how much money is the US making out of Mexico's drug war?

The thing is that it is organized crime that is making the money - The single largest marketplace for illegal drugs continues to be the United States. Although the market has decreased dramatically since the mid-80's, close to thirteen million Americans still think nothing about occasionally buying a gram of cocaine, a few hits of ecstasy or a quarter ounce of weed to party with their friends on the weekends. The people making the real money are the drug cartels, corrupt officials though U.S. gun stores and gun shows are the source of more than 90 percent of the weapons being used by Mexico's ruthless drug cartels, according to U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials. It's virtually impossible to buy a firearm in Mexico as a private citizen, however Mexico's strict gun laws are being subverted by the easy availability of weapons in the U.S., the Mexican attorney general, Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, suad. "The Second Amendment, is certainly not designed to arm and give fire power to organized crime abroad."

U.S. and Mexican officials say they have traced most of the thousands of high-powered weapons seized from the drug cartels to gun dealers in Texas, California and Arizona. Assault weapons made in China and Eastern Europe, resembling the AK-47, have become widely and cheaply available in the U.S. since Congress and the Bush administration refused to extend a ban on such weapons in 2004.

Under federal gun laws, gun dealers are not required to report multiple purchases of such weapons because they are classified as rifles. So If you were to go into a gun store and buy 20 of these, there is no requirement by the gun dealer to fill out a multiple sales form. So subsequently the gangs can be armed without any questions asked.

Well here is a link to the Doug Anthony All stars singing a song about Mexican Hitler.

We are actually giving them billions of dollars. Uneducated morons who are uninformed on all of the things the US actually does and choose to ignore them and think that spouting anti-american gibberish makes you look smart can not contest the facts:

The U.S. Congress has now authorized $1.6 USD billion for the three-year initiative. The U.S. Congress approved $465 million in the first year, which includes $400 million for Mexico and $65 million for Central America, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. For the second year, Congress approved $300 million for Mexico and $110 million for Central America, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. A FY09 supplemental appropriation is providing an additional $420 million for Mexico; and $450 million for Mexico and $100 million for Central America has been requested for FY10.[19]

Only about $204 million of that, however, will be earmarked for the Mexican military for the purchase of eight used transport helicopters and two small surveillance aircraft. No weapons are included in the plan.[20][21] The bill requires that $73.5 million of the $400 million for Mexico must be used for judicial reform, institution-building, human rights and rule-of-law issues. The bill specifies that 15% of the funds will be dependent on Mexico making headway in four areas relating to human-rights issues, and on which the U.S. Secretary of State will have to report periodically to Congress.

Billions. The US government makes money from the drugs and reuses the money to subsidize our tax system. So when we help other countries we are just reinvesting that money. The 16 Billion spent annually is just a drop in the bucket of what the US gets in return. The government gets more from drugs than the American people,,,,,, well except those that by the drugs. And to them I say thanks and keep up the spending.

Sad, really sad, Mexico drug gangs are murdering people left and right on a daily basis, but instead of holding them accountable for their actions you are going to find a way to blame someone else! Damn, are you related to Obama?

The issue with drug violence in Mexico has a number of issues, Greed of the drug gangs, supply and demand (drug abusers in the US) the ineffectiveness and corruption of the Mexican government and lastly guns available from America (does anyone else wonder how many were sent/carried to Mexico by illegals, I also wonder who imported the car bombs they are starting to use)

What we in the US can do? Stop illegal drug use first and foremost, demand the federal government secures the boarders, increase jail time for minor drug offenses (incentive to not do illegal drugs) life sentences for drug dealers. But blaming is NOT the answer!

The weapons sold to Mexico are minimal compared to drugs. Pot a lone gives the drug cartels 10's of billions of dollars a year.

Further more the majority of the weapons are not coming from the USA. Even if they were it wouldn't matter if you stopped selling guns in the USA Mexico would still get their hands on them. Even if you took them out of mexico all together they would still have violence. You don't have to have a gun to commit a violent crime.

Hi Bob I think Mexico is making millions too that is one very corrupt country and govt

I know this girl who has stocks and bonds in the drug wars down there. She also invested heavy in the Mexican sock wars too. Lets just say she makes a boot full on socks right Lulu ?

Probably a lot since they allow the violence to run rampant around our borders and in our land. The corruption has gotten so out of control in mexico that the government is totally bought and and if they don't comply they and their families will be killed. The federal government is in direct opposition with the state of Arizona due to the fact that they are enforcing immigration laws that already exist.

In 2007 the city of Phoenix saw a drastic rise in kidnappings. It's going to get worse before it gets better I think.

The US won't invade Mexico. We're going to have a 'peaceful' takeover of Canada and Mexico, with their leaders cooperating all the way. We'll have plenty of troops for our other endless wars. While still fighting the 'war on drugs' in between all our new borders. Fun fun fun!!!

You mean through seizures, fines and donations from drug companies? Billions.

-and stop with the "Guns to Mexico" propaganda, it just makes you look stupid. What drug dealer is going to come to the US and pay $1000 dollars for an AR-15, $600 for an AK and $800 for a pistol when they can be shipped from S. America or China waaaaaaaay cheaper.

Don't even start that ignorant rant that Andy Pooper rattled off about fully automatic assault rifles going to Mexico either.

Show me DOCUMENTED proof of a VAST number of American guns going to Mexico that didn't come from the Mexican Military.

we give Mexico second hand Military hardware, then they turn around and sell it to Colombia and then they sell drugs