Breaking stuff
I'm going to be breaking stuff around this blog for the next few weeks. I apologize for any inconvenience.
12/24/2009 Posted by boz
12/23/2009 Posted by boz
Earlier this week I started, but didn't finish, writing a post with the following:Mexico ends its year with a major success in its war, the killing of Arturo Beltran Leyva. The killing of drug bosses disrupts the system, but won't likely lower the violence in any particular region.The analysis went on from there. Somewhere between yesterday and today, what started as a major success has turned into a nightmare. On Monday, Mexico held a funeral with full honors for the marine killed in the attack on the cartel leader. Hours later, cartel members killed that fallen marine's mother and three other relatives in a violent attack meant to intimidate and terrorize those who fight on the side of the government.
12/23/2009 Posted by boz
There are weeks when it feels like the Colombian conflict has hit a turning point and is on its way into the history books. And then there are weeks like this one, when it feels like little has changed.12/22/2009 Posted by boz
12/22/2009 Posted by boz
The chaos in Ciudad Juárez has snared Mexico's army, the country's most respected institution, in what may be a no-win situation. Even as the violence rises, so do allegations of human-rights abuses by the army. The failure to pacify Ciudad Juárez has put Mr. Calderón's antidrug strategy—based largely on using the military to retake control of the country from drug cartels that have corrupted local police and politicians—on embarrassing public display....I raised a number of questions when the troops first deployed to CJ. I give credit to the Wall Street Journal for getting that strategy line correct. As I wrote back in July:
...in weary Ciudad Juárez, he is blamed for having gone to war without a comprehensive victory strategy.
In spite of the media's constant use of the word "strategy," troop deployments and the Merida Initiative aren't strategies, they're military operations and an aid package.There is little indication that Ciudad Juarez ends 2009 any better than it began. President Calderon can't or won't admit that what was done in 2009 was a failure along the border. The Mexican government has promised more troops, more police, more resources. However, they've shown no indication of implementing a strategy that will successfully restore government institutions and reduce the power of illegal organizations. Returning to my July post:
Here's the essential problem. Nobody doubts Calderon has the resolve to fight a war against the cartels. But nobody is sure Calderon has a plan to win that war.Looking at the start of Ciudad Juarez 2010, that appears to remain true.
12/21/2009 Posted by boz
Another weekend, another back and forth between the Colombian and Venezuelan governments.12/18/2009 Posted by boz
From the NYT:At 7 p.m. Copenhagen time, Mr. Obama and Mr. Wen met again, joined by Prime Minister Mammoghan Singh of India and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil. [Later reporting suggests South African President Zuma also attended]That sentence captures much about the shift in world politics. But let's just take that final point for now. At the moment for the final push to rescue global talks on climate change, Brazil's Lula was one of the few world leaders at the table.
12/17/2009 Posted by boz
12/16/2009 Posted by boz
12/14/2009 Posted by boz
12/10/2009 Posted by boz
12/10/2009 Posted by boz
12/09/2009 Posted by boz
Yesterday, Amnesty International released a report saying civilian authorities are ignoring increased human rights concerns about the Mexican military. With the military deployed to civilian areas to provide security and combat drug cartels, the number of complaints has risen to several thousand over the past two years. The report highlights five cases in which the lack of justice is particularly bad.
Labels: Brazil, conflict, human rights, illicit-trafficking, Mexico, military, security, Venezuela |
12/08/2009 Posted by boz
12/08/2009 Posted by boz
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