Mexico drug hitmen terrorize towns on U.S. border

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62O5JZ20100325

In the latest flare-up of border drug violence, masked, heavily-armed men are torching homes, firing on shops and businesses and have killed at least three local politicians in a cluster of towns near the deadly drug war city of Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas. Residents in the cotton and alfalfa-growing town of El Porvenir say dozens of people have been killed this year. President Felipe Calderon has staked his political future on reining in the drug killings that worry investors, tourists and Washington. He has sent 8,000 soldiers and federal police to the Ciudad Juarez area alone to try to defeat the cartels.
The U.S. government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to train Mexican police and provide helicopters and drug-spotting equipment, but a poll this week in Milenio newspaper showed a majority of Mexicans believe the cartels, not the army, are winning the drug war.

FBI: No evidence Mexico hit men targeted Americans

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gMi5B2USfJStXxfqgWWr2xjRYpOgD9EG2ER00

According to the FBI the recent attack against U.S. Consulate employees in Ciudad Juarez may have been the wrong targets for the hit men. Three adults were killed and at least two children were wounded. According to an investigation the assailants were ordered to attack a white SUV leaving a party and may have accidentally gone to the wrong party. The FBI is still investigating the victims background but experts believe that it would not be in the interests of the drug cartels to begin targeting American employees because then both nations would begin greater intervention in the drug trade affairs. President Felipe Calderon is asking that "both counties keep collaborating to defeat these organizations." The citizens on the other hand are asking the Mexican president to do more for the city than just asking the U.S. for support. Ciudad Juarez is currently the most violent city in the world.

Shell, Nexen Make Oil Discovery in Gulf of Mexico

Royal Dutch Shell Pic and Nexen Inc. made an important oil discovery in the gulf of Mexico, which could produce much more oil. There have been some major technological advances which have opened up access to deeper water deposits in the Gulf of Mexico. The region may hold 3 billion barrels of crude oil and gas. Shell is currently in the commissioning stage. This is good news for Mexico, as it would cause more exports with other countries, especially with the U.S. This trade would strengthen the NAFTA ties, and hopefully help Mexico's economy.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-19/shell-nexen-make-oil-discovery-in-gulf-of-mexico-update2-.html

Mexican drug lords face 'existential threat,' US says

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ipNmypRk9Yae0SIvneCq1QJWHORA

The powerful Mexican drug cartels are finally facing a true governmental threat due to nation wide government actions. Since taking office Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon, has deployed tens of thousands of troops in areas where the drug cartels have been extremely active. There has been a price to this because approximately 15,000 people have died since 2006. Drug cartels fight over territory and routes that they can use to smuggle drugs into the U.S. Although there has been some progress, it is not the promised progress that people want so that they can be safe and not have to worry whether they will get to live another day. It is also the responsibility of other countries to try to reduce their drug consumption and growth so that eventually cartels like the ones in Mexico will not be so much of a threat.