Since December 2006, Mexico literally has been fighting a war against its deadly drug cartels. According to the Reforma newspaper, 3,148 people have been killed in drug-related violence this year alone. And it is likely to get even worse.

Last week, for what is believed to be the first time, citizens not involved in the drug trafficking themselves were directly targeted in drug violence in twin grenade attacks at an Independence Day celebration in Morelia, capital of the western state of Michoacan. In that attack, seven people died and more than 100 were injured.

La Familia, a Michoacan-based drug gang, may have carried out that attack. A text message sent to reporters and residents of Morelia, however, claims that La Familia was not responsible and that the Zetas, a brutal gang that originated as part of the notorious Gulf Cartel and were one-time allies of La Familia, may have been the perpetrators. The Gulf Cartel is the primary object of President Filipe Calderon's anti-drug effort.

Some see it as significant that the attack was launched in Michoeca and Michoacan. Michoeca is home to Calderon. Michoacan is the first place where he sent the first of more than 25,000 troops when he announced his efforts against traffickers in 2006. It also is the state where gunman dumped five human heads into a dance hall beginning a wave of drug-related beheadings across Mexico.

Some are also saying that the grenade attacks may be somewhat like the United States' Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in that they may change Mexico in much larger ways. That, of course, remains to be seen. But what is clear is that Calderon's war on the cartels already is changing Mexico.

The United States, which supports the cartels with its demand for illegal drugs, also is helping Calderon in his efforts. Last week U.S. law enforcement agents arrested 175 people in the United States believed to be connected to Mexico's cartels. Four of the arrests were in California.

But polls show Mexicans, who once were able to dismiss the drug violence, increasingly are worried about their safety. Last week, it was reported that Alejandro Junco de la Vega, the president of Grupo Reforma, one of the nation's most powerful newspaper chains, had moved his family to the United States for safety.

Calderon's success will depend heavily on public support. It does not take too many grenade attacks to undermine that support and demand an end to the violence. Some demonstrated progress by Calderon might be what is needed now.

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