Comments on: Helping Mexico Help Itself

By: Maren Zaucha

Maren Zaucha — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:44:31 +0000

Amazingly, your article goes to the gist of the matter. Your pellucidity leaves me wanting to know more. Allow me to instantly grab your feed to keep up to date with your web site. Sounding Out thanks is simply my little way of saying what a masterpiece for a solid resource. Let In my dearest wishes for your future publication.

By: FFL Requirements

FFL Requirements — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:19:04 +0000

I gotta agree with you for the most part, nicely put.

By: david ronfeldt

david ronfeldt — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:28:38 +0000

good article. i’ve been looking around for blog posts that are not alarmist about mexico, and yours is one of the very few.

however, i think the emphasis should be on “building networks” more than “building institutions.” if this line of reasoning interests you, i spell it out in a post at the following spot:

http://twotheories.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-mexico-may-not-fall-apart-and-way.html

onward.

By: JRS

JRS — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:07:49 +0000

great blog. do you have an rss feed? would like delivered directly to my inbox when you update. saludos! jason

By: Ron@cagv

Ron@cagv — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:08:31 +0000

If we are really interested in working to stop the flow of guns South, a good place to start would be to repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, so-called because it was introduced by Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-KS, who has been able, with NRA backing, to have the amendment renewed every year since and serves to protect “rogue” gun dealers who sell guns illegally, often through “straw buyers.”
The existence of rogue dealers trafficking in illegal guns is nothing new. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) has known about them for years. In fact in 2002, the last year the ATF was allowed to issue their annual report on national gun tracings to the public, the agency found that 57% of guns traced from crime scenes had been traced back to 1% of the dealers. After 2002, the National Rifle Association (NRA) inspired Tiahrt Amendment was passed prohibiting the ATF from making this information available. Even law enforcement is prohibited from seeing the data. The organization of Mayor’s Against Illegal Guns, led by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is working to repeal this legislation. They are working with national and state gun violence prevention organizations to convince the Obama Administration and Congress that repealing this legislation would cut off one major source of illegal guns – those coming from rogue dealers. This would not end the flow of illegal guns, but it would disrupt what may be the largest source.

By: Patrick Corcoran

Patrick Corcoran — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:23:22 +0000

“Mexico must strengthen state and local law enforcement to democratically reassert control throughout its territory.”

I think this is quite true, and not just because of manpower, although of course that’s a big part of it. One thing about all the mayhem in Mexico that gets underreported is how much of what going on is not really cartel warfare in the Chapo Guzman sense of the word, but explosions of gang warfare like we saw in American cities in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s often about drug dealing turf rather than smuggling shipments into the States as it has been in the past. A local police force that is an active part of the community will ultimately be much more able to combat that than a bunch of ski-masked federal troops and soldiers. So I agree that strengthening local governments and police forces is key.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:50:06 +0000

I also enjoyed your article. It seems like the American media is beginning to reconginze how serious the situation has become; however, with the current economic crisis is seems like Mexico is still at the end of a long list of problems. Some sources claim that some of the catels are close to negotiating a “peace” in order to concentrate their efforts on defeating the Mexican military. If this is true, I find it hard to see how this will end favorably without some drastic US action. The Economist has an interesting article this week that proclaims the failure of prohibition. I would be interested to hear your opinion of drug legislation and its effect on the drug trade. It is certainly controversial, but do you it would work?

By: Clay R.

Clay R. — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:52:41 +0000

I enjoyed the article, and you bring up some interesting points. Also believe that the US will have to take a different approach to drug policies, I’m not convinced that it will completely eradicate the problem: undercutting pull factor for drugs will likely push these groups into other illegitimate sectors in order to reestablish their profits. Additionally, I think violence will likely increase as a result of the Gulf and Sinaloa continue to fight for a shrinking market, wracking up victims by the truckload. I’d love to write more, but, alas I must be off. Great read though.