As reader Paul G. suggests, the debate over militarizing the border is now over. From the AP:
MEXICO CITY – Business groups in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez said Wednesday they are calling for United Nations peacekeepers to quell the drug-related violence that has given their city one of the highest homicide rates in the world.
Groups representing maquiladora assembly plants, retailers and other businesses said they will submit a request to the Mexican government and the Inter American Human Rights Commission to ask the U.N. to send help.
"This is a proposal ... for international forces to come here to help out the domestic (security) forces," said Daniel Murguia, president of the Ciudad Juarez chapter of the National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism. "There is a lot of extortions and robberies of businesses. Many businesses are closing."...
"We have seen the U.N. peacekeepers enter other countries that have a lot fewer problems than we have," Murguia said. ...
Maynez said the United States could also contribute to the solution, adding that the U.S. might be forced to in its own interests.
"We know that sooner or later, the violence will spill over into our sister city of El Paso, Texas," he said.
CIS author Glynn Custred wrote an important piece last month on the options for U.S. intervention, should the U.S. be "forced to in its own interests."
