Bloggings by boz

WSJ:

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....

...in weary Ciudad Juárez, he is blamed for having gone to war without a comprehensive victory strategy.

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 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.