Accession Number:

ADA561384

Title:

Making the Merida Initiative Work

Descriptive Note:

Strategy Research Project

Corporate Author:

ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA

Personal Author(s):

• Coward, Clem

Report Date:

2012-03-14

Pagination or Media Count:

40.0

Abstract:

For several decades, the United States and Mexico both had to deal with major transnational border issues. Those issues continue to escalate. Violence and instability in Mexico reached unprecedented levels over the last five years. The U.S. is attempting to neutralize the violence by assisting Mexico through several major interagency efforts. One of the leading efforts is through a Department of State DoS led plan titled the Merida Initiative. To date, the Merida Initiative is only achieving limited success as a strategy to curb violence and the war on drugs. It is possible to do better by improving cooperation and synchronization in the interagency and multinational process. According to Professor Paul Kan, defining the nature of the problem brings inherent challenges of establishing U.S. policy to support Mexico but more important, developing a comprehensive strategy that is going to achieve results. The U.S. must isolate the key issues, develop appropriate measures and better structure the interagency lead for success. The Department of State is currently leading in name only. The Merida Initiative can work, but not without an overhaul of the strategy in order to support Mexico and ensure the security of the U.S.

Descriptors:

• *BOUNDARIES
• *MEXICO
• *SECURITY
• COOPERATION
• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
• UNITED STATES

Subject Categories:

• Government and Political Science
• Defense Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE