Why Mexico's Drug War Is Unwinnable Analysis

In the article “Why Mexico’s Drug War is Unwinnable,” Laura Carlsen asserts that irrespective of the method of evaluation; be it better public safety, stifled supply of illegal drug to the US market or the crippling of drug cartels, the drug war is falling. According to Carlsen, within four years of the militarization of the streets of Mexico by President Felipe Calderon to curb the drug trade, over 37,000 drug-related homicides were recorded in addition to thousands of human rights abuse complaints against law enforcement and the military (Carlsen 161). Carlsen also states that the failure of the drug war is not due to lack of financing as the $7 billion spent in Colombia over a ten-year period neither stopped drug production nor frustrated its trafficking there. Although the “Plan Colombia” reduced certain violent crimes, corruption in government escalated. Carlsen advocates a change of strategy in the drug war from an external to an internal focus, proposing tracking and shutting off illegal drugs cash flow within the US, increasing the funding for drug abuse and …show more content…
Carlsen also argues that stopping the illegal cash flow through the financial institutions will weaken the cartels much more than having a gun battle. Moreover, according to Carlsen, legalizing drug such as marijuana would serve to further diminish financial resources available to the cartel. Carlen elicits an emotional appeal by suggesting the reduced cost to society if increased funding is channeled to drug abuse prevention and treatment programs as against funneling more money to the drug war. Carlsen explains that educating the young people about the dangers to health of drug abuse and addiction and, the availability of treatment, will assist in curtailing drug use and improve the quality of life in the