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Obama's visit to Mexico: a chance to be a better neighbour Obama's visit to Mexico: a chance to be a better neighbour
(5 months later)
President Obama's visit to Mexico this week provides a wonderful chance to reverse American policies that have helped destabilize the vibrant country with which it shares a 2,000-mile border.President Obama's visit to Mexico this week provides a wonderful chance to reverse American policies that have helped destabilize the vibrant country with which it shares a 2,000-mile border.
American strategic doctrine suggests that Mexico is of second-level importance to the United States. It ranks below Japan and Indonesia, Brazil and India, Egypt and Israel, and European powers including Britain, France, and Germany. This is a grave geopolitical miscalculation. With the exception of China, and perhaps Turkey, no country in the world matters as much to the United States as Mexico.American strategic doctrine suggests that Mexico is of second-level importance to the United States. It ranks below Japan and Indonesia, Brazil and India, Egypt and Israel, and European powers including Britain, France, and Germany. This is a grave geopolitical miscalculation. With the exception of China, and perhaps Turkey, no country in the world matters as much to the United States as Mexico.
Mexico is easy to take for granted. Its political system has long been based on deep hypocrisy. Mexican leaders often preach the doctrine of anti-imperialism, but this is largely for show. In fact, Mexico is a reliable partner for the "colossus of the north".Mexico is easy to take for granted. Its political system has long been based on deep hypocrisy. Mexican leaders often preach the doctrine of anti-imperialism, but this is largely for show. In fact, Mexico is a reliable partner for the "colossus of the north".
One day, Mexico will have a leader who is nationalist not simply in rhetoric, but also in fact. President Obama should recognize that reality, and seek to build a relationship not just with the country's military and civilian elite, but with its people.One day, Mexico will have a leader who is nationalist not simply in rhetoric, but also in fact. President Obama should recognize that reality, and seek to build a relationship not just with the country's military and civilian elite, but with its people.
The best way to begin would be to confront the failure of both countries' approach to drug trafficking. Obama and President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico should admit that the "war on drugs" is not only lost, but can never be won. Rather than pay to militarize Mexico, the United States should help strengthen its democracy.The best way to begin would be to confront the failure of both countries' approach to drug trafficking. Obama and President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico should admit that the "war on drugs" is not only lost, but can never be won. Rather than pay to militarize Mexico, the United States should help strengthen its democracy.
Horrific violence has engulfed some parts of Mexico in recent years. It emerged not simply from the drug trade, but from the Mexican government's determination to suppress it by all means, legal and illegal.Horrific violence has engulfed some parts of Mexico in recent years. It emerged not simply from the drug trade, but from the Mexican government's determination to suppress it by all means, legal and illegal.
Mexico's last president, Felipe Calderón, took office in 2006 under a cloud. Many Mexicans believe he benefited from an electoral fraud engineered to thwart his left-leaning opponent. Eager to legitimize himself, Calderón looked for a national project he could embrace and lead. He chose what American politicians like to call the "war on drugs".Mexico's last president, Felipe Calderón, took office in 2006 under a cloud. Many Mexicans believe he benefited from an electoral fraud engineered to thwart his left-leaning opponent. Eager to legitimize himself, Calderón looked for a national project he could embrace and lead. He chose what American politicians like to call the "war on drugs".
Previous Mexican leaders had accepted a tacit deal with drug traffickers: do your business and don't kill civilians, and in exchange, the government will not attack you. This policy works in other countries with powerful competing criminal gangs. Drug cartels in Peru and Bolivia do not wage war on each other or anyone else. Nor do Japanese gangs that distribute amphetamines to East Asia, or human traffickers in Bosnia.Previous Mexican leaders had accepted a tacit deal with drug traffickers: do your business and don't kill civilians, and in exchange, the government will not attack you. This policy works in other countries with powerful competing criminal gangs. Drug cartels in Peru and Bolivia do not wage war on each other or anyone else. Nor do Japanese gangs that distribute amphetamines to East Asia, or human traffickers in Bosnia.
Military-style attacks on these gangs result in the occasional arrest of a kingpin, but also cause cartels to splinter into ever more violent sub-gangs. Many innocents also suffer.Military-style attacks on these gangs result in the occasional arrest of a kingpin, but also cause cartels to splinter into ever more violent sub-gangs. Many innocents also suffer.
Calderón presided over the creeping militarization of Mexico. Army officers were given posts normally held by civilians or police officers. A culture of impunity took hold. Many of the tens of thousands of Mexicans who died violently during Calderón's term were killed by the army or security forces. No effort has been made to bring the perpetrators to justice.Calderón presided over the creeping militarization of Mexico. Army officers were given posts normally held by civilians or police officers. A culture of impunity took hold. Many of the tens of thousands of Mexicans who died violently during Calderón's term were killed by the army or security forces. No effort has been made to bring the perpetrators to justice.
President Obama praised Calderón for "great courage". Yet, only days after leaving office in November, Calderón fled Mexico for refuge at the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.President Obama praised Calderón for "great courage". Yet, only days after leaving office in November, Calderón fled Mexico for refuge at the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
During Calderón's six-year term, the United States appropriated $1.6bn for security aid to Mexico under a program called the "Mérida Initiative". Much of the money went not to Mexico but to American companies – providers of everything from Black Hawk helicopters to surveillance software – that lobbied vigorously for the "aid" program. With this, the United States encouraged Mexico to pursue a military strategy to resolve a problem that is essentially social, political, and economic.During Calderón's six-year term, the United States appropriated $1.6bn for security aid to Mexico under a program called the "Mérida Initiative". Much of the money went not to Mexico but to American companies – providers of everything from Black Hawk helicopters to surveillance software – that lobbied vigorously for the "aid" program. With this, the United States encouraged Mexico to pursue a military strategy to resolve a problem that is essentially social, political, and economic.
American aid has helped push Mexico toward the abyss of instability. A new approach would help repair the damage.American aid has helped push Mexico toward the abyss of instability. A new approach would help repair the damage.
Obama should use his trip to Mexico to announce a new, civilian version of the Mérida Initiative. Mexico needs schools, rural development, and an independent judiciary, not high-tech weaponry.Obama should use his trip to Mexico to announce a new, civilian version of the Mérida Initiative. Mexico needs schools, rural development, and an independent judiciary, not high-tech weaponry.
This would be more than a wise and brotherly way to help a friend. It is in the urgent security interest of the United States. Turmoil and upheaval in Mexico is not only terrifying for Mexicans, but gravely threatening for its northern neighbor. Self-interest should push the United States to help strengthen Mexican democracy, rather than promote violent solutions to problems that cannot be solved through violence.This would be more than a wise and brotherly way to help a friend. It is in the urgent security interest of the United States. Turmoil and upheaval in Mexico is not only terrifying for Mexicans, but gravely threatening for its northern neighbor. Self-interest should push the United States to help strengthen Mexican democracy, rather than promote violent solutions to problems that cannot be solved through violence.
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