICO CITY - Mexican army convoys and a navy ship laden with food, supplies
>>and specialists traveled to the U.S. Wednesday to help in the Hurricane
>>Katrina relief effort — a highly symbolic journey marking the first time
>>Mexico's military has aided its powerful northern neighbor.
>>
>>The convoy was expected to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border Wednesday
>>evening and cross into U.S. territory early Thursday, President Vicente
>>Fox's office said.
>>
>>Radio talk shows and newspapers in Mexico buzzed with excitement over news
>>that this country, long on the receiving end of U.S. disaster relief, was
>>sending a hurricane aid convoy north.
>>
>>The convoy represents the first Mexican military unit to operate on U.S.
>>soil since 1846, when Mexican troops briefly marched into! Texas, which had
>>separated from Mexico and joined the United States.
>>
>>It included military specialists, doctors, nurses and engineers carrying
>>water treatment plants, mobile kitchens, food and blankets.
>>
>>"This is just an act of solidarity between two peoples who are brothers,"
>>said Fox's spokesman, Ruben Aguilar.
>>
>>Army press office employee Francisco Aguilar said he did not have details of
>>the convoy's precise location. It originally was scheduled to arrive in
>>Houston to provide food for evacuees, but apparently had been rerouted to
>>Dallas.
>>
>>All of the convoy's participants will be unarmed. In July 2004, Mexican
>>troops interrupted the funeral of a Mexican-born Marine killed in Iraq.
>>They objected to the nonworking, ceremonial rifles carried by two Marines
>>who came from the United States for the ceremony.
>>
>>Mexico later apologized but said it has an obligation to enforce a ban on
>>foreign troops carryi! ng weapons in its territory.
>>
>>The convoy has "a very high symbo lic content," said Javier Oliva, a
>>political scientist at Mexico's National Autonomous University. "This is a
>>very sensitive subject, for historic and political reasons."
>>
>>Large Mexican flags were taped to many of the 35 olive-green Mexican Army
>>trucks and tractor trailers as they rumbled northward toward the border
>>Wednesday.
>>
>>The convoy includes two mobile kitchens that can feed 7,000 people a day,
>>three flatbed trucks carrying mobile water-treatment plants and 15 trailers
>>of bottled water, blankets and applesauce. The 195 Mexicans taking part
>>include military engineers, doctors and nurses.
>>
>>"This is the first time that the United States has accepted a military
>>mission from Mexico" for such work, said Javier Ibarrola, a newspaper
>>columnist who covers military affairs in Mexico.
>>
>>The relief mission was controversial for some Mexican lawmakers, who said
>>the president should have sought Senate approval before! sending troops
>>abroad. But the Fox administration said no such approval was needed for aid
>>missions.
>>
>>The government was planning to send a second, 12-vehicle aid convoy to the
>>U.S. sometime this week and has sent a Mexican navy ship equipped with
>>rescue vehicles and helicopters to the Mississippi coast.
>>
>>The ship Papaloapan left the Gulf coast port of Tampico on Monday. Fox's
>>office was unsure when it would arrive, but said it would dock about 30
>>miles south of Biloxi, Miss.
>
>
>--
>
>Dr. Tom Trail
>International Trails
>1375 Mt. View Rd.
>Moscow, Id. 83843
>Tel:  (208) 882-6077
>Fax:  (208) 882-0896
>e mail ttrail at moscow.com


-- 
Dr. Tom Trail
International Trails
1375 Mt. View Rd.
Moscow, Id. 83843
Tel:  (208) 882-6077
Fax:  (208) 882-0896
e mail ttrail at moscow.com
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