Americas Program Original Translation
Wednesday September 5, 2012
J. Jaime Hernandez | The Universal
CHARLOTTE, NC. - The “dramatic expansion” in size and scope
of transnational crime networks today draws its alliances with international
terrorism, government officials and some state security services, "hurting
people worldwide, posing a threat to stability and subverting government institutions
through corruption,” according to the Democratic Party platform, approved here yesterday
at the start of their national convention.
According to the document, this transnational threat is
within the priorities and commitments of President Barack Obama in the fight
against this global scourge. Highlighting the partnership with countries like
Mexico in fighting drug cartels and gangs, the Democratic platform is a
commitment to the continuation of this struggle.
"Transnational criminal organizations have accumulated
wealth and unprecedented power over the drug trade, illegal arms trafficking,
human trafficking and other illicit activities that have entered the financial
system," says the program, which highlights Obama's priorities in
security, international relations and future cooperation.
Highlighting the partnership the United States has with
countries like Mexico in the fight against drug traffickers and gangs, the
document advocates a greater strain on the finances of the cartels - including a
look into the U.S. banking system - for Obama’s second term. According to the
document, security and stability on both sides of the border depends on the
continuity and improvement of the fight with Mexico against the criminal
organizations. Thus, the Obama campaign is committing to the continuity and
strengthening of the capacities of the two countries to hit the criminal organizations
and their finances and to regionalize these efforts so that the cartels
"have no place to hide."
"We do not see any change in the battle we have fought
with Mexico. We recognize the efforts of the Mexican authorities and we also
accept that we have to put more of our part in this struggle, particularly in
the chapter of consumption (of drugs) and that of weapons,” Michelle Flournoy
told El Universal, Obama’s campaign adviser for national security and
international relations.
Although the platform makes no specific mention of the
update or reformulation of the Merida Initiative that began under the
administration of George W. Bush in 2008, the document makes clear the need for
joint collaboration to address a threat that has spread on several fronts.
Regionalize the fight
The platform’s commitment to regionalize the strategy
against the cartels is an approach that began under Obama's first term.
"Under the logic that we all face these challenges, we will continue to
support regional security forces to tighten border security, equip the police and
provide the technology and training they need to keep their communities
safe," he says.
"We have strengthened our cooperation with Mexico,
Colombia and throughout Central America to fight drug traffickers and criminal
gangs that threaten their citizens and ours. In addition, we will expand our
partnership network to the Caribbean," he says.
It also puts a greater emphasis on the exchange of
intelligence information and greater pressure on finance, which is the blood
that feeds the power of the cartels of corruption across borders. The platform
mentions the issue of gun control, one of the most controversial in U.S.
policy. Unlike GOP, Democrats seek to restore the ban on assault weapons that
expired in 2004, which the Mexican government is demanding in order to prevent
arms from getting to the drug cartels.
In analyzing the Democratic platform, Professor John Bailey
from Georgetown University criticized their emphasis on security and the fight
against cartels and terrorist groups. "The almost automatic connection
with transnational crime and terrorist organizations is confusing, it is also
an invitation to greater militarization of U.S. policy in the fight against
organized crime," he said.
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