Could the Mexican Drug War Reach the United States?
Could the Mexican Drug War Reach the United States? Could the government be doing more?
Brian Ganthier Americans see in the news very often broadcasts of drug busts, huge drug stash seizures, and minor arrests. These busts and seizures help ease the mind of many parents, and just people in general; but what if the drug war violence going on in Mexico crossed the border into the U.S., would people still feel safe in their own homes or would they become worried about their own safety and the safety of their children? Well the reality of it all is that the violence has already crossed the border, and that there are people who don’t feel safe in their own homes. Many Americans don’t realize how close to home the Mexican drug war has become but that’s more-so because for most Americans, they don’t have to deal with it. Should every American be worried about what’s going on? Yes, it’s our problem, we’re paying for it, and we should be more involved in the decision making behind how the money is being spent. People are dying by the thousands in this war and even with the money being spent to fight the cartels, there is no end in sight. The “drug war” affects all Americans and as such Americans as a whole should be worried about it; but the Mexican government could and should be doing more to stem the violence and flow of drugs out of their country. Let us examine what’s really going on. There have been many debates on this topic of the “Drug War”, but what is the U.S. really doing in terms of domestic crack downs’. The U.S.-Mexican border is the main route of drugs into the U.S., so besides just the border patrol out along the border checking for drug runners, the border patrol is also checking cars at the border bridge for illegal drugs being trafficked. However, in an article by BBC news journalist Matthew Price, a good point about the hypocrisy of it all is made. "The hypocrisy grows all too gruesome: The US Justice Department pronounced the Mexican drug cartels ‘a
Brian Ganthier Americans see in the news very often broadcasts of drug busts, huge drug stash seizures, and minor arrests. These busts and seizures help ease the mind of many parents, and just people in general; but what if the drug war violence going on in Mexico crossed the border into the U.S., would people still feel safe in their own homes or would they become worried about their own safety and the safety of their children? Well the reality of it all is that the violence has already crossed the border, and that there are people who don’t feel safe in their own homes. Many Americans don’t realize how close to home the Mexican drug war has become but that’s more-so because for most Americans, they don’t have to deal with it. Should every American be worried about what’s going on? Yes, it’s our problem, we’re paying for it, and we should be more involved in the decision making behind how the money is being spent. People are dying by the thousands in this war and even with the money being spent to fight the cartels, there is no end in sight. The “drug war” affects all Americans and as such Americans as a whole should be worried about it; but the Mexican government could and should be doing more to stem the violence and flow of drugs out of their country. Let us examine what’s really going on. There have been many debates on this topic of the “Drug War”, but what is the U.S. really doing in terms of domestic crack downs’. The U.S.-Mexican border is the main route of drugs into the U.S., so besides just the border patrol out along the border checking for drug runners, the border patrol is also checking cars at the border bridge for illegal drugs being trafficked. However, in an article by BBC news journalist Matthew Price, a good point about the hypocrisy of it all is made. "The hypocrisy grows all too gruesome: The US Justice Department pronounced the Mexican drug cartels ‘a
Cited: Ellingwood, Ken. "U.S. Shares Blame for Mexico Drug Violence, Clinton Says - Los Angeles Times." Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. 26 Mar. 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2010. <http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/26/world/fg-mexico-clinton26>. Emmot, Robin. "NewsDaily: Drug War Bloodshed Tarnishes Mexico 's Richest City." NewsDaily: Your Best Source for Breaking News. Web. 25 Oct. 2010. <http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre69b6kf-us-mexico-drugs/>. "FoxNews.com - Mexico: US Wavers in Drug War with Calif. Pot Vote." FOXNews.com - Breaking News | Latest News | Current News. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. <http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/10/07/tijuana-gains-bounce-amid-mexicos-drug-war/>. Mendoza, Martha. "U.S. Drug War Has Met None of Its Goals - U.S. News - Security - Msnbc.com." Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- Msnbc.com. Web. 25 Oct. 2010. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37134751/>. Morris, Mike. "Henry County Drug Bust Nets $3.2 Million in Pot | Ajc.com." Atlanta News, Sports, Atlanta Weather, Business News | Ajc.com. Web. 25 Oct. 2010. <http://www.ajc.com/news/henry/henry-county-drug-bust-605327.html>. Price, Matthew. "BBC NEWS | Americas | Drugs War Challenge for US and Mexico." BBC News - Home. Web. 25 Oct. 2010. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7961530.stm>.