The Long War of Genaro Garcia Luna

To describe The Long War of Genaro Garcia Luna as a profile piece is really to miss the point. The article, by Daniel Kurtz-Phelan in this week’s New York Times Magazine, is more of a survey of the Mexican drug cartel landscape told through the person who is currently in charge of leading the fight against drug proliferation. But as the article suggests, lifetime expectancy drops significantly when an individual enlists their services in the Mexican drug war, particularly on the side of enforcement. Kurtz-Phelan interviews individuals who are killed during his research for the story and recounts tales of other high ranking officials who have suffered their fates at the hands of the cartels.

Garcia Luna is confident and determined but as the final line of the article, and much of the facts that proceed it, suggest these feelings might be foolhardy.