Combat Drug Zone 2010: The United States Southwest Border

摘要

America's indulgence in drugs has been a historical, cultural, and social aspect of history for numerous decades. Government inefficiency, conflicting government objectives, international politics, and societal norms, coupled with the impact of globalization, have greatly influenced conditions in the drug world. The net result has been a significant increase in the trajectory of demand, trafficking, violence, and associated second and third order effects. While a majority of Americans can readily identify with the everyday realities and stressors of life, few are cognizant of the looming crisis of narco-trafficking along the U.S.-Mexico border. Given the proximity of the major friction points in this drug war, spillover effects and regional security effects are increasingly amplified, and they can potentially affect every citizen in the United States. This analysis examines the factors contributing to the rise in drug trafficking along the southwest border of the United States, discusses the multiple second and third order effects of this trafficking, and examines policy alternatives for the U.S. Government in combating it. Statistics and experience illustrate that past and present U.S. policies have not created the desired effect on narco-trafficking. Even with the post-9/11 increase in security and increased counter-drug budgets, the illicit drug trade in the Southwest is flourishing. The Mexican border drug epidemic requires urgent and careful action by the U.S. Government.