Clinton in Mexico: US Demand Fuels Drug Wars

Envoy frank on Mexico violence, promises more American help

By Ambreen Ali, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 25, 2009 2:57 PM CDT

Copied

Clinton in Mexico: US Demand Fuels Drug Wars — Mexican soldiers check the identity of a man during an operation searching for drugs and weapons in Reynosa, on Mexico's northeastern border with the US last week. (AP Photo)

America’s “insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade,” Hillary Clinton said in Mexico today, striking an unusually blunt tone in addressing the US role in that country’s disastrous drug-related violence. “Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians.”

During her trip, the secretary of state is expected to address Mexico’s concerns about what that country sees as flagging US commitment to fighting drug trafficking and cooling enthusiasm for free trade between the neighbors, reports the New York Times. Her comments are a departure from the previous Washington line, notes one political commentator. “It is shocking to hear an American politician admit there is an issue.”
(More Mexico stories.)

Report an error