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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Mexico – Failed State.. or .. Failed Policies? |
| 2008-06-10 |
| t is a harsh, but probably true, reality. If Mexico is not yet a failed state, it could well be on its way to that end. Arguably, if a country cannot quell violence within its borders, it is on its way to failure; if a country has multiple gangs, in this case drug cartels operating seemingly freely within its borders, it is on its way to failure; if, despite increasing the deployment of troops to combat the drug cartels, the cartels continue to kill, the state is on its way to failure; finally, if thousands of its citizens are murdered by the unceasing drug violence and hundreds of its law enforcement officers are killed in the process, the state is on its way to failure. Yes, it is a harsh reality. My position on the situation in Mexico has been clear since before I began writing on ThreatsWatch. The unrelenting drug violence south of the border represents a threat to our National Security. Despite Felipe Calderón’s efforts to take on the drug cartels, he seems to be losing. Since taking office, 4000 people have been killed, with 450 law enforcement officers have died, including 4 of the top anti-drug officers being gunned down last month alone. [..] |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #9 Back in the bad old days, Mexico was a lot like Afghanistan is today. A weak central government, with warlords controlling the rural majority of the country. The president was just the strongest bandito, and as soon as he became the president, all the other banditos sought to overthrow him. At times, the butchery became so bad that groups of people would be approached by unidentifiable armed men who would ask them who they supported. If they answered wrong, they would be killed on the spot. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-06-10 22:46 |
| #8 this, not his.... :-( |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-06-10 21:37 |
| #7 we had a month-long lull in Tijuana. 10 dead his last weekend. Long-term? Mexico is f*cked without US intervention, and until it gets bad enough, Mexicans will oppose that, out of some anti-yanqui knee-jerk reaction. The drug cartels give members of the authorities and military two choices: accept a large bribe and let things go, or be a hard-ass and die violently in front of (or with) your family. Hard choice, and without security and support? Impossible |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-06-10 21:16 |
| #6 GUATEMALA CITY, June 7 (Reuters) - Guatemala plans to send hundreds of troops, elite presidential guards and anti-drug police to its border with Mexico to stem growing drug violence, the government said on Saturday. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-06-10 20:49 |
| #5 Old joke - Why no mexican olympic team? Cause all the mexicans that can run, jump or swim are in America... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2008-06-10 20:25 |
| #4 The latter because of the former, which feedds back. Nasty little loop - requires political courage and some force to break it. Need to break up the main families that run Mexico, privatize a ton of stuff and open up the governmen while cracking down on the cartels militarily. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-06-10 19:48 |
| #3 All the smart Mexicans have left. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-06-10 19:38 |
| #2 Mexican police chiefs are seeking asylum in the United States. |
| Posted by: Snineting Tojo5324 2008-06-10 19:35 |
| #1 Mexico, failed state or failed policies? Yes. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-06-10 19:23 |