VIOLENCE IN MEXICO NEEDS MORE U.S. ATTENTION, SWIFT ACTION

The headline-making news in Mexico is almost always linked to
violence. That is a fact of life for our neighbors south of the
border. One only needs to do a quick review of the top stories in
Mexico for the past week to realize how brutal the war against the
drug cartels has turned in that country.

Tuesday, for example, was supposed to be a good day for the Mexican
government. Its troops had captured "La Barbie," the moniker for a
U.S.-born man alleged to be one of Mexico's most ruthless drug lords.

Edgar Valdez Villarreal was arrested in the area surrounding Mexico
City. Mexican authorities had been trying to capture him since June
2009. He is at least the third suspected high-ranking drug lord
captured or killed by the Mexican police this year. Yet not even on
that day could the government celebrate its victory.

A few hours after his capture, the story shifted to the Caribbean
vacation resort of CancAon. There, a group of thugs entered a bar,
held up the patrons at gunpoint and then launched a homemade
incendiary device into the establishment. Register on SunSentinel.com
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In Mexico, this is normal. In the last seven days of August, news of
violence in the country was a matter of national and international
concern.

On Aug. 25, authorities found the bodies of 72 people believed to be
Central and South American migrants heading to the United States. They
apparently resisted demands for money. They were found in a large room
on a ranch in the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which is
near the border with the United States.

In the same week and in the same state, two mayors were killed. On
Aug. 30, Marco Antonio Leal was shot by gunmen in SUVs as he drove
through his rural municipality of Hidalgo, near the Gulf of Mexico in
Tamaulipas state.

In the United States, the public is predominantly worried about
undocumented workers and illegal drugs crossing the border. Those are
indeed serious issues. They are worthy of much more attention from the
U.S. government.

Even more urgent, however, is the violence at our southern border.
That should be our top priority, and it needs to be addressed with two
clear and precise policy statements. One, the United States is indeed
serious in controlling our southern border. And, two, a firm
commitment of resources to assist Mexico's government defeat the drug
cartels.