Posted on 05/11/2008 8:34:46 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
MEXICO CITY — Assassins gunned down a senior police official in the border city of Ciudad Juarez early Saturday as Mexico's gangsters pressed their counteroffensive against the country's security forces.
Municipal Police Chief Juan Antonio Roman was shot about 2 a.m. in front of his house on the outskirts of the city, which is across the Rio Grande from El Paso.
Another of Roman's police commanders was shot shortly before he was killed.
Roman's was one of more than 100 deaths, including those of at least 20 police officers, attributed to organized crime last week across Mexico. Among those killed were a top commander of the Federal Preventative Police, whose gray-uniformed agents have spearheaded a crackdown on the criminal underworld.
Gangland violence has been sweeping Mexico as powerful narcotics smuggling gangs battle one another for dominance. At stake are the lucrative smuggling routes through the country to transport cocaine, marijuana and other narcotics to U.S. consumers.
President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against the gangsters upon taking office in December 2006, dispatching some 30,000 troops and federal police to the most violence-plagued communities.
While failing to seriously curtail narcotics traffic, the offensive has weakened some criminal organizations, enhancing bloody internal rivalries. By some media counts, more than 3,000 people have died in the past 17 months, including scores of police officers and soldiers.
Violence against police was rare until recently in Mexico, as gangsters preferred to use silver instead of lead to persuade officials to leave them alone. But amid Calderon's offensive, the gangs have started hitting at the local, state and federal police.
"It's a war between the cartels and against the state," said Victor Clark, a human rights activist in Tijuana. "The government action has dealt a blow to the interests of organized crime, And they're fighting back."
Roman's name headed a list of "executable" city police officers that was publicly posted by gangsters in January.
Standing in the street in front of his house, with his wife and three children inside, Roman managed to shoot back at his killers but was cut down in a volley of more than 60 bullets, said Jaime Torres, a Ciudad Juarez police spokesman.
"He was able to repel the attack, but he was outnumbered," Torres said. "It's a very sad day."
Calderon called Friday for his nation to unite against the gangs. But years of endemic police corruption and abuses have left many Mexicans cynical.
Mexican officials have acknowledged that some officers — especially local and state forces — have been killed for their role in protecting one criminal gang or another rather than in the line of duty.
"They haven't been able to break the ties between the organized criminals, police and political power," said Clark, noting that 144 municipal and state police officers were fired in Baja California last week.
The federal police commander killed Thursday, Edgar Millan, was met by assassins as he arrived home in Mexico City. Investigators suspect they were helped by someone from within the federal police.
dqalthaus@yahoo.com marionlloyd@gmail.com
Mexico - the next Lebanon?
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
I’m glad I don’t live in El Paso, or along the border.
Mexico is pretty much a lawless, turd world country. When police officers become fair game in an apparent open season no bag limit, then that is proof that that country is unhinged.
The entire country has been corrupted by the PRI for more than 50 years. The wealthy have always retreated to their walled compounds. No more....
Coming soon to a city near you.
Best regards,
>The federal police commander killed Thursday, Edgar Millan, was met by assassins as he arrived home in Mexico City. Investigators suspect they were helped by someone from within the federal police.<
Mexican police officers have long been known as being a corrupt group. The ‘cleaning’ that is going on these days is a result of their past performance.
And the American government just lets anyone cross the border without documentation?
How long before this happens in all American cities. it is already happening in Chicago. Gangs rule the streets in many areas and the police are impotent.
The people have the right to shoot back now. Government has abdicated their responsibility by allowing open borders and illegal residency. Those mexican drug gangs are coming here organized and confident nobody can stop them.
Brought to you by the same people who support Abortion, Peta, Racism and Climate change.
Lost Angeles, kalifornia is already suffering under the wieight of rival gangs of Latinos and blacks killing for control of the cities slum neighborhoods,flexing their muscles by murdering and mayhem and enjoying all that America has to offer.
All the while Lost Angeles MECHA believing elitists mayor supports Lost Angeles as a sanctuary city for these ignorant thugs.
Obama as the Democrat will do as he has stated negotiate with these pukes and support more sanctuary cities.
Meanwhile, Bush’s boss Calderon, continues fiddling all the way to the bank.
Fortunately, the North American Union will cure this ill and the problem will disappear rather than migrate north.
“Coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
Brought to you by the same people who support Abortion, Peta, Racism and Climate change.
Lost Angeles, kalifornia is already suffering under the wieight of rival gangs of Latinos and blacks killing for control of the cities slum neighborhoods,flexing their muscles by murdering and mayhem and enjoying all that America has to offer.
All the while Lost Angeles MECHA believing elitists mayor supports Lost Angeles as a sanctuary city for these ignorant thugs.
Obama as the Democrat will do as he has stated negotiate with these pukes and support more sanctuary cities.”
You seem to forget that the republicans have elected McAmnesty as their presidential candidate. Bush has clearly been the leader of presidents when it comes to open borders followed by most of his weasely cohorts. VOTE THIRD PARTY and don’t waste your vote.
I feel like the racists New York city councilman Barron who said “I would like to walk up to a white man and slap him”.
Well I would like to walk up to some of these galldarn RINOS, Liberals and airheads and slap some sense into them and you too racists councilman Barron.
I do NOT know why you sent a LITTLE EMAIL to me about joining the “BROWN SHIRTS” But don’t do it again.
To me that is NOT anything to JOKE about and I am a WHITE CONSERVATIVE FEMALE BORN AND RAISED IN THE SOUTH.
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