Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
For the past ten years, my Mexican grandparents have implored me to come visit them in their small town in the Mexican state of Zacatecas. For one reason or another -- school, work, money, time -- I never made it down. And now I add fear to that list of reasons I won't make the trip down any time soon.
Mexico, as John Hinderaker notes, is a country where people are stoned to death.
The situation in Mexico is a disaster, and one that directly threatens our national security. For reasons that I don't understand, most Americans don't seem to care, and the Obama administration reflects that apathy. Mexico makes Iraq look like Switzerland. Iraq is, I think, important to our security, but Mexico is much more so. I don't know what the solution is--other than the obvious, a massive application of police/military force to kill the criminals--but at a minimum, we should take notice.
I share John's bafflement -- why do Americans seem not to care that we have a failed state on the other side of the border? We concern ourselves with the problem of immigration, which is certainly a formidable issue that must be addressed, but why the complacency when it comes to the savage violence that occurs there every day?
Perhaps we collectively ignore the problem because there are no obvious solutions. How does Mexico crack down on drug terror when its government is broke, teeming with corruption, and when government officials fear for their own lives? And what can the U.S. do to help when we're broke, dealing with a host of domestic policy woes, and trying to fend off a constant stream of Islamoterror threats?
I can't begin to answer any of those questions. But, I agree with John that at the very least, we should take notice.
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Aug '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
My thought is that most people don't care or know because we're separated from it. Only when it spills over into the border states does anyone take notice. Illegal immigration has a tie to the violence. The more violence there is the more people want to flee from it.
May '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
I think it's less that people aren't noticing and more that we see little that we can or should do about it.
We're not in the business of sticking our noses into every failed state -- that's the idea, anyway -- unless they pose a legiitimate threat to us.
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
I've been wondering exactly the same thing since my trip to the US, which made me realize the severity of the problem and the degree to which it's under-reported, internationally. Ottoman Umpire, this isn't just any failed state--it's a huge one, right on our very long and poorly-secured border, and its disintegration into outright lawlessness obviously has consequences for us. Even if there's nothing we can do (and I doubt that); you'd think it would dominate the news. Diane, I'd visit your grandparents anyway. Even in the roughest countries, locals usually know where you can go and stay to be reasonably safe, and I bet your grandparents wouldn't be inviting you down if they thought they were asking you to put yourself at serious risk.
Jul '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
Mr. Hinderaker is, I'm afraid, full of codswallop. To claim that: "Mexico makes Iraq look like Switzerland" is ludicrous.
I'm a hyperbole-friendly guy, but Mexico doesn't make Trenton look like Switzerland.
Sep '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
Americans don't care about Mexico because most of the people who feign concern about other countries are the same people who would call us an empire if we intervene. Mark Steyn has a great bit in America Alone about how most people with free tibet bumper stickers would be the first to object to our foreign policy if we tried to liberate it militarily. I think we should annex Mexico and put it in a 20 year limbo state where we make it safe and westernize it before making it into a few states. Mexicans get to America without the hassle. Mexicans are protected from extreme drug violence. America gets a place with abundant natural resources. America also goes from having a huge southern border to a tiny one (with a fence that Mexicans are currently building). Win, win, win, win.
Edited on Sep 29, 2010 at 8:07amI should note that while I'm aware most oppose empire, I do not.
Aug '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
We moved down to the South Texas border almost two years ago when I took a job down here. It's been eye-opening, to say the least. What happens over there is local news here. While, thankfully, things remain tranquil on the U.S. side, there is no question that Mexico is a failed state, in the midst of a sort of civil war, etc. I actually have (or at least had) some hope that the 72-alien massacre by the Zetas last month opened American eyes a bit wider.
One of the big limitations we have is the Mexicans' historical reticence to American intervention in their "internal" affairs. Without violating that prudential rule, there's only so much we can do.
Aug '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
Thank you Diane for bringing this topic up.
I too am Mexican, third generation, born and raised in San Pedro, CA. My people left the Hermosillo region of Sonora nearly a century ago. They followed the work: living in mining camps in Bisbee and Jerome, AZ. When the bust came they then moved to the LA harbor, working in the shipyards, docks and canneries.
They raised me to be an American. I was not allowed to speak Spanish at home.
I have seen the changes immigration has brought to my hometown over the last forty years.
I see the changes as an American. I see them as one who has lived long enough to distrust simplistic, prescriptive rhetoric from either side of our political spectrum.
What we are witnessing in Mexico is a human tragedy so vast that it overwhelms me. Because my imagination fails me, empathy eludes me. I have to make an effort to see the cruzados as refugees. Again, I speak as an American.
Given my heritage, and the difficulty I face thinking through this serious issue, I try to be generous to those who seem to lack compassion and thoughtfulness.
May '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
I expect very few Americans would even consider sending troops into a neighboring country. A war on our doorstep is far more frightening than one halfway around the world. Many would probably not be willing to face that fear.
If some of the worst problems grow and spread closer to our major cities, our government might eventually be forced to intervene more seriously. The presence of Hezbollah in northern Mexico might raise enough eyebrows if another terrorist attack penetrates our defenses.
Our military might be able to spare some soldiers to train Mexican federales, but that's a risky move while corruption there is so rampant. I'm not sure what all we can do to help.
Crime and war on the border would probably be taken more seriously if the immigration issue did not overshadow it.
Feb '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
Many are ignoring Mexico, because it's always been that friendly neighbor to the South.
But assuming we stop ignoring Mexico, what is it we can do? Invade, like we invaded Iraq? Start telling them how to run things?
Mexico's problems are much too big for any simple solution. The "culture of corruption" runs deep there, unfortunately, and the only thing that can solve it is a society-wide change of heart and ethics. When officials can no longer be bribed or bought off to join the side of the narcos, they will be able to finally start turning the tide.
And the same goes for us. Why are the narcos running rampant? Isn't it because of our demand for drugs? And how do we solve that problem? Again, it's going to take a society-wide change in our ethics and morals. The War on Drugs certainly has not solved it (though I do not advocate making drugs legal).
This is why social conservatives feel as strongly as we do on moral issues, and issues that address the fabric of families and societies. Peace and economic prosperity rest on morals and not the other way around.
Jun '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
I'm afraid that anything we do to intervene (in Mexico) would be treated like the lone cop at a domestic disturbance call. Often, the couple stops assaulting each other, and starts assaulting the cop. After that, it was all the cop's fault.
Sep '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
The mexican narco war has already came into America. Phoenix has the second highest kidnapping rate in the world. It is not only in the drug gangs best interest to continue this but also in the mexican governments. $500 billion of drug money has flooded into the Mexican economy via the drug gangs over the last ten years and the government does not want that to end. This is one of the most corrupt governments in the world. Meanwhile their president has the temerity to lecture us on immigration policies while they enforce incredible brutality on their southern immigrants. Their is no end in sight to the misery of the mexico and this will only exacerbate our immigration problems.
Aug '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
Mexico is like the ne'er-do-well nephew who is addicted to every kind of failure. The family has been trying to help him for as long as anyone can remember, but it's always something: booze, gambling, stealing, flirting with radical politics, cult religion, drugs, wife beating, divorce, manic depression, a learning disability, or some other mysterious ailment.
The root of the problem in pride. They never stop talking about how "proud" they are. It's the worst kind of pride, too, Barack Obama-style pride, called hubris. It's always catastrophic because Nemesis lies in wait to bring unalterable vengeance.
They will have to bottom-out, once and for all.
Jul '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
Vallum Aelium.
Jul '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
It is politically incorrect to suggest that a proud and heritage rich (leftist) country such as Mexico requires any support from the imperialist colonialist gringo aside from the return of lands wrongfully stolen from a peace loving neighbor by force of arms. The civilized response is to roll your eyes, shake your head gently, and as soon as you are out of sight report the perp to your duly allocated community organizer for a little Chicago-style consciousness raising. Practice at home and we will review next week.
May '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
I think the success or failure of Mexico is ultimately up to Mexicans. If the folks who come into the US illegally for work would channel that determination into the development and welfare of their own country, I think they could make progress. But the attitude is that the US has an obligation to support and deal with Mexico. The US is supposed to use it's resources to fight the drug cartels, while Mexico watches. Mexico needs a hero, several of them. The Mexican people do not lack for intelligence, courage and a willingness to work hard. They lack belief in themselves and in their country.
Jun '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
Didn't we have the same thing right here in the USA with the various Mafias? They still exist to a much more limited fashion, but the Valentine's Day Massacre and the Kansas City Union Station murders, back in the day, were pretty darn dramatic. Before Elliot Ness, the mob were much better armed than our Federales. I vacation in Mexico every winter. Believe me, my wife and I are paying very close attention.
May '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
Which is exactly the opposite of the historic view of Mexico in the United States. For the bulk up the 19th leading into the the first half of the 20th, there was widespread interest in Mexico, marked by a very clear desire by many Americans to 'save' Mexico from itself, so-to-speak. This mentality played a role in varying events ranging from the Texas Revolution and American-Mexican war up to the incursions into Mexico by Wilson.
My sense is that this mentality changed predominantly as a result of the growth of anti-imperialist sentiment in the 20th century and a certain amount of fatigue with hoping to change a place that wasn't about to do so very easily. The basic mentality then developed that we should just let them sort out their own problems and simply do our best to keep their problems from spilling over to our side.
Consecutively, prohibition sparked the perception of Mexico as a series of resort towns to go drink and party 24/7 that still exists today.
Edited on Sep 29, 2010 at 7:12amJul '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
Nothing will be done by the U.S. as long as Democrats (or Squishes) are running the show. They want their votes.
Jul '10
Re: Ignoring the Failed State In Our Backyard
I'll add: "Mexico? How about Cuba?"