"U.S. Drones Fight Mexican Drug Trade."

Here is an excerpt from Ginger Thompson and Mark Mazzetti's article in The New York Times:

"Stepping up its involvement in Mexico’s drug war, the Obama administration has begun sending drones deep into Mexican territory to gather intelligence that helps locate major traffickers and follow their networks, according to American and Mexican officials. The Pentagon began flying high-altitude, unarmed drones over Mexican skies last month, American military officials said, in hopes of collecting information to turn over to Mexican law enforcement agencies... President Obama and his Mexican counterpart, Felipe Calderón, formally agreed to continue the surveillance flights during a White House meeting on March 3. The American assistance has been kept secret because of legal restrictions in Mexico and the heated political sensitivities there about sovereignty, the officials said... Pentagon, State Department, Homeland Security and Mexican officials declined to comment publicly about the introduction of drones in Mexico’s counternarcotics efforts. But some officials, speaking only on the condition of anonymity, said the move was evidence of the two countries’ deepening cooperation in efforts to prevail over a common threat." Link to Full Article

Analysis: The timing of this article is pretty interesting for me, because I just gave a short presentation at US Northern Command's annual counternarcotics conference on DoD support to drug war efforts. Some media outlets on both sides of the border may make this out to be controversial, or OMG, we're spying on Mexico!! But it's not like that at all, and this is actually a really good thing.

First of all, I can tell you first-hand that DoD is completely committed to helping our law enforcement agencies and the Mexican government in this fight however they can. NORTHCOM is also extremely sensitive to Mexico's domestic concerns over violation of sovereignty, and has taken great care to publicly tell anyone who will listen that US military support to Mexico is by-invitation-only, and within all legal constraints.

I'm not surprised at all that these drone flights were kept secret; I would have done the same thing. ICE is saying that these flights helped collect intelligence that nailed the killers of Agent Zapata last month; I'm sure they'll continue to collect useful intelligence in the future, that will likely be shared with (trustworthy, hopefully) Mexican counterparts.

Overall, while I think this situation has the potential to be blown way out of proportion by both American and Mexican media, I really think that as long as both governments can adequately portray the positive aspects of these flights and US military assistance, the Mexican people will ultimately be OK with it. While they're still in the minority, the number of Mexicans who want even more US military assistance (in the form of boots on the ground) has grown to 25%, according to a Pew Research Center poll from last year. That number is actually huge, if you know anything about how much Mexico generally resents any type of US involvement in their affairs.

After hearing some presentations and many comments at that conference yesterday, I hope that these drone flights are actually just the beginning of such cooperation between our militaries and governments, and that future DoD assistance and involvement can continue to achieve some tangible - and meaningful - results.

Comments

[Jose G. Roig]

I think this is great news and a step in the right direction. I could understand Mexico's concern for their sovereignty, but when we look at the facts they are loosing their sovereignty by allowing the cartel's so much power. Great article and I hope they do more to win this drug war.

[Harley]

I knew a couple a months a Mexican government drone crashed in US land, nearby El Paso,TX, these flights are made from both sides. Something good comes out from them, hopefully!

[Mrnochi]

Those are great news, I hope this help to capture big numbers of these traffickers and killers.
I know many people here in Mexico that think the same way I do:) But we have our concerns too, because is to much corruption and people in the government that are working with drug cartels, can you believe the head police and public police from my small town are Zetas and is a waste of time if you report a crime involved with cartels is the same people they never will do nothing about it. Well my point is that United States can work so hard to help us, but this police working with the cartels will make every thing more difficult!!! Thank you USA and people like you that cares about this drug crimes:)))

[AmigoAnónimo]

1st of all, thank you for your very enlightening web site. I have followed it for a few months, but this is my 1st effort at commentary. I don't expect many to agree, but I'm OK with that. So here goes.....

Oh my, American UAVs in México? Is it too much of a stretch to suggest that American boots there will be next? Time will tell.

I see the process of territorializing México finally beginning in earnest. Prohibition is merely a facade toward geo-political domination of Latin America, as well as a means of feeding further the unstoppable American military–industrial complex. In this case, the US government achieves its ultimate goal AND the military–industrial complex grows even larger. Win, win. Add in the incarceration of multitudes, and yet another "growth" industry reveals itself...even more money to be made by the corporate amoral. Doesn't the USA incarcerate more people than all other countries on the planet combined? The majority due to drug offenses, right?

The mounting death toll, the heinous methods of murder, the seemingly hopeless situation...all carefully orchestrated to get us where we are today. The crimes are now so unbelievably horrendous, that of course the USA "must step in." The mess is, after all, the USA's fault, right?

Conspiracy theory? Perhaps, but 41+ years of Drug War and a trillion+ spent, tells us all that ulterior motives must be at play. Why? Because even a monkey would've tried something different by now. Alcohol Prohibition didn't work earlier in this century, it hasn't worked since pot was outlawed, it definitely isn't working now, and the best part for the goons in control...it never will. Perfect!

As the father of three [1 in the USMC, 1 in college, & 1 in HS], I do NOT condone drug use. In fact, my kids are drug-free, but no thanks to the War on Drugs, because drugs surround[ed] them in HS. My two eldest used to joke with me that pot/coke/ecstasy were easier to procure than alcohol. EDUCATION [@ home] stopped them from doing dope, not Prohibition. So, when I see spending for education & rehabilitation against the use of drugs match what is spent on law enforcement against drugs, I will seriously consider retracting my viewpoint. It ain't gonna happen, so I remain confident that I will die maintaining the perspective I put forth here today.

The bottom line is, it pains me to have brought 3 beautiful human beings into a world so fraught with bullshi+. But hey, for their sake, I only concern myself with those things I have direct control over, and can only hope that those things I have no control over, ultimately improve.

That's all I've got.

[J.D.]

There is something I don't understand: How is this kept secret? Obviously, it is public now. Was it classified for a time and then released, or is this another example of how our own people in the DoD can't keep their mouths shut?

[Slow POKEY]

I will second J D's comment.The New York time is well known for printing sensitive information, and this is a story that should never have been printed,although a operation this big must be difficult to keep secret.I would think the DTO's would be aware of it but why confirm it for them.

[Harley]

@ AmigoAnonimo:
I agree with some of your points, mostly with the sons'educational subject, that's why I think drug legalization is the best way of ending this stupid war which is very profitable for lots of people. If kids are educated with strong family values then they 'll be ok in this corrupted world, drugs exist since ever,never ending issue for mankind to get stoned, let citizens decide if he/she wants or not to get involved in drugs. Our governments spend trillions of dollars and armed forces sacrifice their lives for this war.

@ JD and Slow POKEY:
this kind of info about Mexico drug war and how the good ole USA is "helping" is like a BIG hot potato, media is just waiting some filtration or declaration to make all public always.
I don't know how making this public will help to stop DTOs when they knew it before us citizens.

[P]

+1 ... for the suggestion drug legalization. That is now the only viable path forwards. The USA does not have the time, money, or resources to keep fighting this war. There are too many other pressing problems.

P.

[Josh Schnabel]

This is good move, and I hope US military intelligence can be employed to do even more to help. I'm not an imperialist by any stretch, but I belive that the US has a role to play in our neighbor's affairs. Anyone who feels this is overstretch can read about the murders and learn about how the body count includes many innocent people: http://www.economist.com/node/18621268?story_id=18621268