Comparing 'Plan Columbia' and the 'Merida Initiative' in Mexico
The purpose of this paper will be to make a comparison between the Colombian drug cartels at the turn of the century with the mexican cartels today. The object of this comparison will be to determine the effectiveness of large scale millitary intervention against drug cartels.I will assess weather this comparison is not only justified but in any way usefull in understanding how fight a well funded well armed non-state enemy. This is a response to public comments by high ranking United States officials making this comparison (most notably secretary of state Hillary Clinton) while pledging a significant amount of American resources to such an effort. I will also attempt to answer all of the various questions that are begged by this nature of action.
Most people do not realize the sheer lucrativeness of the drug trafficking business especially on an industrial scale. “The (Mexican) cartels have built a network of dealers in 231 U.S. cities from coast to coast, taking in about $39 billion in sales annually, according to the U.S. Justice Department.” (*1) To put that into perspective, In 2009 Canada 's total annual military expenditure was just over half (21 billion USD) of the total annual profit of the Mexican drug cartels in the United States.(*2)
Comparing Columbia and Mexico
The 1st thing that is obvious when making this comparison is the fact that Mexico is over twice the size of Columbia both in land mass and in population. In terms of governance Columbia was in a state of profound political instability from as early as the 1940 's while Mexico enjoyed a relatively stable PRI government following he Mexican civil war. Geographically the two countries have nothing in common but their proximity to each other. Mexico is a largely flat terrain that poses no real problems to transportation and offers little in the way of cover. By Contrast Columbia has a large mountainous area covered in tropical forests, the majority of the drug production takes place is these
Most people do not realize the sheer lucrativeness of the drug trafficking business especially on an industrial scale. “The (Mexican) cartels have built a network of dealers in 231 U.S. cities from coast to coast, taking in about $39 billion in sales annually, according to the U.S. Justice Department.” (*1) To put that into perspective, In 2009 Canada 's total annual military expenditure was just over half (21 billion USD) of the total annual profit of the Mexican drug cartels in the United States.(*2)
Comparing Columbia and Mexico
The 1st thing that is obvious when making this comparison is the fact that Mexico is over twice the size of Columbia both in land mass and in population. In terms of governance Columbia was in a state of profound political instability from as early as the 1940 's while Mexico enjoyed a relatively stable PRI government following he Mexican civil war. Geographically the two countries have nothing in common but their proximity to each other. Mexico is a largely flat terrain that poses no real problems to transportation and offers little in the way of cover. By Contrast Columbia has a large mountainous area covered in tropical forests, the majority of the drug production takes place is these
References: 3-http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34215.pdf (CRS report on mexican drug cartels to the U.S. Congress.(2007) 4-http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/mexico/2010/12/jail-breaks-and-cartel-manpower-woes.html (article on jailbreak) 5-http://www.beckleyfoundation.org/pdf/BriefingPaper_16.pdf 6-John Bailey- Plan Colombia and the Mérida Initiative: Policy Twins or Distant Cousins?(February 9, 2009)