Mexico

Innocent people are being killed in the street while rival factions fight each other and the authorities.

If this sounds like the last few years in the streets of Iraq it does. But I am not speaking of Iraq I am speaking of North America specifically Mexico.

So far this year about 5000 people have been killed in the war between opposing drug lords and between these drug cartels and government forces.

Many of these casualties have been innocent civilians who have no relationship to the drug trade or law enforcement.

In a recent trip to Mexico I spoke some Mexicans about this situation.

The consensus appears to be that President Calderon is an honorable man who is genuinely trying to clean up the drug trafficking and terror tactics of the drug cartels, albeit at a terrible price to the safety of its citizens.

One Mexican gentleman to me "It is hard, but maybe if we are lucky, our children will know the peace that we have been fighting for."

Sadly much of Latin American has a history of involvement in the drug trade and of political corruption.

It takes a brave man to stand up to the drug cartels as they are ruthless in their actions. I will not go into any of the acts of violence they have been responsible for but in the face of this it is hopeful to see that President Calderone is making an real effort in his battle against the drug lords and he is being assisted by the Bush administration and US authorities.

All of North America wishes President Calderone and the Mexican people good fortune in their efforts to secure a more peaceful future for their children.