Mexico has a drug problem that continues to grow. About three and a half years ago, Felipe Calderon was sworn in as president and immediately declared "war" on drugs. Since Felipe Calderon became president, about 23,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence, and a mass majority of Mexicans, according to surveys, believe that their president is losing the war on drugs. Despite the huge number of federal forces that are sent into the cities where the cartels are operating. Despite the social programmes that are set up to fight poverty that encourages many to enter the money-making drug trade. And despite the elimination attempts the military in Mexico carry out almost every day. What is being seen in Mexico is a very important …show more content…
According to Vanda Felbab-Brown, a Brookings Institute narcotics expert, Mexican cartels are a structured and militarized organization that employ at least half a million people. To increase the control within Mexicos institutional frame work the cartels use brutality and terror. Corpses are dumped in city streets and in other cases, the bodies are cut into pieces or decapitated. Reporters are usually always the victims of cartel murders. They fear fatal repercussions for detailing cartel activities. Mexico is the fourth most deadly country for reporters as found by a survey done by Reporters Without Borders. According to a presentation by Al Jazeera a Juarez newspaper dedicated its entire front page to plea for peace to the cartels. In addition, the Mexican military has struggled to fight the cartels effectively. Victor Clark. A security expert for the Bunational Human Rights Center in Tijuana states that “Each year, the violence takes on distinct new dimensions,” and “It’s like fighting guerrillas — it often defies understanding.” Adding to it, corruption within the Mexico’s government has seriously hampered the war on drugs. Many report have surfaced stating that government officials, police officers, and military personnel are receiving payments from the cartels. A March 2011CFR report states that “A system-wide network of corruption has ensured distribution rights, market access, and even official government protection for drug traffickers in exchange for lucrative