Mexican president finds drugs now corrupting military, too

[babylonsister]

Mexican president finds drugs now corrupting military, too

By Sarah Miller Llana | Christian Science Monitor


Mexico City — On Friday, Mexico's government announced that an Army officer was arrested on suspicion that he sold information about President Felipe Calderon's movements to drug cartels, the closest official to the president to be arrested thus far.

It was another embarrassing setback for Mr. Calderon, who has made the battle against drug trafficking a cornerstone of his presidency since taking office two years ago.

He has employed the military to lead the fight, particularly where the local forces are, at best, ineffectual and, at worst, in collusion with drug cartels. He also promised to modernize and clean up the police force with a series of training courses, incentives, and trust tests.

Calderon has been hailed for his gumption, but corruption cases have reached the highest ranks. Now, many Mexicans are concerned that the military could become as corrupt as the law enforcement agencies, and police reform experts say Calderon's strategy is not going far enough to address long-term institutional shortcomings.

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/58672.html

[mike_c]

1. the source of that corruption...

...is U.S. drug laws and the "war on drugs".

[tabasco]

2. End prohibition.

The drug cartels disappear.

[kristopher]

3. From your mouth...

To the Great Flying Spaghetti Monster's ear.

[Mugweed]

4. Does "now" mean "have always been" in their language?

Or was this just a bad translation?

News flash - bears NOW shitting in the woods.

[asdjrocky]

5. There's gambling going on here? I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.

Actually the real corruption is the American drug laws.

[Caliman73]

6. Unfortunately the corruption is systemic

Many of the local police were corrupt way before the drug trade boomed. Before the explosion it was stolen cars and "fines" for "illegal" activities. Many of the police are underpaid, poorly paid, and poorly equipped. They get offers of money to "assist" the narcos or death for themselves or their families if they resist. It would follow that the Military would succumb to pressure if they were in proximity to these guys for any amount of time. Not sure what to do here but I think that something has to be done to take the financial wind out of the sails of the narcos. Lots of money and poor standards of living among the community where you operate makes it very difficult to keep on the straight and narrow.