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WORLD> America
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Mexico replaces drug war chief
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-09-08 14:01
Cabinet changes at midterm are not unusual in Mexico. Calderon, whose term runs to late 2012, gave no explanation for the three resignations, although there had been speculation for some time that Medina-Mora would be leaving. He will be assigned to an unspecified foreign post. Calderon, who named Medina-Mora to lead his drug war after taking office, praised his contributions.
The outgoing attorney general has also been highly praised by US law enforcement officials. At a ceremony announcing the Cabinet changes, Medina-Mora defended his handling of the drug war and predicted history would judge the tough approach as correct. He called Calderon a visionary for his fight against the most vicious members of society. "The historic decision to use all the power of the state to limit the power of the criminal organizations was fundamental to ensure our future as a nation," he said. "History will have to recognize the correctness and valor of this decision." Medina-Mora was an outspoken critic of US gun laws, which he argued make it easy for drug gangs to acquire weapons across the border. He called for more aggressive prosecutions of criminals who smuggle guns into Mexico, saying the US constitutional right to bear arms doesn't protect them. "The Second Amendment was not put there to arm foreign criminal groups," he told The Associated Press during an interview in February.
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