Calderón contra la Guerra de las Drogas?

Juan Carlos Hidalgo wrote for Cato 20 September 2011, Calderón Hints at Drug Legalization Again,

Mexican President Felipe Calderón seems to be experiencing a dramatic change of mind regarding his war against drug cartels. Soon after a drug gang set fire to a casino in Monterrey a few weeks ago killing 52 people, Calderón told the media that ”If [the Americans] are determined and resigned to consuming drugs, they should look for market alternatives that annul the stratospheric profits of the criminals, or establish clear points of access that are not the border with Mexico.” Many people interpreted that as a veiled reference to drug legalization.

The referenced story by Julian Miglierini 1 September 2011 for BBC News also said the Mexican president went farther: Monterrey attack: Game-changer in Mexico's drugs war?

Hours after it took place, the president described it "as an abhorrent act of terror and savagery" and later said the authors were "true terrorists".

When you think about the billions or trillions the U.S. and other countries spend against terrorists who cause less damage than the Mexican drug cartels, he could be indicating that priorities are misdirected.

The Cato article says Calderón has now gone further:

Yesterday, during a speech to the Americas Society and Council of the Americas in New York, Calderón was at it again: “We must do everything to reduce demand for drugs,” he said. “But if the consumption of drugs cannot be limited, then decision-makers must seek more solutions — including market alternatives — in order to reduce the astronomical earnings of criminal organizations.”

And that story, by Dave Graham for Reuters 20 September 2011, Mexico president hints legalizing drugs may be needed, said Calderón made clear which decision-makers he was referring to:

"We are living in the same building. And our neighbour is the largest consumer of drugs in the world. And everybody wants to sell him drugs through our doors and our windows," he said.

The Cato article says Calderón is following the precedent of his predecessors:

His two immediate predecessors, Ernesto Zedillo and Vicente Fox, have been vocal proponents of drug legalization in the years since they left office.

The big difference is Calderón is now at least hinting while he is still in office. And this from the man who sent the Mexican army into the streets in 2006 with more than 40,000 dead since then. If a head of government formerly that hard-line against drugs now turns against the drug war, the tide has indeed turned.

None of these articles mention the 50,000 people who marched in Cuernavaca 6 April 2011 or the even larger number who marched in Mexico City in May, in what many called Mexico's Arab Spring. Or this man, Javier Sicilia, who climbed on a tank in his hometown of Cuernavaca and told the Army to go home to the barracks. This man, who in Mexico City said:

“We don't want more dead. We don't want more hate.”
“President Felipe Calderon — show you are listening to us, and make the public safety secretary resign.”

Evidently Calderón is finally listening. Maybe the demonstrations made the Mexican president pay attention when there were more deaths. Maybe demonstrations work, which would explain why the corporate media don't like to mention them.

Anyway, No mas Guerra de las Drogas. And we don't need to fuel that failed drug war with a private prison in Lowndes County, Georgia. Spend those tax dollars on education and rehabilitation instead.

-jsq