US military officials ceremoniously handed over five helicopters to the Mexican air force on Tuesday, part of the Merida Initiative. Aircraft account for half of the $1.3 billion aid package, signed in 2007, designed to help the Mexican government combat drug traffickers. But 15 other aircraft slated for delivery likely won’t arrive until 2011. As of October 1, only about 30% of the approved funds have been spent. A recent GAO study concludes that bureaucratic wrangling has stymied the aid.
Undeterred by the government’s crackdown, Mexico’s major drug syndicates pose a nagging security challenge. With an estimated 100,000 armed gang members, Mexico’s drug gangs now boast numbers on par with the Mexican military. Their firepower is formidable too; bulletproof vests, fully automatic weapons, rocket launchers, and anti-aircraft missiles are all part of the narco’s arsenal.
Mexican officials have little choice but to grin and bear it. But the dithering in disbursement may portend less brio in combating the drug syndicates. President Calderón has begun to signal a shift in his reform efforts. Two weeks ago he indicated alleviating poverty will be the hallmark of his last three years in office. By implication, the war on drugs may soon become a secondary focus of the federal government.
