What Does Calderón Want?

In comments that raised some eyebrows here, Felipe Calderón followed up Hillary Clinton's visit by announcing to the Financial Times that American aid to Mexico was insufficient:

"The help should be equivalent to the flow of money that American consumers give to the criminals," he said in reference to US citizens' consumption of narcotics supplied by Mexico's drug cartels. When asked to estimate that sum, Mr Calderón replied: "Between $10bn and $35bn (€30bn, £24bn) - the truth is that nobody knows."

Keep in mind that virtually everyone in Mexico was flattered by Clinton's forthrightness in admitting American responsibility. Maybe Calderón meant to keep the American government's focus from straying; hours after the interview, he met with a handful of American law-makers, who emerged pledging more funds for Mexico. Or maybe it was just an honest though inconvenient and uncomfortable answer to a direct question.