http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/05/14/the-other-war-of-the-mexican-armed-forces/ The official Web log for Great Decisions 2007 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:40:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/05/14/the-other-war-of-the-mexican-armed-forces/#comment-676 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:10:29 +0000 http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/05/14/the-other-war-of-the-mexican-armed-forces/#comment-676 [...] It is not surprising to learn that drug cartels present a clear and present danger to Mexican democratic institutions. This was recently declared by Guillermo Valdés, head of Mexican intelligence. Unfortunately, the current fight against drugs has not improved the situation. During the last year, the country has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of drug-related casualties. In addition, the federal government has overexposed the military to a force it was not prepared to fight. This explains the need to minimize the involvement of the armed forces and increase the budget to recruit more regular police forces. [...] […] It is not surprising to learn that drug cartels present a clear and present danger to Mexican democratic institutions. This was recently declared by Guillermo Valdés, head of Mexican intelligence. Unfortunately, the current fight against drugs has not improved the situation. During the last year, the country has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of drug-related casualties. In addition, the federal government has overexposed the military to a force it was not prepared to fight. This explains the need to minimize the involvement of the armed forces and increase the budget to recruit more regular police forces. […]

]]> http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/05/14/the-other-war-of-the-mexican-armed-forces/#comment-586 Fri, 23 May 2008 19:55:50 +0000 http://mexico.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2008/05/14/the-other-war-of-the-mexican-armed-forces/#comment-586 [...] In a May 14th posting, Blogger Alejandro Quiroz Flores discusses the role of the Mexican military in combating Mexico’s drug problems. In a move to avoid problems with Mexico’s often corrupt and under-equipped local police forces, the Mexican Army is often the security force which patrols towns and maintains security against drug trafficking. Problems discussed by Alejandro include a problem of desertion in the Army due to poor condition and lack of pay. A contributing factor as well is the historic human right violation during the Dirty War in the 60’s and 70’s which contributed to 1,500 disaparecidos in the past. Despite the Army’s separation from political forces and its good reputation as compared with the local police, they are still Mexico’s strongest security force against the Drug cartels in Mexico and have greatly improved their human rights record since the 1970s. For Alejandro’s piece on the attack on FARC leaders in Ecuador and consequences in Mexico and Ecuador, read here. [...] […] In a May 14th posting, Blogger Alejandro Quiroz Flores discusses the role of the Mexican military in combating Mexico’s drug problems. In a move to avoid problems with Mexico’s often corrupt and under-equipped local police forces, the Mexican Army is often the security force which patrols towns and maintains security against drug trafficking. Problems discussed by Alejandro include a problem of desertion in the Army due to poor condition and lack of pay. A contributing factor as well is the historic human right violation during the Dirty War in the 60’s and 70’s which contributed to 1,500 disaparecidos in the past. Despite the Army’s separation from political forces and its good reputation as compared with the local police, they are still Mexico’s strongest security force against the Drug cartels in Mexico and have greatly improved their human rights record since the 1970s. For Alejandro’s piece on the attack on FARC leaders in Ecuador and consequences in Mexico and Ecuador, read here. […]

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