[StJacques]

The poignant nature of this issue at present is that Mexican President Felipe Calderon has launched a dramatic crackdown on some of the biggest drug operations in Mexico and, though by his own admission he still has a long way to go, Washington is responding most favorably; especially with regard to Mexico's recent extradition of 15 highly-sought criminals, most of whom were at the top of the drug trade.

It is not an accident that El Universal is putting out this information. Their reporters Raul Tortolero and Raymundo Riva Palacio tracked down the Chavez-FARC-EPR-PRD cocaine, arms, and money connection going back to May, 2005; an investigation which was fueled by El Universal's access to Segob, the Mexican Interior Ministry, who were actively investigating the ties. So from El Universal's perspective, DEA head Michael Braun is merely confirming some of what they have been reporting for almost two years now. That is the significance of this statement within Mexico. (Note: See "Comments," paragraph 4 in this thread for more.)

With the recent flare-up between Hugo Chavez and Felipe Calderon possibly inciting tensions among Calderon's supporters in Mexico, one wonders if the timing of the release of this statement by Michael Braun was sought to remind Chavez that Calderon and Mexico have plenty to present to the world as an indictment of the Venezuelan -- yes, now we can say it -- dictator, for his involvement in providing international support for the FARC and for his blatant and extensive interference in Mexican internal affairs.

[StJacques]

A combined Mexican Left Watch and Latin American Left Watch ping here.

Note to the Latin American Left Watch crew -- the ties between Chavez, the FARC, and drug running/gun running/cocaine dealing are an issue we have covered before.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1761584/posts?page=1870#1870

[Alia]

With the recent flare-up between Hugo Chavez and Felipe Calderon possibly inciting tensions among Calderon's supporters in Mexico, one wonders if the timing of the release of this statement by Michael Braun was sought to remind Chavez that Calderon and Mexico have plenty to present to the world as an indictment of the Venezuelan -- yes, now we can say it -- dictator, for his involvement in providing international support for the FARC and for his blatant and extensive interference in Mexican internal affairs.

Two other recent add-ons in light of your cite above: Chavez meeting with Castro (ites). Heroin population in Afghanistan is still a problem (very recently in the News, after quite some time of "silence" on the matter). PRD members murdered by murderers "unknown".

[El Conservador]

Nope, not surprising.

Colombia ping.

[livius]

Was this before or after Chavez bought all the Bolivian coca production?

I think he's planning on controlling the drug market, which would give him a lot of political clout in countries such as Mexico, not to mention more funding for FARC in his arch-enemy, Colombia.

Calderón is trying very hard to restore law and order to Mexico and destroy the power of the drug cartels, but it's going to be a heck of a lot harder when they have the overt support of a state and a political figure who has already tried to interfere in Mexico.