We’re fighting fire with fire in drug war

Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s Washington meetings were an opportunity to insert some sanity into U.S.-Mexico strategies for combating the drug trade, which is ravaging our southern neighbor. Instead, they were dominated by more of the same tough talk on the drug war. Witness for Peace reports that more than 34,550 Mexicans have been killed by drug-related crime since 2006. Drug-related murders were up a startling 60 percent in 2010.

Politicians in Washington reflexively throw military aid at the problem, hoping against hope it will keep the killings from spilling over the border. Yet the insatiable demand for drugs in this country drives the Mexican cartels while guns purchased here — 60,000 over the past four years, according to one estimate — are the cartel assassins’ weapons of choice.

Washington can ease drug-fueled bloodshed in Mexico, but not with military aid — it only spurs more violence. Politicians must get serious about reducing drug demand and ending assault weapons sales here at home.

Jan Niemeyer

Arlington Heights