Calderon Says Mexico Violence Stoked by U.S. Weapons

[Hazcat]

By Patrick Harrington

Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon said drug violence in his country reflects demand for narcotics in the neighboring U.S. and easy access to weapons.

“We are right next to the biggest drug consumer in the world,” Calderon told reporters in Tokyo today during a visit to Japan. The U.S. also “doesn’t have the least objection, any scruples, about selling all the arms it can to our country.”

The remarks followed the killing of at least 16 students attending a party in Mexico’s Ciudad Juarez over the weekend by masked gunman. Calderon, who has used the military to crack down on drug gangs since taking office in December 2006, won a promise from President Barack Obama last year to push for the ratification of an arms-trafficking treaty.

Obama said he would press the U.S. Senate to ratify the stalled treaty, which was adopted by the Organization of American States in 1997. More than 90 percent of guns used in violent crimes in Mexico are brought in illegally from the U.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Calderon condemned the latest attack, calling it “cowardly,” and vowed to provide federal support to local authorities to help them cope with drug-related violence.

To contact the reporter on this story: Patrick Harrington in Tokyo at pharrington8@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: February 2, 2010 04:14 EST

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aTm1StgzWapc

[fightingquaker13]

He's right about the drugs, wrong about the guns. Still, if he can blame us for Mexico's high crime rate, can't we blame him for declining wages due to illegals?
FQ13

[graywolf]

Let's all face the fact that the Mexican government is in denial.  They have been blaming us for everything since the Alamo.  While it may be somewhat true that some weapons have come from the U.S. the bulk of them especially the full auto variety have come from deserters from the Mexican army and police forces.  Why would any self respecting drug dealer want a semi-auto rifle when a full auto puts them on  the same playing field as the army and law enforcement?  And what about the weapons coming in thru Guatemala?  AK-47 are literally selling for under a $100 on the black market.  Mexico needs to get its collective muerda together and start taking responsibility for its own people and policies.  Of course, when we have high U.S. government officials going down there to apologize all the time it sure sends the wrong message.

[fightingquaker13]

The solution here is simple. A two party treaty between the US and Mexico. You keep your people on your side of the border and we keep our guns (a non-issue) and ammo (a real issue) on our side of the border. As for drugs, we legalize them, you tax them and billions of dollars and thousands of lives are saved. Seems easy to me.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

I agree with BOTH of FQ's posts. Why should America's tax dollars be spent driving our drug money to some scum bag in Mexico or Columbia when both could be combined to cut YOUR tax burden.
Especially since Prohibition has worked SOOO well.

[Sponsor]

[Cutter68CB]

     Being that I live in Texas this really hits close to home. So I do have a few thoughts on the subject that my be right our wrong? I'll leave that to ya'll to decide. First I really don't believe we are the biggest drug consumer in the world, just the most convienient one for Mexico and Central America to sale to!!! Second, Why would any multi-million dollar drug cartel want to buy semi-auto guns here when they have the funds to get anything they want from other sources.(asia,africa,south america,ect,ect.)
Mexico deosn't have the ability to deal with their own issues for numerous reasons. politics,economics,Briberies,more briberies,oh did I mention Briberies? And how many weapons are still down there that came from various countries(US included) to help numorous factions and rebels over the past 50 years? And who would want to buy 30yr. old surplus ammo when they can get top quality ammo out of the USA?LOL... I have a friend who is an Texas State Trooper Investigator working in El Paso. He said that the gun traffic isn't the real issue, but ammo and currency are. President Calderon knows his government can't deal with the issue, so he tries to place as big a guilt trip on us to deal with it for him.
     As for the issue of legalizing Pot or any other substance...I really don't think it will work...Just because it is legal doesn't mean any company can't restrict the use of it of their employee's. So do you have unemployed illegal user's or unemployed legal user's???              

                                                                                                     Carlton

[tombogan03884]

    Being that I live in Texas this really hits close to home. So I do have a few thoughts on the subject that my be right our wrong? I'll leave that to ya'll to decide. First I really don't believe we are the biggest drug consumer in the world, just the most convienient one for Mexico and Central America to sale to!!! Second, Why would any multi-million dollar drug cartel want to buy semi-auto guns here when they have the funds to get anything they want from other sources.(asia,africa,south america,ect,ect.)
Mexico deosn't have the ability to deal with their own issues for numerous reasons. politics,economics,Briberies,more briberies,oh did I mention Briberies? And how many weapons are still down there that came from various countries(US included) to help numorous factions and rebels over the past 50 years? And who would want to buy 30yr. old surplus ammo when they can get top quality ammo out of the USA?LOL... I have a friend who is an Texas State Trooper Investigator working in El Paso. He said that the gun traffic isn't the real issue, but ammo and currency are. President Calderon knows his government can't deal with the issue, so he tries to place as big a guilt trip on us to deal with it for him.
     As for the issue of legalizing Pot or any other substance...I really don't think it will work...Just because it is legal doesn't mean any company can't restrict the use of it of their employee's. So do you have unemployed illegal user's or unemployed legal user's???              

                                                                                                     Carlton

How is that any different than booze ?
And the number of users will not change because like violent criminals with guns, the ones who want to use drugs now do so and stuff the laws.

[Cutter68CB]

How is that any different than booze ?
And the number of users will not change because like violent criminals with guns, the ones who want to use drugs now do so and stuff the laws.

     That is a good arguement!!! But from personal experiance with both in my immediate family, I have seen an alcohalic still be able to live a semi-productive life and provide for their family as to where I have seen a career drug user that has not been able to hold any job for any length of time and has to turn to everyone for help... My father is 72 yrs. old and has been a drug user since the 60's. He didn't raise me nor any of his kids. Hasn't been able to hold a job for any length of time since the 70's and is always coming around wanting me to fix or pay for something because he is broke.(but he always has his pot and Viagra). Both the men who did raise me were both Alcohalics. My grandfather and my uncle...Both were always able to go to work and provide for the family...My wife also say's you can't get a contact drunk!!!

[Paraguy]

I get it, the drug cartel problem in Mexico is because of the demand for drugs in the US.  The demand for guns in Mexico is due to the supply of them from America, not in any way the demand for them from criminals in Mexico.  Got it, OK.  The US is like a husband, we are pretty much wrong no matter what we do or don't do.

[tt11758]

I get it, the drug cartel problem in Mexico is because of the demand for drugs in the US.  The demand for guns in Mexico is due to the supply of them from America, not in any way the demand for them from criminals in Mexico.  Got it, OK.  The US is like a husband, we are pretty much wrong no matter what we do or don't do.

Ding, ding, ding...................We have a winner!!!!