WILL TO VICTORY: STOPPING MEXICO'S DRUG WAR

There are two drug-related confrontations going on in Mexico: The
government's physical war on narco traffickers and the government's war of
words against the United States.

Last week, Mexican President Felipe Calderon used a nationally
televised address to again blame his country's unrest on the demand
for illegal drugs in the U.S.

His point continues to be well taken. But, in a back-atcha, the
physical war he initiated in 2006 is still being controlled by the bad
guys.

Calderon, his government and his army are not stopping the rampant,
daily killings in several battle-torn cities. While drug cartels kill
each other over turf control of drug corridors, they also employ more
soldiers and use better weapons to rebuff Calderon's forces.

And people in the U.S. are still paying double-digit billions of
dollars a year for the cartels' products. That's after 40 years and $1
trillion of "Just Say No."

Meanwhile, this is set to be the deadliest month ever in Calderon's
physical war. Between June 10-17, more than 200 people were
slaughtered in Mexico. Since the war began in 2006, there have been
more than 23,000 murders.

Calderon has said he believes 95 percent of the murders are cartel vs.
cartel.

On Wednesday, there were at least 16 murders in Juarez. There have now
been more than 5,300 people slaughtered in Juarez since 2008. That's
when two drug cartels began fighting for control of drugs in this
border corridor. Thousands of Mexican army soldiers, federal police
and local law enforcers have shown little or no control in stopping
the daily assassinations.

The answer to ending this carnage is obvious, but has not emerged as a
fighting force.

Call it "Will of the People."

People here must realize that when they pay for illegal drugs, they
are abetting the killings going on in Mexico.

People in Mexico must have the will to stop the cartels. Gangsters
should not be strong enough to control an entire free country.

It's a "will" thing. Let's hope "Will of the People" will take control
and will end the violence.