Drug War Cost

In the Mexican State of Veracruz, in the village of Manlio Fabio Altamirano, the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) of the drug cartels caught up with a family of seven sometime after dinner on Friday.

Seven members of a family, including 4 young children and their grandfather, were beheaded and their bodies left inside their home in the town of Manlio Fabio Altamirano, Veracruz, reports authorities.

It is the four children that caught my attention.

Manuel Reyes Diaz 12, Aleyda Reyes Díaz de 9, Esmeralda Reyes Diaz for 3 years and a girl estimated to be 4 years old, her full name is unknown but known as "Coquita”.

Note that Esmeralda was 3.

This is the drug war.  I question that we have, in fact, sorted out the Ends, Ways and Means.♠  First question.  What are the political ends we are trying to achieve?  Then, knowing what we want, what resources will we sacrifice to achieve the desired ends.  (Hint:  The answer is not "anything".  We need something left over for health care and social security and education and the war on terror and Congressional salaries.)  Then we figure out how to use those resources to achieve the desired ends.  Then we iterate until we have a balanced match of ends, ways and means.

Where are we?

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  The author of the paper at the link pays homage, as well he should, to US Army Colonel Art Lykke, and tells us "Strategy is all about how (way or concept) leadership will use the power (means or resources) available to the state to exercise control over sets of circumstances and geographic locations to achieve objectives (ends) that support state interests."