American Morning
Journalist: U.S. and Mexico need to revise drug war strategy
President Obama is headed to Mexico today and will be meeting with Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderon. The president will share his vision about what it will take to tackle the drug cartels to combat deadly violence that’s spilling over the border.
John Ackerman is editor-in-chief of the Mexican Law Review and lives in Mexico City. Ackerman spoke to Kiran Chetry on CNN’s American Morning Thursday.
Kiran Chetry: As President Obama gets ready to meet with Mexican President Calderon, what guarantees do we need to give to Mexico first of all?
John Ackerman: I think President Obama should be very aware of the situation that’s occurring here in Mexico, in terms of the serious politicizing that is happening with regards to the combating of the drug traffickers. Calderon has been very much emphasizing the military aspects of the combating of the drug traffickers, which I think is a mistake. We really need to think about institution building and changing the focus of the strategy of the attack on the drug traffickers. Obama should be aware of this. It's very easy to talk about the war on drugs. But it’s also very dangerous because there have been serious attacks on human rights and there hasn’t been enough done in terms of combating corruption in Mexico.
Mexico will not become failed narco-state, says former president
Mexico is not in danger of becoming a failed narco-state any time soon.
That’s according to Vicente Fox, the former President of Mexico, who spoke with us on the eve of President Obama’s trip to Mexico city. Watch the interview
Fox dismissed the warnings of a growing number of analysts, saying the worst-case scenario is “far, far, away.”
As for who is to blame for the surge in drug cartel violence, Fox refused to point fingers, saying both sides share responsibility – Mexico, for its role as a producer and trans-shipment point for illegal drugs, the United States for its insatiable appetite.
War on drugs is "absolute failure"
We've been along the border all week long bringing you a story that affects all of us: the battle to keep drugs out of this country and the undying addictions that keep ruthless drug cartels in business. Mexican authorities say they found a U.S. Marshal murdered, execution style, in the virtually lawless border town of Juarez. John Gibler, author of "Mexico Unconquered: Chronicles of Power and Revolt," joined us live.
What do you think? Can the U.S. win the war on drugs?
America's appetite for drugs
Mexico's army is pouring into towns struggling to stop drug cartels' bloody tactics.
Washington is pledging cash and manpower – but the violence is threatening to tear Mexico apart.
Former Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent Robert Strang joined us live for reaction.
What do you think? Is America's appetite for drugs fueling the violence?
Mexican drug crackdown
This is a developing story we've been covering for you. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Mexico – as violence threatens to rip that country apart.
65-hundred people were slaughtered last year as rival drug cartels battled each other and the authorities. 800 killed so far this year. Many – beheaded to send a message. And the misery is heading north along with the drugs.
Phoenix is now America's kidnapping capital. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, who testified on border violence Tuesday on Capitol Hill, joined us live.
Kiran: Tuesday Roundup
Happy Tuesday morning!
Legalize drugs?
The idea is gaining some unlikely support in the wake of the growing violence in Mexico. Since late 2006, Mexico’s drug violence has killed more than 9,000 people as cartels and gangs battle each other for territory and fight against government crackdown. The violence has spilled over the U.S. border where kidnappings and killings are on the rise. Read more.
There's a school of thought that it will take more than increased law enforcement to combat the drug problem. Some are now calling for legalizing ALL drugs, not just marijuana, in order to win this war. One of those voices, leading Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron, made the case for legalization on American Morning. Here's my interview with him today.
Here is Jeffrey Miron’s commentary I was talking about and another one with a counterpoint.
As always we'd like to get your thoughts. Comment here or follow us at twitter.com/amfix and twitter.com/kiranchetrycnn.
See you tomorrow!
Kiran
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