Whack-a-mole: US drones used in Mexican drug war

Remember, Calderon wants all the toys the other boys have. (See our Nov. 2010 editorial Boys, Toys and the War on Drugs)

US drones used in Mexican drug war: "Stepping up its involvement in Mexico's drug war, the Obama administration has begun secretly sending drones deep into Mexican territory to gather intelligence that helps locate drug traffickers and follow their networks, US and Mexican officials said.

The Pentagon began flying high-altitude, unarmed drones over Mexican skies last month, US military officials said, to collect information to turn over to Mexican law enforcement agencies.

Other administration officials said a US Homeland Security drone helped Mexican authorities find several suspects linked to the killing of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, Jaime Zapata, on February 15.

The US President, Barack Obama, and his Mexican counterpart, Felipe Calderon, agreed to continue the surveillance flights during a White House meeting on March 3. The American assistance has been kept secret because of legal restrictions in Mexico and the heated political sensitivities there about sovereignty, the officials said.