U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual Resigns Over Wikileaks Cables

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual Resigns Over Wikileaks Cables (Source: U.S. Department of State)

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual resigned today, becoming the first US Diplomat to resign due to Wikileaks “Cablegate” and yet another potential story for inclusion in the Wikileaks Movie. Coming off the heels of P.J. Crowley resignation, Pascual leaves his post as diplomat to Mexico in order ease political tensions between Mexico and the United States stemming from a series of Wikileaks cables released last fall. These cables describe a dysfunctional and corrupt security organization in Mexico and low levels of collaboration. Mexican President Felipe Calderón is said to have been disturbed and offended, particularly by remarks focusing on the demeanor and abilities of the Mexican military and security. More recently President Calderón has been publicly denouncing Ambassador Pascual in the press, something which no doubt led to his resignation.  The “Resignation of Pascual” set amidst scenes of political tension, border disputes and drug war violence may bring a dose of reality into the theaters, especially for movie goers in the United States and Mexico.

Mr. Calderon’s onslaught against the U.S. diplomat was as unrelenting as it was public. First, in an interview with El Universal newspaper in Mexico City last month, Mr. Calderon said Mr. Pascual demonstrated his “ignorance” of the country in the cables, and was guilty of misrepresenting Mexico’s situation. Then in another interview with the Washington Post during a quick visit to Washington earlier this month, Mr. Calderon said he would take up the ambassador’s future in a meeting with President Barack Obama later that day.

Continued at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704021504576211282543444242.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Press Statement by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

It is with great regret that I announce that Ambassador Pascual has asked President Obama and me to accept his resignation as our ambassador to Mexico

For the past year and a half, Ambassador Pascual has been an architect and advocate for the U.S.-Mexico relationship, effectively advancing the policies of the United States on behalf of the President and this Administration. He has collaborated tirelessly with his Mexican counterparts to lay the foundation for a cross-border renewable energy market, to open negotiations on the management of oil and gas reserves that span U.S. and Mexican territory, and to build a new border strategy to advance trade while staunching illicit flows. Carlos has also engaged U.S. and Mexican business to build markets that have helped make Mexico the number two destination of U.S. exports.

Press statement continued at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/03/158664.htm

The full trove of Cablegate materials related to Mexico and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual can be read at the Wikileaks website. There are many Wikileaks movie and film projects underway, including those by DreamWorks and Universal. The “Resignation of Pascual” is a high-profile, first-of-its kind resignation stemming from  ”Cablegate.”  It is a fascinating turn of events relating to the US/Mexico relationship and one which movie producers may highlight in some fashion in the Wikileaks movie and film.