Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a nationally syndicated columnist and a member of the editorial board of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Read his column here Ruben Navarrette says Mexico isn't a failed state, but the fate of its drug war is important for US. SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- You may have heard the rumor that, as a result of a bloody drug war that has claimed more than 7,000 lives since January 2007, Mexico is on the verge of being declared a "failed state." Drawing a lot of its oxygen from cable demagogues and talk radio, the chatter intensified several weeks ago when the Pentagon issued a report warning that our neighbor -- along with Pakistan, no less -- could face a "rapid and sudden" collapse because "the government, its politicians, police and judicial infrastructure are all under sustained assault and pressure by criminal gangs and drug cartels."
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Ruben Navarrette: Mexico's drug war is serious, but it's not a "failed state"
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He says the United States has a lot at stake in the outcome of the fight
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Navarrette: Mexico's president is smart and brave and knows he can't surrender
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The country has a big population, free press and bold leaders, he says
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"Large firefights have taken place in towns and cities ... and during some of these incidents, @placeholder citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area."
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Here Americans are worried about their safety in Mexico when one of the reasons the @placeholder government is having such a difficult time fighting the drug cartels is because the enemy has plenty of money and guns.
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Frankly, one reason the doomsday talk about Mexico catches on is because it distracts @placeholder from our own problems.