The Mexican military has a long history of obedience to the civilian government. So when a seasoned general delivers a speech to the army and air force hierarchy criticizing the president, something is afoot. Not surprisingly, it had to do with the government’s loss of authority over large parts of the country to organized crime.

Americans are horrified by the recent terrorist attack on dual citizens traveling on a road in northern Mexico, not least because those killed were women and children.

Yet...