Mexico is No Failed State, but It Needs Aid

Unfortunately, talk of Mexico in the United States these days has turned increasingly to a debate over our neighbor’s viability as a nation. By doing so we are fueling a perception that is neither accurate nor constructive.

Failed states do not have functioning executive, legislative and judicial branches. They do not boast the world’s 12th largest economy, nor do they trade with the United States at a pace of more than $1 billion a day. And, failed states do not demonstrate—as President Felipe Calderon has done—the political will to take on the transnational cartels that threaten the region’s security and the courage to sustain that fight until victory is secured.

President Barack Obama should prioritize the U.S.-Mexico relationship and place a premium on bolstering our already strong partnership with the Mexican government and its people.

The United States must recognize the truism that our nation’s own security and economic strength is intrinsically tied to a stable and prosperous Mexico.

These are difficult times in Mexico with transnational cartel violence at unprecedented levels, but the commitment of President Calderon to fight and win this war is unwavering, as should the United States’ own support be of that fight.

Mexico is working aggressively to reassert control over areas hardest hit by cartel violence and dominion, deploying more than 25,000 troops to more than a dozen Mexican states. The government has also demonstrated its muscle with dramatic increases in spending to more than $2.5 billion in 2007 and to more than $4 billion in 2008 to improve public security and counter the cartel-led violence.

We’ve also seen the Mexican government extradite a record number of cartel leaders and criminals to the U.S. to stand trial.

There is an unfortunate reality in the Mexican government’s increased commitment to rid the nation of cartels, drugs and corruption. More than 5,500 innocent lives were lost last year alone in cartel-related violence. And, our U.S. border states have seen the war spill into U.S. communities.

We cannot shy away from the fight because the level of violence is fast becoming tragic in its scope and size, especially when we—as a nation—play a pivotal role in the crisis Mexico is battling.

Mexico would not be the center of cartel activity, or be experiencing this level of violence, were the United States not the largest consumer of illicit drugs and the main supplier of weapons to the cartels.

We have a responsibility to fight this war together, or we will fail together.

The Merida Initiative, a $1.4 billion commitment by the United States to Mexico, ushered in a new era of cooperation on security issues between the two nations. This landmark bilateral initiative will strengthen existing law enforcement cooperation, intelligence sharing, and provide new equipment for Mexican forces to use to better confront the common threat of drug trafficking and other transnational organized crime.

But, the Merida Initiative must be fully funded by Congress. And, at a time when our own economic woes beg for action by the federal government, we should not, we cannot, cast aside the Merida Initiative as a policy distraction or budget extravagance. To the contrary, the Merida Initiative is a necessity for the region. Our leaders must provide full funding quickly and move law enforcement tools into the field immediately to win this war.

Instead of agreeing with those in the United States and elsewhere who are quick to suggest Mexico is a failed state, President Obama should forcefully lead and imbue the relationship with his trademark hope and with action indicative of a partner in a war that we must fight and win together.

Garza is the former United States ambassador to Mexico. He is online at www.tonygarza.com.