Targeting border violence

Monday, April 20, 2009 | 2:07 a.m.

Under the Obama administration, Mexico is getting cooperation from the United States as it fights the drug gangs that have entrenched themselves along its northern border.

Our national interest is in preventing the smuggling of illegal drugs into our country. The drugs, tons of them, end up with addicts who often turn violent, as well as with young recreational drug users who often later succumb to addiction.

Mexico’s national interest is in stopping the so-called “iron river” of guns flowing from the United States, providing drug gangs with the firepower to kill with abandon. More than 10,000 people have died just south of the border over the past two years, many of them with guns from the U.S. Crimes related to the mayhem have occurred in the United States.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon ordered troops into the battle against the borderland drug gangs in 2006, hoping to stop their frequent killings of police, judges, journalists and those caught in the crossfire. At the time, the Bush administration gained approval from Congress to send equipment to Mexico’s military, but never made it a priority.

The Obama administration, however, has acted with urgency. The president met with Calderon on Thursday, the only American president to visit Mexico City since 1996.

Obama assured Calderon that his administration will be a partner in not only curbing the smuggling of drugs into the United States, but also in curbing the flow of weapons into Mexico.

Obama’s strategy against the drug gangs includes imposing financial sanctions against them, speeding the previously approved aid to Mexico’s military and increasing patrols on our side of the border. His strategy for reducing the smuggling of weapons into Mexico includes better enforcement of existing gun laws as well as more searches of Mexico-bound vehicles.

Additionally last week, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano appointed a “border czar” to manage the interagency response to the crisis.

Because of Obama’s actions, there is reason to believe the power and influence of the drug gangs can soon be diminished and maybe someday ended.