Mexico's Drug War strategy shifts power from civilian institutions to unaccountable military

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues her visit to Mexico today on the heels of new plans to beef up the US law enforcement presence along the border with Mexico. Clinton announced plans to establish a new office in Mexico, staffed by Mexican and US officials. The office would monitor the implementation of the Merida Initiative, often called "Plan Mexico" due to its similarities with Plan Colombia. Plan Colombia is a multi-billion dollar counter-narcotics strategy developed during the presidency of Secretary Clinton's husband.

In a written statement released today, Mexican President Felipe Calderon expressed a desire to increase bilateral cooperation in the area of public security. Calderon has made public security and the fight against drug cartels a centerpiece of his policy since taking over the presidency in December of 2006...but the fight against the cartels has resulted in one of the bloodiest periods of modern Mexican history with an estimated 6000 drug related deaths in 2008 alone.

Joining us on the line is Luis Arriaga from the Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Center in Mexico City.

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