The Fall of Mexico – The Atlantic (December 2009)

Posted by Matt in November 23rd, 2009 | no comment

Published in Mexico, 000 People, Border Towns, Carnage, Chance Remark, Collateral Damage, Coup, Drug Cartels, Drugs Mexico, Martial Law, Mexican Revolution, Mirrors, Opposition, Southern Border, War On Drugs

In the almost three years since President Felipe Calderón launched a war on drug cartels, border towns in Mexico have turned into halls of mirrors where no one knows who is on which side or what chance remark could get you murdered. Some 14,000 people have been killed in that time—the worst carnage since the [...]

The Mexicanization of American Law Enforcement :: Judith Miller

Posted by Matt in October 28th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Mexico, U.S., American Law Enforcement, American Security, Army Colonel, Corruption, Drug Lords, Fellow, Infiltration, Institutions, Judith Miller, Law Enforcement Officials, Mexico, National Security, National Strategy, Robert Killebrew, Security Problem, Signs, Strategy Forum, U S Army, Violence, War On Drugs

But chillingly, there are signs that one of the worst features of Mexico’s war on drugs—law enforcement officials on the take from drug lords—is becoming an American problem as well. Most press accounts focus on the drug-related violence that has migrated north into the United States. Far less widely reported is the infiltration and corruption [...]

A Perfect Storm in Latin America

Posted by Matt in December 9th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Americas, Barack Obama, Communist Rulers, Constitutional Limits, Democratic Transition, Dictatorship, Drug Initiative, Economic Collapse, Financial Crisis, Global Financial Crisis, Hugo Chavez, Latin-America, Municipal Elections, Oil Wealth, Perfect Storm, Plan Colombia, Populists, President Hugo Chavez, Sandinista Party, Strategic Partnership, Venezuelan President Hugo, War On Drugs

RECENT EVENTS SUGGEST that Barack Obama will be facing a veritable perfect storm of challenges in Latin America. The death toll in Mexico’s war on drugs is mounting. The future of Plan Colombia, which began as a U.S.-backed anti-drug initiative, is uncertain. Argentina may be on the verge of yet another economic collapse. The global [...]

Gangs of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Posted by Matt in December 5th, 2008 | no comment

Published in general, Authorities, Brazil Rio, Captive Audience, City Of God, Combat Photographers, Confrontation, De Janeiro Brazil, Death Toll, Drug Gang, Drug Lords, Famous Mobsters, Favela, Favelas, Fernando Meirelles, Gangs, Gangs of Rio de Janeiro, Jeff Shannon, Office Gold, Police Officers, Police Operations, Prestigious Awards, Rio Brazil, Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro Brazil, Rio De Janeiro Time, Rio Janeiro, Slums, Subject Head, Theage, Theage Com Au, Violent Explosion, War On Drugs, Worldwide Acclaim

War on Rio’s drug gang slums
The police in Rio de Janeiro are engaged in a war on drugs that the authorities are determined they should not lose.
In a single confrontation this week in one group of favelas, or slums, known as the German complex, at least 19 people were killed.
It was one of the biggest [...]