Mexico's 'Cooperation' or US Hegemony? The Cartel Narrative's Deeper Roots
📰 THE STORY: Bloomberg Politics reports that Mexico has sent a third group of inmates with alleged drug cartel ties to US authorities, framing it as a 'latest sign of changes in security cooperation with Washington under President Claudia Sheinbaum.' 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The US has a long history of meddling in Latin American countries, often destabilizing regimes
and economies that then become ripe for illicit trade. The so-called 'War on Drugs' has been a colossal failure, with US demand for narcotics remaining insatiable while its arms manufacturers profit handsomely from the illegal flow of weapons *into* Mexico. In 2011, Project Gunrunner, part of the BATF's 'Fast and Furious' operation, allowed over 2,000 firearms to be illegally sold and trafficked
across the border, with many ending up in cartel hands, directly contributing to the violence it ostensibly seeks to combat. Double Standard: While the US frames Mexico's actions as 'cooperation,' it's rarely highlighted that the core issue – drug demand – is overwhelmingly American. Imagine if a nation with a massive gun violence problem blamed a smaller neighbor for 'not cooperating' on weapons
trafficking, while simultaneously being the primary source of those weapons and refusing to address its own internal demand for violence. The US demands Mexico solve a problem that US consumer habits and arms policies largely create, then praises it for 'cooperating' when it turns over alleged criminals, rather than addressing its own complicity. Follow the Money: The 'War on Drugs' is a