Is Mexico rationalizing a slide into drug cartel governments? A decision not to fight the cartels is the first step. The Day of the Dead murder tragically symbolizes the death of government legitimacy in Mexico.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum ruled out a new "war on drugs" as a response to the assassination of a regional mayor who was shot at a Day of the Dead celebration, a brazen killing that has sparked national outrage.
"Returning to the war against el narco is not an option," Sheinbaum told reporters Monday, referring to the bloody anti-crime offensive launched almost two decades ago. "Mexico already did that, and the violence got worse."
The president spoke as the nation was reeling from the killing Saturday of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan in the west-central state of Michoacán, which has become an organized-crime battleground. She condemned the assassination as "vile" and vowed to track down his killers.
While Mexican mayors and other local officials are frequent cartel targets — scores have been assassinated in recent years as gangs fight for control of city halls, budgets and police forces — the killing of Manzo struck a nerve nationwide.
The nerve struck triggered a fetal position spasm. Mexico has adopted the "Let the Wookie win" theory.
One day the cartels will decide it is easier to be the Mexican government than bribe or intimidate the government. Hell, the current government might believe it can invite the barbarians inside the walls in the belief that "hugging" the barbarians can control and civilize them.
America will have a major problem globally if that happens. Then it will be time to page General "Blackjack" Pershing.
UPDATE: Does the government fear and/or value cartels or protesters more?
Several thousand people took to the streets of Mexico City on Saturday to protest crime, corruption and impunity in a demonstration organized by members of Generation Z, but which ended with strong backing from older supporters of opposition parties.
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NOTE: Photo from the article.
