The Drug War Continues - Decapitations preferred method of execution - image from veracityvoice: The Unreported War In Mexico - January 2011
The body count in the Mexican Drug Cartel/Civil wars has been building in the past weeks, with the latest “revenge” casualties being 18 bodies found decapitated in Mexico’s second largest city – Guadalajara . The act of decapitation has become increasingly common in the nation, with what had been a “border war” escalating and moving into areas previously thought safe for Mexico’s citizens and tourists alike. That is no longer the case – the blog www.borderlandbeat.com has compiled an excellent history of the conflict, as well as updated news on the nation’s politics and continued civil war. (A must read.)
The violence has escalated during the Presidential election year - Mexico will vote for a new President in July, 2012. The leading candidate is Pena Nieto, of the Revolutionary Party (PRI), who together with his soap opera star wife, make up the most “charming” and appealing team, leading by 20 points in recent polls. (San Francisco Chronicle). However, it appears to be an election based on popularity rather than issues, at the moment. Pena Neito's Revolutionary Party had held power in Mexico for decades, and most recently lost the Presidency to Vicente Fox and Calderon, both of whom were able to control the cartels. However, the Modern Socialist PRI Party appears poised to retake the nation – with the nation’s most popular couple.
How all that would play into the civil war that is taking place remains to be seen – although, in for decades the drug trade existed between Mexico and the U.S. borders, it was not to the extent that it is today. Either atrocities were hushed by the ruling party, or they simply did not occur – the later being more likely. Therefore, logic dictates that should the party regain total power, and the leading contender be more stuff than fluff, one might see an actual decline in the violence, against its citizens, elected officials, journalists, and police.
In effect, the nation is in chaos, and it is spilling over the border into the U.S. – no matter how much money U.S. taxpayers throw at Mexico in a ridiculous “War on Drugs”. Ridiculous only in the sense that the other side appears to be winning, and there is no structure in place to prevent those cartel members or drug runners from easy access to the United States. It will be up to the President of the United States, as well as the newly elected Mexican President in July, to come to some sort of agreement as to the necessity of Mexico to deal with its own problems, and the necessity of the U.S. to man the border, and shut it down. Perhaps the U.S. should take lessons from Mexico, where they have effectively shut down their southern border with Guatemala – using tactics on those attempting to cross over through Mexico to the U.S. that would be considered extortion.
Additionally, Mexico does have a ruling class, or elite class that enjoys a lifestyle equal to those considered Elitists American’s, while there is no middle class to speak of, and a plethora of peasants whose past options included either working in the U.S. or working with and for the drug cartels. However, that particular party that ruled, at least had the appearance of keeping the violence under control – can the United States, however, rely on this happening again? Or is it, more to the point, the duty and right of the U.S. to actually do something about the border (talk is cheap and has been for decades), cutting off access to anyone who cannot legally enter the country? The scenario is doubtful, regardless of the party in power here in the U.S., as either no one has the chutzpah or the cajones to get the job done. Fear of alienating a voting bloc and big business trumps the health, wealth and safety of the very people they vow to protect – the American Citizen. One realistic solution would be to cut off the drug supply routes – cut off the cartels, the cash and let Mexico gain its independence from the United States of America. Again, political pandering will take that option off the table and as 25 lives lost in a week, turn into hundreds and thousands, on either side of the border will those in power still support the "do nothing" policy that continues to exist?
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