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Obama Lands in Mexico to Press Drug War

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 16, 2009 9:10 AM CDT
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(Newser) – President Obama began his first official Latin American tour with a visit to Mexico City today, the New York Times reports. Obama landed this afternoon for the first presidential visit to Mexico’s capital since the Clinton administration. He’ll meet with Felipe Calderón to discuss the economy, trade disputes, and above all the ongoing drug war plaguing the country.

Obama is expected to use the occasion to acknowledge that America’s demand for illicit drugs is fueling the violence, a move that should please Mexico. “For the last 30 years the United States has come down with the big sticks of eradication and helicopters,” said a Council on Foreign Relations member, “and the elephant in the room of our own consumption, and the tough proliferation of arms, were just never addressed.”

City workers prepare to hang Mexico and US flags from street lights in Mexico City in preparation for the upcoming visit of Barack Obama, April 15, 2009.
City workers prepare to hang Mexico and US flags from street lights in Mexico City in preparation for the upcoming visit of Barack Obama, April 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
President Barack Obama disembarks Air Force One as he arrives in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, April 5, 2009.
President Barack Obama disembarks Air Force One as he arrives in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, April 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
A mannequin wearing a Barack Obama T-shirt stands at the entrance to a clothing store in Mexico City, April, 15, 2009.
A mannequin wearing a Barack Obama T-shirt stands at the entrance to a clothing store in Mexico City, April, 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Claudio Cruz)
President Barack Obama, left, waves as he walks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Mexico City today.
President Barack Obama, left, waves as he walks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Mexico City today.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Shannonals
Apr 19, 2009 9:36 AM CDT
As if there junkies enough now you mean?
AClotfelter
Apr 16, 2009 8:18 AM CDT
If you discontinue the drug war, you will have a whole new overwhelming wave of junkies.
AClotfelter
Apr 16, 2009 5:10 AM CDT
Yes, American use has created demand for drugs. But that doesn't make the violence our fault. They need to take responsibility for their own security. Why don't many of the large-scale operations just produce all the drugs here and cut out the middlemen? The answer is that while some drugs certainly ARE produced here, on the whole, we make life too difficult for the large-scale producers. Mexico has a lot of challenges in making that happen, and a lot of corruption that makes it even more difficult, but we are doing what we can here in the States, they need to clamp down on their end...

Mexico hoping for change
Los Angeles Times

Expectations high for Obama trip
Dallas Morning News

Dozens die in shootout ahead of trip
Reuters

 
Barack Obama • War on Drugs • Mexico City • Mexico • Mexican drug war • drug cartel • Felipe Calderón

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