Houston Man Convicted for Arming Drug Cartels

John Philip Hernandez, a resident in Houston, was recently sentenced to 8 years in prison for arming drug cartels.  The actual count against him was making a false statement to a gun dealer, which runs about 4 to 5 years standard.  Working through various parties, he accumulated 339 military style weapons over 15 months, claiming that they were all for personal use, and would not be turned over to a third party.  At least 40 of them have already been recovered in Mexico.  His lengthened sentence was because, although he claimed that he didn't know they were going to drug cartels, they are the only serious market for assault rifles and military guns.  Prosecutors felt that he should know that he is only arming hit-men.

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It is from contacts in America that the drug cartels are able to get a majority of their weapons, which undoubtably fuels a fair deal of anger on Mexico's side and thus makes international accords all the more arduous.  Also, we create a sizable market for the drug cartels, in effect fueling the drug wars from almost every angle.  We have never colonized Mexico, but throughout history we have dominated them politically and economically in an extremely one sided arrangement, and only by easing up in our involvement will Mexico be able to develop into a fully industrialized nation.

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Billions in 'Blood Money' Fuel Bloodshed In Juarez, Mexico

Juarez has suffered greatly as a result of the drug violence present in Mexico.  The city has been completely overtaken by the drug war. 2,000 have died as a result of drug violence in the last 14 months.  The army has been occupying the city in a state of martial law for the last six weeks. The mayor had fired half of the police force to attempt to remove corruption,resulting in the deaths of 50 officials. a former mercenary claims to have had help smuggling drugs from us officials on the border. He said the drug cartels have many US officials on payroll and they are known to the cartel members only by number. The FBI has said the corruption from the cartels is on the rise.  Especially as the justice system in Mexico has mostly fallen apart as most cases from 2008 went unsolved.  The Mayor ofJuarez sees a great irony in the continued marijuana usage by Americans and the fact that 90 percent of guns found on cartel members are from the US.

Mexico having even temporily lost a city to complete immersion in drug violence is a very scary thing considering its status is very close to 'failed state'. The US's continuing inability to assist Mexico is severly hurting the Mexicans fight against the drug cartels.

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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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Suspected drug cartel hitman arrested in Mexico

A drug cartel member suspected of planning an attack on the US Consulate in Northen Mexico has been arrested. The man was part of 'Zetas', a group of armed men, working for the Golfo Cartel. The group had executed a grenade attack on the consulate in October.

Attacks on the US consulate may make the US more hesitant to send support, which would not be good for the President. However since they captured one of the assailants, Mexico still has some control.

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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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Mexico is in Free Fall

Mexico's drug cartels goal is to tame and control the Mexican state, not just the border. It's state institutions are under attack in a way they haven't been for decades, or so this article claims. Journalists are more afraid to go to Mexico than anywhere in the Middle East even experienced war zone reporters.  The cartels target important officials without fear: Jose Felix, co-coordinator at the national centre for planning and analysis to combat organized crime;  Edgar Gomez, the highest ranked federal police official ; Juan Mournio, the national security adivsor, crashed in a plane under mysterious circumstances; Mauro Quinones was tortured and killed a week after recieving the positon of anti-drug chief in Cancun. The United States has in the past only paid lip service to foreign relations with Mexico despite this being a time when Mexico needs as much help as it can get.

It is terrifiyng to realize the implications of these targeted murders.  The drug cartels are confident that they don't have to worry too much about anyone. They have the power. People listen to them and fear them. Without help, it is uncertain whether Chalderon will be able to keep a handle on this already out of control situation.

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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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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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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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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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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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The chemical components just got a lot more organic...

Santiago Meza Lopez was arrested for literally dissolving 300 bodies into chemicals. Mexican drug wars drive this particular industry.  The 300 bodies (or lack thereof) were once rivals of a Mexican drug trafficking gang lead by kingpin Teodoro Garcia Simental.  The drug wars are over drug trafficking routes through Tijuana.  In a statement, Meza bluntly said that when he was "disposing of" the bodies he felt "nothing".  It was just a job for him.  He was payed $600 a week to get rid of 300 bodies.  The question I pose to you is this: was it because of impoverishment that people do such things, or is it simply for the pure pursuit of money? Would this job be regarded as democratic since Meza didn't murder anybody, and he has the freedom to a contract?  At what point can the government curtail this freedom to a contract, especially in a society as problematic and poverty-ridden as Mexico is today.  Would it be worse to eliminate his opportunity to work in such an impoverished nation?

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