"Mexico is no failed state, but it needs aid."

The following is an excerpt from an article written by Tony Garza, former US Ambassador to Mexico, for the Houston Chronicle:

"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." Link to Full Article

Analysis: When the US Army published its Joint Operating Environment report for 2008, it caused quite a stir in the media. Dozens of news outlets started reporting that Mexico was doomed to become a failed state, citing this report. In fact, there is only a brief mention of the drug war in Mexico...two very short paragraphs in a 51-page document, in fact. The JOE report describes the "rapid and sudden collapse" of Mexico as a "worst-case scenario." Isn't that a worst-case scenario for ANY country? It also describes the potential for Mexico's collapse as "less likely" than that of Pakistan. Considering Garza's comments above (with which I'm in total agreement), placing Mexico and Pakistan in the same category is foolish at best. There is no doubt that Mexico is in the middle of a violence crisis not seen since the Mexican Revolution, and that the country is suffering economically. However, Colombia has been in the throes of a civil war being fought by tens of thousands of terrorists for forty years, and I can't recall a time in recent memory where the news media warned about Colombia's potential collapse. Bottom line, the media's interpretation of the JOE report is overblown, exaggerated, and doomsday-esque. While things in Mexico will probably get worse before they get better, the country is NOT going to collapse.