los Federales in Juarez

We hear much about 'failed states' and their potential to become havens for terrorists, and we think of Afghanistan, Sudan, and potentially Iraq. We don't generally think of Mexico, but Reuters tells us that it will take 7500 troops to secure Cuidad Juarez--the twin city to El Paso--from the drug gangs that rule it. Altogether, the central government has deployed 45,000 troops around the country to fight the drug gangs, or about as many warfighters as the US has sent to Afghanistan. Scary stuff. Blue skies! -- Dan Ford