Obama news conference: President pledges to help Mexico fight drug cartels

Finally, a non-economic question.

A reporter with Univision asked President Obama about efforts by the U.S. to combat the growing violence unleashed in Mexico by drug cartels. Does the president consider such violence a threat to U.S. security?

"Let’s focus on what we did today," Obama replied, citing an announcement today by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. As our colleague Josh Meyer reported earlier today: "The Obama administration this morning unveiled an ambitious multi-agency plan to help Mexico attack the growing problems created by powerful Mexican drug cartels, vowing to send U.S. money, manpower and technology to the southwestern border as soon as possible."

Obama also had praise for Mexican President Felipe Calderon, calling him "courageous" for his efforts to fight the cartels.

-- Steve Padilla

President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, March 24, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

Comments

[Stephen Austin]

Its about time the US takes an active role in defusing the problem created by the MASSIVE demand for drugs in the United States. It is also important that the US be more aggressive on the domestic front in fighting the battle on our own turf as well, instead of merely supporting other countries who suffer the effects of an overgrown drug industry. No doubt countries like Mexico and Colombia must continue this battle, and take their share of responsbility as well, but its high (no pun intended) time for much more drastic action at home, on US soil.