More evidence of the Bush administration's wonderful power to make all the nations of the world hate America.
The US does not have a lot of friends left and for some reason it wants to go after its neighbors too. To help "improve" relations with Mexico we have the following
Mexico
:
Mexico issued a complaint Tuesday against an American-owned hotel that -- under pressure from the U.S. government -- expelled a group of Cuban businessmen meeting with U.S. energy executives, saying the company violated investment and trade protection laws.
Of course no word on what happened to the US energy executives (were they imprisoned upon return to the US for dealing with the "enemy"?) after the meeting. Next time the Cubans should learn that they have to talk to Halliburton ONLY!!! Then there would be no problem.
What's going on? The insane ongoing war with Cuba, that's what.
The US position:
"The hotel in Mexico City is a U.S. subsidiary, and therefore prohibited from providing a service to Cuba or Cuban nationals," said Brookly McLaughlin, a spokesman for the department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. He was referring to the Helms-Burton law, which tightened U.S. trade sanctions first imposed against Cuba in 1961.
"The hotel acted in accordance with U.S. sanctions," he said.
The Mexican position:
"I think that there was evident contempt for Mexican law on the part of the Hotel Maria Isabel Sheraton ... and it is going to be punished for discrimination, consumer fraud and, moreover, for applying laws that do not apply in Mexico," Mr. Derbez told reporters in London, where he is on an official visit.
Now assume the shoe was on the other foot. How would Americans feel if say a Saudi owned hotel in the US refused entrance to Jews based on some Saudi law agaisnt collaboratinmg with Israel. Oh yeah that would go over well I think.
Canada has been dealing with this assinine law for some time, with companies dealing with Cuba having to run around all over the place to avoid US interference. On the other hand, Canadians and Europeans get to visit great beaches without any US cultural interference.
Update: The hotel in question was a Sheraton hotel, part of the chain of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. This chain includes Westin, Le Meridien, Four Points by Sheraton, W Hotels, Luxury Collection and St. Regis. (i.e. a big player)
Update 2: Mexico
Latest update has Mexico likely to close the hotel.Seems they are not happy with US interference on Mexican soil! Surprise, Surprise. Looks like the Treasury Department went too far, again.