US gives Mexico anti-drug funding

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

A $197m (£133m) aid package to help Mexico fight drugs cartels has been released by the US government.

The move is part of the Merida Initiative, a $400m (£270m) scheme to assist Mexico's efforts to take on the drugs trade.

US Ambassador Tony Garza formally unveiled the programme, which includes the donation of helicopters and surveillance aircraft, in Mexico City.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7764054.stm

[SharonAnn]

1. Why don't we just fund drug treatment programs here?

[emilyg]

10. Bingo.

[Kali]

2. "scheme" is right

more militarization

[defendandprotect]

3. The Drug War kinda works the way missionaries used to --

Send them in to soften up heads and soon the country is yours --

[MikeNearMcChord]

4. Some of that money will end up in the hands of Los Zetas

Hell before long the Cartels will be the government.

[Hulk]

5. It's an ugly battle down here...and I'd have to say the Mexican government is trying their hardest..

I am not sure of the exact figures, but it's in the hundreds and most likely up into the thousands this year of officers and military that have been killed by these blood thirsty thugs.

They don't send it north because it's their desire, they send it north because the north desires it enough to pay the bucks to fund these cartels.

It's worth watching how the money gets spent, but it's a real war down here, and with a Mexican economy it's hard to imagine they can afford only a fraction of what the cartels can dump into the battle.

Money well spent in my opinion. You have an honest government down here for now, so best make the most of it while you can.

[a la izquierda]

8. Where are you at?

I can tell you that here in Guadalajara, the violence is getting pretty bad...

but honest government, that I'm not sure about.

[Hulk]

12. In San Miguel de Allende.......

Agreed, the government is corrupt for the most part...but it's a hell of a lot better than it was..and it's getting a little better each time.

The police are corrupt in places, but here in San Miguel it's very safe. A lot of gringos here. It's not perfect, but it's a lot better than history has had it.

Without the help of the US, it's a lost battle. So....want to fight drugs, better plan on helping out.

[a la izquierda]

13. Oooh, cool. I've wanted to go there.

Guadalajara, well, it's gotten worse, it's very weird. I love this city and the people, but there's some creepy stuff going on. The change over the last year has been dramatic, at least to this outside observer.

Calderon kinda screwed the pooch: by eliminating mid and high level drug cartel leaders, he created a power vacuum, akin to what happened between the FBI and the mob in the 1970s (I think that's about the time). Did he realize this would happen? Clearly not. But throughout Mexican history the police and military have never been relied upon for their loyalty, and relying on them now to root out drug cartels, who will simply pay them more is still not working. In fact, a former drug "czar" was just charged with taking hundreds of thousands of dollars PER MONTH in bribes from cartels. This isn't isolated and with this sort of corruption, shit isn't going to get fixed.

To top it off, drugs flow north to the US and guns flow south to Mexico. It's a vicious circle that has caught up the citizenry.

I didn't mean to just post this to you, Hulk, because I do see your point. I just sort of got carried away-I study Mexico for a living and will for the rest of my life.

[hollowdweller]

6. Mexico needs to legalize the WEED

Then they need to open up a few big modern hospitals staffed with doctors from Cuba. Then all the old retired hipsters from the US would move there and stimulate the economy with their retirement checks.

[liberal renegade]

9. good idea

I'd love to spend my golden years in Mismaloya.

[MadMaddie]

7. Umm why are we giving Mexico money at this point in time.

We have our own problems. This is not isolationist, but if we can't take care of our own country, how are we expected to take care of other countries?

[ksimons]

11. they are going to spend it all on pot

they don't care. why should they? it's good business and the kickbacks are easy money
and they get it on the other end when the US gives them cold-hard cash as well

[OhioChick]

14. We're in a shit hole with our economy

And we're giving Mexico $197 Mil for anti-drug funding? Isn't that the Mexican government's job?