Friday, August 26, 2011

More on Monterrey


This seems like it could be a turning point. Although maybe that's not the right phrase, since I'm not sure in which direction public opinion/government policy would turn, since the government is already pursuing the Zetas first and public opinion is already anti-gang. In any event, the reaction from 2,000 miles away seems more indignant than ever. Above we have Milenio calling it 25/08, which of course reminds one of 9-11 or 3-11. Calderón called for three days of mourning, and said, "We are confronting terrorists", a declaration that I believe he had previously resisted making so openly. Calderón also pointed out that the acts are not common-sensical, which is also true. This will only increase the heat on the Zetas, probably from the American government, too.

I also think that it's worth noting that what appears to be at the heart of this was extortion. That should serve as a cautionary tale to anyone who thinks that Mexico's problems are exclusively related to the drug trade. The Zetas formed as a result of the drug trade, but the factors sustaining them today go far beyond that single activity.

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