Pubdate: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ) Copyright: 2008 The Arizona Republic Contact: http://www.arizonarepublic.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/mexico VIOLENCE ESCALATES Criminal syndicates battle to control the trade in an illegal substance, with grisly slayings of rivals and innocent people caught in the crossfire. When authorities go after them, the blood flows. The violent drama is set in Mexico right now. But the tale itself is familiar. It played out in the United States in the 1920s, when the feds were chasing booze-running gangsters. Today's drug war has taken a troubling twist for Arizonans. The State Department for the first time included Nogales in a travel alert about border cities that have had daytime shootouts. Click Here History offers some valuable perspective: . The danger rises when police finally crack down. Now that bribes aren't keeping the cops off their backs (although corruption is still a problem), Mexico's drug cartels are turning to murder and intimidation. Police can also spark internecine battles when they weaken or split a drug cartel - there's new turf to fight over. . Demand drives crime. The end of Prohibition closed one chapter of mob violence in the United States. The United States must find more effective ways to reduce drug use and do a far better job of providing treatment. Arizonans should also keep the news about Nogales in perspective. The State Department is urging caution, but it isn't telling travelers to avoid border cities. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin