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FM AMCONSUL GUADALAJARA
TO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1808
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0600
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHGD/AMCONSUL GUADALAJARA 4649

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUADALAJARA 000094 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR KPAO MX
SUBJECT: BILATERAL SECURITY AND COUNTERNARCOTICS DEBATED IN 
GUADALAJARA 
 
GUADALAJAR 00000094  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  Summary:  Two days of scholarly discussions in Guadalajara 
on security issues and counter-narcotics challenges elaborated 
convergent and divergent points in our bilateral relationship. 
While we don't share the same world vision, the Merida 
Initiative may be one concrete action on which the U.S. and 
Mexico can agree to improve the lives of people on both sides of 
the border.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  Twenty academics seated around a table at the University of 
Guadalajara Club won't solve the problem of U.S.-Mexico security 
relations or effective counternarcotics operations, but their 
analysis highlighted the opportunities and challenges we face, 
especially in mounting a successful Merida Initiative.  The mix 
of international and local experts, most with significant 
experience north of the border, was brought together by the 
University of Guadalajara on February 21-22, assisted by the 
Security Study Group of the Mexican Center for Economics 
Research and Teaching (CIDE) and the College of Mexico (COLMEX), 
both of Mexico City.  These scholars specialize in U.S.-Mexican 
bilateral relations and Mexican security and democracy.  They 
know each other well, so the exchange was open and friendly. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
Not singing from the same sheet of music 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  Dissecting "U.S.-Mexico Security Relations" at the first 
day's session, the speakers compared the U.S. and Mexican 
national security views.  They noted that Mexico's introspective 
view and often anti-U.S. attitude has kept it out of the 
international security arena.  Mexican politics are domestic and 
nationalist, pushing security policy in that direction.  Because 
the U.S. concept of national security is global, coordinating 
bilateral efforts is difficult at best.  Each country defines 
its threats differently, which has been a stumbling block since 
9/11. 
 
¶4.  Craig Deare of the National Defense University commented 
that U.S. border security often has a public safety focus, while 
border security constitutes international security for Mexico. 
U.S. public opinion of Latin America tends to be homogenous, 
although each country has its own concept of security with no 
regional integration to speak of.  One example of different 
frames of reference is arms trafficking.  The Mexican military 
handles weapons registration south of the border, while the 
civilian Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms does it in the 
U.S.  Another participant mentioned that digging tunnels under 
the border is considered a crime in the U.S., but not on the 
other side of the border. 
 
------------------------ 
The neighbors' dilemma 
------------------------ 
 
¶5.  Several academics focused on the problem of balancing 
security and development at the border.   In recent years while 
the U.S. focused on terrorism and immigration, narcotrafficking 
and arms trafficking has grown, dragging down the border towns. 
If the majority of crossers to the U.S. (daily workers and 
shoppers) are not a security risk, they asked, why can't we 
develop a more user-friendly system?  Mexico and the U.S. need 
to plan together better, dealing with corruption and other 
structural problems.  And Mexico needs to develop its own 
concept of national security in order to respond to border and 
other security issues. 
 
------------------------- 
Merida Initiative musings 
------------------------- 
 
¶6.  When the discussion turned to the Merida Initiative, 
opinions ranged from fears about U.S. forces operating on 
Mexican soil to praise for the U.S. Congress' conditions that 
would bring bilateral cooperation above board and require 
evaluation of Mexican military participation.  Another scholar 
drew a comparison with NAFTA, that Mexico risked having its fate 
decided in Washington.  The limits of U.S.-Mexican cooperation 
must also be defined.  Others expressed concern about the 
Mexican actors and the non-existent relationship between Mexican 
civil and military forces, along with possible human rights 
abuses.  However, the overall tone regarding the Merida 
Initiative was positive.  For the first time, the Initiative 
lays out a shared priority -- narcotrafficking. 
 
-------------------------- 
Media taking the punches 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7.  The next day's session on "National Security, 
Narcotrafficking and the Media" invited national and local 
reporters to give their perspectives on the Mexican situation. 
 
GUADALAJAR 00000094  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Since the kidnapping and murder of Guadalajara DEA agent Kiki 
Camarena in 1985, journalists played an increasingly larger role 
in the low-intensity counter-narcotics war, facing increasing 
danger.  Now, with internet news outlets and events in the 
Middle East, many international correspondents have left Mexico 
to cover other world tragedies.  The huge risks, impunity of 
public officials and lack of trust between the media and 
government (and military) make it extremely difficult for the 
press to function as the fourth pillar of power.  One journalist 
expressed concern that the Merida Initiative would create the 
same problems in Mexico as in Colombia for journalists' access 
to information.  Others commented more broadly on the need for 
journalists to address the violence in Mexican society created 
by narcotrafficking and try to reverse the culture that accepts 
violence and polarizes society. 
 
---------- 
Comment 
---------- 
 
¶8.  This healthy exchange of academic research and opinions 
avoided U.S.-bashing and brought important points to the table. 
The specialists closely following the Merida Initiative debate 
noted that it has helped draw U.S. attention to Mexico (for 
example, that Senator Lugar focused his recent remarks on the 
arms flow to Mexico).  Given sporadic protests over military 
operations against narcotics trafficking and doubts about the 
U.S. and Mexican governments' plans, bilateral cooperation is 
still quite controversial.  If these academic discussions can 
play a role in informing policy and public outreach, we might 
make some progress together.  End comment. 
RAMOTOWSKI