US drones 'over Mexico to track drug lords'

© AFP/File Joel Saget

AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States has begun sending unarmed drones deep into Mexico to gather intelligence about powerful drug cartels in order to assist local authorities, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper said US President Barack Obama and his Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon formally agreed to the high-altitude missions in a meeting on March 3 but have kept it secret because of possible political and legal constraints.

It cited unnamed US officials as saying that the drones gathered vital information leading to Mexico's arrest of several suspects in last month's killing of US immigration and customs agent Jaime Zapata, 32.

Such a program would suggest rising concerns about the Mexican government's ability to bring the cartels to heel through a massive military crackdown launched by Calderon in 2006.

Since then more than 34,600 people have been killed in drug-related violence that has engulfed the country, especially areas along the US border where rival gangs battle over lucrative trade routes to the north.

"It wasn’t that long ago when there was no way the DEA could conduct the kinds of activities they are doing now," Mike Vigil, a retired chief of international operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, told the Times.

"And the only way they’re going to be able to keep doing them is by allowing Mexico to have plausible deniability."

The Times quoted a senior US official as saying that all "counternarcotics activities were conducted at the request and direction of the Mexican government."

It quoted both Mexican and US officials as saying that Mexico has been turning a blind eye to US wiretapping of the telephones of drug suspects and to US agents carrying weapons in violation of longstanding Mexican restrictions.

Mexican and US officials said that their joint efforts had led to the capture or killing of at least 20 high-level drug traffickers, including 12 in the last year alone, the Times reported.

However, past high-profile arrests have had little impact on the ground.

On Tuesday a six-truck convoy of gunmen pursuing a marked man shot dead six people, including two children aged two and six, during a rampage through the Mexican beach resort of Acapulco, state officials said.

And in northeastern Mexico a car bomb exploded outside a police station and a children's playground, wounding a woman and a police officer.

© AFP -- Published at Activist Post with license

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Expanding U.S.-Mexico Economic and Security Cooperation

image source: Be Your Own Leader

Dana Gabriel
Be Your Own Leader

There were growing concerns over drug violence prior to the recent U.S.-Mexico summit, along with other issues which have been a source of friction between the two countries. Despite any perceived tension, both leaders showcased their bilateral partnership and vowed to enhance collaboration. They focused on immigration, along with economic issues and took steps to end the long-standing dispute over cross-border trucking. The leaders also agreed to further deepen their cooperation in combating drug cartels.

During a Joint Press Conference following their bilateral meeting, President Barack Obama praised Mexico as a valued partner and thanked President Felipe Calderon for, “being here today to deepen the cooperation that is so essential to the prosperity and security of both of our countries.” He noted, “we’re moving ahead with plans for a 21st century border so people and goods can cross securely and efficiently. We’re working to coordinate and streamline regulations and get rid of unnecessary trade barriers to make it easier to do business together.” Obama also announced, “we finally have found a clear path to resolving the dispute over trucking between our two countries.” He added, “I look forward to consulting with Congress and moving forward in a way that strengthens the safety of cross-border trucking, lifts tariffs on billions of dollars of U.S. goods, (and) expands our exports to Mexico.” Under NAFTA, the border was to be opened to Mexican trucks, but safety concerns blocked the provision’s implementation. In the coming months, negotiators are expected to table an agreement that will include a phased-in program to settle the issue.
The meeting between Obama and Calderon also focused on regulatory cooperation. In May of 2010, the U.S. and Mexico established the High Level Regulatory Cooperation Council (HLRCC), “to identify areas of mutual interest for regulatory cooperation, with a focus on improving intra-North American commerce and enhancing the competitiveness of North American producers.” In September of last year, the HLRCC, “agreed to work collaboratively to share information about upcoming regulations, identify those regulations that might impede North American competitiveness, and consider joint work in specific sectors.” The recent U.S.-Mexico summit laid out goals for the HLRCC which included linking regulatory cooperation to improve border-crossing and customs procedures, increasing regulatory transparency, as well as making regulations more compatible and simple. Improving regulatory cooperation was a key element of the Security and Prosperity Partnership. The HLRCC is similar to the newly created United States-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council and is an example of how North American integration has further shifted to a dual-bilateral approach.

In an interview that took place a week before his meeting with Obama, a frustrated Calderon criticized U.S. cooperation in the battle against drug cartels as insufficient. During his visit, there was no apparent dissension, at least not publicly. It was clear by their press conference which followed bilateral talks, that both leaders were moving forward and taking the opportunity to further bolster ties between the two countries. Obama proclaimed, “We’re also deepening our cooperation against the drug cartels that threaten both our peoples.” He went on to say, “I have reaffirmed to President Calderon that in this cause, Mexico has a full partner with the United States.” As part of the Merida Initiative Obama said, “we are continuing to speed up the delivery of equipment and training that our Mexican partners need to keep up this fight.” In regards to security issues, Calderon stated, “both governments have taken on our positions as co-responsible parties in the fight against transnational organized crime. This is a paradigm change in our relationship.” He also explained, “Our bilateral relationship, my friends, does not only have a huge impact on the lives of Mexicans and Americans, but today it’s taken on with increasing strength and clarity and coordination by both of our governments.”

In her article US-Mexico Relations Back on Track–In the Wrong Direction Laura Carlsen, director of the Americas Policy Program described how, “The binational relationship suffered some serious blows in the weeks preceding Calderon’s Washington visit. The release of thousands of Wikileaks cables between the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the State Department revealed U.S. officials’ deep concerns regarding the Mexican government’s capacity to carry out its high-risk war on drug cartels.” She added, “Tensions also followed the assassination of Jaime Zapata, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in San Luis Potosí on Feb. 15. Although the Mexican government has arrested the alleged attackers–members of the Zetas drug cartel–the incident highlighted the risks of the drug war cooperation and the power of the cartels.” In the aftermath of their bilateral meeting Carlsen acknowledged, “Despite talk of a deteriorating relationship, in fact the Calderon and Obama administrations are overseeing the birth of historically unprecedented cooperation between the two nations.”

While the U.S.-Mexico partnership will encounter more difficulties along the way, both countries are forging closer economic and security ties. Unfortunately, rather than plotting a new course, they have recommitted to the failed war on drugs. A stable Mexico is critical to U.S. national interests, but not enough is being done to secure the southern border. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Canada are pursuing a new trade and security perimeter agreement without their NAFTA partner. Although trilateralism has taken a backseat to bilateral initiatives, Mexico remains important to the future security of North America.

Related articles by Dana Gabriel:
Perimeter Security and the Future of North American Integration
Strengthening NAFTA Ties and the Push Towards a Common Security Front

Dana Gabriel is an activist and independent researcher. He writes about trade, globalization, sovereignty, security, as well as other issues. Contact: beyourownleader@hotmail.com Visit his blog at beyourownleader.blogspot.com

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