| | |  Editorials | Opinions | March 2009 
Be Wary of Dismissing Mexico as a Failed State
 Antonio Garza Jr. - TonyGarza.com
| | Antonio O. Garza Jr. is the former U.S. ambassador to Mexico. | |
Unfortunately, talk of Mexico in the United States has turned increasingly to a debate over our neighbor's viability as a nation. By doing so, we fuel a perception that is neither accurate nor constructive.
Failed states do not have functioning executive, legislative and judicial branches. They do not boast the world's 12th-largest economy. They do not trade with the United States at a pace of more than $1 billion a day. And failed states do not demonstrate – as President Felipe Calderon has done – the political will to take on the transnational cartels that threaten the region's security and the courage to sustain that fight until victory is secured.
President Barack Obama should prioritize the U.S.-Mexico relationship and place a premium on bolstering our already strong partnership with the Mexican government and its people.
The United States must recognize the truism that our own security and economic strength is intrinsically tied to a stable and prosperous Mexico.
These are difficult times in Mexico with transnational cartel violence at unprecedented levels, but Calderon's commitment to fight and win this war is unwavering. So should be the United States' support of that fight.
Mexico is working aggressively to reassert control over areas hardest hit by cartel violence and dominion, deploying more than 25,000 troops to more than a dozen Mexican states. The government also has demonstrated its muscle with dramatic increases in spending to more than $2.5 billion in 2007 and more than $4 billion in 2008 to improve public security and counter the cartel-led violence. We've also seen the Mexican government extradite a record number of cartel leaders and criminals to the U.S. to stand trial.
There is an unfortunate reality in the Mexican government's increased commitment to rid the nation of cartels, drugs and corruption. More than 5,500 innocent lives were lost last year in cartel-related violence, and our U.S. border states have seen the war spill into our communities. We cannot shy away from the fight because the level of violence is fast becoming tragic in its scope and size, especially when our nation plays a pivotal role in Mexico's crisis.
Mexico would not be the center of cartel activity or experience this level of violence were the United States not the largest consumer of illicit drugs and the main supplier of weapons to the cartels. We have a responsibility to fight this war together, or we fail together.
The Merida Initiative, a $1.4 billion U.S. commitment to Mexico, ushered in a new era of cooperation on security issues between the nations. This landmark bilateral initiative will strengthen existing law enforcement cooperation and intelligence sharing and provide new equipment for Mexican forces to use to better confront the common threat of drug trafficking and other transnational organized crime.
But the Merida Initiative must be fully funded by Congress. And at a time when our own economic woes beg for federal action, we should not and cannot cast aside the Merida Initiative as a policy distraction or budget extravagance. To the contrary, it is a necessity for the region. Our leaders must provide full funding quickly and move law enforcement tools into the field immediately to win this war.
Instead of buying into those in the United States who are quick to suggest Mexico is a failed state, Obama should forcefully lead and imbue the relationship with his trademark hope and with action indicative of a partner in a war that we must fight and win together.
Antonio O. Garza Jr. is the former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and may be reached through www.tonygarza.com. |
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