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TechnoratiWASHINGTON - A $465-million aid package aimed at countering terrorism and crippling the drug trade in Mexico and Central America was signed into law yesterday by U.S President George W. Bush, but critics warn that the "Merida Initiative," also known as "Plan Mexico," will be ineffective and could result in more human rights abuses.
More than $116 million is for training and equipping Mexican military and police forces, and will go directly into the pockets of U.S. defense contractors and defense technology firms, charges Americas Policy Program director Laura Carlsen.
More importantly, "Plan Mexico extends into Mexico the Bush administration's failed 'war on terrorism' and 'drug war' models. These are policies that have militarized U.S. foreign policy, wasted taxpayers' money, and caused the United States to lose standing in the world -- notably in Latin America," Carlsen warned after the Senate approved the package Friday.
Mexico has been caught up in an increasingly violent cycle since President Felipe Calderon began a crackdown on drug traffickers, sending thousands of soldiers to the streets, and the latter pushed back to defend their $23-billion-a-year industry, killing several top police officers as well as civilians.
When the aid package was introduced in the U.S. Congress, it included demands related to accountability and human rights, requiring the Mexican government to certify that law enforcement officials benefiting from the training and equipment are not involved in corruption or rights abuses.
But Calderon's government vowed not to accept the aid if it was tied to such conditions, and Washington backed down, softening the terms of the aid.
Also omitted from the final bill were commitments by Washington to take action to reduce drug demand in the United States, which drives the drug trade throughout Latin America, as well as earlier plans to target some funds for drug-use prevention and helping poor farmers make the transition to legal crops.
"Demand-reduction programs have been shown in studies to be far more effective in reducing illegal drug flows than supply-side measures," Carlsen pointed out in a statement Monday.
Maureen Meyer of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) joined Americas Policy in critiquing the fundamental structure of the new agreement in a statement Friday.
"The Merida Initiative is important in terms of bilateral cooperation to address drug trafficking and drug-related violence in Mexico, but effectively tackling these problems will require more emphasis on structural reform," said Meyer, adding: "Mexico's civilian institutions, not the military, should be receiving support."
As a result of reports that Calderon's anti-drug offensive was resulting in rape and violation of civilians' human rights, Meyer also stressed that accountability for human rights is a "serious concern" in Mexico and noted that WOLA will be monitoring and reporting on the situation as the Merida Initiative unfolds.
Carlsen too expressed concern at this type of "collateral damage" of the drug war, noting that it is likely to increase with the military-oriented aid provided under the Merida Initiative and calling it "unacceptable."
"In a country where democratic institutions are weak and transition to democracy incipient, aid that strengthens security forces takes Mexico and the U.S.-Mexico relationship in precisely the wrong direction and fails to address root causes," Carlsen concluded.
© 2008 One World.net
12 Comments so far
Show AllMilitary aid to Mexico will just concentrate power in the hands of the various drug cartels, who will competitively arm themselves and use the Mexican peasant as cannon fodder. The Mexican army and the drug cartels need each other to feed off of and to keep the price of marijuana high. Figure it out before you resort to arms folks.
joachin, great post
but 12 million Mexicans with guns in USA
hope they are ready for revolution, stupid USA sheeples
in one hour with text messaging all can be ready
1847, they never forgot
arrogant ignorant obese stupidos gringos
revolution comes especially when people are hungry
cushy gringos do not get it
meditation is best,
time to travel
That should read "without" a conscience."
I would sugget everyone read Lobaczewsky's Political Ponerology which explains why we have so many idiotic policies. I gave up nicotine and alcohol for weed; and then I gave up weed for meditation. But the first time I got high I knew with a profound certitude that the politicians and the people running the world are idiots. I've altered my opinion since. They are malicious idiots with a conscience. They are a class of beings who are almost human, and use language which is a unique human property to mask their inhumanity. They are also the souless agents of capitalism. They enjoy screwing normal human beings.
I too feel that drugs should be legalized. This would immediately wipe out the crime and killing resulting from illegal drugs. Just as with alcohol in the 1920's, there'd be no incentive for Mafias, gangs, or drug cartels to continue supplying the demand for illegal drugs.
Prison is not the answer to those who become addicted - treatment facilities offer the best solution and Twelve Step programs offer the social network to help those who truly want to stay off drugs and alcohol.
It's the root causes of drug abuse that need to be addressed and not the symptoms. Drug legalization could go a long way toward attacting the root causes of drug abuse.
And not everyone abuses drugs. Some people are able to take it or leave it, just like alcohol or cigarettes. I know many people who use an illegal substance only a few times a year. But if you have a predisposition to abuse drugs or alcohol you're going to get the drugs someway. That's why we need treatment rather than detainment.
Yes, abuse will continue and overdoses will continue but I don't think they will be much different in number than they already are. Also, think of what a source of income from taxes on drugs would do. Drug Treatment Centers could become affordable or be free to the poor drug abusers. Today, only the rich can afford to enter a high quality drug treatment center.
Continuing the "War on Drugs" by giving more money to Mexico is only going to continue the corruption and needless killing of those involved in the courts and police force who are honestly trying to do their job. It will only continue the inner city turf battles and crime involved behind drugs and the use of drugs.
How does an illegal $23 Billion per year business launder all that money when U.S. taxpayers are spending Hundreds of $Billions among 17 intelligence agencies, a homeland security department and a war-on-drugs agency?
I suppose they'll all be getting wage increases and bonuses this year along with the useless employees at the FDA and CDC who can't seem to determine where the salmonella disaster is coming from.
The empire is imploding at a rapid pace!
estebandido:
You are correct and I suspect you know the answer to your question -- moneymoneymoneymoneymoney. Without the ban on drugs the profits would be reduced.
Including the profits from the "WAR" on drugs.
gde:
You are correct, too.
Prohibition made the Mob powerful, driving up crime in the US. So it was ended. The war on drugs drives up crime these days, perhaps causing 2 9/11s per year of homicides in the US, and who knows how many more abroad. The next time you hear of some bystander killed in gang violence, thank a cop, a politician, a prison guard, or judge for his or her involvement in making these things far too common.
The U. S. should keep its money and its soldiers OUT of Mexico!!!! This country should also send our addicts to treatment facilities rather than putting them in jail.
The only way to end the madness and killing, the cartels' control of politics and police, the herbicide covered hills, the gang warfare, the laundering of billions, the financing of jihad, etc.,etc.... is to simply allow the people to decide what drugs they would prefer.
THIS IS CALLED DECRIMINALIZATION OF ALL DRUGS. PERIOD.
why is it so difficult for humans to see this truth?
We should simply provide ALL DRUGS cheaply through government dispensaries and REQUIRE that users be forced to study in depth the pernicious effects of whatever they were using. Is this so difficult? Why do I get the impression that the human race has very little abililty to reason about the most explosive issues which face us?
Not only Calderon is an idiot, he is a fake unelected puppet. Lopez Obrador is the real President. Obrador wouldn't have any of this "Plan Mexico" foolishness.
The cooperation of two extremely corrupt governments won't bring any good outcome. Calderon is an idiot