Two retired generals have captured the attention of the Mexican public. One general was kidnapped, tortured, and killed in a remote area near Cancun, in the south of the country. The other general successfully confronted a group of criminals that attempted to break into his house in Mexico City. The general not only killed one of the criminals, but managed to detain another one of them in spite of the wounds caused by the exchange of gunfire.
Beyond the tragedy, these events do highlight the complex role of the armed forces in Mexico. On the one hand, the armed forces are still considered the last bastion of honesty, legitimacy, and strength in a war against criminal organizations that has produced the largest number of casualties after the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Although the armed forces have also been affected by corruption, the Mexican public still considers them as a reliable force that can protect the population from violent criminal cartels.
However, the participation of the armed forces in the war against drugs has had a profound impact on the structure and morale of its members. Not only have the armed forces experienced the largest number of desertions in recent history, but dozens of its members have been kidnapped, tortured, and horribly killed by drug cartels. This is the first time that the armed forces have suffered such casualties. Ironically, many of the operatives of the drug cartels are former members of the army's special forces.
Unfortunately, the Mexican armed forces are in between a rock and a hard place. In spite of the aid provided by the United States, it seems that the Mexican government still does not have an immediate plan to confront organized crime without relying on the military. The government is currently developing reliable law enforcement agencies, but this is a slow process. In the meantime, only the armed forces can confront these powerful cartels.
The armed forces are not perfect and need to improve their human rights records (current practices as well as past actions). Nevertheless, they provide some security to some areas in the country. Many of its members are true patriots that have devoted their lives to the protection of the country. Unfortunately, given the current trends, these are armed forces might not survive the Drug War.
