Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The U.S. State Department is trying to smooth over relations with Mexico after a congressman implied the Mexican government is losing control over its own country.

Drug cartels are “undermining the Mexican state,” according to Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs western hemisphere subcommittee.

Mack’s statement during a subcommittee hearing last week prompted a backlash of criticism in Mexico.

Mexican political commentators also are upset by Mack’s statement that the Merida Initiative has shown few signs of success despite more than $1.5 billion in U.S. contributions.

The Merida Initiative is a 2008 treaty between the United States and Mexico designed to fight drug cartels. It has included transfers of military equipment to Mexico and training for the Mexican Army and police.

Mack’s committee is trying to find a replacement for the treaty, which expires this year. The Florida congressman suggests a “counterinsurgency plan” that targets hotbeds of drug cartel activity. He also wants a more comprehensive strategy that coordinates the efforts of several U.S. federal agencies.

“The Mexican drug cartels have evolved into what some call the greatest national security threat faced by the United States with the ability to severely damage the U.S. economy,” Mack said. “The administration has failed to set target dates or tangible goals to measure the success of U.S. programs and the Mexican drug cartels have capitalized on this failure, actively undermining the Mexican state through insurgent activities, such as violence, corruption and propaganda.”

Mack’s criticisms prompted political commentator Armando Alcocer to write in the Mexican publication Sexenio, “Perhaps our neighbors to the north are not satisfied with outright interventionism in the public policies and economics of Mexico. What’s next, armed occupation?”

The U.S. State Department responded with a statement of support for Mexico.

“Mexican authorities assert control throughout Mexico, in all Mexican states,” the State Department said. “Although organized crime tries to act with impunity, the Mexican government is using its resources to ensure that state authority will prevail and criminals will be punished, and we are supporting them.”

The State Department also described accomplishments of the Merida Initiative, which included training more than 6,800 federal police officers, transferring 14 helicopters to Mexico and improving information sharing that resulted in the capture of 29 top drug cartel leaders.

“We believe the [Merida] Initiative is already having a positive impact,” the State Department said. “Through its bold efforts, with U.S. support, the Mexican government has successfully dismantled drug smuggling routes, seized major amounts of illicit drugs and jailed drug kingpins.”

Nevertheless, complaints are rising among Mexico’s neighbors over how the five-year-old war with drug cartels is spilling over its borders.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is demanding stronger legislation to keep illegal immigrants out of the United States.

Last year, 3,231 Mexicans filed for political asylum in the United States, up from 2,670 in 2005. To qualify for political asylum, they must prove they have a “credible fear of persecution or torture.”

Mexico’s southern neighbors also are feeling crimped by the drug war violence.

President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic recently said a crime increase in his country’s central cities of Santiago and Jarabacoa was caused by Mexico’s drug cartels.

The executions of three Colombians and a Venezuelan, as well as the decapitation of a Dominican, were examples of Sinaloa Cartel activity, Fernandez said during a speech last week in Santiago.

“The seal of the murders for hire shows that the Mexican cartels are here, more than the Colombians,” Fernandez said.

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Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The U.S. State Department is trying to smooth over relations with Mexico after a congressman implied the Mexican government is losing control over its own country.

Drug cartels are “undermining the Mexican state,” according to Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs western hemisphere subcommittee.

Mack’s statement during a subcommittee hearing last week prompted a backlash of criticism in Mexico.

Mexican political commentators also are upset by Mack’s statement that the Merida Initiative has shown few signs of success despite more than $1.5 billion in U.S. contributions.

The Merida Initiative is a 2008 treaty between the United States and Mexico designed to fight drug cartels. It has included transfers of military equipment to Mexico and training for the Mexican Army and police.

Mack’s committee is trying to find a replacement for the treaty, which expires this year. The Florida congressman suggests a “counterinsurgency plan” that targets hotbeds of drug cartel activity. He also wants a more comprehensive strategy that coordinates the efforts of several U.S. federal agencies.

“The Mexican drug cartels have evolved into what some call the greatest national security threat faced by the United States with the ability to severely damage the U.S. economy,” Mack said. “The administration has failed to set target dates or tangible goals to measure the success of U.S. programs and the Mexican drug cartels have capitalized on this failure, actively undermining the Mexican state through insurgent activities, such as violence, corruption and propaganda.”

Mack’s criticisms prompted political commentator Armando Alcocer to write in the Mexican publication Sexenio, “Perhaps our neighbors to the north are not satisfied with outright interventionism in the public policies and economics of Mexico. What’s next, armed occupation?”

The U.S. State Department responded with a statement of support for Mexico.

“Mexican authorities assert control throughout Mexico, in all Mexican states,” the State Department said. “Although organized crime tries to act with impunity, the Mexican government is using its resources to ensure that state authority will prevail and criminals will be punished, and we are supporting them.”

The State Department also described accomplishments of the Merida Initiative, which included training more than 6,800 federal police officers, transferring 14 helicopters to Mexico and improving information sharing that resulted in the capture of 29 top drug cartel leaders.

“We believe the [Merida] Initiative is already having a positive impact,” the State Department said. “Through its bold efforts, with U.S. support, the Mexican government has successfully dismantled drug smuggling routes, seized major amounts of illicit drugs and jailed drug kingpins.”

Nevertheless, complaints are rising among Mexico’s neighbors over how the five-year-old war with drug cartels is spilling over its borders.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is demanding stronger legislation to keep illegal immigrants out of the United States.

Last year, 3,231 Mexicans filed for political asylum in the United States, up from 2,670 in 2005. To qualify for political asylum, they must prove they have a “credible fear of persecution or torture.”

Mexico’s southern neighbors also are feeling crimped by the drug war violence.

President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic recently said a crime increase in his country’s central cities of Santiago and Jarabacoa was caused by Mexico’s drug cartels.

The executions of three Colombians and a Venezuelan, as well as the decapitation of a Dominican, were examples of Sinaloa Cartel activity, Fernandez said during a speech last week in Santiago.

“The seal of the murders for hire shows that the Mexican cartels are here, more than the Colombians,” Fernandez said.

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The initiative itself is principally designed to strengthen school in America and, by focusing on the role of fathers, help some of the most disadvantaged students in those schools. It looks at the importance of requiring parents to take responsibility for the success, or otherwise, or their children.

The initiative seems to have substantial bipartisan support, although these are early days. Any measures hinting at expanding the role of Federal government is always contentious.

The policy itself has been largely socially driven, as its founding principles are based on contact with those within communities and neighbourhoods, including those working in schools, prisons, neighbourhood leaders and non-profit groups. The aim of this contact was to explore how the father roles were being fulfilled in the lives of children.

There is academic research to support the idea that, in families where fathers are present and play an active role, the child’s academic prospects tend to improve. There are those that believe schools and the home should link more closely together in order to achieve the long-term aims of the policy.

Some see the school as a kind of community center, open for up to 12 hours a day, providing child mentoring programmes, relationship programmes and parental training. some Conservatives, however see problems, not only with the funding needed, but also with the need for schools to take on such wide-ranging roles that they may not be equipped to fulfil.

Many, however, so recognise and agree on certain inherent problems. One of which is the distinct lack of men in schools generally-also reflected a wider societal climate. An increased presence of men in schools could go a long way towards providing good male role models, thereby supporting any initiatives aim at supporting a male presence in the home. In short, the aims have broad support. It’s the way in which those aims are funded, and the exact route the funding travels that will continue to raise contentions. If this isn’t enough for you, however, search online for other education grants that you may be able to apply for as finding the right financial aid to help you get back to school and get the education you need is key to success for most people.

If you’re stuck and need some help finding good information online try using Financial-Aid-Directory.com for finding the latest information on financial aid to help you when you need it most.

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