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At Large
Mexico's Half-Reported Drug War
Mexican Violence Leaves 1 Soldier, 20 Others Dead
Mexican Police Chief Resigns Amid Threats
Drug War Intensifies in Mexico's Capital
Drug Gangs Have Mexico on the Ropes
The headlines tell the whole story -- or do they? News from distant places is telegraphed in condensed bites and clips. Limited resources and limited newspaper space and television and radio time dictate that bad news always trumps good. Analysis that tells a broader, deeper story is left to those with the time and stamina to look for it.
Mexico's "drug war" is serious. Drug war stories of kidnappings, murders, decapitations keep coming. Last year, 6,290 were killed and nearly 1,000 this year. Several hundred law enforcement officials have been killed, but some 85 percent of the total were drug gang members. Despite a recent U.S. Joint Forces Command report that Mexico is in danger of becoming "a failed state," its murder rate is lower than that of Colombia, which has been coming back from the brink of chaos. Last year, Colombia's rate was 33 per 100,000 inhabitants; Mexico's was 10 per 100,000. According to Mexico's Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora, murders are down from the last quarter of 2008 in all parts of the country accept the border city of Juarez.
President Felipe Calderón is unlike his predecessors who turned a blind eye to decades-long drug trade. When he took office in 2003 he declared war on the drug cartels. In an interview last month, he said bluntly, "I'm fighting corruption among Mexican authorities and risking everything to clean house, but I think a good cleaning is in order on the other side of the border" (referring to a need to enforce a U.S. assault weapon ban). The stakes are high, he said. "It's either the narcos or the state."
He has backed this up by firing several senior officials implicated in the drug trade and by putting 50,000 federal troops into the field to take over, in effect, from local law enforcement in the four border states where most of the violence occurs: Chihuahua, Baja California, Sinaloa and Durango.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, a former Arizona governor, recently said, "Mexico...has issues of violence that are a different degree and level than we've ever seen before."
This is true, however, Mexican officials argue that the increased violence is a result of heavy pressure on the cartels, causing them to battle each other. It is also possible that cocaine demand in the U.S. is declining as more methamphetamine is being locally produced, forcing cartels to fight over a smaller market ]
The Mexican government has forced better information sharing between levels of government.
Still, the cartels use assassination, kidnappings and threats to sow terror. In many cases, local law enforcement personnel have been intimidated into inaction or, in some cases, have become corrupted. Hence, the increasing army presence along the northern border.
On our side of the border, arms smuggling into Mexico has been steadily increasing. The U.S. Department of Justice's Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms unit says there have been recent spikes in the smuggling of machine guns and hand grenades into Mexico. Late last month the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in U.S. border states nabbed 755 suspected members of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel, along with $59 million in drug money and a cache of weapons.
The ATF estimates that more than 7,700 of the guns sold in the U.S. last year were traced to Mexico. Mexico's gun laws are stricter than ours. Drug cartels are said to pay U.S. citizens to buy assault and other weapons for them at gun shows, where background checks are not required nor sales easily traced. The recently passsed "stimulus" package includes $10 million Project Gunrunner, a federal crackdrown on U.S. gun-running networks.
Despite the increased violence, is the Calderón war on the cartels working? Recently, Wall Street Journal writer Bret Stephens asked a friend who is on the faculty of Mexico's National University whether she thought the government was collapsing in the face of drug cartel violence.
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Bruce Abbott| 3.19.09 @ 6:32AM
The comment in the article about background checks not being required at gun shows is totally false. I worked at a gun shop for 8 years, and we had to do the paperwork for every sale, no matter where that sale was transacted. Private owners in my home state are exempted, but that exemption covers the entire state, not just shows. This misinformation is the hardiest of weeds; no amount of truth seems able to kill it.
paultex| 3.19.09 @ 9:48AM
Mr. Hannaford:
It is against U.S. law for machine guns or other automatic weapons to be sold at gun shows. Attend a gun show and see for yourself.
I don't known where the Mexican cartels are obtaining automatic weapons but they aren't getting them at U.S. gun shows.
Pecos Pete| 3.19.09 @ 10:18AM
Grenades? Machine guns? At gun shows? Next it will be RPGs and missiles. I hope Mexico is making progress but let's not make a mistake about where illegal weapons are being bought. The drug cartels can easily afford a slow boat from the middle east where almost any weapon can be purchased in quantity.
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The American Spectator : Mexico's Half-Reported Drug War · Bitacora de videos - vÃd links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Kevin B. Gaiser| 3.19.09 @ 10:58AM
This story goes from "grenades & machine guns", and an ATF estimate of "7,700 guns" traced back to the US, to guns being bought at guns shows, where background checks are not required. Where did you source this stuff, the Brady website?
Who at ATF came up with this estimate?
Who said US citizens are buying guns at gun shows for the Mexican Drug Cartel?
At gun show in this country are background checks not being conducted, or sales not easily traced?
This is what is wrong with the conservative movement. The sad truth is that, had McCain won, this would be no different.
Thomas| 3.19.09 @ 11:58AM
Enough with the "Mexico's problems all stem from the evil arms laws of los Americanos from the evil Los Estados Unidos. While it true that weapons are being procured in the U.S. and taken, considering the lack of border enforcement practiced by both countries this hardly constitutes smuggling, into Mexico; these weapons are the garden variety pistols, shotguns and non-automatic rifles available to U.S. citizens. Full automatic, military grade firearms, hand grenades and explosives are not only extremely hard to procure in the U.S., but why bother when you have a ready point of supply in Mexico, the Mexican Army.
For decades, Mexican drug interests, especially in the northern border states, have enjoyed regular protection and assistance from national military units. This has not changed to any appreciable degree. This assistance is also extended to weapons procurement. Small border gangs may purchase civilian weaponry, often through intermediaries , in the U.S. because they do not have the money, or influence, to obtain military weaponry from the Mexican Army. But, virtually all of the fully automatic weapons and hand grenades come from the Mexican Army, some stolen, but most purchased. Simply put, Mexico can not afford to close the border with Los Estados Unidos because money from Mexican immigrants, both legal and illegal, keeps its economy afloat. The U.S. has its own reasons for allowing virtually unfettered cross border access. Until both countries make a reasonable effort to close the border, then all of this is moot.
A small not of caution, always verify anything that the ATF says. There is an agenda in Washington, it is to protect the Corruptocracy of Mexico and to do everything possible to render the 2nd Amendment moot. Just remember, Guns don't kill people; crazed, desperate drug cartel members do.
L. Ross| 3.19.09 @ 1:16PM
Heck, if I can get automatic weapons and grenades without a background check at a gun show, you will see me there this weekend!
snr| 3.19.09 @ 2:08PM
Peter you are either a liar or misinformed. When you buy a gun at a gun show you follow the same proceedure and fill out the same yellow form as any other firearm transaction. If someone is buying large amounts of guns legally and turning them over to these criminals they are breaking existing laws and if you had ever filled out a yellow ATF form you would know what I am referring to. Enforce the laws on the books get rid of EVERY illegal alien and quit spreading untruths about firearms in you campaign to destroy the Second Amendment.
abncp| 3.19.09 @ 3:14PM
Thank God for the 2nd amendment to our Constitution. The ordinary citizen of Mexico cannot own or posses firearms. Only the Police, the Army and of course the really bad guys can. Of course the Police are often part of the really bad guys. Even the Army is'nt always reliable, Re. the Zitas. I hope the Brady bunch can finally see why most people in this country support the 2nd amendment.
Louis Jenkins| 3.19.09 @ 4:51PM
"President Felipe Calderón is unlike his predecessors who turned a blind eye to decades-long drug trade. When he took office in 2003 he declared war on the drug cartels. In an interview last month, he said bluntly, "I'm fighting corruption among Mexican authorities and risking everything to clean house, but I think a good cleaning is in order on the other side of the border" (referring to a need to enforce a U.S. assault weapon ban). "
Read up on Pres Calderon’s drug enforcement officials and their bloody hands. They are up to their elbows in drugs and murder. An article in a recent edition of the “Rolling Stone” (not exactly a source of truthful reporting) states that officials at every level, including many police commissioners, Mexican Army officers, and even those up next to the el presidente’, are on the take. But ain’t it grande’, Calderon can blame America for all its woes. The solution- seal the border coming and going. It’s all too convenient to blame the 2nd Amendment. Mexico doesn’t have a 2nd Amendment and see where it has gotten them. They've always been corrupt and will remain so.
Jim| 3.20.09 @ 2:20AM
The weapons are American, brought into Mexico under military foreign sales (US aid). The Mexican military are ones who are arming the drug cartels with US weapons.
Don't fall for this obama gun control scam effort.
Daniel Stiles| 3.20.09 @ 3:09AM
The cartels do not need to buy one gun at a time from gun shows in the U.S. They buy them from the boatload from any number of middle eastern and failed, corrupt states.
The American Hell DRUGSRULE| 3.20.09 @ 12:16PM
Drugs is more valuable than GOLD, Bush had shut down American industry for Drugs. Let the bugs fight it out, as long as we make it easier to get it in from Afghanistan, and make a profit.
From Mexico, into America, it's taken over in California, and bankrupted the State, and will worl it's way across America. The idea is to turn America into a BUG infested hell, what are you going to do about it.
Roberto| 3.21.09 @ 2:18PM
What a load of crap this article was. The cartels are getting their guns from the military and from Venezuela. Look it up.
Kurt| 3.26.09 @ 6:45AM
We need to take into account that Mexicans aren't accountable for their own actions. Would a Police chief in America ever resign under pressure from drug gangs. (it's a rhetorical question so obviously there's no need for a question mark.) I think killing Mexicans would be fun and profitable. Everyone I know would love to pick up guns and support our local police. Maybe not in Oakland though.
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