Secretary of State Clinton leads an American delegation of cabinet officers, along with a few generals, to talks with their Mexican counterparts today. The meeting, slated for months, comes in the wake of the murder of three people in Juarez with employment ties to the American consulate there.
US Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela, in a press conference ahead of the talks, noted that while Juarez has been a hotbed of lawlessness and crime, drug-related violence sweeps through much of northern Mexico.
The American delegation is likely to stress the need for judicial reform and the importance of rule of law. The Mexicans will likely want to hear further reassurances that US operatives will not be crossing the border. There may also be some talk of increasing US aid to Mexico, which lags far behind other regions of the world, especially those of special importance to US security.
So far, the Obama administration has done much to re-engage Mexico diplomatically. Substantive backing is now in order. Redoubling efforts to stop the flow of arms to Mexico from the US and assistance to enhance security to judges and high-level law enforcement would be a good start.
