Crisis In Mexico: Assessing The Mérida Initiative And Its Impact On Us-Mexican Security

President George W. Bush signed the Mérida Initiative, referred to as Plan Mexico by critics, into law on June 30, 2008. The plan contains approximately $1.5 billion in aid to Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean countries to improve regional security by reducing organized crime, drug smuggling, and illegal arms trafficking while strengthening domestic institutions. Critics argue that the plan does not adequately address the demand side of the drug model, will add to the militarization of...