Gen. Barry McCaffrey Interview: "Violence in Juarez like that of Afganistan"

“The United States has proportioned only a modest amount of support to the Mexican Government."

Doris Gómora for El Universal - The former Drug Czar of the United States, General Barry McCaffrey, has given an analysis of the situation in regards to the violence that has plagued his country's southern neighbor. His diagnosis doesn't seem very optimistic.

The distinguished military officer who was the head of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), says that ending the narco war in México within the next two years would be painful and difficult to achieve.

He said that establishing a unified police force that is both strong and honest is an essential part of creating a state that respects human rights across the board, but the process would take way more than three years.

McCaffrey, age 68, who has a military career that goes back over 40 years, was cognizant of the criticism of the U.S. and demanded that his government and the international community support the struggle in Mexico against organized crime.

“México should expect and should demand, total cooperation and support from the U.S. government and the international community. This is not simply a problem that México is creating; it is a problem that the U.S. is contributing to heavily, with the flush supply of automatic weapons to the money that buys drugs, Mexico should expect to have the international support it needs."

In his opinion, the general says that the 1.6 billion over three years USD México receives from the U.S. by way of the Merida Initiative (1/4 split goes to the Carribean nations and Panama), it is actually very little when compared to the amount of money the U.S. provides to the cartels by way of retail drug sales (over 12 billion USD annually estimated).

To this respect he said: “The U.S. has proportioned only a modest amount of support to the Mexican government of México”

“The truth is México is in desperate need of serious support; both politically and economically to confront the cartels. But at this time, México is not a failed state."

And yet, at the end of the day, “The future of México will be decided by the anger of the political leadership; it will be decided by the Armed Forces, by the police. But it will not be decided by the United Nations or the United States"

In the exclusive interview with EL UNIVERSAL, McCaffrey says that he feels “horrified by the level of violence” in México and while it is inappropriate to compare México to Afganistán, "the level of violence in Mexico, in places like Juarez for example is comparable to the violence in Kabul, in Baghdad, or Bogotá."

The retired general says that he, like other specialists who are analyzing the narcoterrorism in Mexico, "Understand the differences between Afganistán and México, but it is difficult to imagine the situation in places like Juárez."

“México must create a national police force and this might be the salvation of the state, but it would take at least another 15 years."

“A national police force with national standards, along with the proper training and medical/life insurance would take at least 15 years to accomplish. However, this is the only way forward," expressed the former general.

For now, despite the level of narco terrorism that the people of Mexico live in: "It is impossible to imagine that the federal forces of Mexico can be intimidated by these activities. It is equally impossible to imagine a place where the cartels can confront the Army of Mexico and actually win."

McCaffrey said that his main concern was “for the soldiers, the marines, the police who have lost their lives" in the struggle for re-establishing the power of the state and the control of the people.

Source Article: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/182887.html