For each entry, include the following as the TITLE

1) the title of the news article (in quotation marks);

2) the author of the article if one is listed (Associated Press & Reuters count as authors);

3) where you read the story (eg: New York Times online), in italics;

4) The URL of the story if you read it online; the page number(s) if you read it in print;

5) the date the story was published (and if you read it on line, the time you consulted it).

At the end of the summary, write your name!

Thesis: Mexico is so close to America, and with its war against drugs being a futile one I feel that it is America’s place to step in and help, not just for the sake of assisting our neighbors but also for our best interest, as a country who faces drug problems as it is.

“Mexico Arrests Ex-Chief of Antidrug Agency”

By: ELISABETH MALKIN

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/22/world/americas/22mexico.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=drug%20traficing&st=cse

The New York Times

Recently Mexico has seen a new low in its issues with drug trafficking, when their former senior anti-drug official Noé Ramírez Mandujano was arrested for excepting a bribe of $450,000, from a drug cartel. He gave information, in return, about investigations against the Pacific Cartel. Ramirez resigned in July after only two years of leading Mexico’s organized crime unit, he was the highest ranked official to be accused and investigated on involvement in drug trafficking.  This has been a common problem for the country and in response to it the U.S. has $400 million dollars to help against the trafficking, and Mexico’s own president dispersed 30,000 troops to places in the country where cartel violence is most frequent.  Unfortunately the response to these efforts it just more violence.

“In Mexico Drug War, Sorting Good Guys from Bad” 

By Marc Lacey

The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/world/americas/02mexico.html

It is becoming more and more difficult for Mexican’s to spot drug traffickers in their country, because there is no specific stereo-type for them to fit.  A drug trafficker can be a farmer who decided to replace his crops with marijuana or a government official who is making a little extra on the side.  It has become more and more common for officials to be servicing the drug cartels opposed to the people.  It has been found that there are even members of the law enforcement who aid the trafficking making the drug war all the more difficult for the President to fight. 

          Mexico’s Independence Day was forever tainted this year by a direct attack on a group of celebrators in the president’s own hometown of Morelia.  As a result seven civilians were killed and at least 100 were injured.  It has not been proved who is responsible for this attack but it is thought that the blame falls on a local drug cartel. If this is true this will be the most violent act of theirs yet, and to add that it was a national holliday.  

“Rice Visits Mexico for a Meeting About its Drug War”

By: Marc Lacey

The New York Times

The U.S. has become more and more uncomfortable about Mexico’s drug trafficking so in response the Bush administration sent the secretary of state to meet and discuss improving cross-borders cooperation. The meeting was held in Pueto Vallarta with Condoleezza Rice, but this was not the first visit from other American officials, making it more and more apparent that America is cuncerend about the violence that is now in Mexico will come here.