"We see the growing power of drug traffickers in countries close to ours, and we're aware that the narcotics industry is increasing its influence in Central America, to the point where it's beginning to control important sectors of local economies. If drug trafficking is allowed to undermine institutions in the region it will have a negative effect on our nation's ability to do business there, and will carry a serious risk for all Americans traveling or living in the area, and it could adversely impact our relations with those countries most affected by the contagion of transnational crime."
For his part, Calderón repeated themes which he commonly addresses. He said that until the flow of military style arms from the United States to Mexico is halted -- preferably by reinstating the U.S. Assault Weapons Ban, which expired in 2004 -- nothing will change. U.S. guns play key role in Mexico's raging drug war, says Felipe Calderón: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/03/us-guns-play-key-role-in-mexicos-raging.html. Calderón also argues that the U.S. is a money laundering center of the world, without which the drug cartels could not exist. The subject came into sharp focus last year when the New York Times revealed that American DEA agents launder hundreds of millions of dollars a year for traffickers, allegedly as an aid to monitoring their operations. Calderón to Biden: "We're partners, yes; but stop weapons, money laundering": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/03/calderon-to-biden-were-partners-but.html.
On the topic of transnational crime, and with Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper standing just a few feet away, Calderón also complained about Cynthia Ann Vanier, the Canadian woman whom the Mexican government says tried to smuggle a son of the late deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi into the country in 2011. I have written about the Vanier case several times (note the links below), and I haven't concealed my own opinions about it (suffice it to say that she wouldn't want me on her jury). But for a contrary opinion by a Canadian blogger who is following case developments closely, read here: Felipe Calderon politicizes Cynthia Vanier case at White House summit: http://lapoliticaeslapolitica.blogspot.mx/2012/04/mexican-president-felipe-calderon.html.
Arms, money laundering, drug war
Obama: U.S. drug demand responsible for damage done to Mexico: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/12/obama-us-drug-demand-responsible-for.html.
Obama asks Congress for another $244 million towards Mexican drug war: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/obama-asks-congress-for-another-234.html.
Mérida summit tells U.S. to reduce drug usage, check weapons flow: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/merida-summit-to-us-stop-flow-of.html.
Does the 1950s "domino theory" have relevance to Central America?: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.com/2011/11/could-domino-theory-apply-to-central.html.
Mexican drug cartels got 64,000 weapons from U.S., says DOJ: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/11/64000-us-made-weapons-have-been-used-by.html.
"Dear friends in the United States - please, no more assault weapons to Mexico": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/dear-friends-in-united-states-please-no.html.
Mexico, Vatican call for international arms sales treaty to stop drug war guns: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/03/mexico-vatican-call-for-international.html.
Editorial: In drug war, boundaries and "national sovereignty" mean nothing: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/11/in-drug-war-national-sovereignty-is.html.
Mexican drug cartels expand operations to Peru and Bolivia: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/mexican-drug-cartels-expand-operations.html.
Honduras "invaded by drug traffickers": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/honduras-invaded-by-drug-traffickers.html.
"Almost bankrupt" Guatemala calls for U.S. help: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/almost-bankrupt-guatemala-calls-upon-us.html.
Guatemalan army joins drug war: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/guatemalan-army-joins-drug-war-we-have.html.
U.S. Peace Corps flees Honduras: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/peace-corps-exits-honduras-in-face-of.html.
Mitt Romney talks tough on U.S. drug usage: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/mitt-romney-talks-tough-on-us-drug.html.
Cynthia Ann Vanier case
Accused Canadian enters not guilty plea; alleges abuse in Mexican jail: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/accused-canadian-enters-not-guilty-plea.html.
Canadian woman, three others to stand trial in failed Gaddafi smuggling plot: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/canadian-woman-three-others-to-stand.html.
Mexico busts plan by Gaddafi son to enter country, allegedly with foreign aid: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/12/mexico-busts-plan-by-gaddafi-son-to.html.
Canadian in Gadhafi smuggling conspiracy ran an "Instant Response Team": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/12/canadian-in-gadhafi-smuggling.html.
Hugo Chávez feels sorry for the late Muammar Gaddafi: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/hugo-chavez-on-muammar-gaddafi-murdered.html.
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