Narco War Next Door

By Eduardo Garcia

One of my friends sent me a link to the excellent video below and thought I'd share. Nowadays you can't turn on the TV or read a newspaper without seeing something about the "Narco War" in neighboring Mexico. Rightly so, in 2008 alone there were over 6,000 drug related deaths in Mexico. That's more people than the number killed in Afghanistan the same year, and this year is shaping up to be worse. However, lots of emphasis is being paid to the number of deaths, kidnappings, and the effects it's having on bordering U.S. states, but very little emphasis is paid to the cause of the "War". Hopefuly, this video will give you a glimpse into the complicated mess that is the "Narco War".

Below is the excerpt from current.com, as well as the video. Warning: this video contains graphic images.


From current.com

Ruthless drug cartels in Mexico are battling against each other and against the government for control of the drug trade. 2008 was the most violent year in Mexico, with around 6,000 drug-related murders. 2009 looks like it could be even worse. And there are fears that Mexico's narco-violence could spread north of the border into the U.S. In this one-hour Vanguard report, Laura Ling travels to the border towns of Juarez and Tijuana, Mexico where drugs gangs are fighting for control of the drug routes into the United States. Ling also goes to the city of Culiacan in Sinaloa State, a region that's known as the birthplace of narco-trafficking in Mexico. Despite the 40,000 federal troops that are patrolling cities across Mexico, violence is increasing and the methods of killings are becoming even more brazen and grotesque. Ling speaks with gun dealers in El Paso, Texas and U.S. officials about the illegal smuggling of weapons into Mexico--90% of the weapons seized in Mexico have been traced back to the U.S. She examines the culture of corruption and lack of public trust in a police force that has become known for working with the cartels.

If you cannot see the video below, click on this link:
http://current.com/items/89845362/narco_war_next_door.htm