However, according to bbc.com, the once highly esteemed Mexican army has lost a fair amount of public support. According to a survey by polling firm Demotecnia, public approval of the army has dropped almost 20% since late 2006.
The loss of support is partially due to a steady flow of public complaints concerning alleged abuses committed by the army. For instance, in the last four years, the National Commission of Human Rights has received more than 4,200 complaints concerning said abuses, which include accusations of rape, torture, and the use of excessive force.
Furthermore, there are a number of recent cases that have only worsened public support of the army. Last March, two students in Monterrey were gun downed as they were leaving their university campus. It was initially stated that the students had been caught in a crossfire between soldiers and Narcos, but it was later discovered by the National Commission of Human Rights that army soldiers had shot the students, and then proceeded to cover their tracks by tampering with evidence.
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Many are saying now that the military was brought into the fight against the Narcos a little too soon, and that further involvement of the AFI or local police might have been wiser. However, unlike the federal and local police, the military does have the firepower to contend with the well armed Narcos. What should be considered though for the future, is properly training army personal in dealing with urban warfare, security details, and the protection of civilians. It has been four years since the fighting started, and this past year has been the bloodiest so far, as nearly 1,000 have been killed so far. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight for the fighting
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