Drugs, Corruption and Violence South of the Border

Host:

Warren Olney

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5,000 people have died in Mexican President Calderon’s crackdown on drug cartels, and the violence has spread to Mexico City. Some critics say Mexico is beginning to look like Colombia, but public opinion polls show 60% of the people are behind Calderon. Should the US provide military assistance or help build institutions that strengthen the rule of law? What is this country doing about the demand for drugs and American weapons that arm the cartels?

The Bush Administration wants to send helicopters, planes and inspection scanners to help Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon crack down on drug cartels. But members of both parties in Congress have their doubts based in part on reports of corruption at the local, state and federal levels.

Today's WWLA is a re-cut edition of this morning's To The Point.

Photo Credit: Mexico's President Felipe Calderon By: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Guests:

Alfredo Corchado: Mexico Bureau Chief, Dallas Morning News
Franc Contreras: freelance correspondent, BBC Radio and AlJazeera English Television
Rafael Fernandez de Castro: Dean of International Relations, Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico
David Johnson: Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Laura Carlsen: Director of the Americas Program, Center for International Policy

Underwriters

Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.

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