VFW: Boycott Mexico
The Washington Times reports that the Veterans of Foreign Wars is calling for a boycott on travel to and products from Mexico until former Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi is released from his imprisonment there. He was arrested by Mexican authorities when he accidentally crossed in Mexico carrying firearms and ammunition.
“This combat Marine has been languishing away since he was arrested March 31 for allegedly crossing the border accidentally with three personal firearms that were legally registered in the [U.S.] but not in Mexico,” said VFW National Commander William A. Thien. “It was a mistake, but so is the Mexican government’s reluctance to release him unharmed back to the U.S.”
Mr. Thien added that the VFW has already attempted to negotiate the release politically, asking President Obama to contact Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, but said that that phone call never took place.
Did I mention that Mexican police regularly cross the US/Mexico border “accidentally”?
According to Homeland Security numbers, there have been 300 incursions by Mexican police or troops since Jan. 1, 2004. The Mexicans were armed in slightly more than half of those incidents, totaling 525 people. There was a verbal or physical altercation between U.S. authorities and the Mexicans in 81 instances — totaling 320 Mexican police or troops.
Category: Veterans Issues
I’m in. Especially easy since I had absolutely no plans to go to Mexico or buy Mexican products.
Low hanging fruit for the VFW, who stood by when TAL demanded action on VA…VFW supported Shinseki.
Why don’t we trade say, 100,000 illegal aliens for this one former Marine?
Given how mucho dinero is sent south by “undocumented workers” here in the US, ChipNASA – do you really think that offer would be accepted?
I’ve got a feeling Chip wouldn’t really be asking…in fact he might make a massive down payment up front with no commitment from the other side, and consider it smart business.
And if they kept holding our citizen, that would prove we hadn’t paid enough and had to keep doing it; and if they released him, that would prove they appreciated our gifts, and that we needed to keep on giving for the sake of goodwill.
I could get behind a plan like that.
All the more reason to put a 50% tariff on any money sent to Mexico (or anywhere else) without proof of source, much like an I-9, IIRC.
The Constitution explicitly forbids any sort of export tax.
They can have Joe Biden, John Kerry, as many members of Congress as they want, all of the Cabinet, five Supreme Court justices, the governors of about 20 states and thoses states’ legislatures, every mayor of a city over 100,000 population, the whole NBA, and, if they’ll have ’em, the Red Sox.
AND the Dallas Cowboys…..
/ *runs*
Chip: Sounds good to me BUT the Cowboys’ Cheerleaders stay here.
Hell, I would bet that we could get the Chicago Bears in on the deal too !!! And their cheerleaders too!!!
Then Green Bay wouldn’t have to put up a snow fence to keep the Bears Cheerleaders from grazing on the field.
Everybody wins !!!
Man…leave my ‘Boys alone!!!
2/17 Air Cav…Finally, a common sense answer, thank you. I can think with a few minutes to ponder some local officials they can have as well. The think the NBA is an especially good idea and the Mexico City Red Socks has a nice ring to it. Also the The Juarez Mariners and The Oaxaco Seahawks. I hate Washington state teams. Losers!!!
I’ll see your 100,000 illegal aliens and raise you one VietnamWarProtestingPussy.
Jane Fonda or that douchbag troll that posts here
/why can’t we have both?!?!?
seriously, I could not stop laughing. But you are being stingy. Send 300,000.
Yeah, sure, this will work. No question about it. Thousands of Americans who were headed to Alculpulco will now cancel their travel plans. About 80% of Mexico’s nonhuman exports are shipped to the US. Sure, the boycott will work. Sounds like a Code Pink plan. Pass the salsa.
The worst part is that if this had happened a few years ago Andrew could have told the Mexicans to pack sand because the old border crossing point into Mexico at San Ysidro was a few hundred feet north of the U.S. Mexico border. I hate that Andrew is stuck in jail in Mexico for what could have and should have ended by the border inspector simply turning him around. However I have to disagree with the VFW and all of those calling for the Mexicans to simply release Andrew. The Mexican justice system is very different from ours. It is a civil justice system that relies very heavily on the letter of the law rather than on case law. Regardless of his intent, Andrew broke a Mexican law. Why are so many people not willing to allow the Mexican justice system to decide his fate? Sure there are horror stories, but most are just that; stories. There is no doubt that their system can and often is corrupted, but just as often, it plays out just like ours. I lived in Colonia los Altos for several years and survived the Mexican justice system on a couple occassions. The penalty in Mexico for what Andrew has done is 3 months to 3 years (depending on the actual charge which I have not actually seen published). On the other hand a Mexican citizen, who can legally possess 1/2 gram of cocaine, meth, marijauna, heroin and ecstasy who makes the same mistake and crosses the border into California is looking at 3-5 years for each drug. How quickly would we tell the Mexicans to go piss up a rope if they were clamoring about just releasing them because it was an honest mistake and not letting our justice system work it out? Mexico, just like the U.S., would be stupid to set the precedent of bowing to this type of pressure. It would open the same defense up to every single person crossing the border with firearms, regardless of intent (of course I already mentioned that isn’t exactly how their system works,… Read more »
The answer to your query is that he is an American and a Marine. He is ours. I personally don’t give a shit about some Mexicans who mistakenly carry drugs into the USA. We are not equals. We are not world citizens.
Thomas Jefferson just rolled over in his grave.
When there is clear evidence that an American, any American (Andrew was not there as a Marine, if he was he would be protected by the SOFA [unless it sucked like the one we agreed to in Iraq]) is being mistreated by a foreign nation’s justice system, then I fully agree that our government should intervene. But that just does not seem to be the case here.
What makes us a more perfect union is that we recognize the self evidence of the truth of our equality and apply our standards of what are inherent rights to everyone, citizen and visitor alike.
I respectfully disagree as to what might be the best case scenario.
The USA should take this opportunity to build a concrete, rebar reinforced wall 14 feet high with a 50 yard minefield in front of it.
Mexico is now and has been a joke for most of its’ existence. They have zero respect for our laws and our border crossings, and I find no reason to return them anymore respect than we currently receive from them. The biggest mistake we’ve made as a nation is assuming that Mexico understands what being a neighbor actually means in the USA. Mexico is the Iraq on our borders, a 3rd world nation preying on its’ people and exporting its’ misery north.
If Mexico were wiped off the face of the earth tonight the USA would benefit on several levels both economic and social.
VOV Thank you and thank you again! Mexico would not exist except as a third world shit hole, which a lot of it is anyway, without America and NAFTA. They NEED US far more than we ever will need them. This is a case of Mexican corruption, in this case called, extortion and blackmail for more American dollars to get this Marine released. It is past time to take a hard line stance at our border. My only suggestion, is if the wall is only 14 feet high, it be manned with armed guards at ten yard intervals the whole way. Cost someone says? Far less than the cost to our economy from the flood of illegals now in our welfare system and on the medical dole. Far less.
You are correct. The best case would be for the judge to dismiss the case entirely. I doubt that is going to happen. My best case was simply a combination of the most likely outcome and a desire to see the U.S. and Mexico show some mutual respect and find some common ground on the issue.
We can stand around and thump our chests and pretend we are better than they are, but it doesn’t get us anywhere. Isolationism isn’t the answer. We are a consumer nation. Unless that changes, alienating our trade partners is probably not a great idea.
Building fences and wiping Mexico off the map are emotional and frankly juvenile. We have immigration laws, we just need to enforce them.
OSC(SW) Retired…While I see you points sir, I disagree. Mexico needs America far, far more than the other way around. Mexico could be a strong supportive ally to America. If, they would police their own borders for illegal immigrants. If they would be as sympathetic to Americans who make a mistake in their country as we are to their citizens here. Right now, I do not see Mexico as a “friend” to America but as a necessary evil we have to endure. If they wanted better relations with America in every respect, they would become part of the solution to their problems spilling over our borders, like illegals, drugs and so forth. Instead, they are as big a part of OUR problems as the drug cartels and illegals they allow. They feign support with token arrests and busts which are for show only. In truth they see America as a cow with five teats and they are milking us on all five as fast and hard as they can go. They depend on the largesse of America yet treat us like crap. That is not an ally or friend in my book. It is a national form of the individual illegals who come here to take every handout available from cradle to grave. If I were Mexico’s “Emperor”, I would be building a secure wall on the border to control and allow only “legal” immigration. I would put the drug cartels out of business even if it meant asking America for military support to do so. I would welcome Americans in my Mexico and treat them as well as their citizens are treated in this country, legal or illegal. I would be saying to America, “We in Mexico are your friends and we will prove it. We will show our appreciation for the American money spent on Mexican products by securing our border and patrolling it diligently. Please do the same on your border as well and we will support you in every way. We will treat your citizens here as appreciated guests as you treat our citizens the same.… Read more »
Yet my above post has as much chance of happening as Islamic terrorists around the world tossing their weapons and asking forgiveness for all they have done. Therefore, it is up to us in America, to secure our borders and make sure we are a fair exchange partner with Mexico and not a cash cow to be misused and abused at every opportunity. All the while, thumbing their noses in America’s face.
I completely agree. I’ve been boycotting them for a while(not that it’ll matter). Mexicans have zero respect for this country and its laws. They get away so much shit and the U.S doesn’t say a damn thing. When you go there you get shaken down and extorted by “law enforcement.” It’s a shithole of a country and will continue to be a third world dump. Fuck them.
Haven’t crossed the border since 1997, so I’m already ahead of the boycott. And I can see Mexico from my house.
Right. No salads or chrysler products–looks like I’ve been boycotting mexico since 1995…
My wife watches these “House Hunter International” shows. Sometimes there is a couple wanting a place somewhere in Mexico. I tell the wife, I don’t care how upscale it is and how many security gates it has. You are an American target in Mexico. One of the world’s capitols of kidnapping. Plus, anytime the government decided to nationalize the banks, your money is gone. Leave it here and just get what you need when you need it? No, won’t work either. Then will come the import taxes on all funds coming onto Mexico and seizure of your property? Absolutely. They do not have a system of property ownership akin to ours. A man is not the “king of his castle” in Mexico. If the government decides that your posh three bedroom condo with the water front view, is one, either needed (wanted) by a local “official”, you are out. Or two, if they decide, hey you can house another whole family in your place, so here’s Juan, Juanita and their 6 kids. Juanita is a great cook, that’s your only upside, but your American dollars will support all of them and you. Leave the country and come home…don’t think so. Your Visa is cancelled and your passport will have already been seized. It’s happened to citizens and ex-pats in other countries, Mexico is just the same.
Boycott a third world sh*thole that proves gun control dooesn’t work worse that Chicago? Way ahead of VFW on this one…
Wish I could do more, but I’ve been boycotting Mexico for about 15 years now.
Missed opportunity in 1848. Then we would only have a 750 mile border to defend, and a lot more nice beaches.
Drink up, boys.
Tequila shots for the house!
Mexico is the socialist paradise with total gun control and free education for all.
Why in the world would anyone want to leave?