Question: If violence against Mexican officials is so bad, how is the President safe?

[Gravitycollapse]

Actually, how are all of the executive members of the national government safe?

I realise a lot of this gang and cartel activity is localized. But federal police agencies are involved in the fighting as well and I assume the President and his staff are outspoken critics of the cartels and corruption.

Even with a protective force like the secret service, it would seem likely that attempts on the lives of very high profile Mexican politicians would be common place.

[Xipe Totec]

1. Lets put that in perspective, shall we?

Assassination attempts and plots on Presidents of the United States have been numerous: more than 20 attempts to kill sitting and former presidents, as well as the Presidents-elect, are known. Four sitting presidents have been killed: Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President), James A. Garfield (the 20th President), William McKinley (the 25th President) and John F. Kennedy (the 35th President). Two presidents were injured in attempted assassinations: Theodore Roosevelt (the 26th President) and Ronald Reagan (the 40th President). With the exception of Lyndon Johnson, every president's life since John F. Kennedy has been threatened with assassination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_assassination_attempts_and_plots


Benito Juárez 1857–1872 July 18, 1872 (age 66) He is the only President of Mexico who died because of a non-violent cause while in office.

Francisco I. Madero 1911–1913 February 21, 1913 (age 39) He was killed three days after he was forced to sign his resignation as result of la Decena Trágica.

Venustiano Carranza 1914–1920 May 21, 1920 (age 60) He is the only President of Mexico killed in office.

Álvaro Obregón 1920–1924 July 17, 1928 (age 48) He is the only president-elect of Mexico killed before taking office.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_Mexico


So the score is 4 US Presidents assassinated in office vs one Mexican President assassinated while in office. Plus one assassinated before taking office and one after being forced to resign.

Seems to me we should be more worried about the safety of US Presidents than of Mexican Presidents.

[Gravitycollapse]

3. I don't think you understood my post...

I'm asking how it is possible that prominent Mexican politicians are able to escape the violent assassinations that have been common place in Mexico for years.

[Xipe Totec]

4. I don't think you understood my response...

As violent as the scenario may look to you across the border, the numbers indicate that the situation is just as scary here. Yet you don't seem aware of it.

How it is possible that prominent US politicians are able to escape the violent assassinations, considering the abundance of readily available firearms?

The answer is that prominent people have security details protecting them.

[Gravitycollapse]

6. There is no violent drug war in the United States, No. So I'm not sure what you're trying to argue.

Since the situations are incomparable. You don't seem to understand the severity of the violence south of the border.

[1000words]

2. Worry not, the Secret Service will protect him from assassination

It's criticism we must vigilantly protect him from ...

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. A couple of reasons:

1. They have bodyguards.

2. The cartels aren't stupid.