U.S. Drug Policy and More

I've been studying and observing Mexico's drug war since Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey released his Mexico After Action Report back in December. I am currently working on a primer advocating for increased U.S. support for Mexico and a possible means of effective intervention. I hope to post this paper once my semester is complete in a couple weeks. Growing up in Dona Ana county, which borders Mexico, I was aware of the grave danger that the drug cartels posed to the Mexican state. When President Calderon of Mexico increased pressure on the lawless 'fronteras' ruled by the cartels, the federal government experienced a backlash of violence and corruption not witnessed in years. Mexico's struggle is our struggle as well. Our neighbors home is on fire, our home is in danger of catching a flame too! The U.S. can increase monetary aid, military training, and weapons to the Mexican government but we cannot continue to finance the enemy drug cartels as well. The U.S. consumes most of the drugs that the cartels produce and/or transport to our border. We can't be fighting a futile drug war while we remain the largest consumers of the cartels product, this doesn't make any sense! It is time for the United States government to review U.S. Drug Policy and produce a comprehensive plan to improve relations with the rest of the Americas. We must produce pragmatic solutions that effectively combat drugs, violence, corruption, poverty and terrorism in our hemisphere. This task has been ignored and neglected by the U.S. for far too long. The time has come to truly be a 'better' neighbor.