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Mexico's drug war expected to escalate this year
By watchdog in Watchdog
January 5, 2009

While Mexico is three hours south of Victoria, drug and human smugglers, as well as the enforcement arms for the cartels, make their way through our city.

Mexican drug violence in 2008 reached unprecedented levels -- with more than 5,500 murdered as cartels battle for control of turf.

Here's a story I found on the Dallas Morning News' Web site:

By ALFREDO CORCHADO / The Dallas Morning News
acorchado@dallasnews.com

WASHINGTON – Drug-related violence in Mexico, already at unprecedented levels, is expected to escalate further this year, with targets likely to include top Mexican politicians and law enforcement agents and possibly even U.S. officials, according to diplomats and intelligence experts on both sides of the border.

The warning underscores the difficult choices confronting President Felipe Calderón as he takes on drug cartels while weighing the implications of growing casualties in a year of midterm elections and a slowing economy.

It also reflects rising concern among U.S. officials and analysts about the deteriorating security situation, corruption among Mexico's top crime fighters, and the vulnerability of the military to possible corruption in battling cartel gangs.

As the war against cartels escalates in 2009, so will the threats, particularly against U.S. officials and other Americans, officials, analysts and diplomats, including U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza, said in recent interviews.

FOR THE FULL STORY, CLICK HERE.

Nobody needs to panic, of course, but it's best if we keep an eye on Mexico.

What are your thoughts?

If you missed the eighth installment of the Fatal Funnel, which documents the cartel's power in Nuevo Laredo and Laredo, click here -- and then click "Chapter 8."

UPDATE

Many of you offered "Watchdog" story ideas in my last blog. My print column, which answers a few of your questions, publishes Wednesday.

In that column, I answer these questions:

1) What can local residents do to fight the drug war?

2) Why are local oil change prices still up $10 even though the cost of a barrel of oil is markedly down.

3) A local classified ad claims the U.S. Post Office is hiring at $20 per hour, but the office has a hiring freeze and the ad is for a company that sells home-based business packages.

4) Funny request: What's with corn nuts? Are they corn or are they nuts? What's with these people?

Do you have other "Watchdog" story ideas for future columns?

Thanks for your help,

Gabe Semenza/Advocate public service editor