Accession Number:

ADA499142

Title:

Mexico's Narco-Insurgency and U.S. Counterdrug Policy

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

ARMY WAR COLL STRATEGIC STUDIES INST CARLISLE BARRACKS PA

Personal Author(s):

• Brands, Hal

Report Date:

2009-05-01

Pagination or Media Count:

68.0

Abstract:

On June 30, 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law the Merida Initiative, a 3-year, 1.4 billion counterdrug assistance program for Mexico and Central America. The bulk of this money is destined for Mexico, where it will help fund counternarcotics operations against the powerful cartels that have recently turned much of that country into a war zone. Since 2006, Mexico has suffered thousands of drug-related killings, a dramatic deterioration of public security, and severe psychological and social trauma the Merida Initiative aims to rectify this situation by giving the Mexican government the tools to take the offensive in its fight against the drug traffickers. The program is likely to be extended in some form when its original mandate expires, and thus presages a long-term U.S. commitment to counternarcotics in Mexico.

Descriptors:

• *DRUG INTERDICTION
• UNITED STATES
• NATIONAL SECURITY
• INSURGENCY
• GOVERNMENT(FOREIGN)
• MEXICO
• FOREIGN POLICY
• MILITARY ASSISTANCE

Subject Categories:

• Sociology and Law

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE