MEXICO DRUG WAR: U.S. CONFIDENCE WANES

Our pronounced headway into helping Mexico win its war against drug
cartels may have been "spin." Little or no headway has been made.

Now we learn, through U.S. cables released by WikiLeaks, that our
State Department has been frustrated with Mexico amid the government's
four-year attempt to beat down drug-cartel power.

The classified and secret memos indicate the U.S. believes the $1.4
billion we earmarked for Mexico in the Merida Initiative was a bad
idea; it has done little to help President Felipe Calderon's efforts.

It says the Mexican army is described as outdated, slow and "risk
averse."

We also learn the U.S. points out in-fighting between Mexico's army
and navy, and among its security agencies.

But most striking on the cable leaks is that the Mexican government,
itself, fears that drug cartels are gaining more and more control, and
that time was "running out" before it becomes just too late.

And it's telling to hear John D. Freely, No. 2 in the U.S. Embassy in
Mexico, say, "Official corruption is widespread ... prosecution rates
for organized crime-related offenses are dismal: 2 percent of those
detained are brought to trial."

Crime is rampant. Mexico is losing confidence it can stop the drug
cartels. As expressed in the leaked cables, we agree Mexico is losing,
and there's no sign the tide may turn -- at least anytime soon.

Obviously, strategies are not working out in Mexico. New strategies
must be adopted.

In the meantime, sadly, we are wasting our money in helping Mexico
fight the drug cartels.