Mexican president calls U.S. 'largest consumer of drugs in the world.' Is he right?

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
9/22/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Felipe Calderon says America is not doing enough to address the drug problem plaguing both nations

Mexican President Felipe Calderon met at the U.N. General Assembly this week to beg consumer nations to decrease their need on illegal narcotics. Mexico is in the throes of a deadly drug war that has taken the lives of thousand of Mexicans, guilty and innocent alike in mass slayings from the powerful drug cartels. Calderon was forthright in his criticism on the United States, sating that the U.S. is the "largest consumer of drugs in the world" - and that President Obama is not doing enough to address the issue.

Drug cartel violence has been blamed for more than 40,000 deaths since Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared his own 'war on drugs' in 2006.

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LOS ANGEELS, CA (Catholic Online) - Calderon's angry sentiments became apparent in August, after a deadly arson attack on a Monterrey casino that killed more than 50 people. Calderon declared the U.S. is also responsible for the "tragedy we are living in Mexico." Yet another gruesome incident came this week, when suspected drug traffickers dumped 35 bodies on a road in the state of Veracruz.

The White House has pledged to sustain "our historic level of cooperation with Mexico as we work to protect the public health and safety of citizens on both sides of the border."

However - President Obama failed to mention Mexico in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly this week, and failed to issue a written statement on the most recent violence. Obama and his advisers were far too busy heading off a Palestinian statehood vote. The U.S. president's recent action reflected a focus on the Middle East peace process, the Libyan revolution and the Afghanistan war - and not a drug war in Mexico.

"My government has been working with President Obama's administration with increased cooperation. However, it is necessary as a part of a wider debate to address a key issue -- the American demand for drugs," Calderon said in remarks Monday, according to a transcript.

"Our neighbor is the largest consumer of drugs in the world. And everybody wants to sell him drugs through our door and our window. ... We need to increase our cooperation and devise much more effective regional responses to this threat to our democracies and our societies."

Calderon lamented the demand for drugs in the U.S., as well as the availability of weapons. Calderon claimed 85 percent of weapons seized over the last five years by his government were sold in the United States.

Calderon also suggested this week that officials look at "market alternatives" to reduce demand -- a term that some have suggested is a reference to legalization.

Drug cartel violence has been blamed for more than 40,000 deaths since Calderon declared his own "war on drugs" in 2006.

2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions For October 2011
General Intention: That the terminally ill may be supported by their faith in God and the love of their brothers and sisters.
Missionary Intention: That the celebration of World Mission Day may foster in the People of God a passion for evangelization with the willingness to support the missions with prayer and economic aid for the poorest Churches.

Keywords: Mexico, U.S., drug war, decriminalization

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2 Comments

David Carlon
September 23rd, 2011 1:39 pm
Prior to the 1960's Mexico did not have a drug problem. The voracious appetite for illegal and legal drugs and a culture of racism, nihilism, hedonism, atheism, and systemic indifference in the USA has corrupted the Mexican culture and it now teeters on the brink of a failed state. American society is corrupt to the marrow of its collective rotten soul. There is pervasive corruption of American judges, border patrol agents, attorneys, politicians, police officers, DEA, ATF, CIA, and the military The perverted and debauched American culture is now harvesting its hatred of all that is HOLY and GOOD.
Everett Mann
September 23rd, 2011 6:03 am
Headline is correct but where's the rally cry? Why focus on just the illegal drugs? What about the drugs forced on the American public by Merck, Pfizer and the lot? These drugs kill as many people more and cause harm to the unborn sometimes resulting in spontaneous abortions (miscarriages)... Where is the Catholic outcry over this?

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