Politics | Mexico Obama Defends Mexico's Drug War Cartels are the biggest violators of human rights, president says By Nick McMaster Posted Aug 10, 2009 2:28 PM CDT Copied President Barack Obama, right, gestures as he stands next to Mexico's President Felipe Calderon in Guadalajara, Mexico, Monday Aug. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) President Obama expressed his support for Mexico’s war on drug cartels after today's North American summit, the New York Times reports. Obama defended Felipe Calderón—who some criticize for not holding the Mexican army accountable for reported human rights abuses against the drug traders—saying that the ruthless traffickers were the biggest violators of human rights. Washington is debating whether to withhold money to help fight the powerful cartels because of these allegations. Obama also said that the effort to change immigration rules would be shelved until next year, slotting it after health care and energy legislation on his first-term agenda. "It's very important for us to sequence these big initiatives in a way where they don't all just crash at the same time," he said. Read These Next It's being called a disturbing trend: paragliders with bombs. Feds cite ChatGPT evidence in arrest of Palisades Fire suspect. After 5 months, the 10th jail escapee has been caught. Trump, Johnson aren't happy with pick for Super Bowl headliner. Report an error