This Ay 2009 USWAC resident student paper explores the U.S. and Mexico relationship. The author argues that while that relationship has significantly improved over the past few years, the U.S. still neglects Mexico -- choosing to put a higher priority on addressing other issues outside of North America. He believes Mexico is a first line of defense for the U.S. against crime, drugs, terrorism, arms trafficking, and human trafficking. Yet, in the midst of a massive Mexican offensive against the drug cartels, Mexico faces the very real possibility of failing as a state. Accordingly, he argues that the U.S. must expand broad interagency support of Mexico beyond current programs. Otherwise, U.S. failure to recognize the severity of the Mexican situation and take aggressive steps to assist the Mexican government will contribute to a failed Mexican state and ultimately negatively impact U.S. national security.