Death Rates Dropping, Attitudes Rising

Reviewing the figures, it is apparent that the death rates from drug violence in Ciudad Juarez have dropped as of late. In the Jan-Mar period, death rates have dropped 25% from the rates in the Oct-Dec period last year. While they are still double what they were in the Jan-Mar period of 2008, they are a hopeful sign of possible de-escalation in the drug wars. This is the decline hoped for since Mexico sent in troops last month. With this setting the backdrop and joint actions with America looking very possible, things in Mexico may be getting just a little bit better. Maybe.

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In all likelyhood, this statistic means nothing, and all hopes for a quick end are simply wishful thinking. Still, when comparing Mexico to the rest of the world, it is in no way a third world country. With the wealth and political freedoms which many other regimes are unable to match, Mexico's government has a fair deal of legitamacy, and is capable of carrying out changes and policies which just might have some chance of succeeding. Perhaps it's finally working. Or not.

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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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