Guatemala on the brink?

Guatemala on the brink?
by Phil Leggiere
Monday, 25 May 2009

Analyst warns failed state in Guatemala could augur drug cartel domination of Central America.

US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano reported a rare piece of good news late last week in the battle against runaway drug cartel violence on the Southern border.

On Wednesday May 20, Napolitano said in a statement Thursday 630 kilograms (0.69 tons) of cocaine were seized by Mexican customs officials at Mexico City International Airport using screening equipment also utilized by DHS and training provided by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The seizure was part of the major transnational cooperative effort to combat international drug smuggling and deter drug-related violence along the US-Mexico border.

“Over the past several weeks, we have stepped up our efforts to stop Southwest border violence at its source—the trafficking of drugs, guns and cash,â€