AAM: "...there will be talk about more talk that will lead to talks that might give us an agreement."


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Two early-morning reports from Guadalajara. Both feature a replay of the "El Chapo" piece, with comments from Michael before and after.



JOHN ROBERTS: We're back with the Most News in the Morning.

Right now, President Obama in Mexico. One of the big issues that he's tackling -- the escalating violence along the U.S.-Mexican border, nearly all of it drug-related. And much of the carnage can be blamed on one of the world's most wanted men.

Our Michael Ware is live in Guadalajara, Mexico this morning with more on that.

Michael, who is this guy?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, he's the leader of the Sinaloa cartel, one of the most dangerous and one of the most powerful drug cartels operating here in Mexico.

But he's also more than that. If you want to get a sense, if you want to get a measure of how hard or how seriously America is fighting the war on drugs, "El Chapo" is the man.

Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WARE (voice-over): This man makes a living mockery of America's war on drugs. He is Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, one of the world's richest men and Mexico's most wanted wth a $5 million U.S. government bounty on his head.

RALPH REYES, D.E.A. MEXICO & CENTRAL AMERICA CHIEF: Chapo is the face. He is the guy who is currently at war against the government of Mexico, against law enforcement and military forces.

WARE: At war because El Chapo heads the ultra violent, ultra lucrative Sinaloa drug cartel. His exploits legendary.

"El Chapo Guzman is like a god in Mexico," says Antonio Ortega. "Nobody sees him, but he's everywhere. He's a myth."

Criminal lawyer Antonio Ortega is one of the very few Mexicans daring enough to speak of El Chapo on camera, having met the man himself while El Chapo was here in Puente Grande Prison before El Chapo escaped in 2001.

When you sit with him, says Ortega, you see a human contradiction.

REYES: He has that Robin Hood persona, and that he's constantly attending to the poor, the needs of the poor and the people that surround him.

WARE: On the run, El Chapo's business has continued to flourish and, investigators say, his orders followed. Ten months ago, this mutilated body appeared outside a Mexican police station. The message hanging over his corpse signed in El Chapo's name.

Many Mexicans believe El Chapo's whereabouts are no mystery. In April, this Catholic archbishop, Hector Gonzales Martinez, pronounced "everybody knows his whereabouts except the authorities," claiming El Chapo is in these mountains, in the country's north, not far from the U.S. border.

El Chapo's exploits continue to undermine Mexican President Felipe Calderon, especially when "Forbes" magazine named El Chapo 701st on the world's rich list with a net worth of $1 billion.

"We deeply regret what seems like a campaign against Mexico, which has escalated" said President Calderon. "First, from public opinion, and now even magazines, which are not only attacking and lying about the situation but are also praising criminals."

This from a president who upped the ante in the drug war sending over 40,000 Mexican army soldiers into the streets of his own cities in a bid to crush the cartels. A bid backed by U.S. President Barack Obama.

OBAMA: It's important that the United States steps up and cooperates effectively in battling the adverse effects of drug trafficking.

WARE: That was back in June. Since then the slaughter in Mexico has continued, and El Chapo's drugs have continued to pour into America.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WARE (on camera): And El Chapo continues to be the face of America's un- winnable drug war. And with President Obama here, it's a hope that he'll actually say something about what America is about to do to step up that commitment in the war on drugs. But from what the national security adviser said leading up to this summit, he promised that there will be talk about more talk that will lead to talks that might give us an agreement - John.

ROBERTS: Watching those meetings very closely today, Michael Ware for us in Guadalajara this morning. Michael, thanks so much - Kiran.



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JOHN ROBERTS: Welcome back to the most news in the morning. Right now President Obama is in Mexico. One of the big issues that he's tackling is the escalating violence along the U.S.-Mexican border. Nearly all of it drug-related. And much of the carnage can be blamed on one of the world's most wanted men. Michael Ware live in Guadalajara, Mexico for us this morning. Michael, who are we talking about?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, who we're talking about is Mexico's most wanted man with a $5 million American government bounty on his head. El Chapo Guzman. The head of the Siniloa cartel and if you want any kind of barometer about how seriously America is or is not fighting this war on drugs, then El Chapo is the man to look to. Let's take a look at this package.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This man makes a living mockery of America's war on drugs. He is Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, one of the world's richest men and Mexico's Most Wanted with a $5 million U.S. government bounty on his head.

RALPH REYES, DEA MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA CHIEF: Chapo is the face. He is the guy who is currently at war against the government of Mexico, against law enforcement and military forces.

WARE: At war because El Chapo heads the ultra-violent, ultra-lucrative Sinaloa drug cartel, his exploits legendary.

"El Chapo Guzman is like a God in Mexico," says Antonio Ortega. "Nobody sees him, but he's everywhere. He's a myth."

Criminal lawyer Antonio Ortega is one of the very few Mexicans daring enough to speak of El Chapo on camera, having met the man himself while El Chapo was here in Puente Grande Prison before El Chapo escaped in 2001.

"When you sit with him," says Ortega, "you see a human contradiction.

"You see a strong man, intelligent and sensitive at the same time," Ortega told me in this Mexico City park. "You don't see a narco trafficker. You don't see a killer or assassin. He doesn't have scars. He doesn't have that funny face. He doesn't have it. He looks at you deeply, at the eyes, like an x-ray machine. He can look right inside."

And El Chapo's prison life, says the lawyer, was the stuff of legend. Nineteen days before his escape, El Chapo hosted a New Year's Eve party with another cartel boss. "There was a band playing. There were ladies. There was alcohol, all the best brands," Ortega told me. "It was like a party in one of the best clubs in Manhattan."

REYES: He has that Robin Hood persona, in that he's constantly attending to the poor, the needs of the poor and the people that surround him.

WARE: On the run, El Chapo's business continued to flourish, and investigators say, his orders followed.

Ten months ago, this mutilated body appeared outside a Mexican police station, the message hanging over his corpse signed in El Chapo's name.

Many Mexicans believe El Chapo's whereabouts are no mystery. In April, this Catholic archbishop, Hector Gonzalez Martinez, pronounced everybody knows his whereabouts except the authorities, claiming El Chapo is in these mountains in the country's north, not far from the U.S. border.

El Chapo's exploits continue to undermine Mexican President Felipe Calderon, especially when "Forbes" magazine named El Chapo 701st on the world's rich list, with a net worth of $1 billion.

"We deeply regret what seems like a campaign against Mexico, which has escalated," said President Calderon. "First from public opinion and now even magazines which are not only attacking and lying about the situation, but are also praising criminals."

This from a president who upped the ante in the drug war, sending over 40,000 Mexican Army soldiers into the streets of his own cities in a bid to crush the cartels, a bid backed by U.S. President Barack Obama.

OBAMA: It's important that the United States steps up and cooperates effectively in battling the adverse effects of drug trafficking.

WARE: That was back in June. Since then, the slaughter in Mexico has continued, and El Chapo's drugs have continued to pour into America.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WARE: And El Chapo continues, John, to be the face of the Obama administration's unwinnable war against the drug cartels here in Mexico. One man alone, the leader of just one cartel, is personally worth twice as much money as America is contributing each year to the drug war here in Mexico. And while all of Mexico holds its breath waiting for President Obama to finally step up as the president said in June, no one is going to be expecting any grand announcements at this summit.

As the national security adviser said just two days ago, this talk here in Mexico will further talks that will lead to talks that hopefully will lead to an agreement for America to finally start fighting the war on drugs -- John.

ROBERTS: A lot of talking going on. No question about that. Michael Ware for us in Guadalajara. Michael, thanks so much.