I completely agree that bringing down Mexican drug cartels needs to be a top priority of the U.S. government. My argument with this editorial is that it fails to mention that we have a moral responsibility to bring these cartels under control, as the violence they are bringing to Mexico is fueled with American money and is incited by our demand for illegal drugs. I certainly agree that it is important that we protect our citizens and that billions of dollars in trade between El Paso and Juárez are important. However, even if these things were not at stake, we still have a responsibility to the people of Mexico to stand beside them and fight what is essentially our drug war. The violence that is happening in Mexico right now is not because of a religious or political fight. It's not a civil war. It's about money pure and simple. Billions of dollars of American money. Because of that, the blood of the thousands of innocent people being slaughtered over that money is also on the nation who supplies it. I agree 100% with this article, but in my opinion, the idea that we need to address this problem before it spills over into Texas or affects our economy completely misses the point. We need to acknowledge our part in this situation. I'm sure it is clear to the people of Mexico and the rest of the international community, even if we would prefer not to see it.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Editorial: Americans' murders in Juarez finally get our attention
The Dallas Morning News ran an editorial on 3/18/2010 regarding American response to the slayings of American employee working at the consulate in Ciudad Juárez. Lesley Enriquez and her husband, Arthur Redfels were killed in broad daylight on Saturday, March 13 as they left a consulate social event. The article goes on to comment that the U.S. has been virtually ignoring the violence in Juárez as the numbers of victims has continued to swell over the last three years. It goes on to state that 2,600 people were murdered in Juárez in 2009 and "if that many civilians were killed in one year in Baghdad or Kabul, Washington's foreign-policy community – those smart folks who attend think-tank luncheons, write insightful articles and analyze world affairs on cable TV – would be having nonstop arguments about a grave world problem." The article concludes by urging the U.S. to make the violence in Mexico a "top-tier foreign-policy matter" before the violence spills across the border or risks the $51 billion in annual trade between El Paso and Juárez.
I completely agree that bringing down Mexican drug cartels needs to be a top priority of the U.S. government. My argument with this editorial is that it fails to mention that we have a moral responsibility to bring these cartels under control, as the violence they are bringing to Mexico is fueled with American money and is incited by our demand for illegal drugs. I certainly agree that it is important that we protect our citizens and that billions of dollars in trade between El Paso and Juárez are important. However, even if these things were not at stake, we still have a responsibility to the people of Mexico to stand beside them and fight what is essentially our drug war. The violence that is happening in Mexico right now is not because of a religious or political fight. It's not a civil war. It's about money pure and simple. Billions of dollars of American money. Because of that, the blood of the thousands of innocent people being slaughtered over that money is also on the nation who supplies it. I agree 100% with this article, but in my opinion, the idea that we need to address this problem before it spills over into Texas or affects our economy completely misses the point. We need to acknowledge our part in this situation. I'm sure it is clear to the people of Mexico and the rest of the international community, even if we would prefer not to see it.
Editorial: Americans' murders in Juarez finally get our attention | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Opinion: Editorials
I completely agree that bringing down Mexican drug cartels needs to be a top priority of the U.S. government. My argument with this editorial is that it fails to mention that we have a moral responsibility to bring these cartels under control, as the violence they are bringing to Mexico is fueled with American money and is incited by our demand for illegal drugs. I certainly agree that it is important that we protect our citizens and that billions of dollars in trade between El Paso and Juárez are important. However, even if these things were not at stake, we still have a responsibility to the people of Mexico to stand beside them and fight what is essentially our drug war. The violence that is happening in Mexico right now is not because of a religious or political fight. It's not a civil war. It's about money pure and simple. Billions of dollars of American money. Because of that, the blood of the thousands of innocent people being slaughtered over that money is also on the nation who supplies it. I agree 100% with this article, but in my opinion, the idea that we need to address this problem before it spills over into Texas or affects our economy completely misses the point. We need to acknowledge our part in this situation. I'm sure it is clear to the people of Mexico and the rest of the international community, even if we would prefer not to see it.
Editorial: Americans' murders in Juarez finally get our attention | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Opinion: Editorials
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