Mexico's Future Hinges on Monterrey's Cartel Plight

Mexico's future may well be playing out on the streets of the city of Monterrey, says Reuters in a special report. The city had once been a shining model of entrepreneurial success, a lure for foreign companies, and a symbol of Mexico's global ambition. Now it's on the brink of succumbing to the chaos and violence associated with the drug gangs' battles with each other and the government. "The trend is worrying," says the chief executive of Cemex, one of the world's biggest cement companies. "But we won't let Monterrey fall."

The problem, given the worsening crime stats, is that the city is already falling. "If we can't deal with the problem in Monterrey, with all the resources and the people we have here, then that is a serious concern for the rest of Mexico," says another business executive. President Felipe Calderon has promised more federal help, but businesses are losing patience. "If security continues to deteriorate and they start pulling out, then we could be looking at a much more serious impact," says an economist at the University of Monterrey. (More Mexico stories.)