Ambassador Fannin during the presentation ceremony with president Fernandez.
SANTO DOMINGO.- United States ambassador P. Robert Fannin said during his tenure here he’ll try to bolster the democratic institutions and fight criminal activity, including drug trafficking.
Fannin, who hosted a reception in his residence together with his wife Lisa last night, said his other diplomatic goals are to strengthen the friendship between the two nations and implement economic agreements to benefit all sectors.
He said since he arrived in the country on December, he has known many people who have contributed with Dominican Republic’s growth and success, mainly president Leonel Fernandez and vice president Rafael Alburquerque. "We feel very excited to be able to enjoy the beauty and culture of this country and even more, we’re very happy of being able to learn to speak Spanish."
The U.S. diplomat said he’s had the great privilege to throwing the first pitch in a game between the Tigres of Santo Domingo and the Aguilas of Santiago in the Quisqueya stadium, and the honor to meet baseball great Juan Marichal.
Fannin said his native state of Arizona, except for the beautiful beaches, is very similar to the Dominican Republic, with a good climate, good baseball and kind people.
His wife Elizabeth –Lisa- Wilkinson, is retired neuro-aenesthesiologist, and their three children are Paul Junior, Sheryl and Joe.
With a 44-year law career as a private and corporate lawyer, Fannin has worked in public policies; has been a legal adviser to many companies, and director of two financial institutions.
Journalists, media outlet owners, government officials, Catholic Church representatives, as well as diplomats from different parts of the world attended the event.
Source elcaribe.com.do
From: Dominican Republic, NATIONAL DISTRICT
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
I would hope that some of the efforts of Ambassador Fannin would be that he vigorously pursue the elimination and mitigation of many of the frustrations experienced by US Citizens residing in the Dominican Republic of which there are several thousand, both businesspersons and retirees.
It would also be instructive for him to travel to other parts of the country while making the necessary observations alluded to in his statement.
There are many facets to his job as the Representative of the USA and the current Administration in this country. He needs to focus on all these facets to the benefit of the US and to it's citizens residing here, especially those services which the US Consulate is responsible for providing.
I just hope he will cause a review ot the existing procedures that are in place and will make some changes in the focus and manner with which priorities of service are promulgated andeffected.
TB
From: United States
The new ambassador seems like a nice guy, who is well versed in the friendly but vague language of diplomats the world over. However, the proof is in the pudding. Between the times Mr Fannin is learning Spanish, throwing baseballs, and hosting receptions, maybe he could look into ways the US could assist the DR in improving their educational system, rooting out corrupt, and rebuilding their transportation and electrical infrastructures. While a smile certainly doesn't hurt that process, it takes much more than another glad-handing political appointee to address the problems faced mutually by the DR and the US. The US cannot afford to squander the mostly positive relationship that now exists between these two countries. We are in no position to ignore the precious few friends we have left in this hemisphere. Ambassador Fannin is in an enviable situation. He has an opportunity to actually make a difference.
Written by: joop2, 25 Jan 2008 1:05 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Pedro de Macoris
"he’ll try to bolster the democratic institutions and fight criminal activity"
"he has known many people who have contributed with Dominican Republic’s growth and success, mainly president Leonel Fernandez"
is he confused ???
Written by: BLANCO, 25 Jan 2008 4:15 PM
From: Dominican Republic
he may not be confused now........but he sure will be after a year.!!!!!! no speaky spanish....the powers to be will have a ball with this guy.... i hope his wife is not to good looking
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
Does he NOT speak Spanish, or is he referring to Dominican Spanish?
In either case, he has a LOOOOOOOng WAY TO GO to reach his other goals.
TB
From: United States
Blanco, you made me laugh. Ambassador Fannin's wife would even get a chuckle out of that. Maybe more, if she's good-looking.
Written by: BASTA, 25 Jan 2008 5:30 PM
From: Dominican Republic, =Ghetto/Legalize Drugs
Gee should he not clean up NYC and Washington first.
From: United States
He's not superman.
Written by: Belial, 26 Jan 2008 1:12 PM
From: United States, Texas
"He’ll try to bolster the democratic institutions and fight criminal activity, including drug trafficking " and "To strengthen the friendship between the two nations and implement economic agreements to benefit all sectors." Amb. Fannin says.
000
"Fight drug trafficking?" The CIA pushed cocaine on US kids to finance the "Contras," US mercenaries, in an 1980's war against the Sandinistas government in Nicaragua. How can drug dealers fight drugs?
http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/"Bolster the democratic institutions?" The US ambassador means he will tighthen the grip of the reactionary sector of the DR bourgeoisie on the state.
"Implement economic agreements?"
The Fannin means to destroy the DR large agricultural base under the terms of CAFTA by the importation of heavily subsidized US food exports against which DR produce can't compete.
Mexico is an example.
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={2136E68E-9A43-4DF4-9113-F59BF7455D4B}&language=EN
Written by: Belial, 26 Jan 2008 1:28 PM
From: United States, Texas
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={2136E68E-9A43-4DF4-9113-F59BF7455D4B}&language=EN
Since part of the link isn't blue, you may have to go there by browser rather than by a click.
In other words, it's not a bum steer.
Written by: Belial, 26 Jan 2008 1:39 PM
From: United States, Texas
Don't they look cute in their matching latifundist uniforms, putting on airs of being feudal lords?
Don imperialist ambassador and "Don" Leonel, the imperialist puppet, how may I serve you?
From: United States
Belial, you have a way of stifling discussion. Your posting sounds like a speech to the Congress of Stalinist Youth. It's not that I disagree with everything you have to say, it's just the way you say it has such a self-righteous tone I am almost compelled to oppose it. You need to lighten up. Not everything can be reduced to easily defined notions of black and white, good and bad, right and wrong. The world is much more complicated than that. An act of aggression in one instance might well be considered a defense of liberty in another. I am sure you think you are correct in your assumptions. The problem is, if everyone felt that way there could be no meaningful dialog. We would spend all our time shouting at one another.
From: United States
Belial: they are not putting on airs of being feudal lords; they ARE feudal lords.
Written by: Belial, 26 Jan 2008 5:35 PM
From: United States, Texas
"Belial: they are not putting on airs of being feudal lords; they ARE feudal lords," Dreadlocks observes.
0000
I redact my earlier comment and stand proudly ... and permanently ... corrected.
I apologize for my blunder.
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
In his fervor to be the "Top Dof", Belial hasn't yet matured enough to understand that this and the previous generation still remembers those nations which were occupied by the Soviet Union immediately following the end of WWII. nor does he give cognisance to the fact of the brutal oppression of Hungary in their bid for "Freedom from the Tyranny" of Stalin's rule over them. His references to "imperialism" are directed solely to those nations which opposed Stalin's octupus-like attempt to dominate Europe and the remaining world.
Millions of his people literally starved to death because of the ineptitude and gross mismanagement of his central committees of agriculture. The industrial might of the country was directed solely to the production of war machinery with no effort toward producing the basic products needed for domestic uses.
This concentration of effort eventually produced such a void in the public sector as to cause the economic collapse of his "Glorious Revolution".
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
In thefinal analysis, the Soviet Union turned out to be the greater threat and the greater "imperialistic" motivator than the US ever thought of being.
In addition, Which nation contributed the greater effort toward stabilizing Europe economically after WWII? Certainly not the Soviet union with it's "revolution of the proleteriat" rhetoric and it's enslavement of millions of it's own people, whose only crime was to disagree with the Communist Party. Isthat the role of "human dignity" that you would have us follow, Belial? I think it is and would really like for you to answer that specific question instead of sliding off into another of your vitroilic condemnations of the Western World and the economic role it follows. That includes the psuedo socialist states which practice a modified capitalism with emphasis on freedom and human rights and dignity.
Can you answer in a manner which excludes the "canned phrases" you are so acustomed to using, or is your vocabulary exclusive to that?
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
davidjulie;
Hope I spelled you "nom de plume" correctly. If not, please forgive my error.
While we do not see eye to eye on many subjects,at least we oppose each other in a civilized manner and keep the debate clean.
I personally commend you posting to Belial. Such exemplifies that ingrediant that separates the "hotheads" and syncophants from the intellectualization of the debate theme.
Your words of wisdom are well taken and very true.
In apology, i can only say that there are some people who really pi$$ me off when they expound in such a manner as to be utterly stupid in expressing their beliefs. They seem to be convinced that by attacking the basic principles of their opposition, they can "put them in their place" andelevate their own agenda. All they really do is denegrate themselves and that which they so vigorously support. These poeple exercise their right to free speech in such a manner that it is obvious they would not offer that right to the opposing elements.
TB
From: United States
Thank you Texas Bill. I appreciate that. I have read many of your comments as well, and I have come to respect your point of view, while I do not always agreed with your positions. I think you present your opinions in an open and honest way. I have no problem with exchanging ideas with those with differing opinions. Hell, how else can we learn anything. So keep up your good work, and I am sure we will have plenty of friendly disagreements in the future.
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
My latest is against Belial for his unfounded coment that MEXICO is an example of "heavily subsidized imports of farm products" from the US. Evidently he is not privy (or denies being so) to the fact that a large majority of the fruits and vegetables consumed in the US are from Mexico. That fact is part of the Negative Balance of Trade experienced by the USA today.
Just goes to prove that he just blows wind most of the time in order to reinforce his negative attitude against the US. The only coutry suffering from NAFTA is the US anthat's a fact. Check the statistics, Belial and lie your way out of that fact.
You might as well give up, old son, because your comments hold very little truth and a lot of BULLSH&& not worthy of answering. Why I do it is beyond even me.
TB
From: United States
Belial, most of us go through a period of rebelous idealism when we are young. You can not be blamed for that. But I hope your stridency does not hamper your ability to reason. Overall, Mexico has benefited from NAFTA, and the US has had some negative effects. One area in which Mexico is now hurt is the price of corn. However, for the most part ,the rise in the price of corn has been caused by Mexican farmers choosing to produce corn for the production of ethanol rather than food. This is a natural result of a free market, not of any heinous conspiracy.. I think TexasBill and I will continue to try to set you straight because we imagine you are still able to learn, as well as for the benefit of others who might be following these discussions. At times, it seems as if I am casting pearls in the wrong direction, but you never know who's out there waiting for a bit of thoughtful honesty.
Written by: Belial, 28 Jan 2008 11:32 AM
From: United States, Texas
"Overall, Mexico has benefited from NAFTA"
00000000000
"Overall," Mexicans are fleeing in the millions from the alleged benefits of NAFTA, claiming among other things, that they're starving, landless, and jobless.
So, huge has the problem of Mexicans visitors to the USA grown after NAFTA, that some GOP presidential candidates have made it a key issue.
In Mexico, food prices skyrocketed 2007, intensifying the "surge" to the north from NAFTA.
From: United States
And before NAFTA no one left Mexico for the US. Say, now that's an interesting take on the historical facts. The more I read your rantings the more I believe there isn't much point in trying to have a rational exchange of ideas with you. You simply don't have the resources to enhance debate. Your diatribes are as vacuous as your supporting evidence, and frankly you've never had much to offer, aside from occasional comic relief. Well, at least you've been able to alienate one more person. The list must getting rather long by now.
From: United States, Killeen, TX - Home of the 1st Cavalry
It is really pathetic that Belial has elected to try wooing any population to his "out of context" recitations of Hegel, Marx, Engel and Lenin. It isequally obvious that he simply has absolutely no knowledge of Economics, either thst system promulgated by the previously cited persons or by Adam Smith in his "Wealth of Nations" and subsequent modifiers of that system.
It seems that he is blindly making the attempt to appear educated in Economic philosophy when, in fact, he has not even the basic understanding of that discipline. He invariably focuses on the "canned phrases" contained in the writings of his mentors without regard to their applicability to the current exercises of both themes in the discipline.
I truly feel sorry for his misguided soul because he can't see that he is driving people AWAY from thevery thing he so vigorously supports.
He jus ain't got no couth, and that's the truth of the matter.
TB
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It would also be instructive for him to travel to other parts of the country while making the necessary observations alluded to in his statement.
There are many facets to his job as the Representative of the USA and the current Administration in this country. He needs to focus on all these facets to the benefit of the US and to it's citizens residing here, especially those services which the US Consulate is responsible for providing.
I just hope he will cause a review ot the existing procedures that are in place and will make some changes in the focus and manner with which priorities of service are promulgated andeffected.
TB
"he has known many people who have contributed with Dominican Republic’s growth and success, mainly president Leonel Fernandez"
is he confused ???
In either case, he has a LOOOOOOOng WAY TO GO to reach his other goals.
TB
000
"Fight drug trafficking?" The CIA pushed cocaine on US kids to finance the "Contras," US mercenaries, in an 1980's war against the Sandinistas government in Nicaragua. How can drug dealers fight drugs?
http://www.narconews.com/darkalliance/
"Bolster the democratic institutions?" The US ambassador means he will tighthen the grip of the reactionary sector of the DR bourgeoisie on the state.
"Implement economic agreements?"
The Fannin means to destroy the DR large agricultural base under the terms of CAFTA by the importation of heavily subsidized US food exports against which DR produce can't compete.
Mexico is an example.
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={2136E68E-9A43-4DF4-9113-F59BF7455D4B}&language=EN
Since part of the link isn't blue, you may have to go there by browser rather than by a click.
In other words, it's not a bum steer.
Don imperialist ambassador and "Don" Leonel, the imperialist puppet, how may I serve you?
0000
I redact my earlier comment and stand proudly ... and permanently ... corrected.
I apologize for my blunder.
Millions of his people literally starved to death because of the ineptitude and gross mismanagement of his central committees of agriculture. The industrial might of the country was directed solely to the production of war machinery with no effort toward producing the basic products needed for domestic uses.
This concentration of effort eventually produced such a void in the public sector as to cause the economic collapse of his "Glorious Revolution".
In addition, Which nation contributed the greater effort toward stabilizing Europe economically after WWII? Certainly not the Soviet union with it's "revolution of the proleteriat" rhetoric and it's enslavement of millions of it's own people, whose only crime was to disagree with the Communist Party. Isthat the role of "human dignity" that you would have us follow, Belial? I think it is and would really like for you to answer that specific question instead of sliding off into another of your vitroilic condemnations of the Western World and the economic role it follows. That includes the psuedo socialist states which practice a modified capitalism with emphasis on freedom and human rights and dignity.
Can you answer in a manner which excludes the "canned phrases" you are so acustomed to using, or is your vocabulary exclusive to that?
Hope I spelled you "nom de plume" correctly. If not, please forgive my error.
While we do not see eye to eye on many subjects,at least we oppose each other in a civilized manner and keep the debate clean.
I personally commend you posting to Belial. Such exemplifies that ingrediant that separates the "hotheads" and syncophants from the intellectualization of the debate theme.
Your words of wisdom are well taken and very true.
In apology, i can only say that there are some people who really pi$$ me off when they expound in such a manner as to be utterly stupid in expressing their beliefs. They seem to be convinced that by attacking the basic principles of their opposition, they can "put them in their place" andelevate their own agenda. All they really do is denegrate themselves and that which they so vigorously support. These poeple exercise their right to free speech in such a manner that it is obvious they would not offer that right to the opposing elements.
TB
Just goes to prove that he just blows wind most of the time in order to reinforce his negative attitude against the US. The only coutry suffering from NAFTA is the US anthat's a fact. Check the statistics, Belial and lie your way out of that fact.
You might as well give up, old son, because your comments hold very little truth and a lot of BULLSH&& not worthy of answering. Why I do it is beyond even me.
TB
00000000000
"Overall," Mexicans are fleeing in the millions from the alleged benefits of NAFTA, claiming among other things, that they're starving, landless, and jobless.
So, huge has the problem of Mexicans visitors to the USA grown after NAFTA, that some GOP presidential candidates have made it a key issue.
In Mexico, food prices skyrocketed 2007, intensifying the "surge" to the north from NAFTA.
It seems that he is blindly making the attempt to appear educated in Economic philosophy when, in fact, he has not even the basic understanding of that discipline. He invariably focuses on the "canned phrases" contained in the writings of his mentors without regard to their applicability to the current exercises of both themes in the discipline.
I truly feel sorry for his misguided soul because he can't see that he is driving people AWAY from thevery thing he so vigorously supports.
He jus ain't got no couth, and that's the truth of the matter.
TB