The top three presidential candidates in Mexico have all pledged a substantial shift in the nation's drug war strategy, putting a larger emphasis on curbing violence in Mexico than on using arrests and seizures to stem the flow of drugs to the United States, The New York Times reported. The candidates, while promising to continue to combat drug trafficking, say they plan to eventually draw down the Mexican Army from the drug war, according to the Times. The front-runner, Enrique Peña Nieto, said that while Mexico should continue to work with the U.S. to fight organized crime, the nation should not be "subordinate to the strategies of other countries." Although U.S. government officials have not publicly weighed in on the race or the notion of a shifted strategy, some U.S. legislators and aides are concerned. "Will there be a situation where the next president just turns a blind eye to the cartels, ceding Mexico to the cartels, or will they be willing to partner with the United States to combat them?" Arizona Republican Rep. Ben Quayle said.
