From what we’ve been able to gather from the Mexican press this week, there is precious little confidence in Washington’s promises to help overcome a drug and crime crisis that threatens the foundations of that country’s government. On Thursday, we posted a story from Mexico’s El Universal headlined Mexicans Doubtful of U.S. Commitment to Drug War.
Today we post this editorial from Mexico’s La Jornada, which reflects increasing frustration with the authorities and warns Mexicans not to be taken in again by U.S. promises of support – despite Hillary Clinton’s forthright admission of U.S. responsibility for much of the problem.
The La Jornada editorial says in part:
Hillary Clinton acknowledged her government’s share of responsibility for the smuggling of guns into Mexico and her country’s insatiable demand for illegal drugs. It was indeed a praiseworthy gesture, but insufficient; the U.S. authorities will have to initiate serious and committed actions against drug trafficking on their own territory – where most drugs originating in Latin America continue to reach the hands of consumers, and against the undisguised flow of illicit money into their country’s financial system.
The lack of a clear strategy on the part of Barack Obama’s Administration appears to be behind the difficulty in conceiving and implementing effective measures against drug trafficking. Focused on domestic issues and the war in Afghanistan, the White House occupant has let the matter stagnate and gives the impression that his only option is to back President Calderon’s plan. This, in spite of the fact that the plan has been counterproductive in combating drug trafficking and violence and is demonstrably ineffective.
In such circumstances, in terms of fight against the organized crime, Mexican authorities shouldn’t expect more from the United Statesiens [Americans]. Given the ineffectiveness of the current security policy, it would be desirable for the authorities instead to promote a national debate on the subject, in order to formulate a security strategy based on consensus. They should show the political will to listen to the views of academics, economists, experts on public health and safety, as well as to organizations created by groups who have been harmed by the blood bath, to families of the innocent victims and to representatives of communities broken by the violence. The federal government will not obtain public support if it doesn’t abandon the obstinacy it has shown toward the demands and claims of the population.
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