Pubdate: Tue, 07 Dec 2010 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2010 El Paso Times Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/townhall/ci_14227323 Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829 MEXICO DRUG WAR: U.S. CONFIDENCE WANES Our pronounced headway into helping Mexico win its war against drug cartels may have been "spin." Little or no headway has been made. Now we learn, through U.S. cables released by WikiLeaks, that our State Department has been frustrated with Mexico amid the government's four-year attempt to beat down drug-cartel power. The classified and secret memos indicate the U.S. believes the $1.4 billion we earmarked for Mexico in the Merida Initiative was a bad idea; it has done little to help President Felipe Calderon's efforts. It says the Mexican army is described as outdated, slow and "risk averse." We also learn the U.S. points out in-fighting between Mexico's army and navy, and among its security agencies. But most striking on the cable leaks is that the Mexican government, itself, fears that drug cartels are gaining more and more control, and that time was "running out" before it becomes just too late. And it's telling to hear John D. Freely, No. 2 in the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, say, "Official corruption is widespread ... prosecution rates for organized crime-related offenses are dismal: 2 percent of those detained are brought to trial." Crime is rampant. Mexico is losing confidence it can stop the drug cartels. As expressed in the leaked cables, we agree Mexico is losing, and there's no sign the tide may turn -- at least anytime soon. Obviously, strategies are not working out in Mexico. New strategies must be adopted. In the meantime, sadly, we are wasting our money in helping Mexico fight the drug cartels. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt