Obama: Mexico drug war ‘sowing chaos’

MEXICO CITY - Acknowledging a Mexican drug war that is "sowing chaos in our communities," President Barack Obama signaled Thursday he will not seek the reinstatement of a U.S. assault weapons ban but instead step up enforcement of existing laws against taking such weapons across the border.

Despite a campaign promise to see the lapsed ban renewed, Obama was bowing to the reality that to do so would be unpopular in politically key U.S. states and among Republicans as well as some conservative Democrats.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon, conducting an aggressive fight against drug cartels, had hoped to persuade Obama to push the reinstatement.

Obama, on a swift visit here meant to bolster Calderon in his drug fight, countered the disappointment for his Mexican host with a pledge to push Congress to finally act on an inter-American weapons treaty that has languished in the Senate since 1998. He said he is asking Congress to provide money for Black Hawk helicopters and surveillance equipment Mexico has long sought for its drug war.

"We are absolutely committed to working in partnership with Mexico to make sure that we are dealing with this scourge on both sides of the border," Obama said after meeting with Calderon.
"You can't fight this war with just one hand," he said. "You can't have Mexico making an effort and the United States not making an effort."

Obama's meetings with Calderon also spanned the economic crisis, immigration and clean energy.

But the escalating drug fight in Mexico, which is spilling over into the United States and alarming border communities, was the dominant topic.

Calderon welcomed Obama to the presidential residence, Los Pinos, with an acknowledgment of the challenges: "My country is immersed in a historic transformation process. We live a robust democracy, which is also plural. We're also facing firmly the costs of the struggles in order to turn Mexico into a safer country."

He cited a visit a half-century ago by President John F. Kennedy in calling for a new era of cooperation between the countries.

"We will recognize that in order to grow and prosper, Mexico needs the United States investment and the United States of America needs the strength of the Mexican labor force," Calderon said.

Video   Stopping violence on the border April 16: Chris Matthews and a Hardball panel discuss President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s joint news conference discussing violence and drugs on the U.S.-Mexican border. Hardball

The Justice Department says Mexican drug trafficking organizations represent the greatest organized crime threat to the United States.

The Organization of American States adopted the weapons treaty in 1997 as a way to curtail dealing in illicit firearms throughout Latin America. Since then, 33 countries have signed the treaty, and 24 have ratified it. Former President Bill Clinton signed the treaty on Nov. 14, 1997, one day after it was endorsed by the OAS.

The Clinton administration submitted the 13-page treaty to the Senate for ratification the following year, but it has languished in the Foreign Relations Committee without action since then.

Shootout claims 16 lives
Ahead of Obama's arrival a shootout between Mexican troops and a convoy of gunmen left 15 assailants and one soldier dead hours before President Barack Obama arrived in the country to show his support for the fight against drug cartels.

The shootout happened in a remote, mountainous region in Guerrero state, where the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco is located, Mexico's Defense Department said in a statement Thursday.

Soldiers came under fire from a convoy of gunmen on Wednesday while patrolling the drug trafficking hotbed. One was killed and another wounded in the battle near the town of San Nicolas del Oro. Troops later seized two .50 caliber Barrett rifles, 17 other rifles, eight grenades, two handguns, ammunition and eight vehicles.

The region is known for its crops of marijuana and poppy, which is used to make heroin.

The escalating drug fight in Mexico is spilling into the United States, and confronting Obama with an international crisis much closer than North Korea or Afghanistan. Mexico is the main hub for cocaine and other drugs entering the U.S., and the United States is the primary source of guns used in Mexico's drug-related killings.

Video   Calderon interview April 16: NBC’s Andrea Mitchell talks to Mexican President Felipe Calderon ahead of President Obama’s trip. Today show

Calderon's aggressive stand against drug cartels has won him the aid of the United States and the prominent political backing of Obama — never as evident as on Thursday, when the new president was to stand with Calderon in Mexico's capital city.

But White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters traveling on Air Force One that they shouldn't expect major announcements, calling the trip primarily one to re-engage the United States with Mexico.

"Re-engaging in the world is not necessarily simply a symbolic act," he said in response to a reporter's question. "I think it's understanding that we have valuable partners and mutual interests, and it's important that we show and — show that commitment and demonstrate it."

Tight security
In Mexico City, heavily armed police have been patrolling a wealthy neighborhood where Obama will be staying.

During his visit of less than 24 hours, Obama's view will be limited to a helicopter ride over the city, the presidential residence and its surrounding upscale neighborhoods.

More than 3,000 city police are guarding the area, backed by more federal police and presidential guards.

The visit is triggering complaints about security measures that snarl traffic in the already congested capital of 20 million people.

As for the U.S. role, Obama said, "We are going to be dealing not only with drug interdiction coming north, but also working on helping to curb the flow of cash and guns going south."

'Not about pointing fingers'
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, meantime, said that consultations with Mexico on the drug problem are "not about pointing fingers, it's about solving a problem. What can we do to prevent the flow of guns and cash south that fuel these cartels."

Video    Fighting cartels ‘urgent’ April 16: TODAY’s Matt Lauer talks to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about how the U.S. plans to deal with drug-related violence. Today show

Obama's visit, said senior foreign policy aide Denis McDonough, "is meant to send a signal of respect."

"It will do a great deal in terms of symbolism to raise the profile of the relationship in both cases," added Andrew Selee, director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Mexico is the only place Obama is visiting on his way this weekend to the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago for the Summit of the Americas, a gathering of Western Hemisphere nations.

On Thursday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said his nation will vote against the final summit declaration to protest what he said was U.S. meddling in the region.

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