Clinton to spearhead anti-drugs drive in Mexico

AFP
March 24, 2009

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will on Wednesday travel to Mexico to spearhead a high-level drive to curb growing drug violence that has raised alarm in Washington.

Clinton's trip paves the way for a flurry of visits culminating in one in April by President Barack Obama, who analysts say is breaking with predecessor George W. Bush's drug-fighting approach by focusing on blunting US consumer demand.

The Obama administration is also trying to share more of the counter-narcotics burden with Mexico than its predecessor while also aiming to beef up security on the border, they said.

"They are putting a lot of the cabinet on this, including the president himself," Andrew Selee, director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center, told AFP...

...Christopher Sabatini, a top analyst at the Americas Society and Council of the America, urged the administration to challenge the National Rifle Association gun lobby over the weapons supply stores.

They should "go to the mat on it with the NRA," he said.

To read the complete article, click here.

To speak with one of our experts on this topic, call 212-277-8384 or email communications@as-coa.org.

See more in:  United States, Mexico, North America, Security