Editing SP Current Events (section)

===Mexico and Central America===

When the Arches first appeared, pundits predicted chaos. The idea was that drug cartels would gain possession of Arches and somehow control those who passed through, turning the entirety of Central America into hundreds of feuding, battle-scarred fiefdoms.

They were wrong. The cartels learned a very valuable lesson when they tried - they learned the lesson usually learned by covert organisations - you may be hot stuff when operating below the radar, but against seasoned military troops with free reign, you're basically chum.

The various Governments of Central America made it clear that the cost of removing the cartels might have been higher than the benefit when it came to drugs - but not when it came to the Arches. It took time, and it cost lives, but in the end, every cartel that tried to hold an Arch was destroyed root and branch. (This has not destroyed cartels in general - those smart enough not to try, or who got out as soon as the Governments started showing their intent, were able to maintain business as more or less usual, and of course power vacuums attracted new players. But they're very careful to stay off the military's radar.)

Among the people of Central America - as among those of South America - the Catholic view predominates (see Italy). Many do wind up becoming celebrities.