ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) for the opportunity to author this Council Special Report, and for bringing attention to the complexities of Mexico’s current security crisis at such a critical juncture in the U.S.-Mexico relationship. I am especially grateful to CFR President Richard N. Haass, Director of Studies and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair James M. Lindsay, Center for Preventive Action (CPA) Director Paul Stares, and CPA Fellow Micah Zenko for their careful reading and comments on multiple drafts of this report.

My analysis benefited from discerning comments, corrections and suggestions from a distinguished advisory committee of leading experts on U.S.-Mexico affairs, whose names are listed at the end of this report. Professor Peter H. Smith, who chaired this advisory committee and read several drafts of the report with typical gusto, has been an influential mentor for many years and I am privileged to have worked so closely with him on this effort.
Numerous U.S. and Mexican government officials also generously shared their time and insights throughout my research, for which I am extremely grateful. Moreover, several colleagues provided invaluable input during the writing of the report, which also benefited from the steadfast research assistance and support of Morayma Jimenez, Nicole Ramos, and Elisse Larouche. I am also deeply indebted to my colleagues at the Trans-Border Institute: Stephanie Borrowdale, Anna Cearley, Theresa Firestine, Cory Molzahn, Charles Pope, Viridiana Ríos, and Octavio Rodriguez.

Working on this report gave me a hearty appreciation for the fine work of CFR Publications editors Patricia Dorff and Lia Norton, as well as Lisa Shields and Sarah Doolin from the Communications team. It was extremely rewarding to work with the Center’s exceptional staff, including Rebecca R. Friedman, and my former student Elise Vaughn. Last, but not least, my work on this project could not have happened without the blessing of having a patient wife and a well-behaved child.

I learned so much from this process and from the many contributors noted above. I want to thank them all while fully acknowledging my own responsibility for any errors, omissions, or flawed assertions in this report.

David A. Shirk