The Mexican Drug Cartels: Part 3 - the Failing of A State?
The growth and dramatic character of the violence, particularly the targeting of government and law enforcement officers and direct battles with police and military units have led some political analysts to speculate about the strength of the Mexican government, some actually using the title of a “failing” state.
Of particular concern was a report released in December 2008 by the Joint Forces Command has indicated that because of the drug cartels ability to corrupts, distort and damage the region’s potential that the instability in Mexico, “represents a homeland security problem of immense proportions to the United States.” However, the Director of National Intelligence asserted to reports in an address in March 2009, “Mexico is in no danger of becoming a failed state.”
Although the goal may not be to not to take over the Mexican state as a whole, but to “subvert it.” according to report released in May of 2009 by the Congressional Research Service. The report theorizes that the competition to control drug trafficking routes frequently puts the Mexican Drug Trafficking groups in battles with state security forces. Effective control of trafficking routes depends on corrupt government officials and law enforcement. With he estimated sums of money generated by drug sales in the United States to Mexico estimated between $15 billion to $25 billion annually the ability of the DTO’s to subvert , corrupt law enforcement and government officials is almost a certainty.
The level of violence caused because of the wars between rival gangs and the DTO’s that they support is staggering. From 2007-2009 was there were 16,491 Cartel related deaths. Because the DTO are taking on the army directly rather than avoiding confrontations has risen. Unofficial estimates place the number employed by the major
DTO’s up to or more than 100,000 which puts them roughly at parity with Mexican armed forces.
As conflicts continue both inter-cartel and intra-cartel the level of violence can continue to rise. Especially with the break up of the Sinaloa Federation and the Gulf Cartel as well as the transition of the Los Zetas from an enforcer group to a competing cartel signifies possibly a new rise in violence in coming months.
Violence is a tool of the drug trafficking business, the objectives of the use of that violence vary from one group to the next. The conflict over territory, punish betrayals and inflict revenge against government
success to name a few. The violence that is being seen now may be used not to overthrow or bring down a government but rather to subvert a government.
An intimidated government can deflect law enforcement initiatives and it allows the drug cartels to operate unhampered. The use of violence against the government may be an attempt to reestablish patterns of corruption that were prevalent in Mexico in the past.
Since 2008, the increase of kidnappings for money have risen significantly. In the past targets have been the wealthy and influential family members, but now even the middle class and poor have been asked to pay as little as $500 in ransom.
The effect on the Mexican government towards this newest trend has prompted demonstrations call for government action against the escalation of violence. This tactic, the kidnapping of family is a trend that is starting to appear here in the United States, particularly in the Southern United States, wherever the Cartel’s may have ties are also potentially affected.
It has also been implicated that Mexico is sliding toward lawlessness that Columbia experienced, through drug-funded bribery and gun-barrel intimidation. In a move that has many speculating that Mexican government is losing control. On February 3, 2010, President Calderon called off primary elections in the northern state of Tamaulipas. In Chihuahua, the government is redeploying troops from the embattled city of Juarez to the countryside because of fears that the Cartels are cementing their control in smaller border
towns. The reason because drug traffickers had infiltrated the election process. Calderon actually described the crackdown as a fight for territory and “the very authority of the state.”
In the past several months, public officials in a half dozen cities and towns have been gunned down, kidnapped. In the town of Tancitaro, seven police officers and a top town administrator were murdered in 2009.
In the town of Puerto Palomos, the police chief fled to the United States, asking for asylum, saying the Mexican official could not protect him. In October, the traffickers killed a town administrator there as well. A
further indicator that this trend will seep across the U.S. border and effect the United States population.
In March, 2009, the financial magazine Forbes included Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman it its list of the worlds billionaires for the first time. Guzman is the head of the Sinaloa Cartel and his net worth is listed at $1 billion. It is further estimated that Guzman’s Cartel brings in $3.8 billion just to Sinaloa state alone and employees and indirectly or directly employs some 520,000 people which is one fifth of the 2.6 million population.
What is your opinion is Mexico a “Narco State” or a state near to failing. Send your opinion to gazette@openthegate.org. We would love to hear it.
11/15/2010 Part 4 of 5: Mexcan Drug Cartels and The Effects in the U.S.
Of particular concern was a report released in December 2008 by the Joint Forces Command has indicated that because of the drug cartels ability to corrupts, distort and damage the region’s potential that the instability in Mexico, “represents a homeland security problem of immense proportions to the United States.” However, the Director of National Intelligence asserted to reports in an address in March 2009, “Mexico is in no danger of becoming a failed state.”
Although there is continued continuity within the Mexican government which provides education, health, security and other government services to millions of people, the instability brought by the violent
activities of the Cartels may impact the Mexican tourism industry, further jeopardizing their economy.Although the goal may not be to not to take over the Mexican state as a whole, but to “subvert it.” according to report released in May of 2009 by the Congressional Research Service. The report theorizes that the competition to control drug trafficking routes frequently puts the Mexican Drug Trafficking groups in battles with state security forces. Effective control of trafficking routes depends on corrupt government officials and law enforcement. With he estimated sums of money generated by drug sales in the United States to Mexico estimated between $15 billion to $25 billion annually the ability of the DTO’s to subvert , corrupt law enforcement and government officials is almost a certainty.The level of violence caused because of the wars between rival gangs and the DTO’s that they support is staggering. From 2007-2009 was there were 16,491 Cartel related deaths. Because the DTO are taking on the army directly rather than avoiding confrontations has risen. Unofficial estimates place the number employed by the major
DTO’s up to or more than 100,000 which puts them roughly at parity with Mexican armed forces.
As conflicts continue both inter-cartel and intra-cartel the level of violence can continue to rise. Especially with the break up of the Sinaloa Federation and the Gulf Cartel as well as the transition of the Los Zetas from an enforcer group to a competing cartel signifies possibly a new rise in violence in coming months.
Violence is a tool of the drug trafficking business, the objectives of the use of that violence vary from one group to the next. The conflict over territory, punish betrayals and inflict revenge against government
success to name a few. The violence that is being seen now may be used not to overthrow or bring down a government but rather to subvert a government.
An intimidated government can deflect law enforcement initiatives and it allows the drug cartels to operate unhampered. The use of violence against the government may be an attempt to reestablish patterns of corruption that were prevalent in Mexico in the past.
Since 2008, the increase of kidnappings for money have risen significantly. In the past targets have been the wealthy and influential family members, but now even the middle class and poor have been asked to pay as little as $500 in ransom.
The effect on the Mexican government towards this newest trend has prompted demonstrations call for government action against the escalation of violence. This tactic, the kidnapping of family is a trend that is starting to appear here in the United States, particularly in the Southern United States, wherever the Cartel’s may have ties are also potentially affected.
towns. The reason because drug traffickers had infiltrated the election process. Calderon actually described the crackdown as a fight for territory and “the very authority of the state.”
In the past several months, public officials in a half dozen cities and towns have been gunned down, kidnapped. In the town of Tancitaro, seven police officers and a top town administrator were murdered in 2009.
In the town of Puerto Palomos, the police chief fled to the United States, asking for asylum, saying the Mexican official could not protect him. In October, the traffickers killed a town administrator there as well. A
further indicator that this trend will seep across the U.S. border and effect the United States population.
In March, 2009, the financial magazine Forbes included Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman it its list of the worlds billionaires for the first time. Guzman is the head of the Sinaloa Cartel and his net worth is listed at $1 billion. It is further estimated that Guzman’s Cartel brings in $3.8 billion just to Sinaloa state alone and employees and indirectly or directly employs some 520,000 people which is one fifth of the 2.6 million population.
What is your opinion is Mexico a “Narco State” or a state near to failing. Send your opinion to gazette@openthegate.org. We would love to hear it.
11/15/2010 Part 4 of 5: Mexcan Drug Cartels and The Effects in the U.S.
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