US Mulls DoD Aid to Mexico in Drug War

[unhappycamper]

US Mulls DoD Aid to Mexico in Drug War
January 30, 2009
El Paso Times

EL PASO, Texas -- The deadly street shootings, decapitations and other killings in Juarez are taking place at a higher pace than at the same time last year even as talk of a drug cartel truce has increased along with the U.S. role on Mexican soil.

The number of homicides in the Juarez area has surged past 130 already this month, according to an El Paso Times tally, an increase over the 37 homicides recorded by Chihuahua state investigators in January 2008. Last year, 1,609 homicides occurred.

Juarez is considered the current murder capital of Mexico, but killings have also flared across the state of Chihuahua and in other parts of Mexico.

The Dallas Morning News, citing anonymous sources, reported that if the bloodbath escalates, U.S. officials are contemplating the possibility of an enhanced U.S. role in battling Mexican drug cartels, including joint operations with Mexican forces and the involvement of U.S. contractors, military and intelligence personnel.

Mexico historically has resisted any type of interference by the U.S. on its territory, but it has allowed U.S. law enforcement agencies to have offices in Mexican cities. Mexico has also recently cooperated with the U.S. and has extradited drug traffickers to the U.S.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/us-mulls-dod-aid-to-mexico-in-drug-war.html?col=1186032310810