Mexican army will fight drug war for years: paper

[Niels Bohr 72]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico will keep the army on the streets to quash drug cartels until at least 2013 as violent killings continue, a government official was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

Monte Alejandro Rubido, who recently joined President Felipe Calderon's National Security Council as a technical director, said troops would stay at the core of the war on drug cartels who have slaughtered nearly 2,000 people so far this year, mainly rival smugglers and police.

Calderon launched an army assault on drug gangs when he came to power in December 2006. Soldiers are widely seen as less corrupt than the local police, who often work for traffickers on the side to augment their low wages.

Spiraling violence is frightening investors and tourists away from parts of Mexico, and there have been complaints about rights abuses by the troops deployed in many northern and central states.

"We have until 2013 to train each and every one of the police. When the police force has passed the entire battery of tests of confidence, improved their capacity and preparation, then the army can return to the barracks," Rubido told the Mexican daily El Universal.

Most Mexicans say they support using the army to quell drug violence. Sending some 10,000 troops and federal police into the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez in March has knocked down drug killings there by 80 percent.

U.S. President Barack Obama voiced strong support for Calderon's drug war on a visit last week. The United States is worried about drug violence that killed 6,300 people in Mexico last year and is starting to spill over the border.

Several high-profile arrests, including that of a presidential guardsmen who allegedly received $100,000 a month to track Calderon for drug traffickers, have also revealed drug cartel infiltration inside the military.

(Reporting by Mica Rosenberg; Editing by Catherine Bremer and Patricia Zengerle)

[Chica Yeyé 41]

They forgot to mention that our "army" is a bad joke, at best. They are simply not trained to do much but disaster relief and literacy work.

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

They forgot to mention that our "army" is a bad joke, at best. They are simply not trained to do much but disaster relief and literacy work.

maybe we can send them a few navy seals.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Perhaps even the Canadian Navy will volunteer their services.

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

Perhaps even the Canadian Navy will volunteer their services.

send the drug dealers some seal outfits, and then send in the canadians with their clubs

[Nagishkaw 510]

They might have better luck using beaver outfits. God Bless the Canadians!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

They forgot to mention that our "army" is a bad joke, at best. They are simply not trained to do much but disaster relief and literacy work.

maybe we can send them a few navy seals.

if they are hawt and not too smart, my cousin Chiquita is interested

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

They forgot to mention that our "army" is a bad joke, at best. They are simply not trained to do much but disaster relief and literacy work.

maybe we can send them a few navy seals.

if they are hawt and not too smart, my cousin Chiquita is interested

is she a

[Nagishkaw 510]

Does she have batteries for that?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

charles, you've seen pics of my cousins on FB -- they are gorgeous. Or so I think

So, plx send some army manly man to well... entertain them... all are home owners and what not

[Ban Hammer 13,403]

charles, you've seen pics of my cousins on FB -- they are gorgeous. Or so I think

So, plx send some army manly man to well... entertain them... all are home owners and what not

yeah they are pretty hot

now to go see if i have any pics of myself without a shirt on.

[Scott & Lai 12]

We fought the "Drug War" for 40 years.....