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Surprise! Mexico Backs Human Rights Cause!
What a pleasant surprise! Mexico, whose government routinely supports human rights violators throughout the region, played a key role in thwarting an effort by a group of countries to weaken the region's most important human rights commission
Mexico's Education Reform May Prove Historic
After decades of unsuccessful efforts to modernize its public education system, President Nieto's government arrested almighty teachers' union leader Elba Esther Gordillo and - perhaps more important - signed a constitutional amendment that will allow key education reforms
Everybody is Upbeat on Mexico — Except Mexicans
I couldn't help being surprised by the scornful reaction of many Mexicans to the growing consensus in the world media that this is 'Mexico's moment' in the global economy. There is a constellation of positive factors working in Mexico's favor
Super-Rich Pay Lower Taxes in Latin America
French movie star Gerard Depardieu made the wrong choice by seeking Belgian and Russian citizenship to avoid paying higher taxes in France. He should have moved to Mexico
The Geopolitics of Immigration
The United States is a nation of immigrants. That is the ultimate cliche and the absolute truth
U.S. Congress Could Learn from Mexico's National Accord
The 95-point political agreement signed by Mexico's three biggest political parties may have a positive impact on Mexico, and could teach a lesson of civility to the U.S. Congress as it continues fighting over how to avert a fiscal cliff
Mexico's Pena Nieto has Luck on his Side
New Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto will have a big advantage over his two most recent predecessors -- he's lucky. Pena Nieto is starting his six-year-term under highly favorable economic and political conditions
Enrique Pena Nieto and Mexico's Drug War Opening
There are good reasons to be cynical about the return of the PRI in Mexico. Even so, when it comes to human rights in Mexico, there's plenty of room for improvement
Mexico's Movement for Real Democracy
The recent elections in Mexico have created a youth-led movement for change
Tourism Stays Strong Despite Violence in Mexico
Despite the drug war's widespread violence and Mexico's besmirched image, the tourism industry has continued to perform in spite of the persistent violence
Footballers Give Mexico First-Ever Olympic Gold; Top Brazil in Final
Striker Oribe Peralta scored twice and Mexico finally captured its first-ever Olympic gold medal with a 2-1 triumph over heavy favorite Brazil in the men's soccer finals at Wembley Stadium
Mexico's Drug War: Persisting Violence and a New President
In 2013, violence in Mexico likely will remain a significant threat. Overall levels of violence decreased during 2011, but cartel operations and competition continued to afflict several regions of Mexico throughout 2012
Mexico's Cartels and the Economics of Cocaine
The enormous profits from the cocaine trade have not only motivated much of the cartels' global expansion, but have also financed it
Constraints Facing the Next Mexican President
Candidates frequently aspire to institute particular policies when elected, but once in office, presidents often find that their policy choices are heavily constrained by outside forces. This concept holds true for the president of Mexico
Latin America Needs More Engineers
In most Latin American countries, companies complain about the shortage of well-trained engineers. And the experience of China, India, Taiwan, and other Asian countries shows that producing large numbers of engineers pays off
College Rankings Should Alarm Latin America
Few paid attention to a news item that should have raised eyebrows -- a new ranking of the world's best universities shows a near total absence of Latin American schools
Latin America's Challenge: The 'Boring Stuff'
We all know what conventional economists say about the future of Latin America: countries that pursue populist policies will go downhill, whereas countries that pursue 'responsible' economic policies will do great
Mexico's President-Elect Vows to Imprison Vote Buyers
Mexico's president-elect Nieto maintains that there was no vote-buying in the contested vote, but told us that he would support putting behind bars any member of his own party found guilty of electoral fraud
Judging by the vast street protests against his election, Mexicans aren't buying their new president-elect's claims to reform
NAFTA was touted as the cure for Mexico's economic 'backwardness.' Promoters argued that the trilateral trade agreement would dig Mexico out of its economic rut and modernize it along the lines of its mighty neighbor, the United States
Latin America's Corruption Starts at Top
A new study on corruption in Latin America contains some alarming figures -- an average of about 20 percent of the region's people say they have been asked to pay a bribe by a policeman or another public official in the past year
New Mexican Leader's Trip Signals Continuity
If Mexico's President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto's first tour abroad is any indication of his foreign policy, we won't lose much sleep: it's looking pretty much like Mexico's current foreign policy
Mexico's Geopolitical Strategy
Over time, North America will see two significant powers. In the short run, Mexico's traditional strategic problems will remain
Organized Crime Won't Fade Away
Policies that focus on suppressing drug flows are often ineffective in suppressing organized crime. Illicit economies exist in some form virtually everywhere
Mexico's Election Winner has Big Plans for United States - Mexican ties
If Mexico's president-elect Enrique Pena Nieto gets his way, there will be a major upgrade of the U.S.-Canada-Mexico free trade deal and a 're-adjustment' of the war on drugs
The United States is leading the way to another corporate-friendly free-trade agreement, and it's bringing its NAFTA partners along for the ride
Mitt Romney's Tour Starts in Wrong Place
Mitt Romney is reportedly planning to visit Great Britain, Germany, Poland and Israel in an effort to boost his foreign policy credentials. Big mistake -- he should start his foreign tour in Mexico
Mexico Will Not Return to 3rd World Foreign Policy
President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto is likely to step up Mexico's activism in Latin American affairs, where it has been completely overshadowed by Brazil in recent years
'Dark Angel' and the Mexican Meth Connection
A U.S. operation sheds light on how drug traffickers are working north of the border and laundering the proceeds
Mexico Election May Resurrect Authoritarian Party
With virtually all polls showing that candidate Enrique Pena Nieto is likely to win the July 1 elections, the big question is whether his victory would mean a return to Mexico's corruption-ridden, authoritarian ways of the past
New 'Pacific Alliance' Bloc May Have a Chance
There are solid grounds to believe that the new bloc will be different, among other things, because it starts out with a big advantage
The Trans-Pacific Partnership could add billions of dollars to the U.S. economy and solidify Washington's commitment to the Pacific. But if the Obama administration fails to calm critics of the deal, there is a growing possibility that it could collapse
Mexicans Romanticizing Drug Kingpins Reflects Lack of Confidence
It's not fair to blame Mexicans for portraying cartel operators as Robin Hoods when their police are often corrupt and their president's policies ineffective
Fighting Drug Cartels Exposes Mexican Military to Corruption
Shortly after Mexican President Felipe Calderon ordered the military to deal with drug trafficking, the cartels began openly offering soldiers jobs
Latin American Countries Raising Trade Barriers Despite Vows to 'Connect The Americas'
The rising trade barriers that several Latin American countries, especially Brazil and Argentina, are erecting to protect their industries imports are causing growing concern in the hemisphere
Marco Rubio and the DREAM Act: He Walks on Eggs, Not Water
Marco Rubio, Florida Republicans' golden politician, has served as the state's Junior Republican Senator. Born into a Cuban immigrant family, Rubio himself has weighed in with his opinion on the immigration reform issue
American Gun Lobby Could Help Stop Mexico's Violence
When we talk about the violence that has left nearly 50,000 dead in Mexico over the past five years, we usually focus on Mexico's drug cartels, but it may be time to include the U.S. National Rifle Association cartel
Mexico's Presidential Election and the Cartel War
The Calderon administration reportedly plans to capture the leader of the Sinaloa cartel to gain a boost before the July presidential election, but it won't be easy
Mexico Calls Travel Warning Ridiculous
Mexico's interior secretary called the latest U.S. State Department travel warning for Mexico 'ridiculous'
American Border Law Enforcement Uses More Military Equipment
New surveillance equipment and weapons being deployed along the U.S. border with Mexico are prompting some Mexicans to complain that U.S. law enforcement is becoming too military
2012 Anything But Boring in the Americas
Every year brings about changes, but 2012 is likely to be an especially eventful one in the Americas: there will be elections in the United States, Mexico and Venezuela, as well as other news events that could change the political map
Latin America Still Growing, But Economic Fiesta Is Over
A key United Nations think tank that has been very bullish about Latin America in recent years is sounding a little less optimistic about the region's economies for 2012
Latin America May Split into Pacific and Atlantic Blocs
President Obama's announcement that he will seek to create what may be the world's largest trading bloc along the Pacific rim raises an interesting question in this part of the world: whether we will see a de facto split of Latin America into a Pacific and Atlantic bloc
Anonymous vs. Zetas Amid Mexico's Cartel Violence
The online activist collective Anonymous posted a message on the Internet saying it would continue its campaign against Mexican criminal cartels and their government supporters despite the risks
Condoleezza Rice Book Shows 'Inattention' to Latin America
Condoleezza Rice, whose boss President George W. Bush vowed during the 2000 campaign to make Latin America a 'fundamental commitment' of his presidency, devotes only two of the 58 chapters of her memoir 'No Higher Honor' to the region. That's about 15 pages of the 766-page book, plus a few sporadic references here and there
Mexicans Complain About Secret U.S. Infiltration of Drug Cartels
Mexican government officials are again concerned that U.S. law enforcement agencies might have trampled their sovereignty by infiltrating drug cartels
Families of Illegal Immigrants Search for Lost Relatives in Mexico
A caravan of private vehicles carrying Central Americans is traveling through Mexico searching for their relatives who disappeared while headed toward an illegal entry into the United States
Islamic Plot to Bomb U.S. Embassy Reported in Mexico
An Islamic terrorist tried to detonate explosives to destroy the American embassy in Mexico City last year, according to Mexican media reports this week
Rick Perry Proposal of American Troops in Mexico Stirs Criticism
Presidential candidate Rick Perry is stirring up a firestorm of controversy in Latin America with his recent comment that if he is elected next year he would consider sending American troops into Mexico to fight drug cartels
GOP Candidates Look at Narco-Terrorism Risks
Drug cartels are trying to overcome resistance to their U.S. distribution networks through 'narco-terrorism,' according to the 2012 Republican Presidential Candidates
Americas to Become Mecca of World's Energy
The turmoil for reform sweeping most Middle Eastern oil producers is grabbing big headlines today, but that region may lose some of its economic clout in the future: there are signs that the Americas will replace the Middle East as the world's biggest oil-producing region
Mexican President Calderon: Kingpin of the Kingpin Strategy
Mexico's elections will determine if current President Felipe Calderon's bloody strategy of targeting cartel leaders will endure
Mexico's Boring Election Won't Be A Bore
Mexicans want change, and Peña Nieto's offer of "responsible change" has more appeal than leftist candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador's calls for social justice, which some fear would lead to a Venezuelan-styled radical populism
How The U.S. Fails to Understand the Transnational Narcotics Industry
Here's how can the U.S. government do a better job of stanching the flow of drug cartel money across the U.S.-Mexico border
Rocky Road to Gender Equality in Latin America
Women leaders do not by definition implement policies promoting women's rights
With the Focus on Syria, Mexico Burns
Mexico will affect America's destiny in coming decades more than any state or combination of states in the Middle East
Latin American Schools: Disconnected
Two new studies confirm what we have long suspected: Latin American companies cannot effectively compete in the world economy because their countries' educational systems are totally disconnected from reality
Mexico's Violence is Up, and So is Tourism
Despite more than 47,000 deaths in drug-related violence over the past five years, Mexico is receiving record numbers of foreign tourists. How come?
War Against Mexican Drug Cartels Needs New Focus
The cartels are extremely sophisticated in their intel and operations. And their raison d'etre is not violence but making money
Mexicans Arrest Drug Cartel Financial Manager
Mexican soldiers arrested the alleged financial manager of the deadly Sinaloa drug cartel. The man, Jose Sanchez Villalobos, also is wanted in the United States on cocaine trafficking charges
Democratic Speed Bumps in Latin America
Attitudes toward democracy are on the decline in Latin America, and U.S. foreign policy isn't helping
Latin America is Beating Poverty -- Sort Of
A new United Nations report has good news for Latin America: it says that poverty levels in the region have dropped to their lowest levels in 20 years. But are the U.N. figures about Latin America as great as they sound?
Gingrich Brings Common Sense to Immigration Debate
Finally, there is a voice of reason on immigration among the front-runners for the Republican nomination, who until recently seemed to be competing with one another to see who could take the craziest stand against Hispanic immigrants
Mexico Seeks to Extradite Americans Linked to 'Operation Fast And Furious'
Mexico's attorney general moved into a political hot seat by asking the U.S. government to extradite six American citizens suspected of smuggling guns during Operation Fast and Furious
Redeployment of Mexican Soldiers to Urban Areas Boosting Illegal Drug Production
Domestic production of marijuana and opium poppy in Mexico are at high levels because of the deployment by the government of soldiers to urban areas to fight criminal gangs
Rethinking Mexico's relationship with the United States is an urgent priority, according to leading Mexican politician Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) became the law of the land, millions of Mexicans have joined the ranks of the hungry. Malnutrition is highest among the country's farm families, who used to produce enough food to feed the nation
Mexico's President Disillusioned by Record U.S. Deportation Rate
American Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials celebrated but Mexican politicians are fuming after the latest U.S. deportation figures were announced
Latin Universities Index Doesn't Tell Full Story
A new ranking of Latin America's best universities shows that Brazil is way ahead of the pack, with the No. 1 school and 65 of the best 200 in the region. It suggests that Brazil may become 'the next university superpower'
The recent torture and murder of two Mexican bloggers after anonymous posts on anti-crime blogs has shocked the country's internet community. But even more worrisome is how little elected leaders understand the importance of social media, in a country where criminals and citizens alike rely on it as an essential platform for communication
Obama's U.N. Omission: The War Next Door
While virtually all headlines from the United Nations General Assembly in New York focused on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, there is another conflict that is going almost unnoticed despite the fact that it is causing many more deaths: the drug-related wars in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America
Central American Migrants in Mexico
Every year, 500,000 Central Americans pass through Mexico on an invariably dangerous journey to the United States in search of better opportunities, but it is unknown how many reach their intended destination. Migrants are regularly treated as second-class citizens during their journey and many fall victim to the violence of criminal gangs
Wal-Mart de Mexico: The Mexican Job
Poor Mexico! So far from God and so near the United States. The words are attributed to Mexican President Porfirio Diaz, who governed for a 35-year period ending in 1911
Winning the Drug War and Rebuilding Mexico in the Process
In July, Mexico will elect a new president. Whoever wins will need to address the foremost challenge confronting the country today: the battle against the drug cartels
Mexico's Plan to Create a Paramilitary Force
Even a competent, well-paid and well-equipped police institution cannot stand alone in a culture unprepared to support it and help maintain its integrity
Drug War Will Change Course in 2013
When the recent Summit of the Americas in Colombia decided to commission a study on whether to decriminalize drugs, many thought that would be the end of it, and the whole thing would be quickly forgotten. Well, maybe not
Pro-Drug Legalization Forces Gaining Clout
For the first time since the United States launched its 'war on drugs' four decades ago, there are signs that the forces supporting legalization or de-criminalization of illegal drugs are gaining momentum across the hemisphere
China's Wage Hikes Could Benefit Mexico
Wages in China are rising faster than expected, leading multinational firms to move their manufacturing plants to Mexico and other countries closer to the U.S. market
Mexican Prison Officials Accused of Helping Deadly Escapees
Mexican prison officials are being accused of helping 30 members of the violent Zetas drug cartel escape from a northern Mexico prison after they murdered dozens of their rivals
Mexico's Drug Cartels are no 'Terrorist Insurgency'
Like in every election season, when legislators compete to make headlines, there are some bizarre ideas being discussed in the U.S. Congress these days
Latin - Asian Technological Gap Keeps Growing
Latin America should take a close look at the latest U.S. technological innovation figures: They show that, despite signs of progress in several countries, the gap between Asian and Latin American countries keeps widening
Latin American Politicians Renew Suggestions to Legalize Drugs
The president of Colombia and Mexico's former foreign minister suggested that legalizing some recreational drugs might be the only way to stop the violence and smuggling associated with drug cartels
The Mexican Drug Cartel Threat in Central America
Central America is experiencing increasing levels of crime and the prospect of heightened competition from Mexican drug cartels in its territory. The institutional weakness and security vulnerabilities of Guatemala and other Central American states mean that combating these trends will require significant help, most likely from the United States
A Call for an Enlightened Foreign Policy toward Latin America
With a little under a year remaining until the next U.S. presidential election, a coherent and sustainable area policy toward Latin America remains absent from the campaign literature and both parties' electoral strategies
Never-Ending Drug War Moves to Central America
While Mexico's bloody war against the drug cartels is making headlines worldwide, there is a little-known fact that is sounding alarm bells among U.S. and Latin American officials: Central America's drug-related violence is far worse than Mexico's
Learning From Mexico's Coalition Debate
A group of 46 high-profile Mexican politicians and academics from across the ideological spectrum shook this country recently with a daring proposal to end Mexico's political gridlock: forcing whomever is elected president in 2012 to form a coalition government
GOP Uses Border Fence as Immigration Distraction for 2012
In GOP primary politics, the U.S.- Mexico border fence is an immigration litmus test, but an apparently unhelpful one. Nevertheless, some 2012 candidates continue to find political capital in touting the fence
The Conservative Case Against a Border Fence
A fence along the U.S. border with Mexico illustrates a lack of understanding of the logistics and costs, the historical motivations driving U.S. immigration, and ignores a profound systemic change that must be achieved in order to address illegal immigration problems in a sustainable and cost efficient manner
Mexican Constitution Now Recognizes Right to Food
For more than fifteen years, Mexico's lawmakers -- absurdly -- seemed to prefer to abolish the desire to eat rather than comply with international agreements on human rights signed by Mexico regarding the recognition of the right to food
Mexican Cartels and Pan American Games: A Threat Assessment
The preparations for the Pan American Games included more than just addressing infrastructure concerns. Due to the crime environment in Mexico, security is also a very real concern for the athletes, sponsors and spectators who will visit Guadalajara during the games
Other Leaders Should Copy Brazil's Anti-graft Measures
I read a press report that Brazil's tourism minister was illegally using a government driver as his wife's private chauffeur. By the time I arrived in Brasilia seven hours later, the minister had already been sacked. What a difference with what is happening in many other Latin American countries
State Department Answers Criticism Of Mexico Policy
The U.S. State Department is trying to smooth over relations with Mexico after a congressman implied the Mexican government is losing control over its own country
Veracruz, a city on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, experienced a horror like no other when two abandoned trucks containing thirty-five bodies were found dumped beneath an overpass in Boca del Río
The Drug War Spreads the Bloodbath South
It's time to re-cast U.S. drug policy in Mexico and Guatemala and stop supporting killing methods that end up aiding drug traffickers
Forty years after the war on drugs began the fallout from bad policy has had dire consequences throughout the Americas
Ex-Border Security Chief Calls Fence a Dumb Idea
Fencing off the entire U.S.-Mexico border was one of the 'dumbest' ideas former Customs and Border Protection Commissioner W. Ralph Basham was presented with during his tenure
Mexico and the United States: Surgical Strikes in the Drug Wars
Current policies, clearly, have unsatisfactory results. But what is to replace them? Neither of the standard alternatives -- a more vigorous pursuit of current antidrug efforts or a system of legal availability for currently proscribed drugs -- offers much hope. Instead, it is time for Mexico and the United States to consider a set of less conventional approaches
Deadlier American Guns Raise Death Toll in Mexico
As the number of violent deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border continues to climb, a new report reveals a chilling trend: U.S. gun manufacturers, faced with declining sales, are increasingly selling high-powered military-style firearms to civilians
Mexico Is Not Condemned to Failure
There is some truth to the fact that there is a Latin American individualist trait in all countries, but the Mexican case is exceptionally acute,
Protective Intelligence Lessons from an Ambush in Mexico
On the afternoon of May 27, a convoy transporting a large number of heavily armed gunmen was ambushed on Mexican Highway 15 near Ruiz, Nayarit state, on Mexico's Pacific coast. When authorities responded they found 28 dead gunmen and another four wounded, one of whom would later die, bringing the death toll to 29. This is a significant number of dead for one incident, even in Mexico
Corruption: Why Texas Is Not Mexico
As one studies Mexico's cartel war, it is not uncommon to hear Mexican politicians — and some people in the United States — claim that Mexico's problems of violence and corruption stem largely from the country's proximity to the United States. According to this narrative, the countries positioned between the source countries and the U.S., are trapped in a very bad position
Ongoing Conflicts You May Not Be Paying Attention To But Should
The world has been captivated by the drama unfolding in the aftermaths of uprisings in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt, the so-called Arab Spring. But that doesn't mean the killings have stopped elsewhere, nor the challenges and dangers for the United States. Here are three major conflicts that could pop up on the front pages or TV screens any day
Mexico Needs U.S. Help But Not Troops
The escalation of drug-related violence in Mexico -- including the mass execution of 72 migrants -- is moving a small but growing number of U.S. foreign policy hawks to call for a radical solution: send in the U.S. Army
Pro-Arizona Immigration Rhetoric Will Haunt Republicans
Republican Party candidates who won recent primary elections have gone so far to the right on the immigration issue, that they may have shot themselves in the foot. Look at what happened in Florida and Arizona, the two states with heavy Hispanic populations
Has the Time Come to Legalize Drugs?
Legalization of drugs -- long an issue championed mainly by fringe groups -- is rapidly moving to the mainstream in Latin America. A recent surprise statement by former Mexican President Vicente Fox in support of 'legalizing production, sales and distribution' of drugs made big headlines around the world
Politics Not Economics Sinking Mexico
Everything that could possibly go wrong seems to be going wrong for Mexico, Latin America's worst performing economy this year. But a new government idea could put this country back on the road to prosperity for decades to come -- if government officials really are serious about it.
Another Swine-Flu Casualty: Good Journalism
The swine flu outbreak that has wrecked Mexico's economy may become a case study in reckless journalism. Like most of you, I had taken it for granted that the disease had started in Mexico.
There's Hope for Mexico and Central America
The conventional wisdom says that the U.S. economic slowdown will be devastating for Mexico and Central America because of their excessive dependence on the United States. But the conventional wisdom may be wrong
Latin America's Security Dilemma
Across Latin America, governments are hailing security gains against organized criminal groups. Yet in spite of more arrests, criminal networks are stronger and criminality just as pervasive, suggesting that another reality lies behind the numbers.
Democracy in Mexico: The Past, Present, and Future
Although the 1917 Mexican constitution called for democratic institutions, the actual implementation of democratic practices only began about a decade ago. Democracy really began to burgeon when the PRI, the party that once single-handedly ruled the nation, was ousted from the presidency in 2000 by the PAN
Mexican President Congratulates Troops for Huge Marijuana Discovery
Mexico's president congratulated his military leaders for finding what appears to be the largest marijuana field in the country's history
Mexico Roars Past United States For Second Straight Gold Cup Title
Pablo Barrera drilled two crucial goals as Mexico captured their second straight CONCACAF Gold Cup title with a come-from-behind 4-2 win over team USA at the jam-packed Rose Bowl. Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan scored for the United States
Obama's Biggest Challenge -- Central America
The country that received the most attention during President Barack Obama's visit to Latin America -- other than Libya -- was Brazil, but the place where he will probably have the biggest, and most needed, impact will be Central America
Over the last four years, Mexicans have learnt that waging a war against organised crime not only takes a toll on human life at home, but also impacts on the complex and sometimes ambivalent relationship with their northern neighbour.
The Slow Decline of North America
Almost two decades after the 1994 free-trade agreement among the United States, Mexico and Canada, the idea of North American integration is losing steam. China has overtaken Mexico as the second-largest U.S. trading partner, and trade between the three North American countries is diminishing as a percentage of their total trade
Mexico's Gun Supply and the 90 Percent Myth
It is a common claim that almost all the weapons used by Mexican drug cartels come from the United States, but the numbers don't add up.
In the last two decades, Mexican drug cartels have acquired unprecedented power to corrupt and intimidate. Three factors account for their rise: preexisting corruption, the inability of weak law enforcement institutions to counter them, and the demand for illegal drugs in the United States.
Mexico has its own 'Arizona' problem
One of the most frequent arguments of supporters of Arizona's anti-immigration law is that it doesn't do anything different than what Mexico does with undocumented Central American migrants, or what most Latin American countries do with their own illegal immigrants. It's a powerful argument, and partially true.
Obama Criticism of Arizona Immigration Law Ignores Federal Incompetence
Not so fast, Mr. President. I'm not saying I support the Arizona immigration legislation, but I have two points to make about President Obama's claim that federal legislation is needed and that Arizona's bill is misguided
Latin American Economy Will Do Well, but Not Great
The news that Brazil and Mexico have come out of the recession and are poised for solid growth in 2010 should be celebrated, and both countries' leaders should be given credit for their sound economic management. But in the global economic context, the two Latin American giants' recovery will be modest.
Mexico is engulfed by escalating violence. The question is not whether the Mexican state will fail. It will not. The actual risk of the violence today is that it will undermine democracy tomorrow.
Most Illegal Immigrants Come From Mexico
A new congressional report sure to stir up the heated immigration debate finds that about 1 in 4 foreigners in America are here illegally and that 62 percent of them come from Mexico through America's most porous border
Confusing Reports of a Battle in Matamoros
Details of the confirmed firefight remain unclear, but from all indications, a large movement of Zeta forces into a Gulf stronghold did occur, and it suggests a heightened operational tempo in the war between these two cartels. In the coming months, this increasing violence is likely to continue in Gulf-held Reynosa and Zeta-held Monterrey as well as Matamoros
Implications of El Chango's Arrest
To understand what the arrest of El Chango -- the leader of one of the factions of the La Familia Michoacana cartel -- means, we have to really go back and look at the flow, or really the context, of what has been happening with the Mexican cartels over the last year
Former Mexican Attorney General Suspected of Helping Drug Cartels
Former Mexican Attorney General Arturo Chavez Chavez is suspected by the U.S. government of having assisted drug cartels to hide their illegal activities, according to recent Wikileaks reports
New Mexican President, Same Cartel War?
In any democratic election, opposition parties always criticize the policies of the incumbent. This tactic is especially true when the country is involved in a long and costly war. This strategy is what we are seeing now in Mexico with the opposition parties criticizing the way the Calderon administration has prosecuted its war against the Mexican drug cartels
How Will Mexico Escape Its Season in Hell?
A scary new reality arrived with the long Christmas season in Mexico. This year, the Mexican government put out stark warnings to such merry travelers. Travel in convoys, in daylight and if possible, contact federal authorities for a military escort through the portions of Mexico where the drug cartel violence has been particularly gruesome
Latin American Leaders Could Have Learned From South Korea
When the presidents of Brazil, Mexico and Argentina attended the G-20 meeting of the world's biggest economies in South Korea, they should have taken some time off from the conference to take a look at the host country. They could have learned why South Korea has done so much better than their own nations
If Californians legalize marijuana on Nov. 2, maybe Mexico will end its horrific drug war. The 'war on drugs,' like the war on terror, is a simplistic and brutally stupid solution imposed on a complex, multifaceted human problem, born out of the notion that you can take evil out of context and eradicate it with the firepower of righteousness
Obama Could Help Stop Mexico's Bloodshed
Mexico's drug cartels have become well-equipped armies thanks to a flood of semi-automatic U.S. weapons, which have been easier to get since the U.S. government allowed a 10-year ban on sales of assault weapons to expire. Does Mexico have a point in blaming Washington for part of its bloodshed? Or is it conveniently passing on the blame to the United States for its own drug violence?
Mexico's Big Hope: Get 5 Million U.S. Retirees
Mexico is silently working on proposals aimed at drawing millions of U.S. retirees to this country, which could eventually lead to the most ambitious U.S. - Mexican project since the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.
Mexico Facing Six Wars Not Just One
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's trip to Mexico drew a lot of media attention to the bloody U.S.-backed war on the drug cartels along the border. But Mexico is facing five other wars that nobody is talking about, and that may pose even bigger threats than the drug lords.
Mexican Violence Rising but Less Than in Washington
A dispassionate look at Mexico's murder rates shows that some parts of the country are indeed dangerous, but the country as a whole is safer than what the latest headlines suggest.
Street Blockades Breed 'Anything-Goes' Culture
The street blockades that almost paralyzed Mexico City and Buenos Aires in recent days, interrupting traffic and keeping millions of people from going to work, are becoming a major economic problem. But their invisible costs may be larger than their immediate monetary impact
Mexican Current Events & Mexico News in Spanish
