Mexican President calls border wall with US 'offensive'

Mexican president calls border wall with United Mexico's president said on Friday the building of a fence along the border with the United States was "offensive" to the relationship between the two countries, and he hoped to convince the U.S. that Mexican labor had been good for the American economy.

"My goal is to win the debate about immigration within America," Felipe Calderon said in remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"I want to make American public opinion understand the value that Mexican labor has had in the growth of their economy."

The Mexican leader said there was no way to completely stop immigration between the two countries without solving the fundamental realities that drive Mexicans to seek better economic opportunities available in their wealthier northern neighbour.

Offensive!!! I'll tell you what is offensive, people living off of $50 a week and the government doing nothing to change it, a society where you must realize that every law enforcement officer and every politician and government employee is not only corrupt but on the take, a country where law enforcement is arbitrary and more often than not for monetary gain (La mordida-a bribe), a government that not only permits but encourages the violation of another country's sovereignty while violating the human rights of those who do the same to their country to the point of murder. This is offensive Mr. Calderon. -mm