Narc Knocks at the U.S. Door

The United States, a country that supports Mexico in its battle against organized crime, has recently recognized its responsibility in terms of gun trafficking and high drug usage. Despite this, the cooperation from the United States is still, in essence, debatable. The consequences are in view: Sheriffs and Border Patrol agents suffer the same threats as their Mexican colleagues.

In an investigation published today, El Universal revealed that the Mexican drug cartels have started violent and intimidating practices in U.S. territory that were, up until recently, only known south of the border.

Some experts see the scope of the risk. The U.S. Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, assured the U.S. Congress that the cartel threat is such that the Obama administration had decided to raise the matter’s category to maximum priority.

The seizures and arrests north of the Rio Bravo* are small in number in comparison to Mexico. Perhaps this contrast exists because the plan is to concentrate on the usage, as the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, declared in 2010, after predicting that in the next five years the drug use among young people will be reduced by 15 percent. But if such is the focus, it is not sufficient either. In the same way that the Mexican government has been criticized for prioritizing law enforcement duty over health in terms of drug issues, sitting to wait for the United States to manage the reduction of its addicts is also not enough.

There are indications that there isn’t even a clear idea among United States government groups about what should be done. As proof, there is yesterday’s statement by the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, that she was unaware of the “Fast and Furious” operation, consisting of allowing weapons into Mexico so they could later be traced. If the government employee is speaking the truth, then she confirms the lack of coordination among U.S. agencies about which President Calderon spoke.

“We must, and we will, eradicate the scourge that claimed his life,” said Eric Holder, the U.S. attorney general at the funeral of his fallen agent. These are just words. The reality is that the United States lacks the coordination and the will to halt the trafficking of weapons, the distribution of drugs and their use among its citizens.

One of his agents was slain; others will be threatened. Hopefully, the United States will not need another tragedy to take this problem seriously.

*Editor’s Note: The Rio Grande is referred to in Mexico as the Rio Bravo