Wayne, the Closer

Pragmatism imposed itself on diplomatic orthodoxy. After Carlos Pasqual left his post of ambassador — with a type of Mexican fatwa declared by our president — what normally would have happened was that Washington would take its time in designating a new diplomatic representative in Mexico. However, it hardly took a week for Obama’s government to screen and assign the position of Mexican ambassador to Tony Wayne, the second in command of the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. His hiring is charged with symbolism.

In the delicate situation that Mexico finds itself in, the first sign that Washington is sending is that it’s more important to swallow pride, leave aside diplomatic subtleties and send someone capable of taking charge of the largest U.S. diplomatic mission in the world. Afghanistan is without a doubt a priority in the fight against terrorism. Nonetheless, and most likely uncomfortably, the U.S. decided to lend a hand in what they consider to be a significant domestic concern, so that they can help spearhead some of their neighbor’s current problems.

In the United States, like Mexico, there are career diplomats and then there are diplomats on the run. Carlos Pasqual, a highly regarded academic, better forms to the latter. Anthony Wayne is one of the few professionals who have reached the difficult grade of career diplomat, a title reserved for those who have excelled in their foreign service. Jeffrey Davidow was Mexico’s last diplomat of this level; he left behind good memories. Wayne received this recognition from Obama a year ago. Previously, Washington vouched for the work he accomplished as ambassador in Buenos Aires, even though he left slightly tarnished after the episode of the suitcase full of money sent by Hugo Chavez to his preferred candidate in the Argentinean elections, Cristina Kirchner. In a few months, they were confident enough to have him head the distribution of the large quantities of help that the United States offers Afghanistan. His renowned communications expert abilities were tested and applied to making the Afghans feel better about distancing themselves from the Taliban.

And here comes the second important sign to Mexico: One of Wayne’s diplomatic specialties is the fight against money laundering and the freezing of assets of terrorist groups. Intercepting money transfers of extremist Taliban groups and their corresponding al-Qaida cells in Afghanistan was one of his primary diplomatic duties in Kabul. What he learned from this position in distant lands should translate well to Mexico. In Afghanistan, a considerable portion of the revenues from the sale of opium and heroin found their way into the hands of armed groups and radical organizations. In Mexico, the situation is different and will give the new ambassador a headache. In Mexico, part of our narcos’ payment comes from cocaine sales. This fact will lead Wayne to find that the money that Mexican narcos earn come from his own United States. He will quickly find the obvious: Drugs travel from south to north, while guns and drugs travel north to south. How will he handle that? Will Washington make this their fight, just as Mexico has made it theirs? Equally, it might be discovered that it was easier to stop the money of the Taliban than break the crime chains between Mexico and the United States.

The subject that also remains to be seen is the agreement that puts Mexican authorities at Wayne’s disposal to reach a better bilateral relationship. If we receive it like “The March of Zacatecas,” with suspicions and closed channels, it will be more difficult to overcome the already irritated mood that is pervasive between Mexico and Washington. Obama already gave pragmatic demonstrations of turning the page and looking forward. Wayne arrives as the closer in the last third of a game. And our president, as I already said, likes the last phases of the game. Now it’s time to see if Mexican officials will swing at the first pitch or show us a big hit.