Atlantic Community:Global Must Read Article "Drug Dealers Love War on Drugs"

Johann Hari, The Independent | August 30, 2010

The discovery of 72 mutilated bodies near San Fernando underlines just how bloody and pervasive the so-called war on drugs in Mexico has become. ++ The Mexican drug war is the direct result of the US spending “a fortune spraying carcinogenic chemicals over Columbia’s coca-growing areas.” ++ Known as the balloon effect, drug dealing simply shifts to another location, as long as demand remains high. ++ It is time to “take the drugs trade back from murderous criminal gangs.” ++ The only way to do this is to legalize drugs.

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Thu, Dec 9th 2010, 22:47

Alexander M. Vinograd, NYU , Bronze Contributor (15)

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More than 25 million people in the United States reported using an illicit drug or abusing a prescription drug in the past year. Mexico has become the main foreign supplier of Marijuana and one of the biggest suppliers of methamphetamines and heroine to the United State. The U.S. State Department estimates that 90% of cocaine entering the United States goes though Mexico. In the United States, illegal drug sale’s earnings are approximated to range from $13.6 to $48.4 billion annually.

The strength of the Mexican cartels has increased in response to the decline of the Colombian cartels and the virtual closure of Florida as an entry point for the U.S. drug market. According to National Drug Intelligence Center, “Mexican cartels are increasing their relationships with prison and street gangs in the United States in order to facilitate drug trafficking within the United States as well as wholesale and retail distribution of the drugs.” Until now it does not seem like the cartels have taken sides in the U.S. gangs turf, but that could change at any time as security along the borders tightens up.

Mexican drug enforcement efforts will be fruitless without the United States full pledged support both economically and politically. Legalization or decriminalize in Mexico alone will not reduce demand and it can not hope to win any sort of straight out war on the cartels, which until now have only increase the levels of violence and reduced public support. Most Mexicans believe they are paying the price for a war the United States has created. Should changes not come quick enough, the next presidency could be tempted to return to the ways of Mexico's past, where implied agreements with cartels were tolerated, and a relative degree of peace and low levels of violence were secured.