RE: your statement that Mexico "opening its doors" would create a cataastophic situation. The analogy with Cuba is a bit off the mark. The principle problem with Mexican travel and relocation is not so much one of emigration restrictions by the Mexican Govt, as it is immigration quotas and restriction on entry by the US govt.

I cannot defend the US sanction of dictatorships, except to say that in the Cold War era, such tactics were adopted by both sides, in the belief that democracies were more susceptible to subterfuge and overthrow than dictatorships. Our support of Batista,Marcos, the Shah, and others of their ilk represent this approach, especially in area seen to be on the frontier of Russian expansion. In the post-USSR era, such alliances are unnecessary, and I blieve the US has adopted a much more pro-democracy ,anti-dictatorship stance now that we have the luxury to do so.