Bin Laden’s Legacy: A lesson for the Mexican Government?

Image via Wikipedia

As news broke out that Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan, news stations across the US and the globe broke out in simultaneous fashion, declaring justice has been served, and we watched as thousands of Americans broke out in celebration of this moment, though with subsequent mixed emotion outside of the US. Bin Laden was shot – in an operation that has taken ten years and thousands of lives – that may well define the era of the Obama Administration, and win him a re-election.

However it also underpins an incredible phenomenon within America’s culture – though not exclusive; the idea that violence against one another in order to accomplish set Government Policy is the only viable solution while casualties, fatalities and trail of destruction are an accepted but necessary consequence.

In Mexico, President Felipe Calderon too reflects this phenomenon as he continues his military-led campaign on Drug Trafficking Organisations [DTO] because he doesn’t believe – or so it seems – that there is any other solution. His campaign is palpable, perhaps. He’s concerned about the destruction of Mexico, and the social fabric that has been undermined for many decades.

He’s also concerned about the cartels that are growing in power, structure, and influence. Ultimately we can assume that a man of his position – whether we may feel what he is doing is right or wrong – is only there because he’s a proud Mexican, and wants to do something for his country.

However, one must look at the trail of destruction and the loss of life to really see the bigger picture here, and to see if it has any viable function for Mexico in dealing with the DTOs.

Bin Laden was purported to be the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, where around 3000 people were killed. However many trillions of US taxpayers dollars went into the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, consequently taking the lives of thousands of civilians and armed forces, US and otherwise. Almost ten years later Bin Laden is finally found and the numbers killed since then are staggering.

It’s a fact that Foreign Armed Forces will not leave Afghanistan or Iraq suddenly now that Bin Laden has been killed, which would be a critical error, make no mistake. Also a fact nonetheless is Washington’s reluctance to adopt serious discourse that could amount to something far more palatable and humanitarian to the world stage.

In Mexico, it’s a different story.

The DTOs are not considered terrorist organisations; however they certainly do imitate aspects of those who are considered terrorist cells, from their structure to their violence. Calderon is not going after these organisations because they attacked him first, but rather going all-out believing that he can take them down with a military approach.

He then highlights this approach by hailing the successes of his campaign when a DTO leader is killed or captured. While no one is cheering in the street, Calderon is dancing; though it doesn’t add to his election chances – he cannot take another term legally.

Yet it seems that when a leader is captured or killed, violence rises sharply.

When a cartel leader is slain or captured, it often triggers even more violence as a deadly power struggle ensues.

We can see this in the case of Arturo Beltran Leyva; in 2009 he was killed in a battle in Cuernavaca, Morelos. Afterwards, it was reported that crime within the state rose significantly as a war of succession followed. Later late last year, when former leader of the Gulf Cartel Tony ‘Tormenta’ was killed, rival cartels produced posters in public places a day later revelling in his death while scared residents of Ciudad Mier left in droves for fear of violent retaliation. Then around the same time in the colonial town of Morelia in Western Mexico, retaliation was carried out by suspected members of the La Familia cartel after two of their leaders were captured. They set fires to cars and buildings and created blockades on highways and roads.

This sort of fear was further mirrored when Tijuana Cartel leader Teodoro Garcia Simental was arrested, with the US Consulate inside Tijuana issuing a warning that his arrest would spark further violence. As well as the power struggles and retaliation, there is also the violence that results from rival cartels using the death or capture of a cartel leader as an opportunity to attack a seemingly weakened cartel.

While these DTOs may not always be reacting in revenge, it is clear that cartels are engaging in more violence than ever before. Maybe more than has ever been seen in Mexican history? Its evidence to suggest that Calderon’s military campaign is only creating more unrest, and an incredible engulfing of Mexico’s social and cultural fabric. Over 35,000 people have died since he launched his campaign, and yet DTOs have more power, influence, territory and control more than ever.

This makes one wonder why they don’t need more reason to justify a re-think in Policy.

With all the criticism he receives for his Drug War Policy, he reiterates the need for his military approach, and points to his ‘victories’; the captures, the killings, the drug hauls. This could paint a picture of an administration, which is reflective of a society that is too focused on surface symbolism as opposed to the deeper meaning of the actual issue involved. We saw this type of phenomena on display recently as we watched Americans react to Bin Laden’s death.

The root problems in Mexico are complicated undoubtedly.

Still, President Calderon believes that there are no other viable alternative to dismantling the DTOs and has prompted further changes to the National Security Law, changes that will potentially blister an already out of control Drug War Policy if Congress approves.

Regardless, Osama Bin Laden’s death leaves us with a legacy and a lesson for the Mexican Government: Does the extreme violence, staggering loss of life, the profound psychological impact on people and society and the systematic destruction of a proud country really justify the current Drug War Policy and the hunt for that supposed simple end-game?

One thing is for sure however.

If that end-game is eventually found or even exists, no one in Mexico will be cheering on the streets, because the consequences of a flawed drug war policy may be far too profound to bear.