Border violence

Today's New York Times covers some of the recent violence on the Mexican side of the border.

Here in Nuevo Laredo, authorities report that more than 55 people have been killed in drug-related violence this year, compared with 68 murders in all of last year. Those numbers, horrifying enough, may understate the case - many people, the police say, are too terrified to report crimes.

Yesterday, Vicente Fox backed some tougher anti-crime legislation. I don't know that passing a new law will help, but if it keeps people focused on issues like security, illegal trafficking and immigration then maybe that's what's needed.