MEXICO MILITARY DESTROYS 2,100 MARIJUANA FARMS

A Mexican military assault on marijuana farms in the state of
Michoacan destroyed 2,116 growing operations in a week, the defense
minister said.

Troops took out crops on 586 acres and found other drugs in the raids,
Defense Minister Guillermo Galvan said yesterday in Mexico City. Based
on a price of 18,000 pesos a kilo -- the market rate north of the
border with America -- the marijuana, seeds, and other drugs destroyed
have a value of about $619.2 million, Mr. Galvan said.

President Calderon is using the military to escalate Mexico's drug war
and make good on his campaign promise to reinforce the rule of law.
Mr. Calderon, who took office December 1, sent more than 5,000 troops
to conduct anti-drug raids in Michoacan on December 11.