USA hotels in Mexico are really still in the US!!???

**Mindbender** · 02-08-2006

This story is unbelievable. What's next? People running into MacDonalds for political asylum? Diplomatic immunity for WalMart?... and getting it.

Mexico-US row over Cuban eviction:

The authorities in Mexico say a US-owned hotel in Mexico City may have broken the law by expelling a group of Cuban officials.

The delegation was ordered out of the Hotel Maria Isabel Sheraton last week at the behest of Washington, because of the US embargo against Cuba.

Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez said the US law could not be applied in a third country.

Some 30 people held an anti-US rally outside the hotel.

The Cuban government said the incident showed US policy had been affecting other countries.

'Applying the law'

The Cuban officials were due to meet a group of US businessmen opposed to the embargo at the hotel on Saturday.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc., which owns the Sheraton chain, said the company was asked by the US Treasury Department to tell the Cubans to leave the hotel.

The meeting was then moved to a Mexican-owned hotel.

Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez said the US embargo (the Helms-Burton law) could not be applied outside the US.

Mr Derbez - who a day earlier announced an investigation into the incident - also said the hotel may have broken local laws which ban discrimination.

He said the Sheraton chain could be fined up to $500,000.

The office of Mexican President Vicente Fox said on Tuesday that the authorities were looking into the eviction, pledging to "vigorously apply the law" if any wrongdoing was found.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the Sheraton in Mexico City was a subsidiary of a US-owned hotel group and therefore subject to US laws and regulations.

"Very basically, US law would apply to US corporations or subsidiaries of US corporations, no matter where they may be - whether it's in Mexico City or in Europe or South America," Mr McCormack was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

The US embargo against Cuba is being enforced by the US Treasury's office of foreign assets control.

Icon oclast · 02-08-2006

I hope these idiots at treasury get their walking papers for this. Some mindless bureaucrats with their heads up their asses. That must mean that if i stay at an American hotel in Mexico I can park wherever I want and break the law and have diplomatic immunity.

**Mindbender** · 02-08-2006

Is it arrogance, stupidity, ignorance or all three?

I don't recall the US having a veto over another country's laws.

Jimmy-James · 02-08-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindbender

Is it arrogance, stupidity, ignorance or all three?

I don't recall the US having a veto over another country's laws.

I think it's a combination of the first two- which seems typical of the entire Bush administration- hell, I think that Rumsfeld and Cheney are just about two of the most arrogant and condesending people I have ever seen- W? Well, he's just clueless.

TnJ · 02-08-2006

this is insane!! laws of Mexico should apply, not discriminations of the US!

**Mindbender** · 02-08-2006

Next they'll be body searches in US hotels in Playa looking for any Cuban cigars you bought on 5th!

Then customs officers, X rays, only US dollars...

Icon oclast · 02-08-2006

Depts. of Treasury and State are famous for stepping on their peepees. I bet that they will get a serious anal reprimand over this. Even the evil Rovian empire and the Grand Dragon Dubya won't condone this.

sunrlb · 02-08-2006

That is infuriating and embarrassing....unbelievable

I'm certainly not very political or keep up on it as I should, but isn't the embargo a bit outdated and isn’t it time for a change....God Lord!!! I would hope our government would have more important issues to be sticking their nose in than a Cuban business meeting. UGH......

Mikey · 02-08-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindbender

Is it arrogance, stupidity, ignorance or all three?

I don't recall the US having a veto over another country's laws.

They just refused the right to serve them.....Find another hotel.

Icon oclast · 02-08-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey

They just refused the right to serve them.....Find another hotel.

I agree Mikey but the fact that Tresury was leaning on them troubles me. I don't think GW is to blame although he will take the heat for it. Just like I don't think Ruby Ridge and Waco were that other presidents fault, who was that guy again? Some of these depts. are run and manned by lifelong bureaucrats who seem to have major issssues.

sunrlb · 02-08-2006

They refused to serve them because they were Cuban??? Oh that sounds better LOL

**Mindbender** · 02-08-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey

They just refused the right to serve them.....Find another hotel.

You'll never convince me with that angle.

Mikey · 02-08-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindbender

You'll never convince me with that angle.

AS a business they have the right it is just over shadowed by the fact that the people were from Cuba If they were from anywhere else you more then likey would have never heard about it. And since the fiftys we have been pulling each others tail. I would love nothing more then to take the ferry from Playa to Cuba. But I dont think by law we are allowed to unless its on some kind of weird visa. Overall it will be America saying Hey Cuba we dont want your business....And Mexico trying to say Yes Cubans can stay in your American Business If your business is in Mexico..

**Mindbender** · 02-08-2006

It's not so much what the hotel did, but how representatives of the US government acted and what they said to support it:

'at the behest of Washington'

the hotel is subject to US laws and regulations in Mexico

Daddy B · 02-08-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindbender

Is it arrogance, stupidity, ignorance or all three?

I don't recall the US having a veto over another country's laws.

What, the same US that doesn-t give out "aid" unless the recipients sign disavantageous trade deals or agree to exempt US military personnel from International Court obligations? The latter is clearly interfering with laws and treaties those countries have passed/adhered to...

The USA interfering in other countries' laws? Never, not even with the "other" 9/11, that of 1973 when the CIA deposed the democratically elected Allende and caused the subsequent deaths of thousands of democrats...

02-08-2006	#1 (permalink)
Mindbender Licence to kill Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shifting Sands Posts: 5,644	USA hotels in Mexico are really still in the US!!??? This story is unbelievable. What's next? People running into MacDonalds for political asylum? Diplomatic immunity for WalMart?... and getting it. Mexico-US row over Cuban eviction: The authorities in Mexico say a US-owned hotel in Mexico City may have broken the law by expelling a group of Cuban officials. The delegation was ordered out of the Hotel Maria Isabel Sheraton last week at the behest of Washington, because of the US embargo against Cuba. Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez said the US law could not be applied in a third country. Some 30 people held an anti-US rally outside the hotel. The Cuban government said the incident showed US policy had been affecting other countries. 'Applying the law' The Cuban officials were due to meet a group of US businessmen opposed to the embargo at the hotel on Saturday. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc., which owns the Sheraton chain, said the company was asked by the US Treasury Department to tell the Cubans to leave the hotel. The meeting was then moved to a Mexican-owned hotel. Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez said the US embargo (the Helms-Burton law) could not be applied outside the US. Mr Derbez - who a day earlier announced an investigation into the incident - also said the hotel may have broken local laws which ban discrimination. He said the Sheraton chain could be fined up to $500,000. The office of Mexican President Vicente Fox said on Tuesday that the authorities were looking into the eviction, pledging to "vigorously apply the law" if any wrongdoing was found. In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the Sheraton in Mexico City was a subsidiary of a US-owned hotel group and therefore subject to US laws and regulations. "Very basically, US law would apply to US corporations or subsidiaries of US corporations, no matter where they may be - whether it's in Mexico City or in Europe or South America," Mr McCormack was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. The US embargo against Cuba is being enforced by the US Treasury's office of foreign assets control. Last edited by Mindbender; 02-08-2006 at 12:46 PM..

02-08-2006	#2 (permalink)
Icon oclast reposado Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,024	I hope these idiots at treasury get their walking papers for this. Some mindless bureaucrats with their heads up their asses. That must mean that if i stay at an American hotel in Mexico I can park wherever I want and break the law and have diplomatic immunity.

02-08-2006	#3 (permalink)
Mindbender Licence to kill Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shifting Sands Posts: 5,644	Is it arrogance, stupidity, ignorance or all three? I don't recall the US having a veto over another country's laws.

02-08-2006	#5 (permalink)
TnJ añejo Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: vuelo corto al PDC Posts: 2,051	this is insane!! laws of Mexico should apply, not discriminations of the US!

02-08-2006	#6 (permalink)
Mindbender Licence to kill Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shifting Sands Posts: 5,644	Next they'll be body searches in US hotels in Playa looking for any Cuban cigars you bought on 5th! Then customs officers, X rays, only US dollars...

02-08-2006	#7 (permalink)
Icon oclast reposado Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,024	Depts. of Treasury and State are famous for stepping on their peepees. I bet that they will get a serious anal reprimand over this. Even the evil Rovian empire and the Grand Dragon Dubya won't condone this.

02-08-2006	#8 (permalink)
sunrlb beachaholic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 466	That is infuriating and embarrassing....unbelievable I'm certainly not very political or keep up on it as I should, but isn't the embargo a bit outdated and isn’t it time for a change....God Lord!!! I would hope our government would have more important issues to be sticking their nose in than a Cuban business meeting. UGH......

02-08-2006	#11 (permalink)
sunrlb beachaholic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 466	They refused to serve them because they were Cuban??? Oh that sounds better LOL

02-08-2006	#14 (permalink)
Mindbender Licence to kill Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shifting Sands Posts: 5,644	It's not so much what the hotel did, but how representatives of the US government acted and what they said to support it: 'at the behest of Washington' the hotel is subject to US laws and regulations in Mexico

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