Obama Preps for Latin America Trip

Barack Obama's trip to Mexico City to meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderon is seen as a boon to Calderon's standing. But the carnage centering around drug trafficking will surely take a large piece of the discussion away from the recession affecting both countries.

President Obama has noted America's craving for narcotics has fueled the drug trade, and acknowledged that weapons from the U.S. are making their way into the hands of cartel members.

"We have got to reduce the demand for drugs. We have got to do our part in reducing the flow of cash and guns south [to Mexico]."

For his part, Calderon said:

"We have a problem of violence and organized crime that we have to tackle. Both countries have to do this. Violence and crime are problems not only of Mexico, as President Obama has acknowledged. These are common problems we have to face together."

The Summit of the Americas is the the fifth summit of its kind since 1994, and brings together 34 heads of state or government from the Americas.

It is unclear is what Obama's trip to the summit will produce as neither he nor aides have been forthcoming on that point. But he certainly isn't going there to just enjoy the beach.