"It is a fundamental debate," he said."You have to analyse carefully the pros and cons and key arguments on both sides."
However, Mr Calderon, who has waged a war on drugs since taking office in 2006, said he personally opposes the idea of legalisation.
His new attitude comes as official figures released this week put the number of drug war related murders at 28,000 in the past four years.
The figure represents an increase of about 3,000 on the previous estimates.
Most of the dead are thought to be victims of clashes between rival gangs.
The figures show that there have been 963 clashes between the security forces and drugs gangs since Mr Calderon took office, an average of almost one a day.
In the face of the growing death toll, Mr Calderon said that some people were urging him to leave the cartels alone.
"Really, they are telling me, 'Mr president, don't bother the criminals'," he said.
Mr Calderon called that "simply an unacceptable option."
Last year, three former presidents, Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico, Cesar Gaviria of Colombia, and Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil, said the US-led war on drugs had failed and called for the legalisation of marijuana to be considered.
Simply unbelievable sounds as tho the drug business MAY trump the govt of Mexico. I guess when you look at the US with 11 of our states in the medical marijuana business its not such a surprise. Just one more reason why CHINA will rule the planet soon we have become weak selfindulgent no resolve little dicipline. Calderon nees support he is right, even if drug dealing remains a major industry in Mexico thousands of the bastards have been eliminated.It would be a victory if the criminal element is driven underground to the extent that robberys kidnapping and extortion are retarded.
ReplyDeleteThere is always plenty of literal bastards (sons of prostitutes) to take the place of recently deceased capos. It's never ending cycle, until a strong man come into power not afraid to use the long knives upon the guilty and corrupted politicians.
ReplyDeleteThere is just one problem with legalizing drugs in a country like Mexico. What happens when it is still illegal in other countries like the US?
ReplyDeleteBetter yet, would Mexico protect it's drug cartels as they continue to sell their drugs in the US and world?
So with that said, this would not just be a drug war within a country. This would be a drug war between countries that oppose drugs(the US and world), and an occupied country(Mexico) that has been defeated by these narco armies.
I hate to admit this but increasingly I am leaning towards supporting legalization of SOME drugs. Pot-heroin-cocaine...maybe?
ReplyDeleteI feel given these choices the market for others would be miniscule thereby destroying the market of the cartels etc. I have my thoughts on waht would happen to the meth market..but for now I will say, remember prohibition? I think the same result could be attained. There will always be abusers legal or not, there are many alocholics, but if decriminalized this erases most the problems and violence connected with the underground. I have not completely sold myself on this but I am now keeping an open mind. what are your thoughts?
Anonymous Aug 6, 12:22
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think it would just go back to the 'good ol days" where it just didn't matter, let it roll to the North (or anywhere else for that matter), let supply meet demand and the stars all align in a peaceful little row over Mexico.
I'd like to say: There would be no more corruption, no more blood, bombs, or bullets. No more kidnappings, extortions or fear. Just love, peace, tranquility (and rainbows and unicorns)
But your question is very valid, to what extent will a country go to keep legal the once illegal, a now perfectly legit business?
I've never thought about it in that light. Thanks for the 'thoughts to ponder'
Yesterday, somebody used the following example in support of legalization:
ReplyDeleteThe war against the mafia was not won by Eliot Ness and The Untouchables. That is only the Hollywood version to make us feel great. Actually, the mafia lost when US Congress repealed the Prohibition law.
In other words, with the repeal, the rate of profitability of liquor trafficking went down so the mafia moved to other business...
Do you think for 1 minuite that organized crime is not alive and well in the US ??Legalizing drugs is a cop out. Its robbery protection extortion hijacking KIDNAPPING murder what will the thousands of gang turds do if drug money dries up??? DUH!!! MEXICO CRIME on Steroids
ReplyDelete"Actually, the mafia lost when US Congress repealed the Prohibition law. "
ReplyDeleteWrong. They didn't lose. As you said, they just went into other areas of business. Prohibition allowed the Mafia to become powerful, but they retained that power after it ended.
You are right, the mafia just moved to other business. With all the capital accumulated with liquor trafficking they just became financial investors (in Wall Street they made more money with more impunity) and real state speculators (mainly in Las Vegas), then the old villains became respected entrepreneurs.
ReplyDelete