More Signs Mexico Will Give Up Drug War Soon

watchingmexico.com  â€œâ€¨â€¨â€¨Another bad day for
the future of Mexico's all-
out war on the drug cartels, we're afraid. Well, are we? Not sure.
Many questions.â€

Associated Press 10/29/09 Report: Mexican Official says drug
dealers could teach farmers (Story below commentary)
NOTE FROM WATCHINGMEXICO PUBLISHER RICK KIEL:
This story can be read in two ways. One, an Assistant Secretary of
Agricultural of Mexico's Federal government suggests that farmers grow
crops that are in high market demand, rather than local crops of corn
and beans, where farmers cannot compete against U.S. farmers. Or, more
sinister, he is suggesting they might want to try growing more
profitable marijuana and poppies.

Why not the latter, since Mexico has decriminalized possession of
marijuana, cocaine and LSD earlier this year.

This story is just another broadside against the costs of President
Calderon's all-out war against the drug traffickers, suggesting the
war will come to an end when he leaves office. Combine that with
former President Fox's denunciation of the drug war earlier this week,
a member of Calderon's own party; the legalization earlier this summer
in Mexico of not only marijuana but also cocaine and LSD; and the
calls from many political leaders, again also one from Calderon's own
party, not to attack the drug cartels too hard, because they will
retaliate ferociously, and you can see the establishment doesn't have
the stomach to continue the war once Calderon finishes his single
constitutional term.
A poll of Mexicans showed a majority still supported the all-out war,
despite the thousands that have been tortured and slaughtered.
END COMMENTARY

The Associated Press 10/29/09 - MEXICO CITY -- A Mexican agriculture
official has caused a stir by reportedly suggesting that Mexican
farmers could learn a thing or two from drug traffickers.
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Jeffrey Max Jones was quoted by the
newspaper Reforma on its Web site Wednesday as saying that farmers
"should follow the example of drug traffickers because they produce
what the market demands."

"Today, on the other hand, farmers produce (crops) and later check to
see if there is any demand in the market."

The Agriculture Department issued a statement calling Jones' remarks
"unfortunate."

More than 13,800 people have died in drug violence since late 2006,
when President Felipe Calderon ordered a nationwide crackdown on
traffickers.

END THIS STORY

A Reality Check on Drug Use

By George F. Will 10/29/09


(NOTE: This is conservative columnist Will's second broadside against
the failed drug war in a week, the first saying the Mexican cartels
could be defeated simply by decriminalizing marijuana, source of 80%
of their revenue.)

TWO MAIN WILL POINTS: 1) The Economist magazine says this means that
more than 200 million people -- almost 5 percent of the world's adult
population -- take illegal drugs, the same proportion as a decade
ago.

2) The annual U.S. bill for attempting to diminish the supply of drugs
is $40 billion. Of the 1.5 million Americans arrested each year on
drug offenses, half a million are incarcerated. "[T]ougher drug laws
are the main reason why one in five black American men spend some time
behind bars," the Economist said in March.

LINK TO FULL STORY AT WATCHINGMEXICO.COM

US warns of cartel shootings
in Mexico border city
The Associated Press - 10/28/09

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico -- The U.S. Consulate in the northern Mexican
border city of Ciudad Juarez warned U.S. citizens that Mexican drug
cartels were possibly planning random shooting attacks on cars
Wednesday - the same day gunmen ambushed a top state police official.

Drug smugglers are endlessly creative along border
By JACQUES BILLEAUD The Associated Press

SAN MIGUEL, Ariz. 10/29/09 -- A pickup truck in Mexico pulls up to the
5-foot vehicle barriers that make up part of the multibillion-dollar
border fence. A retractable ramp is extended from the truck, forming a
bridge up and over the barriers.

Then, a second pickup - this one loaded with a ton of marijuana -
rolls over the bridge and into the U.S.

WatchingMexico Kiel note: watchingmexico   â€¨â€¨â€¨That
story on outwitting
US customs is grim reading, and again, drug flows in unceasingly, no
matter what brave and resourceful officials do.

Mexico nabs man called drug cartel's state leader
The Associated Press - 10/28/09

GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Police arrested a man Tuesday who they say
headed the operations of the "La Familia" drug cartel in the western
state of Michoacan.

watchingmexico   â€¨â€¨â€¨Kiel note: This arrest smells o
f common corrupt
tactic of throwing police a fish or two here and there to make
officials look good. Hope not.

END STORIES POSTED TODAY ON www.watchingmexico.com

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