The Drug War in Mexico is a North American ProblemMonday, October 3, 2011
The Drug War in Mexico is a North American Problem
By Ausan Al-Eryani
There is a war south of our border. While we continue to entangle ourselves in countless conflicts that never seem to end, we are ignoring our own war next door.
The Mexican drug war is essentially an armed conflict among rival drug cartels battling for regional control, and between the cartels and the Mexican government forces, under President Felipe Calderón, who have been desperately struggling to dismantle them since 2006.
You might ask yourself, why should I even care about what happens in Mexico? It's their problem, right? Not exactly.
Other than the obvious fact that Mexico is the United States' geographic neighbor, we are also partly responsible for the ongoing bloodshed. First, consider the alarming supply of weapons these cartels own. These violent groups have everything from AK-47s to an endless amount of machetes.
Now consider that an estimated 90 percent of the guns seized at the border, or after raids and shootings in Mexico, have been traced to the U.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Now you might say, well it's not really our fault they get their hands on weapons made in our country - we can't do anything about that.
Even if you accept that inherently defeatist argument, it is humbling to realize that the reason the drugs keep flowing is because the cartels are simply catering to an enormous U.S. market.
To be blunt, Americans are addicted. According to the U.S. State Department, a stunning 90 percent of cocaine enters the U.S. through the Mexican border. Even more, these cartels also manufacture 80 percent of the crystal meth sold in America, 14 percent of the heroin and a majority of the marijuana - all to satisfy people's practically insatiable demand.
Outside America's direct involvement in fueling the conflict, there are truly devastating effects of this war. A January 2011 report put the total death toll at an astounding 34,000 lives. Moreover, in 2010, dozens of Americans were killed in Mexico. Sadly, some of them were the victims of brutal, murderous bus raids by cartels.
What has been more shocking is the expanding profile of violence these groups are developing. Many of them have now branched off to kidnapping, counterfeiting and human smuggling, to name a few. They've also become more tech savvy. Evidence has shown they are now tracking social media as well. Tragically, two Mexican citizens were killed recently for posting supposedly "sensitive" information on Twitter.
If that doesn't convince you that this is a serious issue, take note of the cartels' capabilities. The U.S. Defense Department has stated that two of Mexico's deadliest drug cartels, Sinaloa and Gulf, have reached a combined force of 100,000 foot soldiers - not too far behind the Mexican army's 130,000-man force. Some of you may still be thinking, well, this is all still in Mexico right? Not quite.
The U.S. Department of Justice has reported that Mexican drug cartels have gang members in nearly 200 U.S. cities, from Los Angeles to Baltimore, and they represent the "largest threat to both citizens and law enforcement agencies in this country."
Simply, the problem is becoming local for Americans. To their credit, the U.S. and Mexican governments have been addressing the issue - somewhat. President Calderón has explicitly declared war on the cartels, poured billions of dollars into fighting them and deployed thousands of Mexican soldiers to carry out his efforts.
The U.S. has pursued security agreements, such as the Mérida Initiative, which provide $400 million of assistance to combat the cartels. However, with their enormous manpower, endless weapons and an industry with roughly $10 billion in profits every year, we need and should do so much more.
Understandably, we do have to worry about countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the violence in Mexico is an extremely serious U.S. national security issue. In fact, a 2009 U.S. government report states "two large and important states bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse: Pakistan and Mexico." This is an issue of joint responsibility.
If left unchecked, the Mexican government itself may collapse and descend into chaos. We must all pay more attention to this war. The U.S. should immediately work to curb demand, monitor weapon sales and pursue a comprehensive effort to combat the ruthless drug lords from border protection policies to taking advantage of the abilities of the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as the Treasury and State departments, among others.
Let's remember that this is not a "Mexican problem" - it is a North American problem. How many more lives will it take for us to wake up and take notice of what is happening right on our doorstep?
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Ausan Al-Eryani is a regular columnist at the Virginia Tech Collegiate Times. "Mexico's drug war effects US as well" was first published by the Collegiate Times on Sep. 26, 2011. Republished with permission.