Fwd: Security Weekly: Corruption: Why Texas is Not Mexico

Note:  very good work by Stratfor, much of what we have been saying here, 

but doing a much better job of explaining the problems.  

Obviously applies to AZ also.   

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20110518-corruption-why-texas-not-mexico?utm_source=SWeekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=110519&utm_content=readmore&elq=ab6ff298703649fab882e58d6f86aaca  

  

Just a couple minor nits to pick: 

A.  believe the corruption in U.S. more extensive and goes much higher than mentioned 

B. It doesn't reference the PRI, which can be argued is the source of the culture of corruption.

When they were in power for 70 some years, anything goes, as long as the party gets paid off.

Ten years ago, they lost the presidency to PAN, an election they forgot to, or were unable to rig.

By that time the drug cartels had grown so powerful that the ruling class had realized the cartels were now a threat to the state, and of course, them. 

 Unfortunately, the PRI is regaining power at all levels and have a good chance to regain the presidency. 

A disaster in the making.

 Believe the Mexican people are truly tired of the drug war, especially not winning it.  

The other major problem is all the money the cartels bring back to Mexico.  

Supplied of course, by our neighborhood dopers. 

Begin forwarded message:

From: "STRATFOR" <mail@response.stratfor.com>

Date: May 19, 2011 3:30:28 AM MST

To: azmex@asrpa.com

Subject: Security Weekly: Corruption: Why Texas is Not Mexico

Reply-To: "STRATFOR" <service@stratfor.com>

View on Mobile Phone | Read the online version.

This is FREE intelligence for distribution. Forward this to your colleagues. Corruption: Why Texas is Not Mexico By Scott Stewart | May 19, 2011 As one studies Mexico's cartel war, it is not uncommon to hear Mexican politicians — and some people in the United States — claim that Mexico's problems of violence and corruption stem largely from the country's proximity to the United States. According to this narrative, the United States is the world's largest illicit narcotics market, and the inexorable force of economic demand means that the countries supplying the demand, and those that are positioned between the source countries and the huge U.S. market, are trapped in a very bad position. Because of this market and the illicit trade it creates, billions of dollars worth of drugs flow northward through Mexico (or are produced there) and billions of dollars in cash flow back southward into Mexico. The guns that flow southward along with the cash, according to the narrative, are largely responsible for Mexico's violence. As one looks at other countries lying to the south of Mexico along the smuggling routes from South America to the United States, they too seem to suffer from the same maladies. However, when we look at the dynamics of the narcotics trade, there are other political entities, ones located to Mexico's north, that find themselves caught in the same geographic and economic position as Mexico and points south. As borderlands, these entities — referred to as states in the U.S. political system — find themselves caught between the supply of drugs flowing from the south and the large narcotics markets to their north. The geographic location of these states results in large quantities of narcotics flowing northward through their territory and large amounts of cash likewise flowing southward. Indeed, this illicit flow has brought with it corruption and violence, but when we look at these U.S. states, their security environments are starkly different from those of Mexican states on the other side of the border. Read more » Dispatch: Inside Pakistan After bin Laden Analyst Kamran Bokhari examines the internal struggles of the Pakistani state following U.S. intervention in the country to kill Osama bin Laden. Watch the Video » New to STRATFOR? Get these free intel reports emailed to you. If you did not receive this report directly from us and would like more geopolitical & security related updates, join our free email list. Sponsorship: Sponsors provide financial support in exchange for the display of their brand and links to their site on STRATFOR products. STRATFOR retains full editorial control, giving no sponsor influence over content. If you are interested in sponsoring, click here to find out more.

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