To the Point

Getting Back on Track with Mexico

When George Bush said Mexico was America-s most important ally, Vicente Fox had high hopes for major immigration reform. Then, came September 11 and, as America refocused its attention on homeland security, the two presidents- backslapping friendship began to fade. Now, despite Mexico-s recent independence in the UN Security Council, which irked the White House, Colin Powell is in Mexico, with John Ashcroft to follow. Can the US secure its borders and regularize the flow of immigrant workers at the same time? We hear about America-s efforts to get back on track with its most populous neighbor from a pollster in Mexico City, a Latin American expert from the University of California San Diego, a former INS commissioner, and former Senator Alan Simpson, who once chaired the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Policy. Newsmaker: Unexploded Weapons Pose Threat to Civilians Today-s Washington Post reports that unexploded munitions pose -imminent and substantial- public health risks to civilians. The story is based on documents from Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. PEER-s Jeff Ruch has details on the sizeable stockpiles that could require the biggest environmental cleanup in US history. Reporter's Notebook: Heirloom Turkeys for Thanksgiving The Large White turkeys sold in American supermarkets would be unrecognizable to the Pilgrims of early New England. With breasts so big that they can barely walk, let alone fly, they-re bred to satisfy America-s taste for white turkey meat. For those with enough money and forethought, there is another way. Vicky Hallett has written about the juicier -heritage- turkey for US News and World Report.