The Messages from Washington

“Scaring people with the dead’s straw mat”* would be the closest translation of our famous adage, “espantar con el petate del muerto.” Given the growing utilization of this practice in the United States, it would be appropriate to introduce it to the English language. In fact, in less than a week, three of the highest-level officials of that country applied it conscientiously.

First, Gen. Joseph Westphal, undersecretary of the Army, declared at a school in Utah that, given the climate of insecurity in Mexico, the day was at hand in which U.S. troops should seal the border and even consider the possibility of entering our territory to establish order. Janet Napolitano, secretary of Homeland Security, followed up these statements by hinting at the possibility that our Zetas [a Mexican cartel] had allied themselves with the al-Qaida terrorist network to sow chaos in Mexico, and at the same time threaten the United States itself. “For security reasons, I cannot reveal anything more to the respect,”** the official said enigmatically before members of Congress. A cold sweat traveled down the spines of many congressmen who have a vivid memory of the attacks against the Pentagon and the New York World Trade Center. Finally, the turn belonged to James R. Clapper, national director of Intelligence, who limited himself to indicate that given the conditions of violence and insecurity in our country, Mexico was officially approaching Category 1. This represents the highest priority level that the government of the United States relies upon in matters of international security.

Is it true that they have plans to invade us or that an alliance really exists between the world’s most dangerous terrorist organization and our Zetas? Some things don’t square up. General Westphal was obligated to immediately retract himself with the famous Foxian trick of “That is not what the general wanted to say.”** In the case of Ms. Napolitano, it’s worth noting that prior to the explosive revelation that al-Qaeda could be found in its southern neighbor, none of the principal American newspapers had even given the honor of mentioning it. This is precisely the application of that very Mexican principle of “scaring people with the dead’s straw mat.”

Of the three statements, the warning from the U.S. spy chief is the only one that has substance; and real consequences. By placing Mexico in Category 1 — maximum security — the government is obligated to generate contingency plans and even more importantly, to reserve federal funds to address the issue.

The crux of the matter is that the U.S. security establishment is increasingly and genuinely worried by the prevailing conditions in Mexico. But it is equally worried by the approaching budget cuts in Congress. According to the International Monetary Fund, the federal debt of the United States could equal its Gross Domestic Product in 2015. That is to say, for each dollar that the U.S. economy produces, its government will have one dollar of debt. This is exactly the level of indebtedness that Greece reached prior to collapsing. Thus, Washington should immediately tighten its belt.

It has already been announced by the Republicans that the first cuts will be applied to the United States’ international aid programs. Naturally, this causes serious concerns at the U.S. diplomatic and security agencies. In Mexico’s material case, a budgetary decision of this type could put a final end to the Mérida Initiative in cooperation against drug trafficking. Although the total funding is clearly reduced and mostly dedicated in kind (used helicopters, equipment, and training), this initiative has allowed the United States to keep its foot in the door in the Mexican war on drugs.

As things are, in the logic of U.S. security bodies, it is a priority for Mexico to become capable of containing the criminal gangs that have already begun to operate within its territory. There is a saying — which is very gringo indeed — that if your neighbor’s house is burning, sooner or later the fire will reach yours. Thus, before the flames reach an uncontrollable level, Napolitano and Clapper should sound the alarm in Congress to discourage any tentative budget cuts whose links to security are so crucial. On the Mexican side, if we had any doubts with respect to the magnitude of our problems confronting organized crime, now we know exactly how we are seen from the outside. Surely al-Qaida is not present in Mexico, but considering the 30,000 dead in the last four years, it doesn’t make us miss it.

* As quoted in English by the author.

** Editor’s note: The above quotes, correctly translated, could not be verified.