Mexico’s War on Drugs Leads to War on Streets

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In December, President Felipe Calderon called up the Army to cope with feuding drug cartels that have corrupted local police.  Since then, there’s been an increase of violence migrating from rural states to Mexico City. Some fear the Army itself is at risk from the same drug lords who’ve corrupted local police; others blame soldiers for abuses of human rights. One of the drug cartels has its own military operation—formed in part by Army deserters. Is Calderon making things better or worse?  Does he have any choice?  What is the responsibility of the US, where the drug dealers find their market?  Hector Tobar, Mexico City Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times, joins us with the latest news. 

Credits

Guests:

  • Héctor Tobar - Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of “Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of ‘Latino’”
  • Jorge Chabat - Professor of International Studies, Center for Research and Teaching in Economics

Host:

Warren Olney