Mexican Drug Cartel Training Camp in Guatemala

On March 27, Guatemalan military force found out about a secret camp that was training drug cartel forces.  Reports had come in about certain activities that were going on in a Ranch in Quiche.  As the police arrived, 2 commanders of the Zetas of the Gulf Cartel from Mexica, and 37 recruits ran away leaving behind more than 500 grenades, rifles, and 100's of rounds of ammunition.  This is linked to the ongoing drug wars taking control of Mexico.  More than 6200 people were killed last year due to drug violence in Mexico.  The Zetas appealed to young recruits by promising them jobs, and training.  In such a bad economic climate this was like the promise of free money which is feuling the drug cartels.  Among other things at the ranch, an illegal airstrip was found alongside obstacle courses and shooting ranges.  The Zetas themselves were in the news recently as a bus attacks happened in Guatemala city to distract attention away from the border where illegal weapons trafficking was going on.  This portrays the amount of strength that the drug cartels have recieved especially due to the global economic recession and the announced drug war by Calderon.  "'They wanted to recruit young men. They offered training in the use of certain weapons and said they had jobs,' Blanco said."

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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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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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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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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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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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