Now it's a monster and will not obey...

They (organized crime) still exist and commit crimes but their power no longer overshadows that of law enforcement agencies.

.....except in Mexico.

Not true. If that were true we'd be living a different existence. Since the fall of the PRI from their "dictadura perfecta" Mexico has had to struggle to overcome the de facto institutionalized corruption that had been the foundation of PRI power. While under Calderón Mexico fell for the stupid proxy U.S. war on drugs, all it did was cut the heads off a hydra, and each successive series of heads has been more ruthless and violent, but nonetheless finding themselves competing with others similar, weakening themselves in the process. Under AMLO a different strategy has emerged, and it's no longer wasting time cutting off heads of a monster that grows 3 more each time but instead he's strengthened the federal police and military while coopting the people who would normally ally themselves with the monster. He remains one of the most popular heads of state Mexico has ever had in spite of all that has been thrown at him by the opposition. Zihuatanejo went from a terrified community 3 days ago to pretty much back to normal thanks to an effective response by the police and military whose presence has apparently stifled the ambitions of the gang of punks. We'll see what happens during the coming weeks, but from my downtown "heart of the community" perspective it sure looks like the government has more power than the criminals, except for the criminals in government, a different matter.

I guess we're talking about different kinds of power. I'm referring to raw on-the-plaza power. I think it was you that has stated, on a number of occasions, that the police in Mexico have been outgunned by the cartels.

It was interesting to read your comments yesterday to Ludwig Reynoso, reportedly Guerrero's Secretary-General, on his facile explanations for Zihua's recent crisis......Zihua's "psychosis" is the term he used. I don't recall if Guerrero is MORENA or PRI, but it didn't sound like you had much confidence in him or his government's response to Zihua's "psychosis".

I could post the Google translation of that story, if it would be of interest to readers.

Yes, I scolded him for revealing the focus of an ongoing investigation, and not even addressing the matters that generated great concern among the local populace. Instead he seemed condescending and patronizing if not also out of touch (though it might just be poor journalism), but then he isn't here or from here, and he's either in Acapulco (the unofficial capital of Guerrero) or Chilpancingo. Guerrero is Morena and the local government is PRI. But it's deeper and more complicated than simple political parties. This is a historical problem, not one the result of anyone's current policy, but one for which the folks at the other end of the state don't have the knowledge, experience, urgency or concern to deal with properly without having a fire lit under their backside.