Mexican Torture Scandal

Human-rights groups and residents in the border cities are accusing the Mexican army of brutal acts of torture and illegal raids in its war on drugs, leading U.S. officials to threaten cutting off aid. While the U.S government has helped fund President Felipe Calderón's strategy of using the military in the war against drugs, officials warn that these accusations could prompt Congress to withhold more than $100 million in anti-narcotics assistance. U.S. officials are also concerned because the Mexican government has not provided more information regarding the number of human-rights cases that have been prosecuted. Since the beginning of Calderón's term, 12,050 people have been killed in drug violence.