Pubdate: Fri, 27 Mar 2009
Source: Macon Telegraph (GA)
Copyright: 2009 The Macon Telegraph Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.macontelegraph.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/667
Author: Charles E. Richardson, for the Editorial Board

OLD SUPPLY AND DEMAND RULE AT WORK ON OUR SOUTHERN BORDER

The United States standard of living, even in these tough economic 
times, sets the pace for the rest of the world. We drive bigger cars, 
live in larger houses and spend more money per person than any 
country on Earth, and there are, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 
more than 306 million of us. We are the envy of the other 6.4 billion 
people inhabiting this planet. We are also the consumers who support 
the economies of several countries, and some of that consumerism is 
in the illegal drug trade. Just like Japan exports Toyotas and Hondas 
to satiate our appetite for vehicles, Mexican drug cartels will stop 
short of nothing to meet the American demand for illicit drugs.

With any product that sells well there is natural competition in the 
supply chain. Everyone wants to corner the market. In Mexico, rival 
drug cartels are at war, all wanting to control the American drug 
market. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is in Mexico this 
week and has caught some flak for admitting U.S. complicity in the 
drug war along our border with Mexico. All Clinton was referring to 
is the oldest rule of commerce: Supply meets demand.

The casualties in the border drug war has cost more lives, 7,200, in 
a year, almost 20 per day and, so far, it's been one-sided. Killing 
is just another part of conducting a business that rakes in $15 
billion annually. Since Felipe Calderon, the Mexican president, took 
office and declared war on the cartels, the attacks have become more 
brazen. Last May, Mexico City's top cop was ambushed and killed in 
Culiacan. Just last month Police Chief Roberto Orduna of Ciudad 
Juarez, one of Mexico's most violent cities, quit. Drug gangs 
threatened to kill a police officer every 48 hours until he stepped 
down. It was no bluff, They had already killed the deputy police 
chief and more than 50 officers last year. President Calderon 
mobilized more than 45,000 troops to throttle down the cartels and 
the U.S. is providing financial, intelligence and tactical aid. 
Secretary Clinton is seeking to supply Mexico with three Black Hawk 
helicopters to help in the war effort, and there is a possibility 
President Barack Obama would put National Guard troops along the 
border. That would certainly slow down the drug trade, however, the 
Mexican government doesn't like that idea. In 2006, Mexicans sent $23 
billion back home. After oil, money sent home by immigrants, legal 
and not, is Mexico's second-largest source of foreign income.

No matter what America does to close off the border with Mexico, 
illegal immigration and drugs will continue to be vexing problems 
until demand falls off. So far, the trend lines would make any 
businessman happy.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom