We've Got Our Guns Back, We Promise!

After the semi-succesful meeting between President Obama and President Calderon, Obama stood behind the fact that the United States had successfully "recovered" 90% of the assault weapons that had crossed the Texas-Mexico border, helping to quell the violence and shows the United States dedication to helping it's southern neighbour; however, the 90% is only out of firearms registered with the United States. The true percentage is about 18%.

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Lost in Translation

Obama's visits to Mexico has caused many people's hopes to be raised.  Through assurances of helping the United States southern "partner" and sharing the responsibility for the drug cartels and the war on drugs, it could be that the US and Mexico are starting a "new era" in US-Mexican relations.  Obama and Calderon both made commitments for a new and increased connections in the economy.  However when it comes to real actions, there was little to show.  The Mexicans themselves are happy for now because of the President's expressions of good will, but some commentators are urging the people not to get their hopes up do to previous meeting with many promises turned back on.  Mexico's top two priorities, renewing the assault weapons ban and the restart of the NAFTA pilot program, were left where they were.  Much of Obama's purpose in this visit was to undo the damage done by the previous administrations characterization of Mexico as a failed state.  "Although Mexicans generally saw the Obama visit as purely symbolic, they were gratified that issues such as immigration reform also got an airing. In Mexico, as in Europe, Obama benefits from simply not being George W. Bush."  The visit shows how the United States and Mexico are now going to go forward into a new era of diplomacy and common goals rather than through purely opportunisitic ideologies portrayed by previous administrations

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Got yourself a Gun

The recent spout of drug related violence in Mexico is due to the expiration of a ban in assault weapons trading within the U.S., say members of the calderon government. Estimates on the number of guns imported range as high as 90 percent. This is the subject of the complaint filed by the Mexican ambassador, and while the expiration of the ban may cause resentment on both side, the issue does pose opportunities for cooperation. Obama is visiting the region relatively soon, and the United States has provided eight hundred million dollars in aid. Increasing numbers of armaments is likely to further destabilize the region and regime while decreasing civil participation because they fear for their lives and intact limbs.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123956205887011615.html

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Eat more of this chocolate.

In response to domestic drug violence catalyzed by a military crackdown on hostile drug cartels south of the border, Obama took the most logical action: a crackdown along the border and increased cooperation in hunting down and killing narco-traffickers. In all fairness, the package is fairly comprehensive, with measures aimed at preventing arms sales, preventing movement across the border by smugglers, and a more comprehensive approach to security that may stem the tide of attacks that claimed 7000 last year. Obama took a leading role in cooperating with his equivalent head of state, phellipe Calderon, in attempting to adress the situation amidst fears of state failure.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/21/AR2009032102247.html

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Tariff on the US

In a suprising turn of events, after the US ended the pilot program allowing a limited amount of Mexican trucks on US highways, Mexico retaliated and implemented a tariff on a variety of US goods. Mexico announced higher tariffs on $2.4 billion worth of imports coming from the US. This comes alongside other news of the ongoing Mexican drug wars. Based on this and the drug wars, Felipe Calderon and Obama have planned a meeting to discuss the "US-Mexican relationship" on a variety of topics which are easily guessed. Mexico has stated that the US has violated the North American Free Trade Agreement by ending this pilot program. Secretary of State Clinton will also be visiting Mexico this week, and this alongside other issues in the drug war will probably come up. The implementation of the tariff in retaliation will hit imports from a variety of states across the US with the threat of expanding the list if the trucking issue is not solved. However some of nervous about such things as shown just this past week after "after a Mexican big-rig truck crashed into a bus in northern Mexico this week, killing seven Americans, three Canadians and the Mexican bus driver." This goes to show the interaction of nations especially in the economic turmoil as is happening now; and the importance of free trade between nations.

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The Obama Factor

Yep, it seems pretty certain now that Obama and his Joint Chief of Staff Mike Mullen are planning on helping President Calderon and his all out war-on-drugs.  On Saturday President Barack Obama was briefed by Mike Mullen on the situation (yes, the situation) in Mexico, and how it's possible for the US to help.  Yes indeed, you heard correct: The US plans to help.  As a matter of fact it seems that Obama's administration and Mullen have been sharing intelligence with Calderon in terms of fighting the drug cartels.  The recent (relatively recent that is, which means not recent at all) surge in violence among the Mexican drug cartels is pretty much due to a power struggle happening over the drug routes since the major cartels have been destroyed by Calderon.  All the smaller gangs are now going after the routes and fighting for power.  This same violence is now spilling across the border in places like Arizona.  It is adventageous to both President Calderon, and President Obama to help each other out.  Or in this case help Mexico from becoming a (seemingly) failed state.  Thus this shows the trends of globalization and shows how the United States is trying to mantain its reach for the hegemonic status by helping (or so we think) the smaller and more fragile nations.  Whether they can pull through or not is up to speculation.  However, with the added benefit of OPTIMUS PRIME, who can fail?

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Namárië

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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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