A FRIEND EMAILS FROM MEXICO: “Shit’s about to collapse in MX and points south. It is frightening. I am seeing first hand, am traveling. Total anarchy and terror unfolding.” Well, that’s encouraging. All those counter-insurgency and nation-building skills we’ve honed in Iraq might come in handy closer to home.

Or, you know, we could just legalize drugs and pull the rug out from under the cartels.

UPDATE: A followup email:

It’s so complex. The USA unilaterally legalizing weed, as many have proposed, wouldn’t stop the violence — there are any number of possible outcomes to that. The causes are complex and brewed over time… all I know is that all signs are pointing to a far worsening situation down there, and increasing impact here.

Militarizing the border isn’t a solution, but having seen what I’ve seen, I’d be terrified if we weren’t hardening that border right now.

Time to come back to the States, I think.

MORE: Reader Michael Ubaldi emails:

Speaking of Iraq: I’m sure academics could explain how Mexican drug gangs are totally unlike insurgents in Iraq, but I tell you, the groups’ modus operandi sound awfully similar. One marked difference, of course, is that few try to justify the gangs’ actions.

The world will take a big step forward when it understands that violent people are simply violent people.

Indeed.