Police officers stand around bullet-riddled police vehicle in which an officer was slain after unknown gunmen opened fire on at least two police stations in Acapulco, 08 Jun 2009This weekend, gun battles between federal forces and drug cartel gunmenin Mexico claimed more than 20 lives. One of the bloodiest incidentsoccurred in the resort city of Acapulco, where soldiers killed 16gunmen. But there aresigns that the government is making progress in its war againstorganized crime.

Saturday night in Acapulco was livelier thanusual, with gun shots and grenade blasts echoing through the streetsnear beachside hotels. The news reports are likely to further crimpMexican tourism, already in a downturn after the emergence of the swineinfluenza A-H1N1 virus in Mexico in April.

But many Mexicansare hailing the fire fight in Acapulco as a victory for the cause oflaw and order since the soldiers defeated the drug gangsters, losingonly two of their own, even though the criminals used automatic weaponsand lobbed as many as 50 grenades at the soldiers.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon (file photo) Suchvictories politically benefit President Felipe Calderon, who declaredwar on the drug cartels shortly after he came to office in December2006.

One of the top U.S. experts on Mexico, William Graysonat the College of William and Mary in Virginia, says Mexicans stronglysupport Mr. Calderon's fight against the criminal gangs.

"Calderon'spublic approval is now at 69 percent - the highest of hisadministration because the people perceive that he is a decent man thathandled the swine flu outbreak judiciously and that he is doing hislevel best to combat the narco-traffickers," he said.

Grayson says this bodes well for Mr. Calderon and the ruling National Action Party, or PAN, in the July 5th mid-term elections.

"WhatCalderon and the PAN have very astutely done is focus attention on hiswar against drugs. And in so doing, they have diverted people's mindsfrom the incredibly harsh economic conditions that beset the country,"he said.  

Grayson says Mexico's gross domestic product islikely to drop 5.5 percent this year due to the flu scare,the worldwide recession and declining production from Mexico's oilfields. But he says President Calderon has bolstered the nation'sconfidence and pride by taking on the criminal gangs and the corruptofficials who have allowed them to flourish.

"I was impressedthat last month there was a strike in Michoacan in which 10 mayors and 17 so-called 'publicofficials' were arrested, that there was not even the hint of a leakbefore that operation was carried out," he said.

Grayson saysthat while Felipe Calderon's campaign against the powerful drug lordsis a necessary effort to protect the nation from criminal enterprises,it will not end narcotics trafficking.

"You really cannot win awar against these incredibly powerful, brutal, enormously wealthycartels - either in the United States or in Mexico. The best you canhope is to manage the hostilities and try to minimize the numberof civilians who die," he said.

What Mr. Calderon may be able toaccomplish, in Grayson's view, is substantial reform of Mexico's policeand judicial system so that the public will have more confidence in itslaw enforcement system and be more willing to cooperate withauthorities. He says drug smugglers will always be around, but thatthe government may have a chance to substantially reduce their powerand their threat to public safety.