1. For MEXICO, give the following information:

1. capital
2. location/the countries that share its borders
3. the religious breakdown of the population
4. the type of government
5. the chief of state (and head of government if different) If monarch or dictator, since what date has he/she ruled? – include name of heir apparent for monarch
6. the population

Find the answers at the CIA World FactBook website. For each country, answers can be found under the “Geography” “People” and “Government” headings.

NOTE: Before answering the following questions, read the info under “Background” below.

2. For MEXICO:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What strategy had newly elected President López Obrador implemented in fighting Mexico’s drug cartels?
c) What was the outcome of President López Obrador’s drug-fighting strategy?
d) What two main changes to President López Obrador strategy did U.S. Attorney General William Barr ask him to make?
e) How has the resumption of using marines in fighting the drug cartels worked thus far?
f) What action has the U.S. agreed to take on our part?
g) From the WSJ report:
“The U.S. pressure on Mexico began to rise quickly in November after three mothers and six of their children, all U.S. citizens living in a fundamentalist Mormon community in the northern state of Sonora, Mexico were killed in an ambush by gunmen suspected of belonging to a local drug cartel. Rival cartels are fighting for control of the area where the victims lived.”
After the massacre, President Trump said the U.S. would designate Mexico’s drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move that President López Obrador strongly opposed. Mr. Trump suspended the decision after Attorney General Barr met with senior officials during a trip to Mexico in December.
What do you think of this insistence that President López Obrador reverse his “hugs” approach to dealing with murderous drug cartels? (too forceful? necessary? etc.) Explain your answer.