Mexican President Felipe Calderón's crackdown on drug cartels has been met with brutal violence, including the beheadings of local police. His third-ranking public official was assassinated in Mexico City, and a federal policeman is one of those accused in the killing. Calderón calls these "acts of desperation" that prove the success of his efforts. The Bush Administration wants to send helicopters, planes and inspection scanners to help Calderón, but members of both parties in Congress have their doubts. Others say Mexico is beginning to look like Colombia. Should the US help Calderón fight his drug war, bolster the rule of law or use the money to protect its own border? What about curbing demand and supplies of illegal weapons?
Mexico Under Siege: Can Calderon Rein in the Cartels?
Credits
Guests:
- Alfredo Corchado - U.S.-Mexico border correspondent, The Dallas Morning News - @ajcorchado
- Franc Contreras - freelance correspondent
- Rafael Fernandéz de Castro - director of UC San Diego’s Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies - @MaxwellSU
- David Johnson - Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
- Laura Carlsen - Center for International Policy - @cipamericas