Clinton: US Shares Blame for Mexican Drug War

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at a press conference in Mexico City, 25 Mar 2009

MEXICO (RPRN) 03/26/09 -U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on the final day of her two-day visit to Mexico, where she acknowledged the U.S. shares blame for the violent drug war there.

Clinton told reporters in Mexico City Wednesday the U.S. is feeding Mexico's powerful drug cartels by failing to stop what she called an "insatiable" demand for illegal drugs.  She also said the U.S. has failed to stop the flow of smuggled weapons being used by Mexican drug gangs.

The top U.S. diplomat praised efforts by Mexican President Felipe Calderon to battle the cartels.  She also said the White House will seek $80 million to help Mexico buy Blackhawk helicopters.

Secretary Clinton visits the industrial city of Monterrey Thursday, where she is expected to focus on Mexican high-tech companies and research on renewable energy.

The U.S. homeland security chief, Janet Napolitano, and the top U.S. law enforcement officer, Attorney General Eric Holder will visit Mexico early next month to continue talks on the drug war.

U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Mexico in mid-April.

The Obama administration this week announced a plan to curb the trafficking of drugs, illegal money and weapons across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Drug-related violence has killed more than 7,000 people in Mexico since 2008, and has spilled across the border into the U.S.