CARTELS: COULD DRUG LORD WIN MEAN PEACE?

We'll ask, although with a shiver -- how bad can things get in
Mexico's 3-year battle against the drug kings?

Countrywide, there was an all-time record 69 murders in one day! That
was Saturday and Juarez continued to be murder-central with 26 of that
total.

Mexico's government should be ashamed at what it let itself get
into.

But that's empty talk by now. It's to the point where some think that
if Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's Sinaloa cartel defeats the others with
bullets, there'll be peace because Guzman will then control the flow
of illegal drugs out of Mexico.

Across El Paso's ports of entry, the murderous battle is between the
Sinaloa cartel and the Juarez cartel, also known as La Linea.

In 2008, there were 1,600 assassination-style murders in Juarez. In
2009, there were more than 2,500. So far this year, the rate is even
higher, and the executions more gruesome than ever.

Mexico President Felipe Calderon was hailed three years ago when he
declared war on the cartels. He sent the country's army out in pursuit.

The cartels shot back and, by most accounts, are winning. Several
thousand troops stationed in Juarez have been ineffective. They were
on hand as the death toll mounted daily last year.

This month, in the third year of Mexico vs. the cartels, Calderon
announced new plans. His No. 3 priority would be to wipe out the
illegal drug trade. His first two priorities centered around jobs and
the Mexican economy.

The obvious thinking is that a better economy would abate temptation
to become a criminal and/or murderer in order to have some quality of
life.

It's so sad that a country's government cannot beat criminals. It's
sad that in order for peace, there may have to be a drug-cartel winner.