Calderon and the Mexico Mess

By J. Robert Smith

Mexico's President Felipe Calderon visits the White House today to blame America for Mexico's problems. According to the Washington Times, Mr. Calderon says that his nation's ruinous drug wars can be laid at America's doorstep. American demand for illegal drugs is the culprit. President Calderon also attributes Mexico's endemic gun violence -- which is chiefly part of the drug wars -- to easy access to American firearms.

Though a troubling security breach, the WikiLeaks disclosures give us a clue to what might be the deeper problem with Mexico.

The Washington Times reports that in Wiki-leaked U.S. diplomatic cables, American diplomats describe the Mexican government as "inefficient and plagued with infighting as well as suspected corruption."

American diplomats might well have added that Mexicans are saddled with an economic model something out of Frankenstein's laboratory: part crony capitalism, part bureaucratic socialism. Too many people, in and out of the Mexican government, are benefitting from the government having its paws all over the nation's anemic economy.

But to placate Mr. Calderon, President Barack Obama intends to offer Mexico more American borrowed Chinese money to fight the good fight in the War on Drugs. Mr. Obama will also continue to say soothing words about his desire to grant amnesty to millions of illegal Mexicans.

Both Mr. Calderon and Mr. Obama have a vested interest in amnesty. Mr. Obama wants more Democrat voters and Mr. Calderon wants to continue to use the United States as a safety valve for unemployed, poor Mexicans. Imagine what would happen in Mexico if the Mexican government didn't have the United States for a dumping ground for its poor? Can you say "unrest" and millions pushing for change in Mexico? Don't want to do anything to upset the elites' comfy lives south of the border.

Mexico's mess isn't the United States' responsibility.