US "War on Drugs," Plan Mérida and the Mexican Army

There is an excellent and important post over at Mex Files which you all should read. Why the US continues so dense about drugs, about Mexico and about Latin America is a complete puzzle to me.  All I would add to the article is to mention that the PRI  (which was NOT a ruthless dictatorship -- or not only one -- for seventy years before the 2000 elections) in its previous manifestation was responsible for separating the army from the police and army actions from police actions. The army was  not permitted to be involved against civilians which is one of the reasons Mexico has not been subject to military coups for a very long time.  So Calderón's use of the military vs. narcos is definitely controversial and the US's provision of funding for military hardware via Plan Mérida (hardware which of course is US hardware, I'm pretty sure) rather than for assistance in training, pay increases and equipment for civilian police is a huge mistake.

I agree with RG, author of Mex Files: Obama isn't doing a good job south of the US border. Granted, he has a lot on his plate, but certainly he doesn't have to make things worse.