Can Obama and Holder save Mexico?

President Calderon has been on a crusade to stop the drug trafficking industry taking over and rotting the entirety of Mexican life, economy, and bureacracy.  With the entirety of the global economy on a drastic turn towards Hell (yes, Hell) America and many other nations have not had the time or the resources to deal with "The Mexican Problem".  However a lot of overwhelming evidence has come to prove that it is not specifically the Mexican Problem as it has many roots in the United States (see below). Signs are showing that now the Obama administration, specifcally Attorney General Eric Holder, is turning towards the problem due south.  Holder has promised that he will enforce the ban on importation of assault weapons.  These same imported assault weapons are then turned and resold to associates of the Mexican drug cartels. The weapons are primarily bought through this method because of the severe laws and regulations enforced in buying weapons in Mexico.  In the past week the Obama administration has focused a lot of work in the rounding up 755 of suspected Sinaloa drug cartel members, alongside $59 million in drug money.  Thus, the Obama administration does seem to be putting forth effort and thought on the very likely possibility of a finite Mexico.  Congress also has put $10 million in the economic stimulus package to "Project GunRunner" which is a crackdown on US weapons trafficking.  Somehow the word trafficking keeps popping up.  This is showing the relation of different nations in the midst of a changing global world, and economy.  It is showing the positive effects of globalization as it battles the negative effects.  Time will tell which side, positive or negative, will eventually overcome the other. "Calderón applauded Holder's announcement as 'the first time ... in many years that the American government is starting to show more commitment.'"

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All signs point to the United States

It appears the drug wars in Mexico, and their violent nature, could hold root in the United States. With the United States' large demand for drugs from our Southern Neighbour, and the fact that they are considered crimes instead of public health problems, this creates a large "underground" trading networks which are the infrastructure of the modern cartel. In addition, the increasing use of Assault Weapons imported from the United States is a direct result of Congress not renewing a ban on the same weapons. It is interesting to see how various public policy choices of nations decide the fate of those around them.

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The Economic Slowdown

As a refreshing change of pace from the normal stream of doom and gloom regarding drug policy in Mexico, we are now treated to reports that the economy is suffering ramifications of the international recession. It contracted during the last quarter of 2009 by 1.2 percent, as the Central Bank suffered massive losses and the Peso is being devalued internationally. As international demand for products and industrial work dries up, so does a substantial form of income and jobs. A substantial portion of the economy is based on remittances, cash sent home from foreign nationals, which fall with the world economy. The Central Bank's efforts to adress this decline were ineffective, resulting in a loss of investor confidence and stock falling. Efforts to preserve the Pesos value by selling dollars directly also failed, further rocking faith in government ability to forestall disaster and negatively affecting civil participation. A poor economy leads to cycles of poverty and therefore less political involvement, worse educational standards as production for the family becomes the norm, and increased risk of state failure. However, whether this occurs remains to be seen-the rate at which the economy is slowing remains at about half of analysts predictions, suggesting possibility of averting disaster. 

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/reuters/2009/02/20/2009-02-20T223043Z_01_N20296423_RTRIDST_0_MEXICO-ECONOMY-WRAPUP-1.html

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Failed State

With the drug wars taking apart the country of Mexico one brick at a time, many other international countries are trying to remove themselves from Mexico so they won’t get dragged down as well.  The problems have been internal for a long time, but now with the serious economic issues faced around the globe, Mexico’s “rep” has finally gone over the border. Literally.  The US government has even issued travel advisories of people going to Mexico, the very nation bordering us to the south.  Protests are occurring that were put together by the drug trafficking gangs.  Then the police chief in Cuidad Juarez was told to step down or a cop would be killed every two days.  It sounds like it’s straight from No Country for Old Men right?  Calderon sending 40,000 troops to fight the drug cartels has developed into “unprecedented violence.”  The drug gangs themselves seem to have risen up to the government mandates and fought back.  With the violence being worst at the border, as stated before, we could have a chaotic situation with an unprecedented end at our southern border.   Globalization could very well be stopping at the borders of Mexico and allowing events to take their own path.  As stated below by Ian, perhaps one of the only ways to remove the drug gangs from this violent scenario is to legalize drugs.  Otherwise, Mexico may be on its way down.  

“Mexico has an image problem. It has long been internal – with newspaper headlines and nightly news broadcasting the menacing notes, severed heads, and bullet-riddled bodies that are the byproducts of a deadly drug war raging across the country.”

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Police Chief of Juarez Threatened by Gunmen

Last wednesday cardboard signs sprung up around the city of Ciudad Jauarez declaring the deaths of police officers every forty-two hours until the police chief resigns.  Last friday a police officer and a jail guard were killed with similar signs on their bodies taking credit.  The chief, Roberto Orduna, resigned hours later.

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This is just another example of how the rule of law in Mexico, especially around the border, has deteriorated to the point that the elected and appointed officials seem to have no actual power.  The police are outgunned, and they're being outlasted by rogue criminals backed by the drug cartel.  Their influence over such relatively high levels of administration and their slaying of innocents must be broken before any real political legitmacy can take place.

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Mexico's Calderon slams anti-army street protests

President Calderon has condemned the protests against the military involvment in the drug war. He and the police claim the protests were orcheastrated by the largest drug cartel, Gulf Cartel. The Gulf cartel handed out bags full of books and school school supplies to poor families to encourage them to protest. The protestors marched to the northern city of Monterrey, blocking bridges and routes to the United States, and many wore colored cloth to hide their faces. 

Calderon is not only struggling against the people's lack of legitimacy for the government , but also against the insidous power of the drug cartels which turns the people against the drug war (because the drug war creates death) and infilitrates the police. I don't know if Mexico will ever be able to rout out all of the drug problems from their country simply because it is such an uphill battle. The people just want to be left alone, and the drug cartels have infilitrated the tools Mexico is using to remove them.

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Still Alive

Last week left us with a grim outlook on Mexico's future: utter collapse of economic and civil domains, leaving the country in ruins with no hope of resuscitation. But is it true? Do the drug wars and economic downfall indicate a ruined core, or are they just problems that any country has to deal with? Turns out, Mexico is nowhere close to losing control of territory, collapsing public services, or governmental failure. Thus, a new proposal to end the drug wars: legalize drugs. While this may seem like a radical alternative, it makes sense: without the need for incarcerations and (incredibly violent) underground drug cartels, they can become establishments that pump money into the failing economy.

"But "failed state" is the sort of shorthand that Washington has a way of turning into its own reality, the facts be damned. The Mexican government isn't on the verge of losing physical control of its territory, stopping public services or collapsing. But it is under tremendous pressure and has only nominal control in some places, including border cities such as Tijuana, near San Diego, and Juarez, which sits cheek-by-jowl with El Paso. Army troops patrol the streets, but the police, courts, journalists and citizenry are cowed by the less-visible but more-ruthless drug cartels."

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Japan's Isuzu Motors Relocating Production to Mexico

Isuzu Motors, Japan's largest producer of trucks, has relocated their productional facilities to Cuautitlan, Mexico, to "lower costs". As the process of globalization continues, we see the logic of strategically stratified production in areas of lower minimum wage and environmental regulations unfold. It also indicates Mexico's willingness to be a player in a larger scheme of economic trading networks.

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The End

With the subsequent collapse of the world economy, the new US President, stimulus package, and Gaza, the troubles in Mexico havn't gained much world attention.  About a week ago, drug gangs broke into police radio frequencies and sent death threats to officers which they promptly carried out.  They name the officer and then the officer shows up a couple of hours later with a bullet in his or her head.  On Thursday, LA Times ran a map showing that there were 7337 drug related murders in the past two years.  Now with the President Calderon’s call to an all out war on drugs, the death toll has topped even the count in Iraq.  Many people are now questioning whether or not Mexico will even be able to finish the war on drugs before it collapses.  This is following the news of the bond issue happening just a couple days ago.  Nobody is even willing to buy the governments bonds after they were put up for “sale”.  With their economy melting, drug cartels abounding, 45,000 troops killing, Mexico’s future looks…scary.  The violence of the drug cartels have even come across the border with five men in Alabama tortured and killed over a drug debt of $400,000.  350 kidnappings have occurred in the past two years.  Soon enough, we may not be studying Mexico as a “Developing Democratic Nation” anymore.  "So far it hasn't turned up on President Obama's radar. But a collapsing Mexico off the southern U.S. border can't be ignored forever."

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Drugs

The Mexican government in early 2006 decided to crack down on drug trafficking by sending thousands of troops around the country. In response, the city of monterrey has launched protests, as some soldiers are believed to be shooting civilians. However, onlookers believe this is an attempt by drug cartels to lash back at the government, as the original demonstrations were started by members, and the demonstrations were fed by money and school supplies being distributed. Gangs were taking direct action against the authorities, killing the officer responsible for investigating them. This is part of a larger wave of violence, with 6000 dead last year and this number expected to rise. The riots reflect a larger pattern of mexican instability, with regional movements decreasing governmental confidence and opening possibilities for failure and violent state civilian relations.

By the way, this is located right below the story on mexico city breaking the worlds kissing barrier.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gHWLUm1UtoG95H7QyRg_-GiMC4HQD96B1H280

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In Mexico, 21 killed in burst of Chihuahua violence

Before dying in a shootout Gunmen abducted 9 people and killed six in one of the deadliest areas of Mexico: Chihuahua. There has been an ongoing turf war in the area between rival drug-trafficking groups. The area reported 2,000 drug trafficking related deaths in the past year. President Feliz Calderon has deployed 45,000 men to crack down on organized crime, but the crack down has caused the violence to escalate creating a record number of deaths.
Some have objected to the military's involvement in drug wars, but the President claims it is temporary, allowing local and regional officials and policemen time to clean up and improve.
This articles seams to make it appear that the President has become willingly to do even more to stop drug violence, but unfortunately people do not seem to have faith in the national military to do its job and not cause further pains. I would venture that perhaps the people have a weak sense of legitimacy for their national government.
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Mexican Make-Out Session - Conclusion

The long anticipated make out session finally took place earlier today in Mexico City, and the record was won.  Nearly 40000 convened on Valentine's Day (the exact number was 39897, an odd number, which keeps making me laugh), to "show love" when drug-related violence and other unpleasantness seem to dominate the Mexican world.  City workers volunteered to give out hugs, and teenage males wandered around with posters offering their services.  After all kisses were held for 10 seconds, the popular ranchera singer Vincente Fernandez gave a free concert.  While having little to do directly to the politics of Mexico, it does present a different setting and image for our southern neighbor, considering a good number of previous posts involve in some way guns, drugs, or druggies with guns.  And it does illustrate the social climate of Mexico, with open affection and probably an even greater national pride.  Demonstrations of this magnitude would be difficult for countries with a careless public, and one can only wonder how many would vote in national elections, provided it was not required.

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Surprise!!

Mexican drug violence is on the rise from a high last year of 6000. As drugs are shipped north, the United States trafficks arms and money south of the border, providing funds and power to cartels. A recent clash as a cartel attempted to take over the small town of Villa Amuhalda, the government was forced to intervene. 21 were killed in the fighting, and two tons of marijuana were seized. The drug trade amounts to a total of 14 billion a year, with corrupt ties to local government and increased crimerates. Kidnappings and shootouts frighten the populace into submission and prevent true engagement with the regime. 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/11/eveningnews/main4794054.shtml

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You May Want to Reconsider Your Vacation Destination

With the massive increase in drug activity combined with tough economic competition throughout Mexico's entirety, over 200 American citizens have been murdered since 2004 alone, making for a dangerous vacation location that warrants reconsideration.

"More than 200 American citizens have been killed since 2004 in Mexico's escalating wave of violence, amounting to the highest number of unnatural deaths in any foreign country outside military combat zones, according to the U.S. State Department."

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Mexico City to turn Green with New Recycling Plan

Mexico is planning to build 4 new recycling and waste processing centers to burn and compost eighty-six percent of trash(from the current six percent). This will place Mexico City in line with cities such as San Fransisco, and first among developing cities. The largest landfill in Mexico City will close this month, and the city is taking a hard look at the amount of trash it produces. The city has required its citizens to sort trash for several years, but the city's infrastructure has not been able to handle it.

I think this really interesting because it shows that despite the rampant drug wars and other issues Mexico City is facing there is a push to help the environment even if it comes out of slight interest of wanting the city to not be surrounded by landfills and horribly trashed. A real push for an improvement in how the city's government handles this also shows a huge change perhaps because of the international focus recently on not further hurting the environment (greenhouse gases etc)
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Artist Remembers Lost Children

Ilan Lieberman, an artist who formerly gained fame as the "human photocopier," is currently traveling around with his new exhibition, "Nino Perdido," or "Lost Child."  Moved by the plight of kidnapped children throughout Mexico, and disgusted by the lack of attention the government and the people give, he redrew sketches of stolen children, copied from often poor quality newspaper articles.  He says it is not so much to try and change the government's policies, as it is to urge the public to be more aware to the situation.  Each picture is as they appear in the newspapers, drawn with dots and only about the size of a postage stamp.  Magnifying glasses are supplied to view the artwork.  After May 10th his art will be transfered to El Paso on the US-Mexico border, near the city of Ciudad Juarez.  This whole story reflects the power in individual initiative, and should be an example to foil with our current "functional apathy."

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Peso Rebounds

Mexico Peso gains value for the first time in months as the Banco de Mexico has gone from total transparency to the exact opposite. By keeping traders guessing as to how many peso’s Banco de Mexico is buying from banks a day, it is moving away from the predictable set-auction system using the uncertainty to lower the speculation against the peso. The intervention by the government into the market system is in response to the global recession. Mexico itself has been deeply affected by the recession in the US as exports are cut. Right now it is 13.8 peso’s to one dollar. Economists are estimating that it can rise to 13.2 peso’s to one dollar by the end of the year. “We decided to intervene when it became clear there were elements in the market trying to destabilize the peso to make a profit,” Carstens said at a Mexican homebuilding conference in New York. “We reserve the right to intervene when the market situation demands intervention.” This entire market situation, in Mexico and abroad, reflect that entirety of globalization and the free market identity that the world has adopted. It also deals with each individual nation trying to stay afloat in such a dire world economy.

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Border Fence Finishing Before Arguments

601 miles of the border fence between America and Mexico have been completed, and only 69 miles remain before it reaches its intended goal during the Bush administration.  The fence has cost $2.7 billion since 2006 and is expected to cost more for maintenance.  President Obama intends to evaluate other options besides the wall, but has not decided to stop it just yet.  There is some effort in creating a "virtual wall" of surveillance equipment surrounded major cities, so that illegal immigrants won't be able to blend in even if they get past the wall.  Fewer people are in fact trying to cross over, though ironically that is most likely because of our current economic downturn, raising the hilarious question that perhaps the best way to stem immigration is by becoming a less desirable nation.  This wall is more testament to the isolationist attitude of America and the current economic conditions in Mexico.

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America-Great Country, or the Greatest

The mexican government has launched efforts to teach every child starting at kindergarten the English language in an effort to increase global economic integration. Northern counties find it more important to know english in order to work. They plan to train 85,000 teachers in 500 schools to accomplish this monumental task. Until now, English has been mandatory from grades seven through nine, however due to differences in income some students do not attend school at all in this age area while some began at preschool. This is another vivid example of the growing income gap, government attempts to solve it, and effects on employment opportunities and opportunities.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6241783.html

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Cartels in Mexico's Drug War get Guns from the US

Police approaching a drug cartel house last may , and 7 were shot by powerful arms procured in Phoenix, Arizona. The presence of an ak-47 assualt rifle highlights that corrupt American arms dealers are supplying drug cartels with arms making the fight against the drug cartels even more difficult. When US border inspectors were questioned about often outgoing traffic is searched they would only reveal not all traffic is searched. US officials also say that dealing with the corrupts arms dealers would be very dangerous as they are very powerful which leaves the Mexican Government with a big problem. The Mexican ambassdor wants the the US to better enfocr their gun exportation laws, crack down on 'straw buyers'(men who buy arms then bring them to the cartels), and gather info on corrupt dealers.
This article highlights how much Mexico and the US need to work together to prevent Mexico's drug wars from escalating. However, the US government as thus far not really focused on this critical issue. Ending the drug cartels in Mexico will bring them further away from the brink.
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