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 Editorials | January 2007 
There's Hope in the Anti-Drug War
 Carlos Luken - MexiData.info
| | Victor Ruiz, right, an observer with the Baja California Human Rights Office, watches as Mexican soldiers inspect a vehicle at a roadside checkpoint in Tijuana, Mexico. Mexican human rights officials began limited observations Wednesday of military roadblocks, one week after President Felipe Calderon began a military operation in this border city to combat crime and drugs. (AP/David Maung) |
Tijuana residents were surprised last week as they encountered Mexican military roadblocks on most main city streets.
The heavily armed soldiers are part of Mexican President Felipe Calderón's second phase in a crackdown on violence and savagery caused by drug cartel rivalries.
Mr. Calderón has increased Mexico's military budget by a momentous 20 percent, and used 3,000 soldiers, marines and federal police officers to try to restore law and order. What makes this crusade different?
• Mr. Calderón is putting his reputation on the line by resolving to retake hostage states and cities by acting immediately upon taking office. He has not lost time, as have other presidents, by giving local authorities the benefit of the doubt concerning dishonesty. He is acting resolutely with the military, and eventually he will entrust the duties with law enforcement authorities with proven merits.
• As opposed to conventional efforts, Mr. Calderón appears to be following a strategically planned campaign by taking action against all of the cartels simultaneously, which forces existing crime organizations to go underground and dissuades rivals from moving from one territory to another.
Will the campaign yield long-lasting results?
While it is hard to predict at this early stage, the military presence should allow a respite for communities, as criminals will likely go underground to avoid clashes with the military. Others may migrate to regions where enforcement is still lax.
It is expected that a sustained crusade with honest local, state and federal coordination, and supported by intelligence networks that are being established, will generate important drug lord apprehensions.
It may also benefit from an upswing in U.S. public and law enforcement opinion, insofar as the campaigns should deter illegal immigration in border states.
Carlos Luken is a columnist for MexiData.info. His e-mail address is ilcmex@yahoo.com. |
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