What Mexico & Pakistan Have In Common

From the El Paso Times:
EL PASO – Mexico is one of two countries that “bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse,” according to a report by the U.S. Joint Forces Command on worldwide security threats.
The command’s “Joint Operating Environment (JOE 2008)” report, which contains projections of global threats and potential next wars, puts Pakistan [...]

Reporting the Red Tape

The LA Times reports on Mexican bureaucracy:
The often-Kafkaesque requirements encourage residents to offer bribes as a way around the labyrinthine tramites. A study last year by the nonprofit group Transparency Mexico found that Mexico’s 105 million residents annually pay bribes totaling more than $2 billion, often for basic services such as getting a water line [...]

The Oil Battle

A big issue in Mexican politics right now is the debate over what to do about falling oil production. The WSJ has this background on the controversy:
Mexico’s ability to stem the slide in oil production carries important consequences for its financial stability, the U.S. and the global oil market. Mexico has been one of the [...]