Hey Anderson, Hope you and your crew are staying safe! Hopefully I'll be able to catch you tonight on 360...it all depends on how the sandbag fight goes up here in ND! Stay safe!

Coop,
Last night's show was just AWESOME!! That's how a special should be! I am hoping that tonight's will be just as great!

It is a shame that the drug problem has gotten to that level in Juarez and elsewhere. It's scary that the cartels overpower the Mexican army with fire power and men. It makes you wonder what would happen if all of the cartels came together and tried to overthrow the government. If they have that much man power and fire power then anything is possible!

I just hope that the US and Mexico can come up with some way to combat this problem before it gets to that point or any worse than it is now.

Stay safe out there Coop! C-Ya tonight!!

Cindy..Ga.

Supply and demand! On the Texas side, where I live, let;s stop the demand by toughening up the laws as it pertains to dealers and users. Make it tough enough for the druggies and the demand will dry up the supply. We have become a instant-gratification society and it shows in the drug use of all ages of our people. I wonder what really is the percentage of folks driving our streets who are strung out on Mexican exported drugs, much less the ones they manufacured. The drug lords are outsmarting us and we are doing precious little to combat it. I wish our sheriffs could lock them up and throw away the key!

Hey Anderson,

Thank you for your great reporting. Yet another black mark on the Bush Administration for letting the ban on assault weapons expire.

Let's see the NRA defend this one. I'm sure they will.

I think we need to monitor the gun trade and how we are fueling this war by providing the weapons to keep it on going.

Anderson,
What a scary situation that impacts both sides of the border. How did things get this out of control? Looking forward to your reports tonight. I would be curious to know how our "war on drugs" contributed to the current situation and suggestions for a change in policy. Stay safe.

Rikki good luck up there in ND!! my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Rebecca i agreee!

I had sent an e-mail sometime back to CNN asking if someone like you, or Lou Dobbs could take the reporting to the streets in this case the Mexican/American border, I'm glad to see this happening. Instead of reporting it at the studio I think we rather see you there in person. Keep reporting Anderson CNN carries alot of clout we are listening! I'm hoping our government is too, this situation has to be top priority the safety of our lives depends on it. Stay safe while you're there take nothing for granted.

Let's make sure our pre-teen kids see what is going on and learn to stay away from drugs. It's a health epidemic with consequences involving steep health care costs and low work productivity. Testing in schools is a must. We must reverse the trend that began in the 60s.

It is scary what is happening in Mexico. Living close to the border in San Diego, we are feeling the effects of the Drug Cartels coming over the border. Visiting Tijuana or Baja is no longer an option for families! It is sad!

I live in El Paso, was raised in Juarez so I feel really saddened about all that is happening on the other side of the border. The best help that US can provide is controlling the export of guns into Mexico. How is it possible that all those assault rifles are getting sent over there without any control?

I am supposed to go to Mexico for University in May...
I am scared now ....

Stay safe
<3

Because of our porous borders, the drug cartels have gone from assisting coyotes for a fee to becoming one themselves. They are making double the money by smuggling illegals in and using them to carry the drugs into this country. Another problem (as heard on KFI) is that the drug cartels have military weapons obtained from Central America such as rocket launchers and armor piercing weapons. Unfortunately they've also purchased weapons from the U.S. This problem is more than legalizing marijuana and then the problem will go away, it won't. There is far too much money to be made smuggling people and drugs into this country. Our government needed to shore up our borders a long time ago. Instead our media chooses to publicize sob stories of illegals who come here and not address the real problems that come with it – $300 billion burdern on taxpayers in medical aid, social aid and education for their anchor babies. When is this government and media going to address the illegal problem? They are tied together perfectly for the drug cartels to use them as mules.

its all lies and half truths that the media reports they are just trying to scare paople so they can push there policies as this has been going on for years with no one reporting on it i was watching last night and was getting more mad about the half truths they report like all the police and goverment officials that have been killed sure some civilans get cought in the cross fire but the police and officials that are killed are tied to drug trafficing . we need real honest reporting not the view of the network like the worst one foxnesw. just legalize and it will go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Anderson,

I hope that Calderon's plan works and that the armed forces can disarm the cartels. I was thinking of an even more radical solution last night when i saw your show. Why can't Calderon simply bomb the compounds where these drug lords live?

OK, OK I know that is a radical idea to have a country go at war with its own people. It would be rather like our own civil war wouldn't it? But I've begun to wonder if civil war conditions aren't exactly what Mexico is facing. After all, a large portion of the population has been enslaved by the drug cartels. As you have said, they kill who they can't corrupt. The cartels are farcing people to live the way they want them to live. That's slavery.

The rest of the country that isn't under complete control of the cartels wants them gone-or at least that's what we're told. So why can't Calderon use satelite technology to burn the pot fields and bomb the homes of the drug lords?

It's either that solution or Mexico needs to start building some really huge, super-strong prisons. Once they find the cartel members, where are they going to put them?

Anderson, thank you for the work you are doing to bring more attention to this problem. One of the hardest things for my husband and I, is not to feel confident enough to come to Juarez as often as we used to and spend time with my brother and his family. We miss going out to dinner once in a while for fear of the unknown. We hope one day the Juarez I grew up in returns to normalcy.

TJ

I think that this War Next Door is going to be one of the most difficult battles that the United States will witness because unlike Iraq, Mexico is literally fighting over us and our patronage to them. Unless the United States stops using drugs, including harmless Marijuana, which I don't forsee ever happening, then this bloodbath will just continue. This is why the Major of Juarez and other government officials have no hope of the war stopping.

I agree with Gabriel Torres. We need to control the flow of guns into Mexico. Mexico needs to ask the US Government to inspect all vehicles entering into Mexico, the way we do it when entering the US. I think this will help minimize the gun flow into Mexico. Its a money issue?

I watch 360 quite a lot and I am generally impressed by the balance and integrity that Mr Cooper manages to achieve. But I was very dissappointed by last night:'s show that featured the problems along the Mexican border. It almost completely missed the central issue. That issue is the DEMAND for drugs in the USA. If the demand were to stop, the problems would solve themselves. Mrs. Clinton raised this issue in a rather weak manner, mentioning something about a shared responsibility. Get real. The demand for drugs is corrupting poor countries like Mexico and even creating huge problems in cities along the northern border.
In his press conference, President Obama made reference to the problems along the Mexican border but did not even mention the root cause of the problem. Until the US establishment gets it's head out of the sand and stops the stupid "War on Drugs" the problems will continue or even worsen.

Hi Anderson,
What a terrible shame. It is life at its worst – like a third world country. The value of human life is degraded beyond comprehension. An everyday reality for those that live it. I'm not sure how we can get the US to be a drug-free country. (keep dreaming right?) It's the illegal drug demand that is driving this way of life for them. It's so sad. Thank you for putting yourself right there in the midst of it all. I'm guessing it could bring a person down a little. Try to keep in mind that there is so much good going on in the world as well, thankfully. Thanks for all you do....

Anderson,

If the United States does not take swift and immediate action you might be saying the same things about U.S. border towns in the not too distant future.

It sounds like the level of violence escalates and diminishes at a moments notice. No matter how much security you have, stay vigilant.

Great interview with kfoxtv by the way. I hope you will remain on to of this story.

Jo Ann
North Royalton, Ohio

Supply and demand is the game. Stopping the demand is 50% of the problem.
Also, think that when the drug crosses the borther here in the States there is a large distribution channel. Sad but truth, everywhere young and adults can find plenty of drugs.

Hi Anderson, good show last night, very informative. Thank you for keeping the violence and death scenes to a minimum. You and the crew looked isolated at the border; now you're in Juarez, praying hard for your safety. I'll be relieved when you come home–please do the show on Friday night so we can see everything's OK.

Making tougher laws will not cure this problem. We have been changing laws and throwing money at this issue for over 40 years. The problems with these drugs are not the users; it’s the money they make from selling drugs. Selling illegal drugs is a business. All of the violent crimes with illegal drugs are due to the money that can be made. So what we need to do is put them out of business buy legalizing all drugs. Instead of tying up our courts and locking up our citizens for abuse we should legalize all drugs and use the money to help people free themselves from drug abuse.

Legalization of narcotics will bring with it a whole slew of problems. It's not the answer, especially in this community where drugs and drug violence are everyday words. I live in El Paso. I'm one of those Americans that is now scared to death of visiting Juarez, which was once a great place for a fun lunch, shopping spree, etc. Even two years ago, Juarez was not the violent place that it is now. Now, almost everyone in El Paso knows someone who died as a result of the drug violence. We need to stop the sale of guns from the U.S. to Mexico.

After seeing your news report last night it I felt overwhelmed. I can't belive that these people have no consideration for peoples lives regardless of the consequences. I do belive both sides of the border have to take responsibility because its been going for years and both sides have ignored it ..........

It's really strange to be reading about this sort of thing happening now. Cuidad Juarez was one of the entry points for rock and roll from the United States to Mexico. And it was the permeability of that border which helped the evolution of that music back and forth.

More troubling is that this violence is only symptomatic of greater problems in Mexico. The corruption of its officials, high and low, is not limited to the drug war. The greater opening of the media in the nineties revealed all sorts of problems from drug trafficking to assassinations, massacres, and other scandals. In 2005, a journalist was "disappeared" and later found murdered after uncovering a country-wide pedophile ring that involved several high-ranking officials.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Or a better metaphor: the boiling over of the pot.

One troubling aspect of the whole problem is that the drug cartels have more dangerous weapons than the military has. An acquaintance of mine who's in the military told me the cartels have guns that are US made, but are not allowed to be used by US soldiers because these weapons are deemed inhumane. Who in the upper echelons of the industrial-military complex is producing these guns and then leaking them ? Sure, the guns are already in the cartels hands and that cannot be changed, but the US needs to find out who is responsible for the illicit smuggle of weapons in the first place. It can't be that hard to find out!

This is a problem that needs to be tackled from many different sides at the same time. There is no one solution.

TO – GF, Los Angeles- Blame us americans for the high demand.
Last night I saw a clip of ( hillary clinton ) on last night's 360, she said we need to make it clear to americans that drug's are
"Bad Choices" is that how she wants to combat this problem or does she have a real solution other than telling ppl- what they already know.

Hi Anderson
Please stay safe in traveling to the inner circle of drug traficing. The violence and killing and names of victims that are not even known it 's a civil outbreak. Please be careful i look foward to the show tonight.

@ Rikki Fr: Fargo My prayers are with you and please take care.

Michelle D.

At least tourists have a choice of not going to Juarez, but what about the people who live there? I was going to ask you to interview people who live there to see what their lives are like, but it would probably put them in danger. Thanks always for being so brave in your reporting. Last night’s coverage was good even though the content was startling and terrifying. You all be safe now.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

Anderson please be careful.

I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. I am thankful to the media who has shed a significant light on the drug related violence that is occuring just a few miles from where we reside. I am concerned however, that the full extent of the problem is not being fully articulated. I have heard everyone from Newt Gingrich to Pres.Obama make reference to being pro-active before the violence "spills over". What people who do not live here do not undestand is that it has spilled over. Our county hospital has been on full lock-down at least 3 times in the last 18 months because drug-related shooting victims (Mexican Police officers usually) were transported across the border to receive medical care. Fully armed police guards manned the entrances to the hospital around the clock for up to a week each time. Who is paying these poilice officers? Who is paying the medical bills? Who deems the that the violence has in fact spilled over? This problem is impacting our city fiscally in many ways for example fewer Juarez residents are crossing over to purchase items from our downtown merchants. There are many other ways our city has been impacted by this violence, but I think my entry has been long enough. I just wish the full extend of the issue could be highlighted.

I was in Juarez and El Paso just a couple of weeks ago and it's not as bad as the media makes it sound. Clearly Juarez is not the safest place to be at, but even when my husband and I got lost driving at 10:00 p.m. we were in no danger. There are many many convoys of soldiers out on the street and it can be intimidating. There is the huge problem which is drug traffic into the US, but let's not look the other and pretend like there isn't a weapon trafficking problem from the US into Mexico. That's how the cartels acquire a lot of their weapons.

Just for giggles I went to the local gun shoppe yesterday and told the owner I wanted to buy an assault rifle. He just laughed and laughed and laughed.

So just where in the USA are these weapons coming from? and more importantly, where can I buy one for myself before the Mexican invasion gets started.

I don't feel that the 22 caliber rifle and the hand gun that I have are enough protection.

Why should the US control the things it sends out? Shouldn't it be Mexico's job to control what goes in? That's like saying that Mexico should control the people leaving Mexico for the United States. It's our job to control our borders and it should be their job to control theirs.

Viva Mexico!!

Anderson, stay safe.

I was in Juarez on a murder investigation in 1999. When I returned to the US, I kissed the tarmac, grateful for my country and citizenship.

The 3rd world economic status on Mexico keeps that country from ever creating a safe environment for its citizenry. It is also the reason immigration into the US is so thorny, because the Mexican people who make it to the US retain their 3rd world culture and clash with American values.

The drug industry in Mexico creates a population of people who must sacrifice morals, ethics and healthy values in order to eat and feed their children and have shelter. What a shame.... the Mexican govenment should be ashamed and embarassed...

you guys think this is all just starting, in high school we would go to drink in mexico and were approached all the time to take drugs back across, being shook down for money by the police, the problem is that thwe cartals are fighting, when they dont fight you think it means there is no drug trade....no. it means they arent fighting and business is good. you really want an insight into what its like living on the border and dealing with the crap......give me a call

Rebekah-

Don't let these reports scare you. Sure things are bad in the border regions, but the entire country is not a warzone. I just got back from a vacation in Mexico City and I was terrified to go there because of things like this article, and it was an amazing wonderful experience and I'd recommend anyone doing the same. We were totally safe (American tourists) the entire time and I never felt worried. Monterrey is also nice and safe. It's an amazing place to visit and you're going to have a fantastic time.

Anderson,

Keep up the good work.

I watched last night while you were on the border Juarez/El Paso. So glad your there, bringing attention to this. I was horrified watching these truckloads of drugs coming through to OUR COUNTRY. Every single auto and truck coming into America should be searched. No matter how long it takes to do it. And why don't they do this. Please take care and be very careful.

What a disgrace that after 9/11 we can't control our own borders. Human trafficking is more of a problem than drugs. This country is infested with nearly twenty, million, illegal, aliens draining our natural and social resources..

How sad this is. I remember Juarez as a beautiful and calm place to walk.
mg

I travel to Juarez from Albuquerque all the time for doctors and dentists who don't overvalue their services. While I'm there, I go shopping for other items that are more sensibly priced as well. With the considerable military buildup, it's difficult not to feel safe in Juarez as long as you use common sense and treat people with respect.

Been to Juarez twice. Had homes of drug lords in both Juarez as well as El Paso pointed out to me. What bothered me about El Paso is that the general consensus was that although the authorities know where these drug lords live, etc., nothing is done about them.

So, what's being done in El Paso?

Re:
Thank you for your great reporting. Yet another black mark on the Bush Administration for letting the ban on assault weapons expire.

Let’s see the NRA defend this one. I’m sure they will.

John B: Yeah, that's it John B... the repeal of the "assault weapon ban" caused all this. What color is the sky in your world friend?

I would love to see the stats that say that the guns being used in Mexico are coming from the USA! It is really easy to buy full auto weapons on the blackmarket in mexico and these cannot be bought in the US, nor can the current crop of military style weapons being sold be easily converted. The weapons are coming from sales from other countries that want the currency.

These are sad times for a beautiful country and a great people. Unfortunately part of the blame lies on the side of the boarder, we Amerikans have such a huge appetite for illicit drugs that we create this market. And the Mexican gov't. has to bare alot of the blame as well it is the most corrupt govt' on the planet. Everyone in gov't is corrupt down there...

I hope Anderson and crew stay safe...

If there wasn't a demand for drugs in this country then there wouldn't be a supply. We as Americans can blame ourselves. Clean up our demand and the drug dealers will go out of business. Simple Business 101.

At this point there is only one effective solution to illegal drugs coming north and illegal guns going south (if the gun thing is really happening). Place a moratorium on all border crossings until resources can be put in place to inspect every individual and every vehicle that crosses at authorized check points, and seal the entire remainder of the border. I understand that this would shut down trade, but what better incentive to get quick and effective action. Of course, neither the government of Mexico, nor the government of the US will cooperate in effective control of the border because so many of the citizens, ploiticians and businesses of both are getting wealthy, or otherwise benefit from the illegal activity.
If the law in either country had been agressively enforced from the beginning, the problem would not exist today.

I have watched you since your days on Channel One when I was in Jr. High. I have been watching this story for a couple years now. Please take precautions. These cartels kidnapped an anti-kidnapping expert, and they specifically target reporters and their families. Please continue to bring these stories to the attention of the world, but be safe, Anderson.

These are brazen bad men, who make bold, symbolic, violent moves. Please be careful.

The government needs to get over themselves and realize the they never had a chance in the drug war. We spend billions in Bolivia to destroy poor farmers coca fields but turn a blind eye in Afganastan....face it people the war on drugs is a joke!

It's great that you're continuing to report on this because the authorities and us...the people, have to be reminded of the urgency of the matter and find appropriate and effective ways to deal with it. Regular folks are scared and businesses have closed down...that's terrible.
Be safe and take care.

It's all very sad. The poor merchants in Juarez must be suffering tremendously. We would drive to Juarez from Las Cruces frequently to shop; purchase cheap medications; dine; tour friends around; etc. Now, it's just too risky. I certainly don't have answers for how to solve it.

As a foreign national who has lived in both Mexico and Texas, I can say that Juarez' situation is both sad and unfortunate. I remember the hustle and bustle of this once great town to visit. Drugs corrupt everything, and anywhere. Mexico has taken most of the criticism, but in reality it ias just part of the problem. It is easy to corrupt a police officer when the salary they receive is inadequate, or to threat a police commander when the cartels are better armed. But the problem becomes pathetic when well equipped and well payed agents are mixed into the problem. I have not seen one article in any source that reports on US official corruption.
Really?...no corruption? How can tons of marijuana and methamphetamine flow north and no one is stopping it? how can Kevlar vests. night vision goggles, and .50mm caliber riffles and ammunition go south without any one noticing? Aren't night vision goggles sales restricted?, an I go to Wal Mart and buy Flask Jacket by the dozen and not look suspicious?...

And why is Gov. Perry criticizing the Obama Adm. efforts? Most of the guns used by the cartels are bought in poorly regulated gun shows in Texas, as well as the supply routes for the drugs (San Antonio, Dallas and Houston)...Gov. Perry is quick to protest the measures, but is reluctant to strengthen gun laws or even enforce those already existing... for Texas at least...If you are not part of the solution , then you are part of the problem

The ignorance about firearms on display here is astonishing. The drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia have millions of dollars available for buying weapons. They obtain fully automatic AK rifles, grenades, RPG-7's and anti-tank rockets from the international arms market, weapons often built in the former Warsaw Pact nations. Look at pictrues of Colombian paramilitaries carrying brand new Bulgarian AK rifles. It's insane to think that with those resources the cartels are wasting their time with straw purchases in Texas and New Mexico gun stores or gun shows. Gun control advocates are simply using the Mexico violence as an excuse for their favorite hobby: disarming the American people.

It's time we admit the whole truth, this war on drugs was doomed to fail from the very beginning. As the saying goes if you ignore history you are doomed to repeat it! I guess we didn't learn anything from prohibition at all......As for the guns, we need to enforce the existing laws and take another look at the assault weapon ban the Bush administration let lapse, there are no legitimate civilian needs for assault weapons period!

There is no real "War on Drugs" in the United States. Our "leaders" aren't interested. So, until we decide to stop shoving drugs up our nose, into our veins, and God knows where else, we will be the receiving end for "illegal drugs" and all the horrow that goes along with it. Since Americans these days don't seem to have the will power or patience to take on the hard challenges, let's just legalize all drugs, tax them at the highest level possible, and use this huge tax revenue windfall, along with the tax dollars saved from not allocating our criminal justice resources to arresting, adjudicating, and incarcerating users of drugs and the small time dealers, of small amounts of drugs, and devote that real "economic stimulus" to our Nation's infrastructure, education, military budget, Social Security, Medicare, and all the other things we really can't afford to do right now, as well as, provide treatment for the unpatriotic, spineless addictive personality weenies that can't or won't stop taking drugs.

The answer is incredibly simple. Legalize drugs so that the black market demand will drop. If pharmacies sell narcotics manufactured by pharaceutical companies then the government can tax the hell out of them, making them just as expensive, but then money will stay in the US and help reduce taxes.

When prohibition was in effect, CRIME SKYROCKETED from the black market implications. Crime also dropped dramatically after the fact. Its simple logic people, use it!

This just goes to show you that a federally sponsored "drug war" is not the way to approach this issue. Perhaps it's time we investigate better ideas such as for certain controlled substances to be made legal, and for the government to take over the growing, harvesting, distribution, taxation, and all other areas that are now allowed to be controlled by thugs, armed gangs, and terrorists. I believe that there would be many positive benefits to legalizing marijuana, and I cannot think of any negative benefits that our society could not address with substance abuse counseling and other social programs.

Rikki, good luck to you in Fargo.
In regards to the drug wars. If the drugs are legalized, the money flow will stop. This is over control of wealth, not a social issue. People have been using drugs LONG before the 60's.

Has the demand for drugs in the US increased in recent years? Or has it always been pretty much the same?

Big problem for Mexico and US. Both countries have contributed to the mess with Drugs and guns at the heart of the problem. It is just a matter of time before the fighting spills over into our border town in the US. The Obama Administration appears reluctant to control our borders let alone show that we can control the arms and drugs flowing both ways across the border. US and Mexico need to sit down and develop a joint plan on how to route these cartels out and eliminate them. The Obama admin needs to show some backbone and defend our borders and help Mexico in this effort. A few more border patrol folks is not going to make a difference.

Blame the U.S. for the violence? Are you kidding? Blame guns from the U.S.? The problem is the corrupt Mexican government that let it get to this point. It's about time they are trying to fix the problem, hope it works. Oh yeah, tighten up the border...hmmm...can't do that....

OK, now that Juarez is boarded up completely shut down the border. Declare a state of emergency and post guards every 100 yards for five miles on either side of the town. Allow no one and nothing to cross the border. That will take away the drug trafficking routes and the cartels will have nothing to fight for. If it works in Juarez, do the same thing along the whole border. Problem solved.

Legalization is the key.... The black market economy forces an artificially inflated price & magnifies the greed issue. No, the availability of drugs will not permanently increase drugs usage and create new addicts; A certain percentage of people will become addicts regardless of drugs being legal or not. Troops of primates (monkeys) that live around human civilization have been observed to steal alcoholic beverages when opportunity arises, and that the percentages of tea-totallers, moderate drinkers, and fall-down drunks mirror what we see in the human population.

We need to take the billions of dollars thrown down the drain fighting the war on drugs, and invest it elsewhere in the AMERICAN economy...

It's the corruption of the mexican government that causes these problems. Has nothing to do with the US. fighting over resouces and revenue streams happens in almost all 3rd world societies. "Coming soon to your neighborhood" thanks to wall street and our corrupt government.

I'm hoping the Mexican military can finally hold the line in Juarez; if not, all bets are off. So far they seem to be doing a very good job of quelling the terrible violence. This indicates that the local law enforcement was corrupt to the core or inept–or both–in fulfilling their duties. Unfortunately, though, it seems that much of the cartel war has simply relocated to Ciudad Chihuahua. It looks like that city may also ultimately need the same remedy.

My hat is off to President Obama for his attention to this grave situation, as well as to Secretary of State Clinton for traveling to Mexico this week. This dilemma is going to demand both countries' serious attention for a very long time. In the end, we'll all be better off.

Isn't this just a temporary fix?

The only way this can be corrected is to have a rotation of guards every quarter to avoid corruption. US guards that is! Right?

It's ridiculous to think that this problem will be solved by toughening gun laws in the US. Forbes magazine just named the leader of the Sinaloa cartel as one of the richest men in the world with an estimated worth over a billion dollars. Getting military grade weapons is not a problem for the cartel no matter what the US gun laws are. Some people will never realize that criminals will continue to get guns illegally and that tough gun laws only affect law-abiding citizens.

The real problem is the lack or commitment of resources to the border on both sides. Mexico has never had a problem with a porous border so long as illegal immigrants are sending billions of dollars back to Mexico every year. Mexico really doesn't have a problem with the drug money coming into Mexico either. The only problem they have is with the escalating violence which they blame on our gun laws... as if no longer selling guns in the the US would result in the cartels throwing rocks instead. It's time to militarize the border and arm the Mexican army to the teeth in order to fight the cartels. It will no doubt be very bloody. But the Mexicans need to ask themselves if they have the stomach to take their country back from the cartels. We'll find out when Calderon is up for re-election.

Excellant Michael. The only people I know who will not allow a real solution are those who, in one way or another, profit from the drug trade. By the way, although my views may sound extreme, they are based on my experiences as a police officer, probation offficer, and psychologist. I am now 70 and retired.

Sure Micheal. Guess who the weenie is. Under your brilliant idea, legalizing drugs would just push up crime. Criminals would have the defense of "the drugs made me do it." Then crime goes up, we accuse the drugs of pushing crime up, and what do we do?? Try to fight the usage of drugs in this country. WAKE UP!!!

Let's just let drug dealers run rampant in our cities, then when your 10 year old boy or girl gets hooked on cocaine, pot, heroin, etc., who is to blame??? The drug dealer? Nope because no one is there to tell him it is illegal. You think a high tax is going to stop people? How are you going to collect the drugs sold on the street corner, in crack houses, by pimps, etc. Your argument doesn't hold much water.

And you know what the worst thing is?, that we at Juarez have seen many times US citizens crossin over just to buy drugs, drink like stupids and do all kinds of illegal stuff, please, do not be part of the problem, be part of the solution. You, the normal citizen, movie stars and sport stars are the one that have us in this situation, the least you can do is stop buying drugs at the US, you owe us that. Juarez is now one of the safest places in Mexico, you can come with no fear at all, but do not come with the typical US culture because you are not going to be welcome.

The last time I was in Juarez was 1994. I had to bribe a Police Officer who said I ran a red light( which I did not). He did not want my Lic, insurance, or registration. All he wanted was my money and if I did not give it to him I was going to be arested. The problems there are nothing new, this has been going on for decades. The country is corrupt from the top to the bottom. The best thing we can do is try to keep the violence on their side of the border. And I afraid the only way to do that is to close the border and stay out of there.

Rebecca, people will use drugs simply because they are illegal. No amount of toughening up will work, mostly because the majority of users don't think they'll be caught.

Another way to reduce the demand would be to legalize drugs and allow them to be grown in the states (and tax them). The druggies will end up getting healthier drugs (believe it or not, as bad as the "healthy" drugs would be, the illegal stuff they get now is even worse). Additionally they could be taxed (government revenue), they would probably be cheaper (fewer middlemen, less danger, not as much imported), and it would reduce the desire from people who do it just because they can. Simply make sure the punishment for irresponsible use (such as drinking and drugging) are bad, and crimes committed for the purpose of using drugs or while on drugs (a person who can be proven to be an addict mugs someone) have significantly more severe penalties.

Anderson,

Thanks for a great show! Why can't we make the US-Mexico border as strong as the border crossings were between West and East Germany with mines, on the ground fences, watch towers and shoot on sight orders. That would create thousands of jobs on the US side in construction, military and security plus it would almost eliminate anyone from illegally crossing into the USA.

Anderson,
You and your crew do awesome reporting. Here in Jacksonville Fl, my friends and I watch you every chance we can get. You are on top of the reporting arena! I watched last night. I have family in El Paso. They have told me how bad it is. You told and showed me how bad it is. Thank you for keeping us informed. I just don't know what the answers are? You and your crew, Be safe!

Time to legalize marijuana...stop this reefer madness.

I have no intention of stopping smoking pot or drinking ancohol – I enjoy both. The drug war going on has nothing to do with the drugs, it's for the control of a black market. If I could grow a couple plants on my balcony, I would – then there would be no black market. Our government is responsible for the arbitrary laws that create these armed cartels. Prohibition never stopped driking in America, it only made the mafia stronger, more lucrative and more violent.
p.s. Maybe I'll smoke a fat one while I watch your show tonight.
Good luck!

Hey Anderson ....i hope all is well, i wish i could be there.....the only solution to this drug war.....fight fire with fire.....we are the United States super power....i only see the the U S GET INVOLVED WHEN they have something to gain......here's my solution
1. get permission from the mexican gov't to allow special forces to do covert missions and deploy a fighter jet and bomb the drug cartel homes and businesses and believe me we can get his intel......the problem is that we have corrupt gov't officials and people with lots of money that run this gov't........i would do it for free.....

Your commentary failed to mention that when the troops go into the homes of the Mexican citizens a majority of them do so under the pretext of looking for drugs and when they cannot find any, they take the family food. The families involved tiene miedo (are afraid) to say anything and end up, in some cases, going hungry. I live in El Paso and do business in Juarez on a daily basis. The troops are good, they seem to have driven the cartels out of town, lets just hope that the troops and the 3,000 Federal Police don't abuse their power too much.

I lived in El Paso,TX when I was younger and it was commonplace to spend a warm summer afternoon in the cantina's and restaurants of Juarez,Mexico. It is very disheartening to see such an iconic and historic southwestern city descend into violence and chaos. I especially have much sympathy for the poor but resilient Juarenses who have to live in fear as well poverty.

You watch the US go in and scoop up Mexico after all this is over. The CIA has been very busy in Mexico, the borders are porous, and it's all being done by design.

This is very simply a move to disarm the American public. Plain and simple.

Perhaps America should just legalize drugs and put these thugs out of business. The money the government could make off of the sales of these drugs could be used for addiction treatment. It can't be any more expensive than imprisoning drug users, can it?

Carmen, I too have family in El Paso. I remember Juarez as once being a place you could go and it was safe!
Anderson, I never miss a show and they are all wonderful, this one is particularly insightful. I thank you.

Legalize/Tax

Anderson,
I'm glad to see your writings on the blog during your drug war coverage.
It's an extremely sad situation to see what the demand for drugs–and their lucrative trade–has spiraled into.
Your broadcast was great last night. Your reports are fascinating– though it is tense viewing. I pray you all stay safe. I'm looking forward to your program later.

Why does everyone think the Mexican people are stupid? Announce that on Friday, April 17, 2009. ALL people trying to cross the border illegally are SUBJECT to be shot. You can still pass into the United States through the customs checkpoints on the border. That has always been legal for Mexicans to come here to shop and visit.

The United States Army will STOP, by force if necessary, anyone trying to come to the United States illegally. The Mexican Army will shoot anyone trying to bring guns or ammunition into Mexico..that's right SHOOT anyone trying to smuggle weapons into their country.

Our people are not stupid. If they KNOW the consequenses of their breaking the law, they might think differently. But on the border, you must be careful. Keep away from the border and you will be fine.

Sad thing is-one does NOT know who truly are the good guys or bad guys in all this! Which cartel is supported by which faction of government (City,State or Federal; civilian or otherwise). Lets not forget – how the Mexican Military was running the open borders, blocking for drug runners. Now we have to put agents at our Port of Exits because Mexico is screaming, it is all our fault. Yes, we are in part to blame BUT, we should not have to pay for security control measures of people entering Mexico (border gates). No problem with agents in open areas, but Mexico needs to install their own measures for who enters their country same as we do for who enters our country. Let us not foget about MX screaming about our unarmed soldier along with Custom Agents at port of Entries. Now its ok for MX to have soldiers with machine guns on the white line dividing the 2 countries? hipocrits.

The demand will NEVER go away. NO matter what governments do, spend, arrest etc., they will never quell the deamnd. People of all backgrounds, social, economic, and age will crave drugs, like alchohol. There will alwyways be demand for drugs. Drugs are a Commodity. There is a major market for them! There always will be a market for drugs! Legalize drugs, regulate them, tax them and the violence and waste of tax payer's funds on both sides will stop. More revenues from taxation of the regulated drug industry will go to good causes and a new regulated drug industry will bring massive amounts of revenue to both countries and citezenry. Yes there will be negative consequecnes just as there is now with alcohol, but the negative consequences we see now with drugs are much greater than if drugs are legalized and regulated. That is the ONLY way to stop the violence and wastefull spending and time and efforts of government resources. Legalize drugs, regulate them and tax the newly created industry.

You people are insane...You are letting these left wing gun hating loonies make you belive that the machine guns, grenades and heavy weapons the cartels are using come from the US. This is all a load of crap that they are spreading as an excuse for their gun control agenda. The cartels are getting these weapons from the same people they are getting their cocaine from, the Columbian cartels. I have been to gun shows all over our country and I have never seen hand grenades or heavy weapons for sale.

How about some investigative reporting into the people behind the money machine? Not all drug lords in Mexico are abscrube King Pins hiding from the law in some secret hide-away. I suspect many of these people in Mexico are powerful, well-respected businessmen and policitians who no one dares to speak out against. They are part of the a weathly, influential and dangerous network of people deeply embedded in Mexican politics, business and judicial system. It is a cancer. But, who dares point their finger at Mr. Mexican CEO, Mr. Circuit Judge, Mr. General or Mr. Well Respected Member of the Community?

Well it's sad really, what's happening....
That being said, if that's what it takes to get some marijuana to America then that's what it takes. It's not like me or the millions of other pot users in this country are going to quit....

Almost all goods cause some kind of collateral damage in order to supply demand (think children making clothing & shoes in Chinese & Indian sweatshops). Marijuana could be a great benefit to this country – both economically & medically. Too bad the governments have driven the risk/reward of the drug trade to the point where wholesale slaughter justifies the dividend. Just tax it

Solution=Strengthen the Border Patrol from glorified Park Ranger to sophisticated enforcer. Give them the tools and the manpower to do the job right.

As for Mexico, it is a shame but the US Gov is not the World Police and we should stop acting like it. We need to stop making this mistake. Sending aide to Mexico should be the job of private humanitarian organizations that are supplied by good people who want to help not by the US gov who use every US citizen's tax dollars to send aide.

I had a depressing conversation with my teenage stepdaughter about the situation in Juarez. I told her that the illegal drugs that some high school kids use could very likely have come across the border and be part of the root cause of the extreme violence in Juarez and other places. The extent of her disbelief shocked me. We are losing the battle with our kids. We have failed to communicate to them that every dollar spent by Americans on illegal drugs helps to keep murderous battlegrounds like Juarez going. If the money stops flowing, the violence will end. Talk to your kids people!!!

The problem is just as much the US as Mexico. If there were no demand for the illegal drugs in the US there would be no need for drug cartels in Mexico. Let's try and stop drug use first and fix the root of the problem. Who supplies the weapons? The US. Let's concentrate on eliminating the illegal export of guns to Mexico.

Take care Anderson. I live in El Paso, I know how dangerous things can be there.

I'm reminded of two things on this topic.

1) Mexico has always been an unstable neighbor. Ever since the Revolution, we have had several excursions into the Mexican state, simply because the government cannot, or will not deal with the issues at hand. Corruption on a mammoth scale. And I live in Chicago, so I speak “fluent corruption.”

2) Remember how making alcohol illegal gave rise to gangs, guns, money and corruption? You do the math.

My brother lives in El Paso and works in Juarez, crosses the border twice a day. On my last visit, I went to Mexico, and as a northerner, I had never really realized that Mexico is a 3rd world country, not unlike Africa.

There are no rational answers till we deal with the points above.

Build the (fire)wall, call out the National Guard, hire more ICE agents and cross your fingers. As the depression deepens, fragile economies crumble, the violence and death will only increase.

I live in New Mexico and we have some of the cartel here in Albuquerque. This is fact not half truth, not half lies. It is real and it is going on. People that are inisent are caught in the crossfire, thousands dead, all for the money, is that lies or truth, we no it is for the money and the guns are coming from the US shame on us, the NRA does not control that. If people sell it to the cartel who is guilty again the money hungry dealer. Those of you that are covering this story for us please be safe and watch your back it is one dangerous country and they dont care about life just the money.

i guess I don't understand how this whole situation has gotten so out of control? I would have thought the officials in Mexico could see where this corruption was headed?
Why didn't anyone step up and try to control this before it got this far and I don' t just mean in Mexico in America since America seems to be Pot of Gold the drug dealers are coming for?

I don't believe for one minute our Government did not know this situation was going on, I would like to know why they did nothing to get it under control?
Now they want to do something and it could well be too late!

I live in VA but still the thought that this awful situation can and probably will come over into Americ is very scary!

There are no easy answers on this, but it's obvious we need to stop the demand for drugs (or at least severely cripple the demand) here in this country.

However, I think just jailing everyone who uses drugs is not the answer. I'm a recovering alcoholic, and when you're an addict, being put in jail doesn't really deter you. I think we need to put the users in rehab facilities (NOT 30 day vacations at some spa place!). I was in a facility where I worked and volunteered and did a variety of things, and they helped me look for a job afterwards, etc. while continuing my stay in "sober living". I finally "got it" and have been sober for 10 years! There is still no guarantee this will help everyone, but it might make a dent in the number of users. Jailing would be good for those who commit crimes while on drugs, and definitely for those who are dealing. Hopefully, if there is less demand, there will be a decrease in business on both sides of the border.

Many police agencies also recommend "real rehab" for users, but jail for the dealers.

Anderson, My wife and I met in Juarez when I was a soldier at Fort Bliss in January of 1991. We met at the nightclubs on Juarez Avenue that you spoke about the other day. We've been married for 16 years and have two children. Upon completing my time in the Military we moved to my home in Chattanooga Tennessee. She wants to go spend two weeks with her family in Juarez in June. I'm scared for her to be there, especially with the children (my kids don't look Hispanic – they won't 'fit in' and are obvious kidnapping candidates). Her parents have recently moved to El Paso (legally), but all of her brothers & sisters and their families remain in Juarez. She doesn't get to see her family very often – we alternate Christmases; one there, one here. Not sure what to do. It’ not the same Juarez she once knew. Would you feel safe letting your family spend two weeks in Juarez?

juarez has all of the best drugs too... i guess i'll have to go somewhere else now.

As long as the demand for drugs in the United States keep increasing, there will be supply of them at any cost. Mexico is just the trampoline; the United States is the swimming pool.

I didn't get to see the show, but I think the first answer is to seal the border. No unauthorized traffic in or out. Therefore no guns, no drugs, no illegal entry.

Taking away citizens rights to bear arms is not the answer.

Forgot to tell you guys to stay safe Anderson. Love the show.

I myself live in the suncity, (EP) and i think its great that this ongoing drug war is finally being publically noticed. Alot of people don't realize how long this has been going on. I am hoping that the US can help Mexico. It's a shame that we no longer feel safe to go over there, nor feel as safe on our own border.

Hi Anderson Cooper:

Saw you this morning at the Hotel in El Passo... was not sure it was you. We are working everyday here in Juarez checking a major factory here.

A friend of mine from Canada, refuses to go to Juarez... he had a stray bullet come their car.

Keep safe ... when they say duck ... listen!!!

Thanks,

Sal

Hey Anderson, hope you and the crew stays safe.

I see lots of comments here that recommend legalizing or at least de-criminalizing most drugs. I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen. Theoretically, it could work, but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

I'm honestly not sure what the answer is. I think any solutions have to fight the problem on multiple fronts. Quick, simple answers aren't going to work here.

Dear CNN Executives:

I don't know if you take the time to read your blogs, but AC360 was exceptional last night. This is how you should be using Anderson. Just give him a cameraman and a microphone and let him interview real people about real problems. Why do you think we started following him after Katrina. He's a great correspondent, and you should use him this way more often. No other network last night had anything like this and it was a relief to get away from panels and Washington, D.C. for awhile. We need to see more of this style on stories we should know about. Wish you had just let him go like this last week in New Orleans and Detroit. Thanks for letting Anderson be Anderson!

I can not believe you sheeple that believe US guns are the problem. The BATFE has even said Mexico will not give us the serial numbers to trace the guns. You know why? Because most of them are coming strait from the corrupt Mexican military and police! The guns that are leaving the US are likely stolen by the illegals that have invaded our country and probably make up only a fraction of the guns down there. Funny how we've been asking them to crack down on border jumpers for years, but now that they have a problem, they want us to fix it.

Closing the boarder is not a reality. Mexico is one of our largest trading partners. This would cause economic chaos if it were closed for even a week. And stopping illegal drug use is unrealistic without a massive invasion of personal rights. People here want to use drugs and profits will be made. Who makes those profits is about all we can control. It's time we the taxpayer make the profit.

It seems that a LOT of the posters live in a VERY unrealistic world. You are NOT going to stop the demand by any significant amount, and the genius who suggested stricter penalties should have to put up his own money to pay for all of the new jails that we will need.

The only way that makes any sense is to legalize the drugs, tax them heavily, anad use that revenue on treatment and awareness programs that may free some people from the grip of addiction.

Other countries have leagalized drugs and they found that it did NOT make a higher percentage of their people do drugs and in fact the percentage stayed the same with signficantly LESS drug crime.

To Juarez Citizen....

Yes some U.S. Citizens go down to Mexico and do stupid and illegal things but they also go to other places (Montreal, Europe, etc) and drink like fish and possibly some illegal things too but yet we don't see the armies of those countries patrolling the streets. IMHO most of the problem (but not all) lies with a corrupt local government in your fair city and to some extent in Mexico's federal government too.

I'm also pretty sure that most U.S. Citizens come to your country and are well behaved and do not engage in illegal activities. Now let's talk about all the people coming over the border from Mexico illegally into the U.S.....

Anybody who thinks it's possible to dry up the demand for drugs by arresting users is a typically blind American. Our war on drugs has INCREASED the profitability of drugs and has led to the current situation in Juarez. The U.S. currently has the highest rate of incarceration per capita in the free world, and most of that is for non-violent drug offenses. The profitability of the prisons has grown dramatically and the private companies who run them are seeing record profits.
WAKE UP AMERICA! We're becoming a prison state!

Mr. Cooper, you are just an AMAZING being! Keep up the great work with the information. My parents live in El Paso so I know that my mom has not been able to visit her brother in Juarez because she is just too scared to go! I hope Bush watches the news and sees what he's left for our new President to clean up!

Having worked in Juarez for 25 years, during the huge move by American companies ( and international) after NAFTA, I wonder if the sudden departure by those same companies for China left a void that was filled by the drug trade. When the PRI party was voted out for the first time in 2000 by PAN, I remember how the growing middle class in Juarez was so excited by the move towards an open democracy. I wonder how the Mexican people feel about their government now, and if they wonder if their problems would still be as severe if PRI was still dominant.

It's like what I've always said. Mexico would not have a drug war if not for the demand and consumption of it's Northern neighbor. US Gun Dealers and Gun shows are also to blame for the war in Mexico and on the US streets as well. Sure there is a lot of corruption in Mexico and Calderon has his hand full, but finally Mexico has a President that won't be bullied by the Drug Cartels. I think the mexican police are doing the best they can with what they have to work with and how little they get paid. So many of them have died and left famlies behind for our vice here in America.

I think the borders should be sealed until things get under control. To the person who thinks that the ban on assault rifles that was let to expire by the Bush administration, druggies and drug runners don't get their weapons from legal sources! These criminals will continue to have automatic weapons even if there is a law banning them. Yes there are weapons going to Mexico from the US, but there are AK-47s and many other weapons coming from other sources too.
We need to take care of our druggies and the cartels won't be so eager to get their product into this country. As long as the demand is here, then the drugs will continue to pour into the country. Walls and wires and burms don't keep the drugs out. They have gone underground!

outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns! and that is what has happened in mexico. we were able to take off the british yoke because we could bear arms.

Some of these comments are rediculous!! Just how will a ban on assault weapons fix this? Do you people who oppose guns think that banning these weapons will take them away from the criminals? They are criminals anyway!! This logic is idiotic! Think about it!! Guns do not kill people anymore than pencils misspell words. If guns kill people then cars should be banned as well when used in homicide. If i run over someone intentionally then should my car be banned as well?!?! The problem here is we are too diplomatic with these criminals and should make an example out of anyone caught traffiking, purchasing, selling, or producing these drugs. The article talks about the Mexican military being outgunned but let's face it, our justice system is more outgunned because the cartels and smugglers have better legal teams and more money to spend on getting these guys out of jail time. And our lazy legal system is understaffed and underbudgeted to spend the time required on putting these guys away. Don't even get me started on the penal system and its innability to house these inmates. We are in a tail spin folks. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Until America realizes this, we are doomed to fail and lose yet another "war". Our diplomacy has become our weakness, the insurgents have realized this in Iraq and the Cartels realise it now.

The war on drugs is very much a giant decoy. The Mexican drug cartels would never have this much power without our gov.'s consent and our supply of weaponry. Cracking down on drug use will never work because its the only escape from the suppression and slavery that the poor and rich alike experience here in our own country. All the belittled and bewildered poor on our own streets just want to smoke, drink and snort away the injustices they experience. There's never an end for the poor man in our country because if he wants to get a car he has to pay for gas that is heavily taxed and get insurance that is required and pay for health insurance and home owners insurance and dental and food taxes. So why not buy drugs that are tax-free that will bring you away from this sickening reality.

stay alert, stay alive. we need to end the War on Drugs now. $40 billion a year is a steep price tag for even for success, how much more so for failure?

Well I'm glad that someone is finally here trying to report on whats happening in Juarez. However, this thing about how bad things are here on the U.S. side of the border is somewhat skewed. For the past several years which city has always been in the top five safest cities with populations under one million. Any guess? El Paso TX. Look it up. The problem will stay in Juarez. The cartels are businesses. If something were to happen in El Paso, the first thing that would happen is the all the International Bridges would shut down. This would kill the supply line, and the money. The cartels are too smart to do something in El Paso. Thats why they do it in Phoenix, far from the border. As for the "Gun Show Loophole" , criminals will always find a way to get a gun. From the news paper, the guy on the street. The only thing the "Loophole" will solve is gun show sales.

I was born and raised in El Paso and spent many wonderful evenings in Juarez shopping, restaurants, etc. Growing up on the border you can't distance yourself from what is happening in Juarez and El Pasoans have been painfully aware of how dangerous it has been for several years. Now the US media has awoken to find a situation as dangerous as Baghdad right next door! The fact is America's addiction to drugs has turned this into a warzone because of how lucrative the drug trade is. Just as our Border Patrol is overwhelmed the same is true on the Mexican side in trying to keep out the assault rifles. Time for both sides to work together.

The war on drugs is a problem that will not go away any time soon. As long as there is a demand in our country for drugs manufactured and cultivated in other countries (Afghanistan, Columbia, Mexico, etc) corruption, violence, terrorism, and smuggling will continue. The people of the United States need to completely re-think the way we are handling the drug problem. We need to legalize various drugs, (tax them for education and other programs), to take away the profits the cartels are making on illegal drugs. In order to do this we need to switch the way we house our prisoners. Instead of having them rot away in a prison we need to set up rehab centers and teach them job skills. This way they can become tax paying members of society. People in this country also need to understand that our actions have consequences. By doing drugs we not only harm ourselves but we cause people in other countries to suffer. We as a people need to look at the bigger picture and be more responsible. If we don't something the cycle will continue.

Obviously the "war on drugs" hasn't worked. It has been 'raging' for nearly thirty years, and what do we have to show for it? Very powerful cartels, from all around the world, making profits and spreading violently.

The only answer is to legalize and then regulate trade/dispersion of drugs. If the black market becomes the legal market, then the cartels will have no way to profit, and therefore will have no reason to stay in the 'drug game'.

I say just legalize the damn drugs....there will always be a certain percentage of the population that will use drugs no matter what you tell them.

I'd rather just tax it and regulated. Prices will drop like rock and no one will be killing themselves over drugs....

Look what happened to prohibition wars in the 1930s...once alcohol was legalized it got rid of a ton of problems.

I dont understand how US officials think that American weapons are what drug cartels are using? It takes years of waiting and clearance to get an automatic weapon or suppressor. You'd think the same cartels that smuggle tons of coccaine, would also include automatic weapons. Its not rocket science, go to gunbroker.com, automatic AR-15s are like 20k, North Korean or Chinese AKs are like 150......do the math.......

Why buy a weapon that takes years to get, is extremely overpriced, and have to smuggle through the US border(no easy task) – when you can buy them from other foriegn governments?????

The other day, I was astonished to watch a news clip of a BBC reporter drive from the US into Juarez. Other than paying the $2.25 toll ont he US side to use the bridge, there was NO immigration or customs AT ALL. At the other end of the bridge, he was simply immediately on the streets of Juarez. No wonder it is so easy to get weapons into Mexico for the drug cartels! You would think there would be some sort of interdiction at the border on the Mexican side to make some attempt at stopping some of this.

I hope the USA government starts working on the drug problem as president Calderon is. Calderon has sent the Mexican army to combat this problem and is putting his life and the safety of his family in line to do what is right. Obama needs to stop illegal trafficking of arms of the USA to Mexico and use his powerful military to stop or kill drug dealers in the USA just as Calderon is doing in Mexico. In addition, the USA government should cut the demand of drugs by their citizens by putting in place higher penalties for the use and distribution of narcotics.

Not one single comment mentioning the daily violence in large U.S. cities like Detroit, Miami, L.A. or even D.C. where daily shootings are part of life. I am more scared to become a victim in an assualt on a grovery store in the U.S. than getting killed on the streets of Juarez.
If the inspections at the U.S. border are so sophisticated and thorough, how come thousands of tons of drugs can still cross into the U.S. ?
When the own economy is on decline, it's easy to point at the 'weak' Mexican neighbour.

Too many US citizens thinking that this is a Mexico only proble, this is too sad, too dissapointing, I guess the only thing we can ask you to do is do not come to Juarez looking for drugs, just don't or you will be treated as the trash people that sells it, only trash people do drugs.

as for the legalizing of drugs, i disagree because it will obstruct the progress af most people. imagine people in the workplace high on drugs, not that productive.

as for the war, it is a tough one because on the streets, the military cannot really tell who is a civilian or who is not. that makes military engagement hard. same goes for Iraq and afghanistan. the enemies on these ones dont have standard uniforms and are blended with the civilians. see how hard that will be?

as for more strict policies, ...cmon..

the main supplier of those illegal arms are gunshows here in US.

Maybe President Obama will give the cartels a bailout too..after all it's americas fault that they are fighting.

prohibition that is the problem on both sides of the border. If it was Beer we would have the same problem but we fixed that. Time to rethink this whole problem......

Some crazy talk on this blog. Legalize the poison that is devastating a whole country.

Mexico already legalized drugs for personal use since 2006. It has banned weapon ownership from just about anyone not in the corrupt government. It has no death penalty and a prison system bursting at the seams. All this radical thinking should have had a better effect on the drug situation that seems to be at the verge of bringing down Mexico’s whole government.

Hello Anderson.

Please take a lesson from those soldiers and gear up. Your report last evening was very well done and I look forward to watching again this evening.

After watching last nite and reading your blog post, I was having a hard time falling asleep. That these things are occuring right on the border and into the US is beyond unacceptable. Unfortunately until people deal with their addiction and stop purchasing illegal drugs, this war will wage on.

We need to take the root of this issue more seriously; it is not a thing to be taken lightly as far as I am concerned. These people need help and that is the only way that the issue will eventually find a resolution.

You do an amazing job, you and the 360 gang. Be well, and keep your heads down. We worry.

My nation is awash with bad ideas, such as the crazy ones I also read on this blog. Instead of getting drug criminals off the streets, we follow the European gossip pages to see if France or Germany is pleased with our newest social experiment. We are in dire straits and I am not sure if the nation, its people, can be saved from this vicious cycle.

As long as the U.S. Government turns a blind, hypocritical eye towards the Tobacco, Liquor, and Pharmeceutical industries then we might as well welcome this violence with open arms. Just because these industries have cunning lobbyists does not mean that they're any better than the "illegal" drugs that are fueling this violence. We as Americans want -but can't have it both ways. One can't say " away with drugs" then pour themselves a cocktail. One can't say "lock up the Marijuana smugglers" and then light up a cigarette......all the while hiding behind the false sense of righteousness ( "it's legal"). The bottom line is..Congress is no better than the cartels. Can anyone explain why a product that kills millions is legal – yet a product w/ no directly associated fatalities is illegal? I can. It's because our government shares one common characterisitic w/ these cartels........GREED.

"The ignorance about firearms on display here is astonishing. The drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia have millions of dollars available for buying weapons. They obtain fully automatic AK rifles, grenades, RPG-7’s and anti-tank rockets from the international arms market, weapons often built in the former Warsaw Pact nations. Look at pictrues of Colombian paramilitaries carrying brand new Bulgarian AK rifles. It’s insane to think that with those resources the cartels are wasting their time with straw purchases in Texas and New Mexico gun stores or gun shows. Gun control advocates are simply using the Mexico violence as an excuse for their favorite hobby: disarming the American people."

Finally someone talks some sense! More people need to use their heads instead of just gulping down what they are being fed by the media. I thought I was the only one who realized that the grenades, rocket lauchers and full auto weapons are not coming from the US. If they can get these kinds of weapons, why would they waste time buying expensive, semi-auto rifles here. Thanks for the comment.

David

There isn't a policy of containment of the escalating violence by the
government front the armed confrontation, corruption, and the
submission of the drug trafficking.
Sad fact: heavily armed soldiers, in a fight such irrational.

For you who have been in many wars, but in the battlefield, must be
more frightening still witnessing a war modern, urban, in the cities.

Congratulations! Excellent work!

Hi Anderson,
We need to control those guns. I have never known anyone who was killed in self defense. This is one Texan who believes in gun control.
You know, we need to do our part too. People who are poor, and desperate will do anything. We need to address this issue.
Thanks for the blog. It is nice to see you blogging again.
Stay safe!
XO's

Please take no offense,but I'm sure glad I never bought that condo,...south of the border.

The posts to legalize drugs astound me. I can't even fully respond to it because the costs to this nation are so great and no we don't know if that will solve the violence so why create even more problems?

Tim Howard, It was the Bush Administration who rubber stamped the bail-outs, not Obama.

anderson – did you volunter for this assignment? my dad, the military and 31 years in law enforcement taught me never volunter for anything. god bless you – be safe, wear a vest and watch what you eat......

I leave in PA, but my family resides in Juarez and I moved in 92 to USA and I can tell you that since last summer going to Juarez feels like going to a war zone. I went last summer and businesses had their doors closed, you need to ring the bell to get into, driving around the city was the most scariest thing to do at night and I am afraid for my family specially my Mom and younger nieces. I am going in July to celebrate my daughter's 15th birthday and I am so scared but I already pay a lot of money and I dont want to ruin her celebration. Juarez needs help so it can go back to what it was before. The biggest danger is with the criminals that are on the street kidnapping people and asking the businesses and dr's for money to protect them. We need help over there.

How about providing clinics where the addicts can get good government certified quality drugs for free and treatment if they want to. If we remove the financial incentive from the drug trade the war on drugs will end.

3 years ago my husband and I did an intership studying globalization and did a border immersion, living with women on the city dump. Watching Rick Sanchez today, I was reminded how shocking it was to discover that they made 50 cents an hour working in the NAFTA factories...$5 for an 8 hour shift. Mexicans were flocking from their villages to find work. So his guest was so right, when he stated the factories have done great harm to the poor of Mexico. We need to do something about those NAFTA contracts.

What is happening now in Juarez and other parts of Mexico is the result of the huge amounts of money made by the drug cartels that has corrupted Mexico national government and the border region. This is only the harbringer of an expanded conflict that our government should have / may have seen coming for years. Our next war will be an expansion of the war on drugs to include American combat troops moving into Mexico. I know this is hard to believe but so was an invasion of Iraq when we stopped with Desert Storm. Our government might have suspected this would develop years ago when one of the largest military airfields in the United States was built at Fort Huachuca, Arizona and the Center for US Army Intelligence was established there. A stones throw from the border and a perfect staging area for ground invasion forces.

Andy,

Thanks for a great report last night. I just hope that you are safe and will continue with the awesome reports.

Come back to NY soon, we really missed you.

Be safe and take care!

GF los angeles, one can be fairly certain that legalizing and controlling marijuana use and sale would end the violence. the same method worked during prohibition. the taxes colected by alcohol sale after prohibition was a driving factor in boosting the depressed economy. also a mayo clinic study revealed that marijuana does not cause cancer like cigarettes and does not damage your liver like alcohol.

America’s insatiable demand for drugs & its inability to stop the flow of assault weapons into Mexico has turned Juarez into a warzone so America must share responsibity for cleaning up this mess.

Unfortunately you are only seeing the tip of the iceberg... It will take more than "a special report" to turn the violence and drug problem. The special last night was great on shedding light on the problems of the surface war, but as reported last night; with $40 billion dollar revenue it is going to take much more than a "crack" down on the violence in Mexico and the drug addicted America.

A word to the rest of Americans and those concerned. The violence will die down, but it won't be because of any policies implaced and enacted by the presidents of the countries involved. It will be the cartel leaders deciding to work together in harmony to keep their profits rolling in; after all, this violence is centered on the traffick routes and crossings into the US. This was seen in the 80's when Colombian cartels and the Mexican traffickers made their deals, and will only continue as the drug traffickers and cartels can adapt quicker than law enforcement can to any situation.

I guarantee that we will see the violence recede, and on that day, the Mexican and US officials will celebrate their strategies; but know the drug levels will remain the same, just less people dying on your television.

I'd like to see the "gun show loophole" that allows someone to buy grenades and rocket launchers or fully automatic weapon of ANY kind. Oh that's right, it doesn't exist.
It's pure BS.
As another poster stated.. the US is the worst place to try and purchase a fully automatic weapon. Too expensive.
There are so many cheaper sources of weapons in South America. Hell, I bet Chavez will give them a bulk discount on his imported Chinese AK's.

WOW! It's about time there someone has taken notice! Thank you! It just cracks me up how these fools who do not believe that they are using US guns. Fools I tell you! THANKS ANDERSON!

Anderson, 26 March 2009
My thanks to you for your courage and honesty in telling the
USA about a very old & poisonous subject which has been
brushed off by most Americans, esp. the media. The heart of this problem has always been the American drug user who is a
real and present danger to the USA. Legalize drugs? This is the
response of the weak and ignorant. What has happened in
those countries which legalized drugs (like the Netherlands)?
Increased drug use and crime. The answer is increased public
pressure on the drug user. Publish the names and faces of
every person convicted of illegal drug use. Yank their citizenship. Start executing drug dealers. This is too severe
a method of dealing with illegal drugs,you say? Why don't we
wait until we have regular shoot-outs and assassinations on
Main Street,USA? Once again, our parents and grandparents
would be appalled at the weakness of modern Americans.

The only way to deal with a Drug Cartel is to treat it like a Cancer....
cut it out and kill it.......dont talk to it,you will be wasting time......thats what they have done in Colombia......you can travel there safely....not possible now in Mexico.....its not going to be pretty but the US better
step in to keep it in check

As I watched part of the program last night I thought, you guys are missing the point (unless Mexico is the ratings pet project for the month). Drugs come into this country illegally not just through Mexico. We have a border problem period. Mexico's part needs to be stopped. But so does every other drug supplier who brings this garbage into this nation, creates it here and sells it, or otherwise is part of the drug industry. I feel sorry for Mexico. But I really feel sorry for the kid whose parents have a meth lab in house or the kid whose parents deal crack on the front porch or even the kid selling his ADHD meds and mom's painkillers after school. Before we start pointing fingers at Mexico, maybe we need to look at our own demand for these drugs, our own corruption, and our own inability to stop the illegal drug problem in America.

See marijuana legalization is just a laughing matter and there is no real benefit to it. NOT!!!

Are all you people nuts? You all talk as if its a war zone down here. Puleese! Realize that this is pure media sensationalism! My mother is 78 years old and continues her weekly trek to Juarez to visit her friends. You are in danger if you are part of the industry, if not then then you're not. Get a grip, its not as bad as what is being reported. Something needs to be done, but a military presence is not the answer.

I'm with Yiu-Long Ho, NY misses you when you aren't here.

Keep your chin up and your wits about you. Your work is heroic. Your viewers are behind you all the way.

If you're not wearing a Kevlar vest yourself, you should be. Take care of yourself; you're too valuable for us to lose.

My best wishes to you and your team for a safe return. <3

I just heard the body of a US marshal was just found in Juarez?

I'm thinking maybe Anderson should rethink his vacation spots.

Thanks, Anderson, for FINALLY documenting what is happening in Juarez-El Paso. I grew up in the border and I have nothing but wonderful memories of my childhood. It is truly sad to hear what is going on over there now. Hopefully, work like yours will inspire our politicians to spend their time and our taxpayer money on issues like this one.

Well, I'm actually glad it's your last day there on the border. Doesn't sound all that safe to me...

I grew up in El Paso and loved traveling to Juarez for good food and fun as a teen. The drug/corrupt cops problem always existed but never to the extreme that it has been for the past 12 months. I hope that the added military will allow the good people of Juarez to be able to come out and enjoy their lives and allow U.S. citizens to be able to go travel there as well.

Hey Anderson, my husband just took the wrong road in Santa Teresa, New Mexico and ended up in Juarez, Mexico–it was that easy. There was no border checkpoint, but two border patrol vehicles escorted my husband safely back over the border. Santa Teresa, NM is a town just north of El Paso, TX. He took the wrong road leaving a work conference in New Mexico and ended up in Mexico! But hey, what if those agents had not been there? How much, many or things are entering the U.S. at this particular point?

Stop the demand for drug use in the US. Control sale of assault weapons. Might just help a bit!! I DO NOT want any of this coming into America. Problem is, if we don't get our jobs back in this country, national health care and good public education we will become JUST LIKE THEM!

My question is this:

If Mexico is worried about illegal "guns" etc. going over the border into Mexico..................then WHY do they not take some responsibility and post Mexican Border Guards at the points of Entry?

Here at the San Diego / Tijuana border crossing, for southbound traffic, Mexico does not check anyone’s cars, truck, vans, etc........they usually don't even have anyone posted at the border crossing at all!

The lapsing of the of the assault weapons ban has absolutely nothing to do with this! If someone on the wrong side of the law wants an assault weapon, he's going to get one, ban or no ban. So quit blaming this on Bush.

Anderson,
This problem is a monster that ain`t gonna be tamed any time soon. It`s been allowed to escalate unchecked for years and years.
And now cartels operate in so many levels that at least I feel a bit hopeless about the outcome of this war against drugs.
If there ever was a time for miracle and co-operation, it`s now.
I`m trying to be optimistic.
Liked yesterdays show...
As ever, stay safe wherever you roam...

I wanted to offer one additional thought:

Years ago, women's groups took to the streets, airwaves, media, etc. to try to bring attention to the number of young women who were (and are) being murdered in Juarez.

There is a tremendous amount of background information available about these murders: How long they have been going on; how little has been learned about who is committing the crimes, etc.

What is evident is that in places where crimes against women increase, it is usually just the beginning of epic criminal activities across the spectrum of drugs, illegal guns, murders, etc.

We saw the same thing happen in places like Afghanistan and Darfur.

Great stuff Anderson. So many stories, so little time. STAY SAFE

Mr Cooper

Please be safe. If drugs were legalized and taxed like alcohol, then the cartels would be forced to legitimize their business models as well as insuring the quality of their products. None of this would be happening! We do not see armed factions gunning each other down over legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco do we? Legalization and heavy taxation would largely remove the profit motive from the process. Seems like a simple solution to me.

Idiotic American drug users that can’t face reality and need to be doped up are to blame for the whole situation in our boarders! This country is plagued with drugs which have weakened the fabric of America while sober illegal aliens are taking over our nation. Those stupid drug users must be proud of themselves, but not for long because once the country is taken over by Mexicans they’ll be pushed off the edge and this country will be called, United Mexico!

Hi Anderson,

Most of your commentors are from the States, but we in British Columbia, Canada have been feeling the effects of the "War Next Door" as well. The greater Vancouver area, about the size of Seattle, has seen the murder rate skyrocket as gangs battle for the trickle of cocaine that is still available to purchase from the US (via Mexico). All three countries need to take responsibility for the drug trade- BC 'bud' which is smuggled into the US for cocaine, and guns which go to Mexico, etc. it is not enough to toughen gun laws here, to put drug kingpins in jail when they are quickly replaced by the next in line, or to make our borders more secure. Mexico seems to be showing us in Canada and the US what life will be like if we continue down the path of the war on drugs- civil war. We need to take out their money sources by decriminalizing marijuana- not cocaine- and by seizing the drug dealers' assets through proceeds of crime legislation.

High time we simply legalize pot. Haven't we learned anything from the days of Prohibition? Let's grow in here, tax it and control it just like we do tobacco and alcohol. We could reduce / weaken drug cartels in Mexico while giving people in the U.S. jobs in agriculture. I am not talking about meth and cocaine, unlike pot, meth and cocaine are harmful to your health.
The Mexican drug wars are our problem, and you are a fool to think it is just Mexico's fault.

When are we, the United States, going to address the poverty and corruption in Mexico. One of the augments for going into Iraq was that we wanted to spread freedom. From what I see being reported, there isn't much freedom being spread. As a matter of fact, the people of Mexico are living in a true state of terror. "Join us, or die!" Not much of an option for Mexicans.

Yet, we wonder why there is an illegal immigrant problem...

We talk about preserving "freedom" and "democracy" around the world. We state we will fight terror at the door front of those who harbor terrorist. Yet, on our door step terror resides in the form of Cartels and the people on both sides of the border are not free from its wake.

The funny thing is that there is almost no talk about how to end the violence by SHUTTING DOWN the trade routes into the US, by curbing illegal immigration, legalizing drugs, or building a giant, militarized wall.
The only reports I see are about guns being sent to mexico, turning this into a 2nd Amendment battle instead of a drug or illegal immigration battle, which is what it really is...

Anderson –

Last night's show was fantastic - I love it when you report from the field and bring us these stories first hand. Just be careful.

The unknown victims being buried in mass graves is so sad. To think they all have families and for some reason were lured into the drug cartels and the lure of the almighty dollar lead to their early death. The violence you described last night is just mind boggeling. While we are used to hearing of gang related killings here, the torture and beheadings are kind of hard to wrap your head around.

Looking forward to tonight's show and the safe return of the 360 team traveling with you. Godspeed.

LEGALIZE POT!

A lot of what is being smuggled is pot. You want to put a big dent into what they smuggle? Legalize it.. it drastically reduces the cash cartels make, TAX it, it helps our federal and state deficits.

Plus, everyone becomes hippys and a big love fest ensues

Pot and alcohol are exactly the same type of drug except one is legal.

Tell me this? Is it harder for a teen to get pot or alcohol? Time for us to legalize it and get it over with

The war on drugs goes on and on. Who's to blame? We all are, there is a underlying problem in the US and all western countries. We think its fun and cool to do drugs its that simple. We are truly morally bankrupt. I have had my share and did because I thought it was fun looking back on it its really not that much fun. But how do we end the violence, because we will never end the use it is a lost cause. The only solution is to legalize it and control it tightly. We let people smoke,drink and gamble. These are not healthy to us but yet we are allowed to do them. So legilizing it is the only solution cannabis,cocaine and herion. The meth and exctasy should still be illegal and the main ingredients of these drugs should have ban on the production. Remember that mdma and phseudoephrine are man made and these drugs are the wost of them.

Evening Mr. Anderson Cooper and AC360 crew,

What a shame, innocent people under seige with no where to run and no where to hide. Corruption with police and politicians that may not want to co operate but know if they don't, they will die or threats to their family will be carried through.

Legalizing marijuana in the U.S. that has been buzzing will not stop this problem, it goes much deeper. People don't kill to this capacity over strickly marijuana, this is the big time drugs that they're fighting to maintain, Meth, cocaine, heroin and such that keeps the addiction addictive.

The slow economy is sure to recruit more people on the U.S. side to become involved in drug smuggling and dealing, and more are likely to take bribes when needed.

The president certainly inherited another huge mess and concern that has been building in urgency for the past couple of years when tunnels like the one you did a segment on, I remember that one and how stunned I was at the kinds of tunneling systems they have.

The problem has been increasing over the years remembering the Canadian tourists who were beheaded in their hotel room along with other murders of Canadian tourists a couple of years back. Where was the last administration on this problem.

Stay very safe Anderson and crew, looking forward to watching tonight.

The Federal Reserve in El Paso has always maintained some of the largest amounts of cash reserves for local banks than any other Reserve bank in the United States. Its just the way it has been in this overgrown town. I love El Paso. Ask historian Leon Metz about it, he's got a website. To think, just last year in January I made my last visit to Juarez. I haven't been there since. Miss visiting the Kentucky Club on the strip with their Sirloin Tacos and ice cold Tecates. Just going over there to buy food essentials at very low costs is something that is no longer an option. Juarez has a small oasis of food markets, yet the violence is too scary for me to go visit anymore. Plus, you got the big banks in El Paso making their millions from the dirty "Miami Vice" type "Living the Vida Loca".

Why is it so hard to change the immigration laws? If we change the law all these problems go away, i dont see why president Obama is avoiding to address the situation which is now a burden to our country.

My City Of Ruins
– Bruce Springsteen

I'm with the bloggers~ Legalize marijuana. It could save lives in more ways than one~

Hi Anderson, Breaking News on CNN.com says that the body of a US Marshall was found in Juarez, Mexico. Got any new information on that?
Take care Anderson. You are in dangerous territory.
See you tonight.

Legalize marijuana? You sound like a bunch of addicts justifying your use. Cannabis has its own addiction diagnostic criteria. It leads to greater drug use. Does the term gateway drug mean anything to anyone? And guess what? If marijuana is legal, something bigger and badder won't be. It will become the new problem. Lives will still be lost. Nothing will have been solved. Criminals are going to make money whichever way they can. Let's be honest. The mob was big into alcohol during prohibition. Alcohol was legalized again. They simply changed operations. Ditto on these cartels and the corner drug dealer if the drugs are legalized. You don't kill a weed by cutting off its leaves. You kill it by destroying the entire plant system. Destroy the system. Stop the criminal.

hey, Andres what about the abuse the soulders are doing to the population, i hear it through the grape vine, the government does not pay enough money for them to live well, they steal money from the people they are protecting, what gives?
have u ask around? thats another spin is it not?

Hi Anderson

Your description of the Mexican troops coming into Juarez sounded a lot like the surge in Iraq – I hope they can be as effective. Legalizing marijuana I don't think is the answer since the drug cartels are probably pushing harder drugs like heroin or cocaine, etc. No easy answers for this – just a lot of hard work by the police and military to break the backs of the cartels – a good fence on the border would probably help too in reducing the amount of drugs that can get across.

Show was great last night – looking forward to tonight.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

I grew up on both sides of the Tijuana/San Diego borders, and have lived in both cities. I have an older brother who has not moved to San Diego because he cant afford the costs of living for him and his family, although he works in San Diego and is a US citizen. We are living in constant fear for him and his family.
The Kidnappings and murders are not being use only by the drug cartels, but also by ordinary citizens of Mexico who are recurring to such methods to make easy money because the economy is also bad down the border.
I made a day trip to spend Christmas Day with my brothers family, and I cant explain the feeling of seing the military patroling the streets in which we grew up and the constant fear due to the daily violence. Every day we see in the spanish news the death counts rising due to these killings, the people being reported as missing, whom by the way never appear alive, and it is sad that these news or no longer news at all. It is becoming a life style down in Tijuana. This situation is ver sad, but it is Urgent that something be done.

My comment goes directly to Mr. Tomas Flores,the Mexican gentleman who thinks that just because he was born in the USA,his roots were automatically erraised.Shame on you sir,your as Mexican as your Dad and Grandparents,who probably were illegals too.
I can only hope that some day in the future,Mexican and American Officials can come up with a solution to this problem and work together on it.Keep up the good work Mr. Cooper!!
Greetings from Guadalajara,Mexico
a safe place for American Tourists.

whos kidding who, the eyes of the blind – look around you america, your living and working with the greatest society of addicts. so so many of us/you out there depend on pain killers to get through the day, and where do you get them from your pusher 'friends, neighbors and doctors" the only thing that seperates the "legal" pain killer addict from the street addict is the phramacutical companies and 3-10 years. rather than trying to fix mexico – lets pay attention to our real issues it starts at home – look at yourself, your spouse, your parent, your kids, your neighbor, your cowork, etc............ you want to talk saving money and increaing productivity, not to mention reducing the increase of deaths from respirtory problems caused by these rx's.....
knowledge and truth are power.

Mr. Cooper please do a investigation about the guns that illegally cross the border from US to Mexico, that can help in this war.

I can't believe some of these posters – pot is not the only drug smuggled over here so legalizing it won't solve a thing. Cocaine and heroin are smuggled into this country at an alarming rate by these cartel through the use of illegals – should we legalize that too and welcome illegals with open arms?

The U.S. should take as much responsibility as Mexico when It comes to the violence and drugs taking place on the border and across America. The bigest drug addicts are Americans! Where ever there is demand for there will always be suppliers. America hasn't protected its borders while money and weapons are being shipped back to cartels.

At what age should this marijuana be legalized?

@ Tammy~I beg to differ that marijuana is a "gateway" drug. I have seen a lot of medicinal, if not healing from marijuana.
People will always abuse something. Food is highly abused in this country.
Not to mention, I never knew anyone on pot alone to be violent. It could be the new xanax with less harm to the body.
I say we legalize it for the good of all.

This will never end! Americans love their drugs and will keep on consuming them. Drug addicts!

Perhaps the 1st step is decriminalizing the drugs – all drugs. Legalization (of even pot) doesn't appear that it will happen anytime soon.

It will become yet another a culture war between liberals and conservatives.

Thank you for the live reporting that makes it so chilling real and awakening seeing it from this end. The root of the problem is deep, penatrating and yet to be controlled. Be safe!

As long as drugs are illegal in the US the war on the cartels and thier power is futile.I was born and raised in El Paso and it's sad shocking and scary to see this unfold. Something that has not come up is the fact that many wealthy mexican nationals are buying houses in el paso not to say all of them are associated with the cartel but the likelihood is high a migrant farm woker working endlessly to support his family are getting deported why arent these people getting deported or investigated they are potential targets living shopping driving in and around el paso, texas USA !

The war on drugs is a joke and I say this because people will continue to use drugs whether they're legalized or not. It's quite apparent that over the years, the solutions that have been put into place as well as policies do not decrease drug use as much as we'd like to see; many people around the US will continue to use and addiction is a powerful element and I am not sure if anyone understands the logic in what it takes to truly kick the habit; it's hard work and from what I can tell by watching the interviews with officials, these statements mean absolutely nothing. There is no solution; how long has drugs been around and yet they're still finding a means to get into the US and cross the borders. I suggest official and politicians alike review what's really going on and maybe someone should view "why" people use because that's the main basis for why drugs will continue to flow into the US. Those that are addicted will do whatever it takes to get their next fix; it doesn't matter what drug of choice is being used; addiction is powerful!!! Yes, our children are suffering at the hands of drugs but unfortunately many of them will continue to use even as they grow into adulthood, especially if they do not receive any sort of help. We need to look at the full spectrum here aside from putting police officers and other authority figures on the ground to patrol the war on drugs. The war on drugs is no where near a complete end, period!!!

Anderson,
Why play shill to the Hillary Clinton Agenda?
Until anyone is willing to release the serial
numbeers on these guns it is so much
anti gun propoganda
the story plays nice for the anit gun groups
are you a part of that
Adolf Hitler , Joseph Stalin, etc.
on down. first thing on agenda. confistatge guns
then the civilians can not protect themselves
against anyone, first of all, againt government
please answer if you dare,
KSP

Frightening to think that the violence can spread over to our side. It's disturbing to hear about the horrible things drug cartels have done to each from public executions to torture and it doesn't matter who it is, no one is excluded not even children. Extremists so close to out country.

it's a shame that we insist on governments overseas protect the borders that surround the middle east from smugglers but we can't stop the massive smuggling going on in our own house. I know it's not an easy fight but I am proud of President Calderon for taking this fight to these thugs even at his own peril and I'm happy to see that the people of Mexico will not be alone on this fight. God Bless America and God Bless Mexico! Stay safe Coop

I am from El Paso
It is amazing how things have changed since I was a young girl. My mother crosses the boarder everyday to do business. I pray everyday that my mother gets home alive.
Mexico is a beautiful country!
I hate that the country that i grow up in has become some where that I fear!

firstly, why would my name be required?
secondly, up to 60% of violence could be curtailed withe the federal legalization of marijuana. The only reason that it is illegal is due to the U.S. government not being able to make profit off the sales of this theraputic medication. I am a physician and I have yet to see a chemical produced by the governmentally taxable pharm. companies that has near nil rate of side effects. Used for variety of illnesses and pathologies, marijuana has mainly 2 side effects, hunger and happy...
thirdly, i believe that the U.S. needs to protect its citizens based on the same aggressiveness as these moralless and soulless cartels (in my language cartel translates as coward). In other words, the minute these fools harm one of ours, nay, rather an innocent person ...the mentality should be that they wage war against ll that we hold good and valuable...I say the U.S. should hire mercinaries or professional assassins to take out these cockaroaches...hel...give me the firepower and a team and I will go covert ops to finish this mess...my only payment – whatever i confescate, i keep (minus the guns, a man only needs his fists for a fight).

I live on the border. Brownsville,TX. It is scary now. You see the soldiers as soon as you cross and have their guns. We need to fight those cartels get the word out,and bring the focus to our borders. We need protection.Great work AC360!!

This is a complex problem. It will take a complex solution. One can't just make guns illegal and drugs legal. Neither of these things alone will stop the problem. I don't pretend to know what the solution should be. I am from the Southwest and lived in Mexico for a while. Border control is a much more complicated issue than so many people make it out to be. We are so critical of the illegal immigrants but it really is impossible for some of them to better their lives in any other way. Do you think they would take the risk if they could? Many of them have no paperwork. They are invisible to the government. What about them? The first step will be to increase understanding, make it easier to get work visas, and start educating people and families.

Hey anderson all boder towns are alike I am from douglas az the police chief always runs or gets shot with his mistress now I live in elpaso nothing new here

Great Job Anderson. Americans not living along the border need to know what's going on

When are our officials gonna get past the PC crap and say in public what I know their smart enough to be saying in private or while they're smoke'n a joint... The only way to beat these thugs is to take away the incentive and legalize, control, and heavily tax drugs, particularly "Pot".

We need to educate everyone and make them understand that using drugs in UNPATRIOTIC

Well I just returned from my weed dealer and he didn’t have any weed. I can’t afford the “crip” that most likely is grown locally so I will wait for the “regs” that most likely come from Mexico. Am I concerned that my purchase may contribute to the violence, yes. Will I stop purchasing a drug that lowers my blood pressure, calms my nerves, and lessens my alcohol use; no. It’s time we take a product away from the cartels and legalize marijuana in America. Until we do, I will be forced to purchase my medicine from the dealers, as I have for 20 years.

it's no secret to all of us that live in el paso that many of the members of the cartel live among us here in the united states

As much as I know that it is not going to stop real soon, I have a strong hope that it will get better. So, then, we will not have to go for drug legalization. It will cause more and more problems and will not get rid of drug cartel anyway.

Thank you Anderson and the team for your outstanding shows these 2 nights. Have a sweet dreams and safe trip back home.

We have a U.S.Government Border patrol.

Can't do their job on this drug problem?

If Anderson Cooper couldn't do his job for CNN, he'd be fired--right?

if you want to stop heads from being cut off from the rest of the body, legalize the drugs!! we already allow cigarettes to kill 500,000 americans per year...we already allow alcohol to destroy and kill 200,000-500,000 per year, and we allow detroit to kill 50,000 per year and injure 250,000 !!!! so who really cares about weed, crack, heroin...open up rehab centers instead of c-stores selling alcohol and tobacco on every corner...

this issue is so nuts....and i don't mean those macadamia's from hawaii...

oops.. i forgot.....divorce adds another 20 million casualties per year...

you know..that human drug...poute!!!!!

so let's concentrate on a german shep who can sniff out a marijuana plant, instead of the guy bangin your wife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The drug war is a waste of money ,time , and lives...
Take the money away from the drug lords and there is no war !
We give them the power ,and the money by creating the war.
Make drugs legal , control them tax them and put them out of business.
Those who want to do drugs will find them and there is not a damn thing the goverment can do about it . Stop trying to protect people from them self and getting thousands killed in the process.
Use all those resources some where productive. Focus on the people who want to make a good life with education. Let it go..

Anderson is not Rio Grand is Rio Grande, and if you want to say it better, is Rio Bravo!!! Please

Those of us from the area or grew up there know what to watch out for. Anderson, please be safe and God speed. Thank you bring this to light as it has become a part of the daily life along the border. It's about time someone brought this to America's attention. Thank you and please be safe out there.

The drug cartels from mexico/latin america..wont ever ever stop as long as american demand of consuming drugs !STOP! which probably never happen... i know juarez,mex is bad..but look at some

Thanks for this Anderson, But I want to let you know that now that the military is on the border a lot of the cartels have moved to the small towns. because I use to go to my family home town in Zac. and they are just out there like if they can't be touch. Also all the person's that have a small business have to pay a tax-feed to the cartel. They also keep up with the news and blogs.

due to my work schudule i amnot able to see the program but i hope more money will be put into seriously securing our borders.if we can slow the exchange of guns and weapons and assist the mexican gov in freezing assets of known drug cartels; we would all be well on our way to solving the problem.mexico need to declare a state of emergency in towns where its citizens are dying at the hands of these killers

Marijuana is not heroin or meth. Legalize marijuana, increase the penalties for the rest. Quit living in a world of denial. Our policy makers have to be the lamest people in the world.

i'm watching your report from the border and I find it hard to believe that you would find a member of a Mexican Cartel willing to talk to the media. I going to have to question the credibility of this individual and take everything he says with a grain a salt. As for what he has been saying, it seems that he's just regurgitating everything you can read about in the the local papers here in El Paso.

Just to let all you yankees know this type of violence on the border is not anything new, the unsolved murders of hundreds women in juarez has been an issue that the media has failed to cover for years now, but I guess it's not as exciting as a, " wild west shoot out. in old mexico". By the way Anderson don't forget to stop at Rosa's cantina and have a beer with ALL OF THE OTHER TOURISTS while your in town.

Why do you keep mentioning the death of the US Marshall in Mexico? You make it sound as if he was working down there or was killed in the line of duty. He was a dirty cop and was hiding out down there. He probably got what he deserved. He could have been selling his services to any of the cartels down there.

cities in ths us...like atlanta,new york,miami, south la..basically the same thing, but know one cares here either.

Anderson,
I was in Juarez in August and interviewed a woman who
survived a massacre at a drug rehab center. 9 killed in front of
her–by army guys. People I talked to feared the army. The problem will not stop until drugs are legalized.

Hello Anderson and Team,
Thank you for the informative reports. I understand there have been many deaths in Juarez because of the drug cartels and that the volitility is escalating. I do not be believe we can characterize all of Mexico by the actions of these criminals. For me that is the equivalent of charcterizing all California Citizen by the actions of those who are protesting today in Oakland, in favor of the killer of 4 police officers. I love Mexico and have found there are hundreds of friendly and loving people there. I have found there ARE many corrupt officers, politicians and persons of authority here is US. Perhaps a comparison to the Governor of Illinois would be appropriate.

I am curious why there are no reports on the US companies that are invading Mexico such as Walmart and Costco? Or why there are so many wealthy US Citizens with billions of dollars of ocean front property in Los Cabos. These expatriots do not seem to live in any greater fear than they did while they lived in the US. We often hear of how the Mexican immigrant are affecting our economy, how are the US companies affecting the Mexican economy. I am interested in hearing all angles of the story and you are able to deliver that perspective. Perhaps you could do a story in future about these subjects.
With Gratitude, Pauline

keeping drugs illegal stimmulates the economy.a dealer makes lots of money spends it on new cars,homes large tv's ect. makes jobs for cops,investagators,lawyers,juges.... this is one of the real reasons they don't legalize drugs..sign ..carlitos way x dealer in tucson az

Time to legalize – Drugs are bad but a deadly army of torturers and murders is growing because they are illegal. This is not to mention the billions spent to fight the sale of drugs. It was the same deal when Al Capone made most of his money running booze.
Alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than drugs and they are legal.
Heavily regulate the sale and use but instead of spending billions fighting drugs make billions taxing them. Some of the taxes should be used to advertise the dangers and for rehab centers. This has to be a better plan.
You did not present "The best arguments for and against". Instead you gave the job to people with agendas. Why not give voice to talented and articulate researchers who have studied the issue extensively?

Supply and demand'" As long as the us consumes 80% of the drugs the cartels will keep finding ways to cross the border. The solution is right in our back yard!! find ways to get to the consumers before they become consumers!!

I do not believe for a second that 95% of the guns in the hands of the Mexican drug cartels are from the USA. That is just more anti-gun propaganda that CNN and certain US leftist take any opportunity to spread. The AK47 rifle is the most prevalent firearm in all of the third world and its full auto military version is not sold in the USA. I am sure there are some guns that cross the border into Mexico however 95% is ridiculous. Also a drug criminal with an AK47 does not have a trained police officer with an M16 “out gunned”. The USA military has been defeating madmen with AK47s with their pesky little M16 pea-shooter for decades. CNN and Mr. Cooper just sensationalizes such things to sell commercials

I am glued to the television! I was born and raised in Juarez but currently living in the DFW metroplex. It is so sad to see my city torn apart by violence. I visited last week and I can say first hand that with the arrival of extra troops and the federal police I felt a lot safer and I also noticed that there where more people out and about in the city. It was such a difference from when I visited in December.
Thank you for reporting. I find that a lot of people in the U.S. have no idea what is happening just a few feet away from them. There is also a lot of misconceptions about what is truly going on down there. It is so hard to find accurate and complete information, especially in Juarez since the press has been threatened and they keep the reporting to a minimum. These cartels are running the city and holding it hostage. Great show tonight!

Yep, all Mexican CEO's and influential people are corrupt as well. Do you suppose that is why all these people travel in armored cars and w/ armed body-guards? Everyone in Mexico is not corrupt, and not all of Mexico is in the third world. There are many, many upstanding Mexicans from all walks of life caught in the midst of this awful situation.
But, let us not kid ourselves. Drugs,, whether in the guise of wars or heartaches,have permeated all of th US as well. Do you know of any family that has not been torn apart by the ravages of drugs- legal or prescribed?
I live right on the border. I have wonderful memories of hours and sleepovers w/ friends who attended private school in the US. These friends had about as much in common w/ the third world as those who summer in the Hamptons. They have all left their beutiful homes for the safety of the US. That is, until you see people in your exclusive neighborhood and wonder where all the Mercedes come from. That's when you realize you aren't safe on the US border either!

Another perspective regarding Juarez. How are these killings affecting those Mexicans who are legally pursuing entry into the US. The US consulate for entry into the US in located in Juarez . Citizens from all over Mexico must go to the US consulate in Juarez to process their immigration paperwork. Perhaps these killings are frightening away any legitimate immigration.

A mistake that is commonly made is you ask Law Enforcement for a solution and you will get the same old Law Enforcement solutions we have been doing and that have not been working. I worked as a police officer and in Law Enforcement in the LA area for seven years. Let me tell you, Law Enforcement is not an area of progressive, forward thinking, scientific, researched based field. Generally speaking they do not like change and they especially do not want change that will change the orientation of their jobs. To focus on Marijuana is the easy pickings. The real harm to families is crack, meth, cocain, heroin, oxyconitin, adderal, etc, etc. Quit wasting time enforcing laws on a relatively benign drug (in comparison to alcohol and the mentioned drugs) and focus your efforts on the harmful drugs. Ask for solutions from medical experts, addictions experts, and those who have a wider forward thinking perspective.

Mr. Cooper:
Why do Americans need AR15, M4, or MP6's in their homes?...is America afraid of the government, or is America that unsafe?

I lived for years under the scrutiny of an oppressive regime, and I can say that the strength of a state if far superior to any citizen's Militia. The last group who "proved" this principle were the Branch Davidians in WACO Texas...they also thought that their constitutional right was paramount.

I respect American's right to defend their "hearth and home", but to do it with infantry-grade assault weapons seems over kill.

I would personally like to thank you Anderson for bringing this story of the border to light. I hope that this makes people realize that Mexico and Juarez in general has been corrupted and neglected for a long time. The drug wars are horrible but maybe this will bring some attention to the other killing that this city has endured. Let us not forget the hundreds of women that have been killed in that city. Let us bring light to that subject and not turn our heads the other way on that. These killing have been going on four years and over 400 women have been killed. I can only pray that media attention will show people what has been hiding in Juarez and maybe this will bring out some justice.

Has anybody considered since we've been in a recession that the recreational pot users are no longer buying and now the cartels are fighting for the dropping demand?

Unfortunately, Mexican culture often times glorifies drug traffickers and their lifestyles, money, etc., in a lot of the Mexican music, "narco-corridos". Mexican and US recording companies putting out this type of propaganda need to be stopped.
I believe that this problem is often overlooked, but has a great deal of influence especially on the young and impoverished.

AC. I thank that the US should get weapons form mexico L.E.O? Trace to buyer and take proper actions?

Thank you George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton, and especially George Bush Jr. These problems are a result of your NOT closing the back door. You have known about this problem and did very little about it. You had the chance to STOP or REDUCE this problem. Today on Andersons reporting on the boarder, it was said that everyone who buys drugs has blood on his handS. That is millions of Americans. Imagine how the Presidents in recent years could have stopped this problem by just taking a little action. We need a Great Wall of America and the prisoners need to build it. AMERIJUANIKA!!

I love el paso and Juarez!
this is a very complicated situation... when you have very little money you will do anything to make a living. I will state my opinion whether it is excepted or not. Going forward, it is important to create opportunities for the children to get involved in other things so that they are less susceptible to bad influences in both countries. As I understand it, for El Paso and Juarez there are very little things to mentor the kids. the Kids are the future. Yes we tell them not to drugs but we don't give them the opportunities i.e. show them a better way. this is not simple" but one day, one person at a time".

Thanks for the important and quality reporting on the southern border. However, I am concerned and a little dismayed by the lack of coverage on the emergency in Fargo. Clearly the latter is a more current and pressing concern. There seems to be a greater concern for AC360's agenda and programming rather than the people of the Red River Valley.

I think the word corruption is misused when people do not have a choice, when their family's life depends on their cooperation, probably the word subdued describes it better.
They should legalize marijuana!

it is beyond ridiculous to blame pot smokers for the killing. the blame belongs to "lawmakers" for making it illegal, who would step up and admit how stupid that is? (certainly not those dishonest cowards) if "used" by adults, you tell everybody what harm that does? now compare it to alcohal or even prescription abuse.
Brian

Anderson,

One of your guests were trying to make a comment on one of your questions that you redirected. The question involved all drug users in America having a hand in the "War Next Door".

Your guest (i didnt catch his name). Was starting to state that if your using drugs legally for medical purposes i.e. through california medical dispensory's you are receiving marijuana purchased legally through Medical Dispensary's grown by native Californian's. Which the Mexican Cartels have no hand in and makes no profit from. This should be living proof that through partial legalization it has pulled the power from Mexican Cartels.

All Californians I know dont buy/utitlize low grade brick weed from Mexico. You can always tell if the marijuana is Mexican because Mexican marijuana is compacted/flattened for transportation. They like to utilize American grown high grade marijuana that in turns stimlates the economy by the transfer of money remaining in the U.S.

Also, you will soon see more monetary benefits in California from the new legislation being passed to raise and regulate the taxes to all medical marijuana purhcases.

I don't condone use or use myself. Im just stating the facts.

they need to secure the point of entry on both sides of the border, not just the u.s. side! you try entering the u.s. from mexico it's not perfect but it's still a hundred times better than what mexico is doing! because mexico is doing nothing about it! they make it so easy to cross! all you have to do is pay a toll and you are in! come on are you serious! the military operation in mexico is a front, in my mind! unless they do something to slow down or stop illegal goods from entering mexico from the u.s. until something is done about the port of entry going into mexico! the rest is pointless and also shows that mexico may say they want to stop the drugs and violence but yet it's an open flood gate for anyone and anything to enter mexico! so lets not let mexico pull the wool over our eyes, they need to step up and do something about it! until then, things will stay the same!

I'm going to be 54 in June, and I've grown up with, and so far lived through, a never ending war on drugs.

The top guys, for the most part, never get caught, and for some odd reason, the US Govt can never find all those hundreds of billions of dollars from the drug sales. How can that really be? I simply don't believe it.

The fasted way to end this violent murder spree south of the Border, is to legalize and regulate street drugs. Overnight, the drug cartels will collapse.

We've tried everything, and nothing works. America has the largest population of prisoners in the world.

Time to lift prohibition of illegal drugs and wipe out the cartels and bring all this madness under control.

Of course, those who profit from the drug trade are the ones who scream loudest about continuing the war on drugs. It's in their financial interest to keep drugs illegal.

This is so funny. We invaded Iraq under the false argument that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, that he supported the terrorist who attacked our country, and yet, across our southern border.................nada.

Ah, Saddam, one day, the good dictator, the next, the bad dictator......

So, the war on drugs? We win by legalizing and regulating illicit drugs, just like we did alcoholic beverages

Helloooooooo! It's time for you drug users to wake up!
Everytime you buy illegal drugs then you're contributing to
illegal crimes including the murder of innocent people!
All of you are enabling these people to kill and control
everyone around them! You are directly responsible for these
crimes.

If you really want to use drugs then move to Amsterdam.
Read this carefully; IF THERE ARE NO USERS THEN THERE
ARE NO SELLERS! That's the ultimate solution to the illegal
drug problem.

My daughter is supposed to go on a Mexico mission trip in Ensenada
Mexico. over Spring Break.She will be driving from Sacramento CA across the border from San Diego. Would you advise it? Why or why not?

Why don't we protect our own border and put the ARMY on the border and stop all these drugs from coming in?

AC; Talk too LOU DOBBS alot over the years. Just one thing about the Border! There is no border, its a open highway from Columbia to Canada. Don't drink the Koolaid down there cause the water is bad. And take anything Clinton comes out with ; with a grain of salt. Guns coming from a what store. Man these gun's are coming from all over the world. Ask that thug if his buddies are in the eme or a few other gangs hanging out every where. Check with the people at CNN; and not Larry King. or Wolf there sided show's. Go too the people who know!!!!! Lou's troops have been there and dun that. And not that Limie from down under either. He needs to stay in Iraq or Iran where he knows what is going on. Let you're crew go with Case out there in LA. Now that guy can show you where the bodies are. Old Vet

anderson,
please help me understand how billions of dollars have been spent to fight the stop of illegal immigration and the war on drugs on the U.S.A. and Mexican border but there is still no continous fence, wall or iron gates blocking canals into the United States of America; such as the iron gate that has been behind you during your special on the Mexican/Texas border?

Burns

Hey people, how are you doing? You know this buzz about leagalizing marijuana, is that really going to solve the problem? Why do people just give up so and surrender to what currupts society, drugs and weapons.
What we need is a very strong campaign against drug abuse and a much stronger gun controle policy.
Lets stop blaming other people for our problems. If we don’t fix the root of the problem -demand for recreational drugs – all that will happen is that the power of the cartels will shift from Mexico to another country.

Anderson -
In light of the argument that American demand is fueling the violence along the Mexican-American Border perhaps you would be interested in reporting on the details of this relationship. I have long believed a public awareness campaign should be developed to educate drug users as to how their money and demand for drugs directly supports violent criminal activity. I know many people who believe their recreational drug use is all fun and no harm is done to anyone else. However, what the recreational drug user fails to understand is that their “good time” supports unthinkable and truly gruesome crimes the world over.

You ask law enforcement for a solution and you will get a law enforcement solution that we have tried for many years and have failed at.

I worked as a police officer and in law enforcement in the LA area and can tell you that generally speaking, they are not forward thinking, innovative, big picture thinking people. They think from the gut and not from a science based, research based, innovative perspective.

Ask experts in the medical field, addictions experts, experts on families, and prevention experts.

The real danger to families is crack, meth, alcohol, oxycontin, etc, etc. Check the science based research. Focus on these. Don't waste your time and efforts on marijuana, benign plant (again check the research from medical associations).

Law enforcement are experts at what they do, and we have the best. But making policy is not what they excell in. We have tried that and failed.

What yall have to realize is that Mr. Almonte will be out of a job just like the drug cartel's. He is defending his job!!! It's time for this country to wake-up!

I'm a resident of El Paso : I Love El Paso; I think its great that Anderson Cooper actually came to the Pass of the North to report a story unlike someone bias like Bill O'Reilly who thinks the Mexican Border is south of Bagdad!
El Paso is a safe community, and that may be due to all the Law enforcement agencies we have including Fort Bliss. The truth is, is that when I was a young boy, I rode my bicycle to Juarez,,life was free, people were beautiful, and are still wonderful today,and yet I haven't gone there in years because of the violence.
The answer to the problem is simple, the solution is even more simple, If all the Gringos,WASP East Coast Yuppies and Rich nothing better to do losers would stop using drugs and buying them there would be no problem, and Juarez would return to what it once was. All you East Coast users get your drugs from Canada ,England ,Italy,Germany or where ever you came from. Just stay out of West Texas!!!!!!!!!

After working as an under cover operative for the U S Gov for the past 20 years I don't see how we think we can stop the Mexicans from bringing stuff over here when we can't ever stop some of our own troops from bringing small arms back from Iraq, as I know from a recent investigation that some weapons from Iraq end up in Mexico seeing how a fully auto AK47 will sell for less than $2,000 in the US and in Mexico its worth anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on where in Mexico you try to sell it at.

The reason I no longer work with the Goverment is because of all the corruption in our federal and local law enforcement, with me not being a certified agent I can't carry a weapon and when you have a corrupt agent or inspector that will sell my id- to a cartel for $5,000 to $10,000
my life and my families life is worth more than that.

ANDERSON: Report on this: The cartel wars in Mexico are also heavily politized. One political party supporting Cartel A and the other party supporting Cartel B. Drug money goes to politicians (Mayors Congressmen Public Servants etc.) as they have deep pockets to finance their campaigns. When a state governor belongs to a party different to that from the president (which is the case of Chihuahua) all hell breaks loose. You have the Sinaloa Cartel backed by public servants in the federal government fighting the Juarez Cartel backed by public servants in the Chihuahua government. Skeptic? Go to youtube and search for the video titeled 'quitapuercos' and follow the comments from all the characters of both cartels disclosing each-other`s operations. In Mexico these are known as 'cibernarcos' they use the internet to divulge their crimes and intimidate rival cartels and authorities not working for them.

Hi A/C
Wow! Are you quick on the pick up, and getting the real cast together to send an extremely accurate cast together in a heartbeat. I learned so much, too. How can you possibly put this reality checking together so quick? The only think of, is with the help of God. This clarifies for me too the most impotant things we have in common, the disire and bravery to dicover the truth, and use it for the greater good. We ar both relentless, as is our father, and it is very obvious to me that you too, have done everything in your human powere to walk in the path of Jesus, although both us of us probably have a lot of flaws, which makes us human, and yet God loves us so much that with our hearts in the right place, and never having promised any of us rose Garden , is so generous with the gifts and blessings he keeps on on giving us, that He'll always take all of his chidren right where we are at. You truly have a heart of gold. God is clearly using us for his divine purposed
to be served.

I'm sure what you are picking up, too, is that a lot of the corruption of th Drug Lords is really about survival and fear for their families, as th worst of them all are actually becoming more and more desparate
and threatened. It doest seem to really have any thing to do with money, but more more fear of being shamed from being stripped
of their power, and losing the war.

Honestly, I think that the best plan is to offer free copies of your program to all schools, and advertise its availability. and call it "The Truth About Drugs." I still think the biggest drug problems with kid and
adults inlude tobacco and alcohol. In most European Companies, Alcohol is served with every meal and as a beverage.

I agree with the Predient, don't legalize it, because Mexico and other countries will always be able to undercut us. Perhaps all tens, hower, shoud hav a period of random drug screnes, before they can can get their driver's license. Driving a car will, I bet, become much more powerful incentive than experimenting with drugs.

In the last ten years or so, so many parents who lived in tthe city would never even let their kids ou of the house, or even go to the house of a friend whose parent, and kids, they did not know. The population in Detroit proper has become much mare sparce, with most families who wanted better education, governement with law enforcement void of corruption, and rarely even let their kid get anywhere. near Eight Mile Road or below.

What an an incredible masterpiece you accomplished, and knowing exactly what questions to ask, to get down to the real truth, a great deal beyond my level of knowledge, and the real heart breaking reality for all of us and our kids.

The cat I had for 17 years prior to mandy was always by my side and underfoot as well. Put the poor thing always made sure we knew when we accidentally stepped on his tail.

I hope Pres. Omaba views your interview with the mid-level cartel member.In describing the cartel's mentality. Hearing the interview myself and having enjoyed Smoking weed; it's my glass of wine, for 33 yrs now I was saddened Omaba will not consider legalizing Weed.Pros and cons.Let's consider.Pros– pot is the most imported soft drug, the most consumed and the hardest to get across. The tax revenue would be very substancial. The cartel would definetly be hurt, even in My beloved Texas. The DEA and Marshals could reroute their efforts on the destructive drugs i.e. Cocaine, meth and heroin. I can't think of one con, well maybe one ,Liquor and Beer companies stocks may dip a little. Many persons that drink say they would rather smoke a joint, but thats means a piss test could mean their careers i.e. doctors, lawyers,judges,stock traders, etc. would be over. Let's face it folks, legalizing pot would not end the cartels, the corruption, the violence. It won't prevent the civil war in mexico that seems a very real possibility, but I would much rather pay taxes to the gov't than to have blood on my hands by having to rely on those damn thugs for my smoke.

Legalize marijuana, since by CNN reported statistics this will reduce foreign dependency on the drug by 14 million (likely 4-8 times that). This will blow a major hole in the Mexican smuggling of drugs, making it less profitable.
Contrary to ignorance and the alcohol boycotters, I speculate it would actually reduce the dependence on hard drugs, and best of all create far better jobs than by continuing to militarize the country with law enforcement.
We have laws for consumption, and laws for not smoking in public places. There are so so many families’ lives ruined by alcohol abuse, a legal drug. Most families’ lives are damaged by marijuana use because it is illegal. It should be a choice like alcohol and tobacco, governed by law, and not a crime punishable by law, abusive special interest law.

Dear Anderson,

We live and are stationed at FT Hauchuca AZ. I am in a border town and I want to thank you for reporting on the problems down here. I go to certain spots and run across dope and or ILLIEGAL Aliens all the time. I usually have to carry my Glock and AR-15 with me. The Arizona DPS, Chocise County Sheriffs, and the Border Patrol, are doing the best they can. I take great pride in knowing when I am out in the desert hunting that I can call these guys/gals and they will come and get this crap off the streets. Sincerely CSM K.

Strange everybody thinks this is a new problem in Mexico. I can remember back when there was virtually no violence on the border by drug smugglers, this changed when Mr Juarez and Mr Tijuana( I can't remember there names), who controlled most drugs crossing the border were attacked in Juarez while entering a building together killing Mr Juarez and severely wounding Mr Tijuana. After their departure from the scene the violence escalated to a small extent between drug gangs on the border. The violence seems to have escalated as the drug cartels were kicked out of Columbia and Panama..

Guns are not illegal in Mexico, just an ordinary citizen being able to own a gun is, if you want to have a weapon, join a political party or union etc security force and it is legal for a Mexican to carry a weapon, usually a semi automatic pistol on their hip. If guarding the headquarters you had a rifle while guarding the door..

I have a solution to the problem of drug, cigarette alcohol abuse, just shoot anybody who uses illegal drugs, smoke cigarettes, abuses alcohol, a dollar bullet also solves over population problem and global warming..

the sherrife that you just had on that is against legalizing drugs is against it because he would be out the money they steal and the houses and cars and other items they take in drug raids. and i know this to be true cause my friend was arrested for coke first affence when he got out two days later he whent to get his car out of impound and they took his wheels sterio system and laught at him nothing could be done. there are more dirty cops then good and when you get ridd of the bad ones they put more bad ones back in thats why he is against it but since prohabition dosnt work the next step in the laws eyes is to go round up all the lawyers and judges movie starsschool teachers drug counslers.yes is aid drug counslers i know dudes in chicago that work for the mayors that that go and do coke.

Drugs should be legalized.....but lets face it, there's a strong oppocition againt legalizing them... and it's not going to happen becouse people are being killed in Mexico. We americans hold a high regard for human life,,, AMERICAN LIVES. We don't care enough about Mexican lives... We could care less how many people get kill over there, as long as we are OK,, we'll keep consuming drugs. Conservatives don't believe violence can actually cross the border and touch in a more personal way.. When it happens hopefully they'll open their eyes.

Anderson, you know and I know " A baby comes home in a blanket "

Keep them honest Anderson – Levonia

Anderson, I cannot believe people are seriously considering legalizing drug use. People with such ideas have obviously not lived around or been impacted by drug users to even *think* such a thing would improve the quality of American or Mexican lives in any way. I would like you to have some drug rehab workers on your program to speak about how negatively drug use can impact not just the individual using, but others all around that person at home, work or even in the community. It is absolutely preposterous to consider such a shallow, short sited idea as a potential solution. PLEASE get some experts on your shows who can speak to long term impacts of drug use on the human brain, long term impacts on other vital organs, on those impacted by secondhand use, e.g. children of drug users, etc....On the emotional deadening of the person who is dependent and the suffering of those who love them. And many drugs are addictive, not just dependency forming. How absurd to legalize addicting subtances, after we've spent many, many years with 'Truth" campaigns about big tobacco to break the cycle of cigarette adoption. STOP THE MADNESS by reporting only the 'economic' side of the discussion.

the only way to win the "war on drugs" is to take the money away. any and all other polices have not and will not work. the coca farmers in south America earn about $100 per kilo for paste. the money is in the transportation and disrtibution of the cocaine. sell in the drug store for $1 a gram then the mony goes away. this is the only solution for this grave problem. this means that the law inforcement DEA and others involved in this "war" will lose money and will not have a job. the present policy is self preservation for these groups. these groups only compound the problem. drug users need help not prison. as in WI.
thanks for reading. a world trravler for 40 years and knows the reality.

The violence in Mexico is not new news to us living in Texas. This has been a problem for many years. When the country was vocal on the war in Iraq we had one happening 4 hours from the state capitol. Popular tourist places in Mexico for Americans to go have dried up with many of the businesses and people moving to the US to escape the violence which has now spread to the Rio Grande Valley. The US is trying to help Mexico, but the first thing Mexico needs to do is secure its border crossings. Mexico needs our help with bringing its crossing up to the same modern standards as the US. If you have ever driven across the US / Mexico bridge you know the long lines are the ones going out and not coming into Mexico. The show tonight did a good job of showing what the US is doing to keep our borders safe. It is only fair that Mexico does its part and that the US is not expected to monitor what is going in and out of Mexico.

Should marijuana be legal? You tell me. Everyday I open the paper and see someone killed by a drunk driver or a drunk man beating his wife etc.... Obviously society would come to halt if everyone was stoned, same as if everyone was drunk, but I don't see that happening. I will not vouch for the other drugs mentioned because they are stronger, more addictive, etc.... Any right minded, practical, informed person in the know could tell you marijuana is by far less problematic than alcohol, and that is legal.

do you want help or excuses

Anderson, I'm Aghast at what I've learned from your last 2 nights show on the War next Door! I'm a mother of 7 adult children and 13 grandchildren, several of whom have been through drugs.. Just went thru an intervention and after the education your show is giving me I wonder if a movie documentary that could be seen by all our drug users would make them realize that what they are the major Stars creating this horrible, violent loss of good lives. It's hard to take in, especially since I had no idea to how the cartell is making it's living! We are definitely to blame. Rhab is expensive and available to only those insured but hopefully, could that be made more accessible by our new Government?

The violence in Mexico is just the result of 30+ years of people poverty and goverment corruption.
Drugs aren't new, drugs have been a part of the Mexican and American culture since the 60's only the size of the problem has changed, now it is way bigger and way more violent.
In the past the goverment was dealing with just a few cartels, so they keep 'em under control, somewhere in the way high officials in the goverment got greedy and cartels multiplied. THERE IS NO WAY cartels could do business without someone in the goverment by their side. I DON'T CARE IF IS MEXICO OR USA nobody can move drugs forever without protection, and the bosses in some of this cartels have been around for as much as 20 years or even more. President Calderon is fighting a war that past presidents never fought (I remember Carlos Salinas de Gortari talking on tv "Mexico will never reach a Colombian level of violence" Do I need to say he was wrong? I can remember in 1998 the killings in "El Rodeo" (Ensenada, Baja California) 19 dead, even babies where killed in this act. It was just a wake up call for the authorities, but who could touch the Arellano Felix cartel? What about the discoteca Christine? The Cardenal Posadas Ocampo in 1993? This is not something new, it is just bigger and way out of control. What really makes me mad is the fact that people is surprised about it. What did you expect? Poor people without education living a successful and happy life? I am born and grown in Mexico and I feel sad and ashamed of my country, but we are just getting what we deserve after years and years of ignoring problems, now we say "USA is the cause of our drug problems" "USA is consuming our drugs" "USA is providing the guns for the cartels" and in some part this is true, but the reality is that the one to blame is the MEXICAN PEOPLE, we see things and we just let it go, we promote corruption, and in general we just allowed our country to fall in a big hole trough the years. It's going to take lots of blood to wash the mistakes of the past, but MEXICO WILL NOT FALL to the cartels.

Anderson,
Thank you for this indepth reporting.
One of your guests last night mentioned about the kidnapping situation in Mexico in particular advised tourists against taking taxis.

Well, back in 1997, I was living and working as a communications executive in Mexico City and one night after work I became a victim of a kidnapping in a green ecological taxi (where 2 men came into our taxi with guns and the driver was involved) and my partner and I were held for about an hour at gunpoint, all our belonging stolen along with verbal mistreatment. Luckily, I was not rapped and just dropped off at a unfamiliar area after my partner was taken out of the taxi.

I was fortunate to leave with my life and dignity. However, when I reported my story to the police; there were hundreds of cases of foreigners and nationals that were not so lucky; particularly women were rapped and later killed and husbands or boyfriends were forced to watch. In many cases, as mine, the police were involved in these abuses. It was as moonlighting gig for them to get past the economic crisis at that time.

As you see, this terrible situation has been plaguing this beautiful and friendly country for many years. The idea in people's minds in Mexico City is that if one is not kidnapped one has not been fully inducted into the everyday way of life. Everyone in my office had a story to tell me about themselves, a relative and friend experiencing a taxi express kidnapping.

I also reported my incident to the American Embassy in hopes that by sharing my story it would help to raise awareness to visitors and others moving to Mexico. They too reported on a plethora of cases from Americans that were aggravated or killed in taxis. The State Dept issued warnings.

So, it is disappointing and sad to hear and see images that the situation from almost 12 years ago from my incident has taken a turn for the worse.

Wishing you all the best for your show's continuing success in providing compelling coverage that I hope will bring consciousness to people and governments.

All I'm saying is Hilary Clinton has a right too talk for OBAMA'S govt. She has no right too say in my behalf as a American in two War's that its the American's that caused this. And that reporter that let her get away with that in Mexico needs to look for another job. YA! Like this is a big set up. Clinton's have been trying there best to stop anyone that has a gun, to turn them in. So she goes on the world stage and puts out the word guns from the US its are screw up. PLEASE. Go to NZ or down under and stay. We have the cops being layed off up here and all over. So is Clinton going to take care of the families in American, that can't reach that cop in time. So drink all the Koolaid you want when they come a knoken on the door ask if they are the police or if they are MS-13 or EME. Cause AC if you believe these guys knok, just ask the governors that don't believe in the law. Example (287g) Say what?? These thugs believe in one thing, MONEY. If they will kill some for just chump change what do you think they would do for big money. So ask the right question and you get the correct answer. But if you ask a Clinton a question god knows what the answer will be. Take away the Koolaid and let Larry ask his dum question's. Then you get pupie dog stuff or what every NANNY'S talk about.

Anderson,

I am an American who lived in Mexico for 8 years.

Mexico CANNOT win the corruption problem without invervention. And it is the corruption problem that has exasterbated the whole issue. Its like poring gasoline on a fire. Imagine what its like when your police force want 'in on the action'. We need to support the civil institution of Mexico (the whole criminial justice system) as we have done in Iraq. This was the war that Bush should have fought.

Secondly,

Its is now getting boring that you do not have the guts to separate marijuana from the rest of the illegal drugs. Most educated Americans atleast recognize that marijuana is now part of our culture and that it can be 'humorous' when some one is high (its a common occurence in modern cinema). There is wide spread recognition that it can have pharmaceutical benefits. That does not go for any of the hard drugs. We don't group prescription drugs with asprin. Why can't you have the guts to be real about it. Are you being 'politically correct'? That's not to say that it is not addictive or anything else. Just its really becoming a part of the American landscape... like shots of tequila.. or Jack Daniels. Its time the veil comes off and we atleast admit that it is now part of us... and we are not so sure that is bad.

My thoughts and prayers are with the late Deputy U.S. Marshall and his family.

Please let's NOT FORGET that he's "INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY"

He has the same rights that drug smugglers have, too bad we will never know the truth, someone made damn sure of that.

God Bless.them all !!!

I am a 53 yr old women and I smoke pot on a reg. night basis and I know many many people my age smoking pot. I beleive they should make pot legilized. Smoking pot is like having a few beers. I know more people smoke than don't. I live in St. Louis, Mo and I am a dental assistant. I keep a full time job and have no problem at work. I do not smoke during the day when I work. I DO NOT believe they should legilize anything but pot. Other drugs should not be legalized. I have tried coke and I don't think that it shold be or any other drugs as herion or other hard drugs. I am a normal person and most people do not know I smoke. It make me feel more at a mellow state. Drinking to me is worse. If I had to get in a car with someone that smoked a joint or drank 4 beers, I will drive with the person that smoked the joint. ty. please legalize so little people like me don't feel like we are doing a really bad thing. JM St. Louis,MO

I live in juarez, i have been living here for the last 19 years and i have not gotten hurt for the drug violence. it is not too bad to live here. I have a great job and i am going to school. I only can say that Juarez is a great city that does not deserve to be seen as a battleground.

Al Capone needed feds to "crack down" on alcohol trafficking to make more money. Mexican cartels need feds to "crack down" on drug trafficking to make more money. Same, exact problem. Same exact solution. Legalize, regulate and tax - both production, and consumption. Today, now that it's legal, nobody tries to buy alcohol from criminals. Tomorrow, when it'll be legal, nobody will try to buy pot from criminals. Those who destroy the possibility of legal trade - making criminals the only providers - have more blood on their hands than any recreational and medical marijuana user.

I lived in El Paso for 3 years. I loved being so close to Mexico and went to Juarez weekly. I never felt unsafe. . This is heartbreaking to me. I have friends who are still there. It is their home and where they are raising their children. They are working everyday to make life in Jaurez better for the poor.
This problem goes deeper than the topics making headlines. Poverty and desperation play a role in this, as well. Drug cartels pay much better than other jobs in Mexico. The population of Juarez has exploded in the past ten years. People coming from the interior to get jobs in international factories for less than $100 per week. They arrive without any of the family network that is so common in Mexican families.There is no grandma or aunt to care for the children while the parents work. Children are left unsupervised and education often ends by third grade. Older children care for the little ones. We are so worried about illegal immigrants coming to our country. Who can blame them?? They face a life of devastating poverty or life in the drug cartels. Who would want that for their children?

Hello Anderson Cooper at the Mexico boarder, What is wrong with this country America? from South America to South East Asia they are laughing at us. How can we play this failed policy for 50 years, When Drug prohibition ends, we take the profit out of black market drugs, all these drug dealers will need to get a real job. Be 21 or be gone, just like alcohol. You can't have a war on drugs, this is a war on American people, What we put into our body, is our God given right. It is more important then your right to (VOTE). The only way this will stop is to make it legal, take away the profit. School children are not spending $40 Billion a year on drugs, PLEASE -These are Americans from every walk of life. including me, Remember, It was all legal prior to the Harrison Act. Larry

Hi Anderson

I never want to see any type of drug legalize on either side of the border, Canada, US or elsewhere.
I live in Vancouver BC, and have protested over the legal Heroin Injection site in Vancouver eastside where addicts can shoot up in safe environment with addiction dr, nurses and therapist that work there.
When they opened this site about 4 yrs ago, its brought a different element of crime to our city, that filters outside of the poorest neighbourhood in Canada.
It doesn't work, I don't care what Europe does, in my city this site has promoted using heroin or drugs can be done safely 1 block away from the VPD? I say shut it down, never make any type of drug legal, or set up clinics similiar to this, or your city or neighbouring muncipalities will see crimes rise.
Its a joke, disgrace to my city and its not helping any addict in any way.

Dear Anderson and crew,

This report is very disturbing especially because I have a teenage son.
It is not a situation that will be easy to resolve however we do need to educate our teens and show them the consequences of their desire to use drugs. There is a total disconnect in the mind of a teenager with regards to their usage and your story, so I suggest your report be made available to all the middle and high schools and colleges. It may discourage a few of them from using drugs which is fueling this horrendous and very scary cartel madness.

As for adults, I hope they get the therapy they need to get off drugs. Perhaps legalizing marijuana and taxing it highly is worth a try to see if it may at least stop this awful bloodshed but I cannot see legalizing any other drugs.

What has thi world come to?

Why haven't we heard more about the border til now, people have to die before the rest of the nations hears about it. Glad your there to tell and show us what is going on.

Did we just call it quits in the 80's after the drug war in florida?Where was the follow up on the drug trade with the columbians,mexico,the other south american countries?I guess our corporations and business elite were so intent in profiting from cheap labor/immigrants and shipping all of our jobs abroad they didn"t foresee crime,drugs, that came along with an open border ,now are schools are in disaray,the medical system is overloaded ,and many communities in california and our soutwestern states are near bankrupt.You build the wall/fence,you patrol, you build search areas near our point of entries, and you post signs warning of 4 to 6 hour delays,and then you build more search areas behind them, why not if you fly ,you can expect these delays in the name of [terroism]and [saftey] ,and then you militarize our side of the border as a show of unity and force that our country means business.The cartels have a foothold in 230 cities ,and the gangs associated with them are in every cummunity across the land! If we"ll just secure the border , we can funnel all the trafficing into these highly efficent search areas!We put a man on the moon,I know we have the ability ,to secure the border,to stop the illegal trade that travels both direction ,unless we want to turn a blind eye like we have for the past 30 years!

The position of "Drug Czar" was created in 1988; after taking office in 2001 ... Bush appointed the nation's first Drug Czar in 1989, director William Bennett

Please interview Bennet , he can spin the issue of FAILED DRUG POICY , just as he dose with every thing else he talks about !

Another ex bureaucrat who takes no responsbility for his poicyis !

to the people who dont remember prohibition .yes the violence over acohol stopped then switched to the next illegal moneymaker thanks when will we learn be a old river or big bomb take the path of least resistence.

Hello Anderson! Today was a very important day for me. I became a US citizen. Pretty cool & this is one of the many reasons why I love it here. I was also sad to leave my Mexico but it really isnt a place that helped ME get ahead. I love my heritage but I don't regret leaving. Also I have many relatives in Juarez & guess what, they are scared to go out of their homes to go to work or even for groceries, so when I read on the blog that it wasn't that bad? Who are you kidding!

Viva Mexico But most importantly Viva USA

I used to work in Cd. Juarez as a consultante for a pharmaceutical company under the auspices of NAFTA. Back in 2000, there were plenty of problems, including the drug trafficking, poverty, the constant street vendors at the border crossings, but the administrative and law enforcement there was the most perilous. While working with a Cuban national, we encountered many problems getting permissions to cross the border and moving around the city. Many local vendors were suffering from the lack of commerce for the fine artifacts and special pottery and art that could be found in the commercial center.

Despite that, I met many nice, helpful and honest people, struggling to make a life for themselves and willing to learn. Unfortunately, there is also a perceptible class divide between the well-to-do living in guarded, gated communities and the poor in the city. While wary of some areas, I enjoyed working there for the most part. Perhaps the press can focus on the broader, social aspects of the city and it's people, the businesses struggling to survive and their indigenous artists.

Why don't you get expert advice on the illegal drug crisis from people like the former judge, Jim Gray of Orange County, California. We can head off another deadly and economically hurtful, second-time-around prohibition era by decriminalizing the use of drugs and treating the problem medically and educationally.

The U.S. won't become too involved with the situation due to the fact it will lose several commodities in our social and economic systems.
1. The loss of illegal immigrants would cause our already economic frailty to erupt into $10 heads of cabbage, $15 bags of apples, etc.
2. The court systems of our nation rely on the drug trade to pay for the "WAR ON DRUGS"
3. Mexico is either the first or second largest importer of oil to this country and this is the biggest issue.
The U.S. doesn't won't to get involved. It needs for things to stay the way they are right now – a distraction. It provides some alleviation of more pressing issues we as a country face. This also provides an opportunity for President Obama to show that he cares for his people and wants to do what is best for them. I say just close the border and repeal NAFTA and let Calderon handle his own problems. Noone is coming to our rescue.

Thank you Secertary of State Hilliary Clinton for addresing the problem the U,S. has with the need for drugs. Americans created the problem as well as the supplyers themselves. Mrs. Clinton, will we ever get to the bottom of who's benefitting from the sales of the drugs that enter the U.S? Is it possible to follow the money and see where it leads to, or who? Also can we stop the U.S from selling weapons to the drug cartel. How is it that we, allow U.S. weapons companys to sell weapons, that are for the soul purpose of killing Law Enforcement Officers and Agents fighting the drug problem. Hilliary, with you actually telling it like it is, we will win the war aganist drugs, because your a fighter and will get to the bottom of the ones making all the money.

Hey Anderson, you do I job all the time....but, I believe this could, in it's own way, be high priority of issues our country has to deal with......I work in a drug rehab center & it still continues to stimie re the availabilty of drugs in US rite.....those who really want to quit are scared to death to return their ild neighborhoods, friends etc. They want to go to HWH's etc where can feel a bit safer.....but must say even though these people do not want to go back to illegal drug use or even ETOH, that have put their lives in ruin: many, but not all, do demand immediate gratification for any problem they mite face, that many of us live w/on a daily basis........But so many addicts have a problem w/immediate gratification.....but this problem spreads much further in our country, ie Wall Street greed, shopaholics, gamblers et al......this a sickness in the US that can't be cured by any president etc.. the only hope I can think of is establishing good role models, people volunteering to help who are in recovery, (many already do) but somehow we need to pass the message on to these people, give them support etc after they leave rehab.....how to deal w/the facts how to deal with w/life in full reality w/o using drugs, etoh...need more out-pt programs to continue the support they receive in rehab etc. The US has huge appetite for drugs & I can;t imagine ending the drug trade w/o long-term out-pt treatment programs to prevent relapse, then the next problem is to stop it before it starts......in some ways philosophicaly I can see a point in legalization......but, alcohol is legal & causes many problems in our country.......But a huge thing that is missing w/alcohol being legal is the illegal drug trade, violence, death, cartel wars, gang trade, dealers, greed etc cannot thrive w/alcohol being legal & do believe that is something worth thinking about....yes, it's a difficult thing to think about, but how much worse can we let it get then it is rite now.......Anderson, hug e fan of yours for years, you are doing a great job....it;s scary there....plse stay safe!!!!!1

i beleive there will be severe retaliation made by the us on the cartel very quickly due to the killing of u.s. marshall bustamante you don't mess wit one of the u.s. own and get away with it no matter how big your guns are even if the guy was crooked...

watching this report you can tell mexico is still run like a banana republic. The president of mexico should be out there talking about the crisis not a mayor of the region. WTF? Btw this wall wont change a thing.
We are a addicted nation and we will get our fix.

To solve threats to Americans; we need to stop imports and exports with Mexico and take Mexico off the list of countries to visit. Accept this country should barr Americans from living, going and being there. Border patrols should consist of Americans born in the United States and not Naturalized Americans.

Why doesn't Anderson bring up the topic of drug legalization in interviews? He could ask the cartel insider that question when he discusses US demand for drugs. Why aren't the reporters touching this topic?

Let's not forget there are children and adults suffering as a result of the ongoing violence. I travel to Juarez regularly to continue to feed the children and build homes for people living in card board houses. Let's fight drugs and corruption but let's not forget to love and help the innocent victims. As I travel Juarez I feel safe and I'm able to get my business done.

Mexico is a failed state! Why? Mexican military incursions on U.S. soil, Mexican Military assistance to narco smugglers and human smugglers. The government obviously doesn't have control of its own borders or on its own soil. Corruption is rampant throughout the government, military and police and in many cases are complicit in the many crimes such as murder, smuggling (narco and human) and this has been going on for years. Former Mexican President Vicente' Fox did NOTHING to stop it before it got out of hand like it is today.

Mexico accuses the U.S. of supplying guns to the cartels, but has yet to supply our law enforcement with serial numbers to trace the weapons. Mexico accuses the U.S. of breaking the NAFTA agreement in regards to allowing their broken down trucks or semi qualified drivers drive on our roads, when it was Mexico who broke the terms of the NAFTA agreement. The Mexican government was supposed to increase the wages in that country and never did and people over there are still working for pennies on the dollar.

All this is why we need the border fence and a double fence and though its not a fix all, it is a must to keep our people safe from the dangerous criminal cartels and smugglers from coming over here. Mexico is a major threat to our national security!

I am disappointed that CNN have been caught up in this alleged ‘Narco Terrorist War’ hysteria and journalistic group think. It is just like the alleged WMD that in Iraq.

This ‘War on Drugs’ with Mexico was started by the likes of Nixon, G. Gordon Liddy, George Mitchel, and Erhlichman when they launched ‘Operation Intercept’ in 1969 and even more unbelievable in 1909, hundred years ago, with the International Opium Commission.

This 40 or should I say 100 year old war has been a complete failure and now this latest fear mongering is destroying legitimate Mexico business along the entire border and the loss of life is tragic

This issue has been blown way out of proportion. Sure there has been fighting between cartels after the arrests of some leaders. They are trying to reestablish a new pecking order and control of drug routes.

This has happened before but this time the I fear that it is being used politically by President Calderon, who is taking a page out of Bush’s ‘War on Terror, to attack the left wing opposition parties in Mexico. Remember that he had to sneak into the Mexican Congress to be inaugurated due to a contested election.

Also I fear it is being used by the anti-immigration right wing to force a confrontation and militarization of the border and make a super fence. .

Anderson, your reporting is excellent and very informative. I wish we would wake up in the U.S and stop the Gun Companies at these gun shows from selling the weapons to the drug cartel. The gun Companies need to have more oversite and be able to count for every weapon made. Drug users in America need to wake up and get the hell off the drugs. Our youth out their selling drugs on the corners need to wake up, your risking your life for a drug pusher, that's killing your neighborhood and your brothers and sisters. WE can win the drug war, if we all stand up and take our neighborhoods back and tell our Police Officers, who's selling drugs in your neighborhoods and who's killing people in your neighborhoods. Drugs, hatred and lack of knowledge hurt us all, we are bigger than that!!!

Mr. Cooper, I noticed that your reports on the border have consciously or otherwise combined two distinct and separate issues: immigration and drug smuggling. I'm concerned that the escalating rhetoric about drug related violence is going to create a hostile environment here in the US for immigrants from Latin America. Doesn't CNN and your editorial staff have some responsibility to clearly separate the issue of violent cartels from the issue of non-violent immigrants fleeing deplorable conditions and crushing poverty? Let's not confuse immigrants for "narco-terrorists".

making the drugs legal is not going to stop anything, yeah legalize marijuana and we'll just ruin the next generation coming behind us. Now it may slow down the need for smuggling, may even open avenues for poorer area in other countries to make money but in the long run it will be our downfall. Having small area like in California where its legal, yeah to me that was just the begining, soon other states will pass some sort of bill or law making it "ok".after that we'll see more peop;e branching out to use stroger drugs. They dont call weed a gateway drug for nothing

Mr. Cooper, If the us army is at the border the drugs will stop, but only if the americans stop the sale of guns, I was a soldier at the border of my country and if anything try to come tru the border we deal with force.One thing it is tru as long the americans and the rest of the world consume it will be difficult to stop without killing them.

President Obama, please put back the restriction on weapons, that Bush let expire. God bless you and your family , the Unites States of America and the entire world.

Please! Stop referring to marijuana as a 'narcotic!' It's ridiculous to put this drug into a category with opiods!

Legalize it, and wipe out organized crime related to it. What is it? Pick something. If those cartels don't behave, we will take away all their money!

I’d like to comment on some of your discussion in regards to the “Drug War” the US is facing. Thursday night you had Robert Almante (spelling?) speaking against the legalization of drugs. This is exactly why US citizens are so misinformed on the legalization of drugs. All I heard from him was personal opinion and nothing based on facts or statistics. There is also an obvious bias in his statements as legalization would greatly reduce the funding of border and law enforcement agencies which directly affects his paycheck. It’s like asking the oil companies if hydrogen fueled cars are a good idea. Why not do a report on a country that has a social progressive policy like Amsterdam that has legalized drugs for years. When looking at their citizen’s drug use, you see they have one third the users per capita then the US. They don’t have social upheaval or “druggie’s” lying all over the city streets. In fact, the opposite is true. Even in the areas of the city considered high drug use, most drug users have never even heard of crack. It is obvious that the US public has been fed misinformation for decades by politicians and lobbyists who are paid by law enforcement agencies and prison agencies to perpetuate the negative view of marijuana. Over 750,000 US citizens are currently in prison (at an annual approximate cost of over 60,000 per prisoner) for minor marijuana offences. This comes out to 45,000,000,000 to house these individuals per year. While incarcerated these individuals are not working, not participating in the growth of the economy or contributing taxes. Not to mention the social upheaval created to families who are torn apart by marijuana convictions. Private prisons are one of the largest growth industries in the United States! President Obama laughs at the thought of legalizing marijuana to help the economy but look at the numbers. Ten’s of billions of dollars are spent annually to fight the war on marijuana and yet it can’t stem the flow. You have ten’s of billions being spent annually to incarcerate people whose only offence is minor marijuana offences. Lost also is all the money from the legal sale and taxation of marijuana. That money could go towards education and health care instead of paying for some drug dealers’ mansion and sports cars. You are literally talking about 100’s of billions of dollars annually that go to fighting a losing battle instead of to the growth of the nation. In the last few years many studies have come out that prove marijuana is not physically or psychologically addictive and provides many health benefits. A person does more damage to there body having a few beers than smoking a marijuana cigarette. If the citizens of the United States were properly informed and educated on marijuana, I believe the majority would see the benefits of legalization.

Hey Anderson,

You are doing what needs to be done. However, you need to ask the real question, is it important for the U. S. to carve a wedge in this drug proliferation or does it make it legal for the drug Ceasars. Another words, if we were to say it's what we have to do,who is in charge? The drug Ceasars because they have the harvest or the government because they don't. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm After making the $$$$$$ who is the weener?

el don Rodrigo

Amsterdam seems to get along o.k. with legal, or at least decriminalized drugs, don't they?

That is some Great work you are doing in Mexico! Hopefully someone can cover the US side, meaning Sec of State, and what might come from the US? We probably should of put our focus on Mexico rather than Iraq. What does $700 million that is reported from the US going to do to help battle this epidemic? Unless we redirect our Military in there and do a quick sweep.
This has to be the biggest news for America other than the Boring Economy Issue every channel is covering. And you are neck deep in it! That is Very Impressive. That cover on the middleman for a Cartel was scary. Are you going to try to get to talk to a Leader of a Cartel?
Whatever, Just Be Safe! You R CRAZY! And thanks for the News....
Laieboy86

When one considers the argument for or against the legalization of the sale of marijuana in the United States, there are considerably ponderous arguments for or against. To be brief, yes marijuana is arguably the most harmless illicit drug available, easily trumping both alcohol and cigarettes from the health perspective. However, even with this and many other positive aspects of the legalization of marijuana being considered, there is still no point in doing so for the sake of diminishing the propensity of the tension at the Mexican border or the economy as a whole. Why? Because primarily, those who are doing this smuggling are not going to be benefactors in the legalization, thus will force them to seek alternative revenue streams to maintain their current profits. This being considered, the tension on the Mexican border could potentially exacerbate to a level beyond our current comprehension. Even if these cartels were the benefactors of pot legalization this would prove detrimental to the economy as potentially more buyers (because of the legalization) would send American dollars outside of the US. Either way you slice it. If pot legalization is being considered for Mexican-American relation/tension or economical reasons then there‘s no reason to do it. However, pot legalization does have potentially good implications in severely diminishing the toll sustained by our jails and police departments pertaining to the war on drugs. My opinion, is that marijuana remain illegal, yet penalties for possession be severely reduced. While penalties for possession with intent to sell be increased to the level of cocaine.

In response to the guy AC just interviewed saying you will see drug use go up if you legalize it. I started smoking ciggaretts at 13, I smoked for 5 years by the time I was 18 I quit. I was feeling the negative effects from it and there was no more thrill. Plus it just cost too much. I also started drinking at about 16 I drank like a fish at weekend parties in highschool. By the time I turned 21 I was less interested in drinking even burnt out on it. I think the legalization of at least marajuana would see the same effect

Drugs are illegal, yet easy to find in society. Teen drinking is illegal, yet you see them drunk all the time. Speeding laws, yet people speed all the time. What is the point of these laws when they serve no purpose or do nothing to stop what they make illegal.

Reminds me of Miami in the 1980s (watch cocaine cowboys I and II, blows your mind). Something very similar to this was going on in the US not too long ago...

Myself, I think the military will at least partially resolve the situation, at least quiet it down. It depends how far they want to go.

The cartels have to be hunted down and eliminated, that is the only way to resolve the problem. The old fashioned way of shooting cartel members on spot. (along the lines of he looters of New Orleans following Katrina, and how it stopped once the national guard stepped in...). Fight the terror with more terror. The collateral damage is going to make amnesty international scream, but its the only way.

Otherwise they can only hope to contain the problem, not eliminate it.

I sure wish someone could tell me the difference between legal addicting pharmacy drugs and illegal street drugs. Hummm–I wonder if there is a close bond here between our government and the big pharmacy cartel. Money, money, money, money.

Prohibition does not work !

Why have we not learned our lesson ? Why does our government think that even though prohibition failed with alcohol it can succeed with other substances that alters a persons mind or mood ?

When alcohol was illegal Gangters made millions and killed anyone who got in their way ....Just as we have now with a "war on drugs" that allows cartels to make millions while thousands die fighting a war that can not be won.

The only answer is legalize all drugs , control and tax them then use the money for the only thing that does work ....

Drug education , prevention and rehabilitation Subsidize our rehabs so the average family can afford the 25,000 -35,000 price tag an effective costs today.

three ways we win if marijuana is legalized:

1. The cost of trying to stop the drugs from coming into the US is saved and can be used for a good reason elsewhere.

2. TAX REVENUE. an added revenue source for states and the federal government.

3. It will create jobs in production, distribution and selling.

This the same as when alcohol was made legal. The only difference is that his is a weed and not a liquid.

Texas's gun laws should be changed, anyone can buy as many weapons as they wish at any time. Change the law and that will slow the smuggling of guns.

All that I have heard is how so many weapons from this country are going into Mexico. No one has asked how many of them have been stolen from law abiding citizens by gang members. There are about 500 Hispanic gangs from the Valley, to East LA down to South LA alone, let a lone what is in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Do you think that they might have something to do with these weapons going across the boarder? I spent 25 years in the military and went through several Anti Terrorism courses; one thing that was pointed out was that the US military has gang members in it. They are members that were selected to remain clean so that they can join the military. Their sole purpose is to take what military tactic’s they have learned and teach them to their fellow gang members to make them more effective. Do you think that they might be helping some military items disappear and ending up across the boarder? How about Mexico can they say that weapons from their police armories are not being sold to the cartel? How about Mexico’s neighbors to the South? We pumped a lot of weapons into those countries in the 80’s do you think they were accounted for? We have Venezuela that is not too friendly to us; you think they might be helping the cartels.
Yes there is a drug problem and we have helped to egg it on by our consumption and yes there are a few bad apples who would sell guns across the boarder and they should be punished to the upmost. The last item is how the Mexican army is out gunned by Assault Weapons provided from the US. Just as “Saturday Night Special” was catchy phrase in the 60’s for media and the powers to be; so has the Word Assault Weapon. An Assault Weapon is a weapon that is capable of FULL Automatic fire. The outward appearance does not make it capable of Full Automatic fire. But I believe this administration is using what is happening along the boarder to further their anti gun rhetoric.

Another thing build a state of the art fence, spend billions if necessary , make it so if they dig under sensors will pick it up, this is America make it happen.

Hey Anderson!
Way to go getting the cartel insider to do a live interview.....POWERFUL. There are, I'm sure, amny more long timers in our DEA and US Marshall that are corrupt. Afterall, they've had Dick Cheney and The Bush presidents as role models. They set a really bad example for our entire society.

I, agree with some of what the mashrall said. But, legalize all drugs is not the way to go. I, think pot should be, but, not all of the hard drugs.
Yes, pot should be legal to anyone over 21. It helps those with serious medical problems. Been using for 30+ years with no bad effects. Kept my job, done my work with no errors. I, have AIDS and it helps to clam me down, and keep my weight up. Just let us grow 3 plants for personal use, crack down on dealers, and to stop the smuggling across the border. Tobacco is the worst drug I, use and the hardess to quit and alcohol, has killed more than pot.
Thank You for your time.

Anderson,

Thank you for covering this very important topic. This has hit close to home as i visit Mexico often and have family in Torreon. One year ago it was a safe city where you could take the family out even late at night. No longer is that the case, there are daily shootouts between police and the drug cartels, people go grocery shopping in fear. This is a 2 way street as i see it. We americans are consuming and they want the business. Although many firearms are going into Mexico, i want to say that their customs inspectors DONT even check vehicles half of the time. They just wave you through. If these firearems are a problem then i say check every single vehicle going into Mexico. As far as the U.S. its the same thing. When i come back to the U.S. they check my citizenship and wave me through. In the last few times ive traveled to Mexico the U.S. border patrol has not so much as asked me to open my trunk!

I have faith in both administrations and im looking forward to an end to this.

I miss my sister city....she is injured and broken!

Ya know it's amazing how we can so called liberate a whole country(Iraq) but we can't control drugs within our own border. It's clear to me that none of this can happen unless some people in some pretty high places are in on it. I don't know who but the fact that they won't do anything about it tell's me that someone's making it happen.

-I don't know where i can start, first you have a country that is the number one drug's consumer in the world, and you have a next door country where there's the freedom to be corrupt!! Letal combination.

-There's no way Mexico could triumph in this war that is been helped by so many police men and chiefs, some months ago, in some underground mexican media were reporting about how much money Cartels used to give to this mexican chiefs of police, and per month this guys are receivin' 450 thousand dollars!!

-Unfortunetly it is a problem of the both countries, because I've seen some comments about why the US has to regulate their guns sales, well because just simple as this, is affectin' a commercial border and the safety of their own american citizens. I know that in Mexico there's a lot of corruption, and it will be very harsh to uncontrol the power of Cartels but what about american corruption? How is even possible that drugs can be easily transport to the cities in the US??? Aren't supposed are custom agents in the american side of the border?

-As you see, we share this problem and I just hope we can just finish this terrible and sad chapter in our history as a neighbors.

And I want to applaude Anderson Cooper for his brilliant report and hope to see more atention to this problem, and to watch too, more information about the problem in the US as well.
I was watching some reports from Fox News, and I didn't know this reporter, her name is Greta, i guess, and she was lying!, she said that in Monterrey we were with fear, and that's just a lie!
One thing is that Juarez city and some border cities are experimenting this terrible situations, that doesn't mean that all Mexico is like that.

Anderson

We always hear about supply and demand. Demand will never go away...prohibition proved that! I believe the term should be "Risk and Return". The consequences of NARCO activity is great ....death, life encarceration, etc.. Remove the high risk by legalization and the outrageous returns vanish. People do not kill each other for somethng that can be purchased over the counter. All violence surrounds the fact that the risk are so great that the end consumer must pay for the risk taken. We may have slightly increased use initially but a sudden price decrease would rid society of much of the violence. What are the crime stats of legal medical marijuana. The other problem is that society and our politicans do not want to acknoweldge the fact that drug money is deeply embeded in all aspects of are economy. The legalization would have signifcant ripple effects.

Good show!

People will always continue to use drugs for entertainment or temporary escape from reality, legal or not. It is human nature! Are those people hurting anyone else by doing so? (and I am not talking about e.g. driving under the influence as that is irrelevant...sleeping pills and alcohol are legal)

Let's get realistic and pragmatic.

Banning alcohol back in the day worked well didn't it?! Many drugs sold by the big pharma companies are not any less powerful, nor less addictive, it is just hard to patent a coca, poppy or marijuana plant.

Legalize it and tax it. What a perfect way to help balance the budget and pay for education and healthcare. This includes taking addicts off the vicious cycle of crime to get their fix. Treat drug addiction as a treatable disease not a crime. Better and cheaper to society. Just look at the Netherlands, for example.

The amount of our tax dollars wasted on a system that will never work is shocking.

As long as there drugs out there that are illegal there will be people who use them just to create a challange, to make themselves look like the big man. I think the bigger problem is looking at the reason people do drugs to start with. There has never been as much pressure on people as there is right this moment. Adults do well to coupe with the pressure but can imagine being a kid and being helpless to do anything about the problems?

Anderson,

Your story, while informative, is just the begining.

I live on the border in Laredo, TX. Everyday we are bombarded with more stories of drugs and senseless killings and kidnappings. I wish I could say the US efforts are helping, however, it has become a joke to locals.

The US troops stationed on our border is a farce! The men stationed here placed in horrid, over-crowded living conditions, are unarmed and are ordered to shadow border patrol officers. A member of the border patrol said, "They just get in the way. They do nothing and have no authority here. These poor guys come down thinking they are going to do something and end up sitting on their butt staring at the wall. We can't even have them fill out paper work."

I suppose the US is going for a "safety in numbers" approach, however, this is ridiculous.

Hopefully your story will show the people in Washington, SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!

Best of Luck and thank you for doing this story!

(please do not add my name on the blog)

Hello Anderson,

Plenty of people who use drugs would not be criminals if drugs were legal.

A large part of criminal violence is drug related. No illegal drugs equals less violent crimes. To eliminate illegal drug based violence we could legalize all drugs.

In most cases, drug addicts can work, make money and pay taxes, maybe even be rehabilitated. Dead people cannot do anything. More drug addicts would be better than more murders. Opportunity knocks. Let us save lives.

Thank you!

I have to start by saying your my hero Mr. Copper I watch your show faithfully every day. I live in El Paso, Texas, but I have family who live in Juarez. I remember spending weekends in Juarez, without having to worry, but even then you weren’t recommended to go out at night because of the corruption in the law enforcement. It has been a year since I’ve visited last, and my family that lives there, have alienated themselves in efforts to try to keep themselves safe. The drug war is bad. The U.S. can no longer turn the other cheek, we need to do something. I am so relieved that you are shining a light on this issue, because even some El Pasoans are ignorant to what is going on. These cartels are ruthless; a human life doesn’t have value anymore. I am nineteen years old, but even I understand the severity of the problem. To legalize drugs, I think, would only bring the war further into the U.S. Thank you again.

Anderson
I know you have a job to do and report the news but it disturbs me to know that the cartel is so strong, I think that the wall needs to be finished really quickly. I think that there need to be more FBI placed in Texas. I think also the US government needs to join strong forces with the Mexican Governemet to get all the Cartel. Kill them all like we did in Iraq. Kill all the Cartel and be done with all the problems. Its sick that there is so much corruption in Mexico. Its really sad.

Also the Wall need to be finished quicker as I saw on TV there are still spaces and that is bad.............

I also think that the guy you interviewed with who wore the Mask needs to be turned over to the US Governement and or the Mexican government so that they can put an end to this sooner than later.

thanks

Anderson,
Mexican weed sucks. let us grow the good stuff to smoke, here in California. and let the farmers back east grow hemp which does not depleate the soil, can be used for a multitude of products, and has no THC (kinda like the Mexican weed). Federal Deprohibition of the Cannabis plant would help to tackle four of our major problems. Helping the enviornment, fixing healthcare, producing alternative fuel products, and stimulating the economy by the tax revinue produced by Hemp and Medical Marijuana products.

i have been triying to read all the comments on this matter,, it surprises me that no one has any idea of how big the corruption in mexico is, not even us, who are the ones who smells the gunfire and blood from this war, this is no longer a matter of legalizing the pot or not, as a matter of fact that will just make it worst, why? well because knowing the mexican goverment, they will try to make a lot of money out of it, making the product even more expensive, and keeping the drugdealers on the street, for instance, if we now pay 5 dollars, for marijuana, we will pay 20 dollars for the "legal", for the same or even less amount. making us go back to the sheap dealer. now, the only drug than can be consider to be legal is marijuana, which is not the strongest market for the mexican cartels, for them what really gives the profit is the cocaine, extorsion, killing, , and well, i dont think we can legalize any of this activities can be legalized. you have to live here in chihuahua to understand the culture, and know that this is not gonna change, at least not here in mexico,, we live in a culture, where is more respected to be a "narco" than a professionist. dealers goes to bars and restauranst as if they were celebrities, people on the goverment knows them and even respects them, even the police know who they are, but they are afraid to do anything, cause for them its just not worth bothering for a salary of 800 dollars a month. which its true, but then again who is gonna care, i dont think u.s. is actually gonna end up increasing the cops salaries here in mexico.

I agree with Carl. America carries a burden, responsibility, and most importantly the resources to fix the problem in Mexico.

The corruption of government officials in Mexico is up and down the ladder. The lack economic stability and industrial development makes it difficult for anybody to stand up to the cartels. Finally people can lose their lives if they do not comply. With all this, I cannot blame the Mexican citizens for joining or emigrating.

America can help the Mexican government regain control of its country, which has a degree of self-interest included. Using a forceful but helping hand, the problem can be addressed.

Anderson Cooper u are a smart man
u know if drugs are made legal
the drug use will go up and the prices for drugs will not drop
That will be the down fall of the United States. There are more drug users and non drug users
I used to use drugs and sell them but now im clean and work for a living
Point blank if drugs are made legal i will be stupid to work for 10/hour, when i can make 10,000 a day to sell drugs
and then claim unemployment(while making 10,000 a day)
Note
Im against drugs now, but everyone that wants drugs to be legal are all rich people who dont want to get caught and lose their jobs. But i hate watching the news but i do not miss your show
Keep it up Mr. Cooper and dont be affaird to take your stories to the front line(thats why the whole world watch your show)

A.C.
Legalizing drugs would bring in billions......billions in legitimate taxes that we are not seeing today...sales taxes at the city,county.state and federal taxes....besides eliminating thousands of bribes and corrupting public officials.We can save billions in our correction institutions.Lets spend billions more on education,not on more security officers.The argument that the gang lords can sell drugs cheaper are absolutely wrong......Every law enforcement agency in the U.S. can pass on substantial savings to the tax payers.Pharmacies,etc. can easily be prepaired to sell legal drugs.Once it is legalized.......you can control the traffic,once you gain the upper hand......

risky and dangerous report. Legalizing drugs absolutely not the answer.

It would be imperative for the U.S. government to increase the manpower of security at the border of US/Mexico. Having trained national guards with more DEA agents to combat the drugs coming over into the United States is a good way of solving the problem. The wall that seperates US/Mexico borders need to be improved & extended with towers every mile with watch guards monitoring the terrain as well as having minuature tanks patrolling the borders 24/7 to make life uneasy for the drug cartels & their distributors. Once we rebuild our security forces to deal with the drugs problem from Mexico to the US, this can reduce some of the problems of the drug trades & give citizens a piece of mind instead of being afraid about living by the border. The Mexico government & military should be included in the security project to help take some tension away.

The truth of the matter is as long as the world and the government continues to distract and hide the full truth about drugs, people will continue to distrust anything the government says about drugs. It is alot like the way that teens learn about sex. If adults dont discuss sex with teens and be truthful with them, then teens will listen and believe thier friends, and 9 out of 10 times they will get the wrong information. When a governent portries a drug in the worst light possible, such as the 50s films protried marijuana, and they try it, and it is nothing like they were told, they will distrust and no believe anything that they were told about any other drugs. There is 14 million people who use marijuana in the US, because they know that the government is refusing to acknowledge the facts about it. Marijuana can be used to treat soo many different medical problems with 99% less side effects then the best medications on the market. Until the government comes to grips with the truth about drugs, more and more people will use drugs. Only once we all finally understand and accept all the facts about drugs will we ever control or even stop our need for drugs.

Ok, i have watched the report and alot of it is great but your not hitting the American side of the story. I was arrested in May 08 for trafficing 423 lbs of marijuana, i have made the trip from Az to a small town in middle America over 60 times. Thats 400lbs once or twice a month for almost 3 years, and thats to a small city. So to glamorize the arrests made on shipments is stupid the amount of marijuana getting across our boarder is amazing. I'm sorry but alot these experts you have on are just reading the same ole scripted text we have been hearing for the last 20 years. The violence in Mexico is only going to get worse the more shipments seized and people arrested will only lead to more killings, the more money they loose the worse it will get i have seen it first hand.

One thing a bunch of people continue to ignore is that many of the drugs that are used today come from a plant. The Coca leave, from the coca plant is what is used to make cocaine, actually has medicinal properties. That means that it can be used in a good way. The opium flower, from opium plant, is what is used to make heroin. Guess what people, what do you think that 90% of pain medications are made from? Marijuana can be used for a multitude of medical problems. It induces muscle relaxation, creates hunger, stops nausea, relieves depression, and many more things. We can reduce that use of the illicit use of cocaine, heroin, and weed, by simple recognize the many ways that we can use them without causing problems in society. We can use them for medical purposes. A way to stabilize places like Afghanistan is to enlist their help with creating medications from the opium flower. A way to stop the fighting in many of the Middle and South America countries is to allow the use of the coca leaf. That takes away any need or desire for cocaine. Hell, the only difference between cocaine and the coca leave is that the coca doesn't have any of the addictive properties, or the dangerous properties. These plants can be used in many good ways if we just look at the facts without all the bias that the media and the government try to force on us.

you know all this stuff yall have been hearing about mexico and the cartel recently is nothing new. this have been going on for years and years and now the u.s want to get invovled. why now? is it cause this is a reason to finally stop illegals from coming into u.s? cartels are not killings americans, there killing there own kind, so why does america care? united states should worry about there own kind. theres homeless veterans everywhere with no help from americans. theres americans losing jobs, homes, and all they have in this economy and all u woorry about is mexicans this mexicans that. United states should take care of there own before they take a step forward and try to solve something they have no control of and has nothing to do with americans. if you dont discipline your kids and if they didnt have a drug problem, cartels wouldnt be bothering. So all this, blame on U.S.A........spend millions and millions but you will never stop, never stop, illegals from coming over. you think of a way to stop them and there 5 steps ahead of you.....its always been like that and will never change. STOP WASTING TAX PAYERS MONEY AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR AMERICANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mr. anderson,

your interview with the drug cartel member was a hoax!
first of all he was to well educated!
when he spoke he had no accent, probably 3-4th generation born here in the u.s. california most likely.

he was either a state or federal officer, d.e.a. probably

the cartels keeps a tight watch on their people which makes them very dangerous.

i suppose you did this to try and shake up the cartels, however the only thing you have done is, you have made yourself a target!

and perhaps all cnn as well.

my advise to you sir is not to sleep in the same bed 2 nights in a row, and remember your next taxi ride could be your last.

and the weapons the mexican army is using that you showed were h&k not m-16 or ar-15's !

the mexican army was so bad a few years ago they were selling their weapons to the drug dealers, no wonder they are out gunned and scared! (idiots)

wish you all the luck in the world.

Also, Mexico doesn't want our involvement because billions of US dollars are sent back to mexico to bring relatives here to the states or just provide a better life in Mexico.

Dear Mr. Anderson Cooper,

I watched your program on the drug war. A Dutch Captain Bering of the Bering Sea fame of Alaska discovered Alaska in the 1700's. The Dutch Kingdom of the Netherlands has marijuana use legal and sold in licensed "Coffee Shops" and they have 1/3 per capita less use than America because it is regulated and taxed. Marijuana use has increased 4,000% since it was criminalized in the 30's.
I have to say about President Obama's comment was taken out of context. He did not say he would not legalized marijuana, he said he would not use marijuana as a tool to balance the budget.
Big Difference.
Jack Cafferty is right and I'm buying his book.
Chris Cillizza is wrong and immature.
Legalize marijuana!

I love the blame being placed on the US for arms being available to the Cartels. Especially when a great many arms are not available for purchase by citizens in the US that are being employed by them. Try to purchase grenades/launchers,fully automatic machineguns and so on. You can't .

Anderson,

First let me say that you should be commended for your bravery. You are in a war zone down there and in a conflict where some reporters are killed for speaking about it. So my hat is off to you and thank you for this report.

I would like to take issue with your comment the the Mexican Military is "out-gunned" by the cartels. Your cartel informant said that the guns they use are purchased in pawn shops and guns stores in the US. While that maybe true, Im sure you are aware that you cannot purchase military grade guns from pawn shops and gun stores and since the Mexican military gets some of its firepower from the use military grade weaponry i find it hard to believe that they are out-gunned. They certainly maybe out-manned in terms of numbers and I in no way intend to diminish the difficulty of what they do, but lets be clear about the difference between an Ak-47 you can purchase from a pawn shop and the Ak-47s used by military forces around the world.. big difference.

why are yous so worried about mexican pot when more is coming from canada. just let the mexicans kill each other off

I dont doubt we have a drug issue,problem, epidemic what ever you want to call it. But I dont think a majority of Americans are ignorant. Because you say something or report something over and over minute by minute doesnt mean we will automaticlly believe it. Personally I think the masked guy on your interview is a police officer.No drug cartel member would do that I would think without being charged and getting a deal,its just not believable to me. When the supposed masked man keeps saying they. they this,they that. Yeh great for ratings but lets be serious it certainly seems like a load of crap to meI understand Americans need to know,but be honest with us dont BS us with interviews with masked,known drug cartel member,if you say they are killers,why would you put him on tv. why wouldnt. he be in jail.Look the guy in the mask is a cop,nice try.keep workin on it you will get to the truth ,and I hope you report it as THE TRUTH..

Anderson Cooper,

I am glad your out of the studio and reporting on the front lines of this horrible drug war on the Mexican/U.S border. This is where you belong, out in the field reporting, this is where you do your best work. Anchoring from the studio is boring and detached from the real news. You are a good anchor, but there is many good anchors. However, when you report from the field, you stand out from those good anchors and become your own outstanding anchor/reporter. The news becomes real when your anchoring out in the field. Your good at it. You can expose the corruption and violence in both Mexico and the United States. I constantly flip between Fox and CNN, however last night I stayed with CNN throughout your show. Also, I want to give props to Gary Tuckman for his reporting.

Your story woke up some Americans who had no idea what was going on near our borders. I am a retired West Texas Peace Officer who's oldest son is now serving our country patroling the borders as a U.S Border Patrol Agent in West Texas. Imagine the sleepless nights I endure worring about him on a regular basis. Our government should become more involved and send in our military to address the issue. Some may say, " Why get involved" Well, these criminals have already invaded our COUNTRY! Keep up the great reporting.

I don't believe in legalizing marijuana, and I don't think it will work. . What we need is border protection and for our elected officials to get off their duffs and do something about this. And now smuggled guns from u.s.a. are to blame in drug wars. So now what do we do, ban guns? Wrong. How about a death penalty for smuggling guns or dope? One thing about the death penalty is that we won't have to worry about that smuggler or doper.

Hey Anderson
I watched your show yesterday,Hornest i as a German far away from this terrible war hade no idea how depise the drug dealer or murders think obout human life.i am really shocked.so thank you for doing this jo,telling the wold whats going on in this dangerous area,take care,and please go out of this please.

March 26th, 2009 12:25 pm ET

"I agree with Gabriel Torres. We need to control the flow of guns into Mexico. Mexico needs to ask the US Government to inspect all vehicles entering into Mexico, the way we do it when entering the US. I think this will help minimize the gun flow into Mexico. Its a money issue?"
=======================================
The United States does NOT inspect all of the vehicles that move over the border and into the United States. Way to frequently, (as the streets would have it) we look at less than 10% of the incoming vehicles. Obviously, we need to look at all of them and the Department of Homeland Security can do that if Napolitano so desires at this point.

But no.. we don't need to look at all the vehicles moving into Mexico. Mexico has the laws that stop that movement of arms into Mexico, and while we have seen motley collections of arms seized here and there, we are not seeing evidence of US military armories being emptied and sold, or significant arms sales of military weapons to the Dope Peddlers in Mexico generally.

Mexico.. Mexico needs to check all the trucks moving into Mexico. The United States needs to check all the vehicles moving into the United States. Because we both have a very serious problem on that border, we both need to talk about 100% inspections for a while.

And because of what comes to the United States, (very contaminated narcotics) we need to build that fence way on down the line and make it even more difficult to get the junk into this country. We can let Janet show us how to get over it anytime she chooses to see the fence.. boots on the ground.
---------------------
May I point out that we were told the fence was in place.. built? We were told that, and what was meant by that was not that the fence was built, but rather obviously, all the Fence Napolitano would build had been built. No.. the fence has not been built.

All right people, this is not a difficult one. In fact, this is extremely easy. Should we legalize all drugs? Absolutely not. Should we reconsider what we define as a drug? Absolutely. Before reading this next paragraph I please ask all readers not to hastily judge my argument until you have finished.

Marijuana is not a drug. Yes, I said it. A drug is under most circumstances created unnaturally, chemically altered to provide a maximum effect, the most important of these effects being addiction (something all real drugs have in common).

Now, so we are all on the same page, an addiction can be defined as the compulsive need and use of a habit-forming substance characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal. For any of you who have not tried marijuana, it needs to be understood that even for those who have smoked every single day for months, or even years, the symptoms of withdrawal (ie; a night, days, or even weeks you may not be able to obtain any) is comparable to a child being told they cannot have any dessert after dinner...they may not like it, but they will surely get over it, in most cases they will not even remember it was even an issue the next day.

I feel at this time it is important to note that many LEGAL substances, such as nicotine, sleep aids, over the counter pills, and, of course, alcohol, all fit under the umbrella definition of addictive, readily available, and especially in the case of alcohol, accidentally DEADLY, compounds.

To save time, as well as to avoid taking advantage of the space offered in this blog, I implore you all to take a glance into Google's search engine and the results it offers for the effects and deadliness of illicit drugs like cocaine, heroine, methamphetamines, opiates, etc. I then implore you all to try your hardest in finding even one marijuana overdose. Just one.

Now, what should be done? While watching Anderson Cooper tonight I could not help but notice the huge role marijuana plays in the Border Hop Edition of Monopoly being played by these disgustingly inhumane drug cartels (any of you who watched the exclusive interview Mr. Cooper had with one of them knows my words are putting it quite nicely). With marijuana out of the picture, these drug cartels will lose a drastic amount of business. This, in turn, makes them that much weaker and vulnerable.

If you have not been able to tell already, I am in favor of the legalization of marijuana, or at the very least decriminalization. Without getting into its benefits in the medical field (we're all going to get cancer of some kind eventually, and the benefits of marijuana and cancer patients have been very well documented, please, look it up), in doing so, not only will our economy's state of affairs be ever so slightly alleviated in the short term (every little bit matters today), but tremendously in the long run once the government can establish a nice infrastructure and tax setup.

This would also help our economy indirectly by helping to clear out our already overcrowded prisons full of marijuana "drug offenders", which means our tax payer money does not have to be wasted daily on people who really haven't earned a reason to be in these prisons. And most importantly, this creates plenty of room for narcotic offenders, which brings us to the second part of the plan.

After the legalization of marijuana, laws and restrictions on more serious and actual illicit DRUGS should become more strict. The stronger the deterrents, the harder it is for drug cartels to even want to be in the game, the less likely they will be able to succeed or even bother. This would be a classic example of cost-benefit analysis, which for many of them would prove negative.

Finally, I am a huge supporter of President Obama, and I am glad President Obama feels comfortable enough to bring up the fact that the legalization of marijuana is a question being asked by many Americans across the nation. However, I was very disappointed in the way he handled the subject by merely cracking a joke about the Internet community's intelligence and merely dismissing the subject with a chuckle and a "No." He said nothing conducive to the subject, no explanations, no reason at all for saying no, when there are so many reasons for saying yes. I pray that it was merely a sad attempt to sidestep the question for now until he is absolutely sure he will not be politically crucified for following what common sense shows to be the right choice. I do hope he was able to catch the poll on Lou Dobbs' segment concerning the way he dealt with the issue (88% opposed, only 12% in favor). Hopefully time will tell with that.

In closing, I thank you for reading my entry, and on a semi-unrelated note, can anybody please explain to me the reason Hemp is still illegal? Hemp is not marijuana, it is the economic stimulus and green jobs solution we are looking for. We can make over 25,000 things with it (including a reliable source of fuel). It can grow virtually anywhere. Farmers approve. Environmentalists approve. You can't get high from it (interestingly enough, to do so you would need to smoke a joint the size of a telephone poll = impossible). So why is it still illegal?

You do some good reporting but please keep your reporting subjective. In your interview with the alleged member of the drug cartel your question of where the guns come from and this alleged cartel member's answer of the U.S. could not have been more set up. What you are trying to make the situation of guns going into Mexico look like is that they are coming strictly from the U.S. While I do not doubt that some guns may cross our borders into Mexico the problem is not the weapons but in the way the criminals use them. Isn't it just possible Anderson that guns go into Mexico from other countries and why did you not ask that of the alleged cartel member ? Banning guns is not the answer. Again, keep your reporting subjective. There are too many sheep out there that will actually believe what they hear and read without question.

Hi Mr. Anderson, I wish we could see some of this on regular TV stations. Many of us U.S. Mexicans don't see these programs and are the one's going into Mexico. When we get there we do hear from our families how its becoming at the borders. I think many police are involved on both sides U.S. & Mexico this is why it continues to happen. I traveled every year to Mexico by auto with my Mom & Dad for 21 years but now I wouldn't dare. You don't know who is the nice person anymore. Mexico needs to get there act together if you see people buying 1/2 million dollar homes don't they wounder where the money is coming from. Everyone seems to close there eyes, hopefully Mexico starts getting these criminals because it will ruin Mexico from Tourist wanting to travel there anymore. WAKE UP MEXICO & U.S. WE DON'T NEED DRUGS

AC

How can anyone not understand the simplicity of the situation?

If it is illegal, there is profit.

It is THE SAME as what happened earlier this century with Al Capone.
The law of prohibition MADE Al Capone a multi-millionaire.
When prohibition was repealed, the nation healed.

Robert Almonte either doesn't understand or he just wants to protect his job.

As for the probable rise of drug usage, what right does anyone have to tell another human being what they can or can not do in their own home, on their own property.
NONE!!!! NO RIGHT WHAT SO EVER.!!!!!

The government has no right to dictate our morality!!!!!

The only laws that should be made are:
1. Laws that protect us from a foreign power.
2. Laws that deal with interstate commerce.
3. Laws that protect us from other people both physically and financially.

All other laws infringe upon our solemn rights as human beings to be free. Including our RIGHT to do drugs if we choose!!!!!!

Our US Federal Government has overstepped its bounds and created most of the problems that we have in this nation, from the drug related crimes to the low test scores in our school system can be directly traced to the Federal Governments policies over the past 100 years.

Does anyone else understand?

Bud

Marijuana is not a "gate way" drug and it should be legalized in the U.S., grown and harvested, that would take much of the wind out of the cartels' sails. California is leading the way and other states should follow their example. The reason we have not legalized marijuana is because marijuana would be truly difficult to control, meaning to tax. Let's get real about this and stop sending all our money to Mexico for a substance we could easily cultivate right here, marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. Why are people so afraid of it? Could it be because of the anti-drug programs and propaganda we bombarded with during the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Fight fire with fire. Pot is the drug of choice in the U.S., legalize marijuana. That will put the cartels right out of business. And the border patrol can focus on meth, cocaine and illegal immigration. In the U.S. legalzied pot would: increase tax revenue, increase employment, reduce work loads in the criminal and judicial systems, and keep hundreds of millions of dollars right here in our country.

Mr. Cooper:
It is sad to see in the news how Juarez; once a bustling tourist haven has deteriorated into a 'drug war zone'.
I remember as a very young (19) year old who went to Juarez a couple of times with a male friend of mine. Although not the cleanest town in the world; there was a lot of fun to be had...and a lot to discover.
Although I did not want to indulge in the bullfights; I did enjoy trying out the different restaurants. Now, here was a place that had REAL Mexican food. Yum!
The streets were lined with shop-keepers who would do their best to bargain with you right there on the streets and try to lure you into their shops. I remember being a day late getting back to work. I bargained for a serape that I knew my boss would love. (It saved my job). Another time, I bargained for a Mexican dress-style top and skirt from the wares that the shop-keeper had right their on the streets. It was a lot of fun to me, dickering for a bargain.
Even food fenders lined the streets with their carts. Wonderful, authentic Mexican food. As long as you had a partner with you...(It was never safe to go alone)...a lot of fun was to be had.
Now, my granddaughter has moved to El Paso. I pray that she stays out of Juarez. Although she is half Mexican, she does not speak the lanquage and I hate to think what might happen to her if she ventured over the border.
A tourist-loving town has been lost...bringing even more hardship to the poor of this border town.
Unregulated drugs have destroyed many people's life-styles. Only God will be able to stop this insanity.

Thank you for covering the story. I am a teacher in El Paso and see the effects of these problems everyday. I am glad that the media and goverment are finally addressing the issue. I feel that supply and demand are part of the problem but the heart of the problem lie in the corruption of the Mexican law enforcment. Those of us who live along the border have experienced this.We can only hope that the Mexican government will clean house!

So in the middle of this hideous and bloody conflict –and with the horrific murders of young women in Juarez several years ago, the question begs itself : Where's the Roman Catholic Church ? If they have been so powerful in Latin affairs over the years and centuries, where are they now when their people need them the most ? Do they take money from the cartels, do they conduct funerals for these hoodlums, and why don't they voice a strong opinion even if it has to come directly from the Vatican? Warren Taylor

Anderson, Great reporting! You bring the important issues to the people.

i watched anderson one night and he interviewd a guy that use to be part of the drug cartel. he said something that really stuck out to me and that was for all you people that use all of these drugs that are coming out of mexico EVERYONE OF YOU HAVE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! people you need to think about what you are doing. not only are you killing yourself but just think about what you are doing to your famillies and what kind of future you are making for your kids.

as a kid my family would go to el paso and to juarez often and stay and eat at the camino real hotel. i was even a duchess at the sun carnival in el paso. we always loved going there because it was usually warmer than it was in santa rosa, nm. i can't believe the pics i've seen lately. please be safe.

I'm an El Paso resident, watch the show daily (or at least the podcast). Anderson, El Pasoans are outraged with Clinton speaking for Americans claiming WE are to blame. I agree there is a problem in the states, drug addicts and gun problems (even American gangs have dangerous artillery), but to take the blame away from Mexico is a huge problem. Mexico has a very corrupt government, look at the past president issues. If the majority of drugs coming from Columbia to the cartels, shouldn't Mexico be protecting their southern boarder a lot better? How is that America's mistake? Yes, guns and Demand comes from us, what ever happened to Just Say NO that the Reagan's implemented. And where's our Gun control. So we work on that... while Mexico begins investigating the corruption in Police, Military, Government, protecting their southern boarder and perhaps making some arrests or solving those 4,000 plus unsolved murders from that past few years.

I travel to Juarez often and if you don't go to the bad areas at night you are going to be fine. I know people that live there and they know that there is violence on the streets but they also know that if you are not involved, let the police do their work and don't go to the bad areas of Juarez you will be OK.
The Mexican government needs to clean up their part of the mess and the USA needs to crack down on gun running....the penalties need to be severe.

Anderson: I live in Mexico and have for ten years, Usually I avoid only Lou Dobbs on CNN because of his skewed view of Mexico. However, I have to say your reporting on the border verges on irresponsible. It paints all of Mexico with the same brush.
What you are doing is going to further depress the Mexican economy by scaring tourists away. Many of us are working very hard to improve the life of Mexicans by building libraries and helping Mexicans to start businesses.
Americans might be surprised to learn that if the opportunity to support your family existed in Mexico, most Mexicans would prefer to live here.
There are 50,000 Americans and Canadians retired safely in just the state of Jalisco. To balance your reporting, you need to include their opinions as well.
Did you hear your own interviewee from the cartel say that the people who get killed are those who come to Mexico to party, buy or sell drugs, etc. Those of us who keep our noses clean aren't suffering.
donnaj-Mexico

The assault rifle ban would do nothing but punish Americans who use them safely. I own a semi-automatic Yugoslavian sks, a 22 caliber semi-automatic rifle, a pump action 12 gauge shotgun, a semi-automatic Beretta 9mm 92FS, and a Beretta 45 caliber semi-automatic Px4 Storm. I have a concealed weapons permit and abide all laws governing my firearms and their uses.

I and many friends own "Assault Rifles" that were made illegal from that ban. The ban restricted weapons that were based off of military rifles, but lacked one major thing; being fully automatic.

How about talking about a hurtle that people have to jump through to own these rifles. I am pro gun ownership for the people of America and I know that lots of people want them to be all illegal. That's not an option. Instead of banning guns, use the government to create new laws on the federal level. Make people get fingerprinted for purchasing these firearms, make them register these guns, and make an inspector come in every so many years to ensure all the firearms are still in this persons home.

Maybe not that far gone, but there are other options that people can come up with. You have to think outside of the mindset that "all assault rifles kill people." Out of the number of Ak-47, AR-15, and other tactical rifles bought, the numbers used in violent crimes is very small.

I think that in order to solve the problem of bringing guns into Mexico, we need to step up on how we check people crossing the border. Pat down everyone, metal detectors, and other features. We do it to our own people getting onto planes, why not to the people going outside of the country. Look at it as like, if they have a weapon, it could be used against the U.S.

That San Diego couple who were kidnapped in Baja, the story you ran over and over.

That happened about 4 years ago and you presented it like it was yesterday. What's up with that?

Thank you for bringing this issue to the main stream media, but what took CNN so long to start covering this issue? National Public Radio has been reporting on this situation for well over 6 months. This issue is affecting both sides of the US border, and it's imperative that people understand not only the issue at hand, but the root causes.

Keep up the good work!

The only way to end the drug violence is to kill the head of the snake . The head of the snake is the growing operation, whether it is marijuana, cocaine, heroin, you have got to stop the crops. NO Crops , no income. Mexico needs to focus more military towards destroying the crops , but, if they eliminated the problem , they wouldn't need our tax dollars anymore . Just something to think about .

Each bordering state needs to deploy the National Guard!
The I-10 from Az to Ca into LA is a hot zone for trafficking...I am an educated Mexican-American having unfortunate ties through distant family in this cartel issue. It's embarrasing and pathetic to see a peasant cousin from a very poor pueblo trying to be the next Tony Montana. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.
I personally know of two tons of mexican marijuana coming in per week. It angers me!!!!
Legalize and tax californian marijuana, it will choke the need for mexican marijuana.
As for cocaine and meth., the colombians are reducing their pricies to compete with meth.. The Pablo Escobars of today need to be dealt with at the root in Bogata, Cali, etc. ,meth. the human won't last long on that.
Heroin, bomb the Afhgans!!!!

I live in one of the safest cities in America! El Paso Texas. Why don"t you report on the Mexicans coming to live in my city and probably importing their crime problems to my city. They are not allowed to defend their family and home in their own country so they want to hide behind our top rate law enforcement, and try to get a weapon to defend themselves here. They know that if they have to defend their family here they will not be automatically hauled off to Prison!!!!

I am from Juarez. I lived there for 16 years. I could walk on the streets by myself. Go visit friends and be back home for dinner.

Later, after I moved to El Paso, I spent many weekend in Juarez. My friends and I could go to any bar, restaurant, club and not be afraid.

The "worst" part about going to Juarez was coming back to El Paso because, most times, you have to wait at the bridge for hours.

During these 16 years living in Juarez, nobody ever offered me drugs. I didn't even know what marihuana looked like. My husband – he is white and has lived in the US his whole life – can just not believe this. He says I lived a very sheltered life. But, the truth is, none of my close friends ever tried drugs. We would get together and drink, but that was it.

One day, I was watching the news and I saw the picture of a guy I knew. They said it was drug related. Nothing was ever the same. Then, the killings. Hundreds of women dead. It is so hard to believe, even now.

I took my daughter and husband to Juarez in 2007. Part of me believed that the situation had nothing to do with me or anybody I knew. I lived there for 16 years and I "made it"!!!!! Why let the news dictate what I could do. This my city!!!

This past December I had the opportunity to visit Juarez again. I couldn't do it. I couldn't take my husband, my daughter and my son to the old house where I grew up. I couldn't show them my old room (which I shared with 2 aunts and my mother). They didn't get to see the little corner store where I used to buy candy.

It is no longer something that happens to drug dealers or women that have the horrible luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now, it is a part of everybody's life.

My Aunt lives a few blocks from the place where all those poor women are "dumped." And this is the same aunt that had to stay inside a supermarket until the "balacera" ended just outside on the street.

My Cousin saw a man killed just a couple of table away from where she was having a drink with her friends. When the soldiers got there to "control" the situations, she said she was scared of them. You know, you made the wrong move and...well, they are not there to help.

My Mother and I left for personal reasons. Not because of the drugs, the killings. She just wanted me to go to an American university. She knew my life would be better here. As much as I hated that decision back then, now I am grateful.

I live in Juarez and yes it is scary! I'm glad though that the soldiers are here. Since they got here it's been safer to be out, I trust them more than any other police or authority figure. They are here to die if you think about it yet they are living under poor circumstances like cold showers, very little food and on the floor, believe me I know. I'm glad you are doing this for the world. Be safe!!

Anderson, I really appreciate somebody finally coming to El Paso/JRZ, I grew up in JRZ and currently live in El Paso, and it surreal what has happened to Juarez, I would cross every day to work and having to witness shootings in broad daylight is horrifying, I would get home and be thankful to see my children, but what about the people that live their, they still have that tension of keeping their families safe. I am grateful that I found a job on this side of the border, but I worry for friends and family that are exposed everyday, and even though executions have come down from 14 to probably none daily, people are still being carjacked at gun point, when no soldiers or police are around. In a period of 2 month, 6 people from my company were robed in the commute to work (7-6 a.m.) or on the way back (5-7p.m) it really doesn't matter what time of the day it is, in two of these cases it were U.S. citizens that work in these plants. So nobody is really safe, it is taking in toll in U.S. companies located in JRZ, because people just like me, are looking for a way out.
It's been a major change after seeing beheaded bodies hanging from bridges early 6-7 a.m., in a really busy street. But even though I recognize that Mexico has major corruption problems, what would you do, if your family is at stake?????, when you have no were to run or to hide, believe me they will find you ! ! ! I really feel for the policemen that go in honest and love their country because they are paid minimum wage, exposing their lives and families.

Take care,

Anderson,

Thank you for bringing us the informational facts about the drug war into our living room. We would have never gotten straight answers from the government. I still find it upsettting that we can send billions of tax dollars and our own National Guard overseas, but find it too much of a "political hot potato" to rally our own troops at our Southern border.