Mexico Institute's Eric Olson provided commentary on this story about Mexico's homicide rate. This article was also published in UPI.com and on Hispanic Business.
Los Angeles Times, 8/22/2012
A has found that Mexico鈥檚 homicide rate rose for the fourth year in a row in 2011, this time by 5.6% compared with the previous year -- a fact that will come as little surprise to Mexicans who continue to be bombarded each morning with the latest stomach-turning details of the country鈥檚 drug war.
What is less clear, however, is what the new numbers say about outgoing President Felipe Calderon鈥檚 controversial and nearly 6-year-old decision to deploy the military to battle the country鈥檚 entrenched drug-trafficking gangs.
The new homicide numbers 鈥渟how that violence is still a really important issue,鈥 said Eric Olson, associate director of the Mexico Institute at the 乐鱼 体育 in Washington.
鈥淗ow [Pe帽a Nieto] is going to seek to reduce violence is an open question, but it鈥檚 still a worthwhile priority,鈥 he said.
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The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis T茅llez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute. Read more
