The Tormented Isthmus: Big-time drug trafficking has arrived in Central America. Its poor, politically polarised countries must now try to cope.

http://www.economist.com/node/18558254?story_id=18558254

Staying on the same topic as the previous article about drug trafficking in Mexico this article focuses on the same issue but in Central America where drugs are also being produced, processed and consumed. Nearly all the world’s cocaine is produced in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. Not surprisingly the biggest consumer is the United States. The presence of the cartels are causing murder rates to steadily increase. In Guatemala alone the murder rate is twice as high as Mexico's, and nearly ten times greater than that of the United States. Honduras and El Salvador are even more violent. What is unfortunate is that most Central American governments do not have the resources to police areas in which drug cartels are present and even worse most Central American countries fail to generate enough jobs for their unschooled people. Because the US is the biggest consumer, Central America’s leaders think the United States should do more to help tackle the consequences of its own demand for cocaine. Though the region is more violent than both Mexico and Colombia, Central America receives much less American aid. I also believe that the US needs to intervene both in Mexico and in Central America. It is not the US government's fault that most of its citizens are drug addicts but because they are, they are obligated to address the issue. Lives cannot continue to be destroyed because of their negligence.

Maria Macias
Armel 1pm