Reuters: In bloody drug war, Mexico's new leader may try negotiating
CHILPANCINGO, Mexico (Reuters) - For the past 12 years, Mexico has fought violent drug gangs by deploying thousands of police, soldiers and intelligence officers to crack down on cartels and their leaders.
If its new president-elect gets his way, however, negotiation may replace the hard-line strategy that critics say has only perpetuated violence.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a leftist who won on Sunday after two previous attempts at the presidency, wants to rewrite the rules of the drug war, aides said, suggesting negotiated peace and amnesties for some of the very people currently being targeted by security forces.
“The failed strategy of combating insecurity and violence will change,” Lopez Obrador said in his victory speech Sunday night, repeating his call to address the socioeconomic ills that push people toward the drug trade and other crimes.
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WNU Editor: There is too much money involved in drugs .... and for many who live in poverty in Mexico, too much of a temptation to not ignore. That is why I am not optimistic that these talks will go anywhere, and I doubt that the crime and corruption that it spawns will decrease anytime soon. As to releasing drug trafficers and granting an amnesty .... that is only going to increase the violence as soon as many of these former prisoners try to get their old jobs and territories back.
