The recent escalation of violence between rival drug cartels, street gangs, and the government within Mexico has created a new and elevated level of concern for the population of the both the United States and Mexico. As the drug cartels continue to acquire astronomical profits and rapidly increase their military like capabilities from the sale of narcotics within the U.S., the question becomes: Is drug trafficking within Mexico a law enforcement issue or an insurgency? By analyzing the evolution of social and economic conditions within Mexico, the organization and network of the Mexican drug cartels and street gangs, and the elements and dynamics of an insurgency, the outline of an insurgency is apparent within Mexico.

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