Mexican Air Force Evacuates Mexicans From Cuba Due To Coronavirus

On Saturday, March 28, 2020, the Mexican Air Force with the help of Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department evacuated 134 Mexican citizens from Cuba. The Coronavirus COVID-19 had stranded the Mexicans in Cuba. The air force flew a Boeing 737-800 to Cuba. In addition to returning the stranded Mexicans, the air force flight also returned 39… Read More Mexican Air Force Evacuates Mexicans From Cuba Due To Coronavirus

The Mexican Presidential Airplane Raffle

Is México really about to raffle its presidential airplane? That’s the question that I keep getting asked when talking about Mexico’s political state. With Andrés Manuel López Obrador, or AMLO, anything is possible. Like Donald Trump, AMLO likes to push unconventional issues to distract from what is going on the county. So, what’s the story… Read More The Mexican Presidential Airplane Raffle

February 11, 2020February 10, 2020 martinLeave a comment

Political Quickbytes

I am so engrossed in the ongoing political shenanigans that often times I do not realize how little important information trickles down to everyday people. It seems that voters are too focused on providing for their families and being part of their families that they have little time to follow the complex world of politics.… Read More Political Quickbytes

January 16, 2020January 15, 2020 martinLeave a comment

The US Postal Service Sucks

The United States Postal Service sucks and there is no way anyone can convince me otherwise. Growing up in México we all knew not to trust the postal service for anything important. Well, USPS should not be trusted for anything important as well. A few years ago, the postal service lost not one, but three… Read More The US Postal Service Sucks

February 21, 2019February 20, 2019 martin1 Comment

The Russia Probe Documents

Part of the problem with politics is that each side has an agenda and thus any discussion about any political issue gets bogged down in self-serving propaganda. In the case of the Russia Probe, or the Special Counsel investigation into Russian meddling, we are faced with those who want Donald Trump out of office forthwith… Read More The Russia Probe Documents

April 12, 2018April 11, 2018 martin2 Comments

U.S. Military Is Losing Its Luster

The United States has, without a doubt, the strongest military in the world. The U.S. military is based on its doctrine, leadership and technology. Although other countries, like China and Russia, could create havoc against the U.S. military, the U.S. military still retains a measure of strategic and technological superiority on a one-to-one scenario. However,… Read More U.S. Military Is Losing Its Luster

November 7, 2017November 6, 2017 martin1 Comment

John Kelly and Slavery

Want to understand the mindset of the Donald Trump administration and their surrogates? Look no further than the comments made by Donald Trump’s chief of staff, John Kelly two days ago. In an interview on Fox, John Kelly was asked about the controversy over the Confederate statues. Kelly stated that the “lack of an ability… Read More John Kelly and Slavery

November 1, 2017October 31, 2017 martin1 Comment

And the First Domino Falls

Two people were arrested yesterday on federal charges of interfering in the 2016 presidential elections. Former Donald Trump campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and a Manafort business associate, Richard Gates, found themselves in front of a federal judge. Both pleaded not guilty. George Papadopoulos was arrested earlier in the month, arriving from overseas on charges related… Read More And the First Domino Falls

October 31, 2017October 30, 2017 martinLeave a comment

And The First Contestant Is

Many people are anxiously keeping their news feeds close by today as they wait for the announcement of who will be the first Trump associate indicted in the Russia scandal. Most readers reading this post today know that special counsel, Robert Mueller, will be filing indictments today. When the first indictment is announced, it will… Read More And The First Contestant Is

October 30, 2017October 29, 2017 martin1 Comment

The El Paso Glass Beach Study in the Trump White House

In 2006, the City of El Paso paid $100,000 to a dubious research firm to create the Glass Beach Study presumably to rebrand the future for El Paso. The study created much controversy in the El Paso community because it suggested that El Paso would be better off if it was de-Mexicanized. The study depicted… Read More The El Paso Glass Beach Study in the Trump White House

October 20, 2017October 19, 2017 martin1 Comment

NAFTA Closer to Ending

On Tuesday, the Fourth Round of NAFTA negotiations concluded. Leading the U.S. delegation was United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. The Canadian delegation was led by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexican Secretary of the Economy, Ildefosno Guajardo led the Mexican delegation. The three ministers issued a joint statement stating that the concluded… Read More NAFTA Closer to Ending

October 19, 2017October 18, 2017 martin1 Comment

The Tomatoes Are Too Red For Some NAFTA Complainers

In 1991, I published “A Hesitant Handshake Between Neighbors”. It was a writeup about NAFTA. In the essay I pointed how that the United States had been relying on import quotas for trade protection before NAFTA. It seems that Donald Trump wants to go back to protecting U.S. jobs by limiting imports. To limit imports,… Read More The Tomatoes Are Too Red For Some NAFTA Complainers

October 18, 2017November 23, 2019 martin1 Comment

Columbus Day in the Age of Cultural Wars

Unless you believe that cultural diversity means speaking only English, or that culture is defined by the Anglo-Saxon way, then you know there is an ongoing cultural war being fought across the country. The cultural war has many levels of intensity – from basic arguments over what is culture, to accusations of cultural misappropriations. Some… Read More Columbus Day in the Age of Cultural Wars

October 9, 2017October 9, 2017 martin3 Comments

Hold the Presses

Hold the Presses! Alert Everyone! The El Paso News is no more! No, not really, so those of you celebrating can put away your champagne glasses for now. Some of you, unfortunately, have been the victims of some Russian hacking of my blog. Yup, the Russians! It has been an ongoing battle for ten days… Read More Hold the Presses

September 28, 2017September 27, 2017 martinLeave a comment

The NFL and Closet Patriots

Apparently, there is a controversy over NFL players kneeling or holding up fists during the national anthem ceremony. Like everything else, there two sides to the debate – those that use the anthem to protest and those that argue that protesting the anthem is disrespectful. It is those that argue that it is about respect… Read More The NFL and Closet Patriots

September 26, 2017 martin1 Comment

Technology is Changing the Diplomatic Battlefield

Author’s note: Thank you all for the well wishes, the notes and the support as we recover from Hurricane Irma. We expect the electricity to be up by this weekend. It’s been HOT, but we have coped and are thankful that lack of electricity is are only problem. I apologize for not responding personally to… Read More Technology is Changing the Diplomatic Battlefield

September 15, 2017 martinLeave a comment

The Path to Citizenship: A Dreamer Case Scenario

As the DACA debate intensifies there is one constant and misleading accusation being made against the Dreamers. Some assume that the Dreamers are either too lazy or refuse to immigrate “the right way”. This argument assumes that the immigration process is reasonable and a process that considers today’s realities. Let’s look at what a hypothetical… Read More The Path to Citizenship: A Dreamer Case Scenario

September 14, 2017 martin2 Comments

No Post Today Due To Irma

Due to Hurricane Irma there will be no post today on the blog. Although we are all safe and there is no serious property damage, we have been without electricity since Sunday at about 18:30 Eastern. Although I have limited cellular Internet access, it is too clogged up at the moment to upload images or… Read More No Post Today Due To Irma

September 12, 2017 martin1 Comment

The Equifax Hack and Corporate Irresponsibility

Most of you are likely aware that Equifax, one of three credit reporting agencies in the United States, reported that about 143 million individuals may have had their personal identity and credit information breached by hackers last week. The hacker stole the private information from Equifax data files. Many people will suffer the consequences of… Read More The Equifax Hack and Corporate Irresponsibility

September 11, 2017 martin1 Comment

Exposing the DACA Lies

Every time there is a debate about immigration reform there are numerous figures thrown out as fact. Arguments are made based on false facts and narratives to push forth the agenda that immigrants are bad, or even dangerous for the country. The debate about the Dreamer is no different. “They took jobs away from Americans”… Read More Exposing the DACA Lies

September 8, 2017 martin1 Comment

Donald Trump Did the Right Thing on DACA

As you likely know by now, Donald Trump began phasing out the Deferred Action for Children Arrivals program on Tuesday (DACA). DACA was implemented by Barack Obama in 2012 as a stop-gap measure to address the issue of immigrants brought to the country as children. Obama’s action was issued as an Executive Order. As such, although… Read More Donald Trump Did the Right Thing on DACA

September 7, 2017 martin2 Comments

What Has Mexico Ever Done for Us?

What has México ever done for us is the number one question I get when discussing U.S.-México relations and immigration issues. A narrative has been allowed to exist where México is portrayed as needy and always taking while never giving back. It is the narrative that fits the nativists of the nation. But it is… Read More What Has Mexico Ever Done for Us?

September 1, 2017 martin3 Comments

Annotated January 27 Telephone Call Between Trump and Pena Nieto

Yesterday, the Washington Post published a White House transcription of a telephone call between Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto and Donald Trump on January 27, 2017. The telephone call happened seven days into Donald Trump’s administration. Below is the original telephone call transcription as published by the Washington Post. I have annotated my comments throughout… Read More Annotated January 27 Telephone Call Between Trump and Pena Nieto

August 4, 2017 martin9 Comments

Car Shoppers Still Buying Mexican Made Cars

Also lost in the noise and the distractions about the Russian scandal and healthcare reform is another little piece of information that Donald Trump and his supporters do not want you to notice. In the first six months of this year, U.S. consumers are still buying Made in Mexico cars over the U.S. versions. This,… Read More Car Shoppers Still Buying Mexican Made Cars

July 28, 2017 martin22 Comments

NAFTA Negotiations

As you likely remember, Donald Trump called the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) the worst trade deal the United States has entered. During his presidential campaign, Trump argued he was going to end NAFTA. After the election, he toned down his argument, instead now arguing that he would renegotiate NAFTA, and if need be,… Read More NAFTA Negotiations

July 27, 2017 martin2 Comments

Piercing Through the Fog of the Trump Jr. Emails

As with all political intrigue, the recent release of the Donald Trump Jr. emails regarding his meeting with the Russian attorney has been overwhelmed with both political spectrum sides trying to dominate the narrative. The anti-Trump crowd is wooing about the criminality of it, while the pro-Trump side is arguing nothing to see here, move… Read More Piercing Through the Fog of the Trump Jr. Emails

July 18, 2017 martin2 Comments

Russian Meddling and the Time the US Unleashed Cyberwar

The issue of Russian meddling is consuming the United States electorate. Lost in all the noise is the simple fact that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. elections. However, most U.S. voters and the news media believe that it is an issue of collusion by the Donald Trump administration. Notwithstanding the many tidbits of political… Read More Russian Meddling and the Time the US Unleashed Cyberwar

July 12, 2017 martinLeave a comment

Mexican Spitfire Pilot in World War II

It is a small church in Normandy. Like many contemporary churches of its time, it has an attached grave yard. The Sassy Churchyard is in Sassy village, which is about six miles (11 kilometers) from Falaise, a small town in Normandy France. The Sassy Churchyard has two recognized burial sites for British Commonwealth personnel that… Read More Mexican Spitfire Pilot in World War II

July 11, 2017 martin1 Comment

Trump Entertains Work Permits for Mexicans

Donald Trump ran on the political platform of making decisions centered on prioritizing the United States first. This has become known as the America First doctrine. Among his major platforms are doing away with trade deals, like NAFTA, that Donald Trump has argued are detrimental to the good of the country. Trump has also argued… Read More Trump Entertains Work Permits for Mexicans

July 10, 2017 martinLeave a comment

The Healthcare Debate

The United States is again debating the country’s health care system. This time it is the Senate that is looking to repeal ObamaCare through a Republican plan. There are two extremes, those that believe that healthcare is the responsibility of the individual, and those that believe that healthcare is a right that must be paid… Read More The Healthcare Debate

June 29, 2017 martin2 Comments

China is Our Friend, Mexico is Not

Yesterday we looked at the Carrier deal and how it is nothing more than a saving jobs smoke-and-mirror narrative. As we saw, Donald Trump bribed Carrier $14,830 per job it kept in Indiana. We also looked at how Donald Trump demonized México as a job killer. Like Carrier, Donald Trump also strong-armed Ford into keeping… Read More China is Our Friend, Mexico is Not

June 23, 2017 martin1 Comment

The Carrier Job Deal

Donald Trump launched his presidential campaign by demonizing México and Mexicans. Among the many disparaging remarks by Trump about México, was the notion that México was to blame for the loss of jobs in the country. Trump labelled NAFTA as the “worst” trade deal ever. Among Trump’s signature promises to the electorate was the promise… Read More The Carrier Job Deal

June 22, 2017 martin1 Comment

The Soviet Assassin in Mexico

At about 5:30 in the afternoon on August 20, 1940, a blood-curdling scream was heard coming from the nearby home office. This was followed by more screams and scuffling. Within a minute, or two, the bodyguards sprang into action and charged into the study. As they entered the room, Leon Trotsky lay on the ground… Read More The Soviet Assassin in Mexico

June 1, 2017 martinLeave a comment

Watergate and Mexico

The ongoing Donald Trump controversies about the Russian election interference and the firing of FBI directory, James Comey, has led many to compare the Watergate controversy to Trump’s latest activities. Trump’s Tweet about “tapes” has raised the specter of another Watergate nexus. México remains a target of Donald Trump. Contrary to Trump and his surrogates,… Read More Watergate and Mexico

May 17, 2017 martinLeave a comment

Donald Trump 100-Day Scorecard

By now you know that Donald Trump’s first 100-days in office ended last Saturday. On October 23, 2016, when Donald Trump was still a candidate, he declared a Contract with the American Voter outlining his plan for the first 100-days in office. The two-page pledge laid a set of promised legislations that Trump would pass… Read More Donald Trump 100-Day Scorecard

May 1, 2017 martin2 Comments

The Western Hemisphere Energy Workshops

Author’s note: This is part 3 of 3 The proponents of the common market scheme knew of México’s continued resistance to the common market plan. They softened up the approach towards México by moving away from the loss of sovereignty issue to a more palatable agreement of sharing resources, including financial assistance and private investment.… Read More The Western Hemisphere Energy Workshops

April 19, 2017 martinLeave a comment

The Common Market

Author’s note: This is part 2 of 3 The North American Common Market, outlined by the report, envisioned a marketplace with the “free movement across of the borders of all commodities, particularly oil and gas, but people as well.” The effort would strengthen the United States against oil manipulation by the Arab nations and protect… Read More The Common Market

April 18, 2017 martin2 Comments

Good Neighbor Policy

Author’s note: This is part 1 of 3 The United States will go to war for oil rang the headlines across México and much of the world throughout the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. On February 14, 1979, then-president Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, was set to meet with Mexican president José López Portillo. Both heads… Read More Good Neighbor Policy

April 17, 2017 martin3 Comments

We Are Complicit in the United Airlines Fiasco

Like most of you, I am outraged at the video that surfaced last week of a passenger being forcefully removed from a United Airlines flight. He was removed because the airline oversold its flight and they needed to make room to transport four airline employees to a new location so that they could work the… Read More We Are Complicit in the United Airlines Fiasco

April 12, 2017 martin2 Comments

NAFTA – It is about global competitiveness for U.S. companies

When asked, the likely answer to the question about what México exports to the United States is that it exports fruits and vegetables, with some respondents adding automobiles to the list. Others will argue that oil is central to the Mexican export economy. However, a review of the most recent trade data, between México and… Read More NAFTA – It is about global competitiveness for U.S. companies

April 6, 2017 martin1 Comment