Mexico’s ‘war next door’ linked directly to United States

[Judi Lynn]

Source: NBC News

Mexico’s ‘war next door’ linked directly to United States
Federal authorities say traffickers are now entrenched in at least 270 American cities
NBC News
updated 10/23/2010 7:17:59 PM ET 2010-10-23T23:17:59

MIAMI — For most Americans it is likely hard to understand the level of brutality consuming many regions in Mexico now as vicious drug-trafficking cartels fight with each other and the authorities over smuggling routes to the United States and distribution rights in Mexican neighborhoods. The bulk of this murderous conflict occurs just south of the 2,000-mile-long U.S. border, so close-by that bullets from gunfire in Mexico have struck buildings on the American side of the fence.

In the nearly four years since Mexican President Felipe Calderon, firmly supported by the U.S. government, launched an unprecedented attack on Mexico's drug kingpins, nearly 30,000 people have been killed. The victims include thousands of police officers, soldiers, public officials, judges and journalists, as the traffickers fight back with powerful weapons, many of them purchased in the United States. Often Mexican police find themselves outmanned and outgunned by the criminals.

Terrified Mexican officials have fled across the border seeking political asylum and some Mexican villages have become ghost towns after traffickers killed or pushed out the residents to clear the way for their smuggling operations.

The Mexican trafficking organizations have also crossed deeply into the United States, peddling tons of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine to American drug users, who reward the cartels with an estimated 19 to 39 billion dollars a year, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Federal authorities say Mexican traffickers are now entrenched in at least 270 American cities, running sophisticated and disciplined networks that not only bring the drugs in, but also ship truckloads of cash back to Mexico.





Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39812764/ns/world_news-americas/

[rayofreason]

1. Legalize drugs.

Take the wind out their sails.

[madmax]

2. Exactly! But, noooo that's too simple .

Worked for Prohibition, damnit.

[southmost]

3. in other news...

water is wet...