Posted on 03/07/2009 8:35:53 AM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States is working to rush assistance to Mexico as it fights violent drug cartels, including equipment to help authorities track the narcotics mafia, according to the top US military officer.
"We're all working very hard to move the capabilities that are desirable to Mexico as quickly as we can," Admiral Mike Mullen told reporters by phone from his aircraft after holding talks in Mexico.
During his meetings with the country's military leadership, Mullen said he discussed how Washington could help in the battle against the powerful cartels, citing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) as a crucial element.
"ISR, that kind of capability is certainly a big part of it," Mullen said, using a term that can refer to manned surveillance aircraft as well as unmanned drones.
He said the emphasis would be on sharing intelligence "but in recognition that there are additional assets that could be brought to bear across the full ISR spectrum."
With last year's death toll from drug-related violence at 5,300 as well-financed cartels orchestrate a campaign of intimidation and kidnappings, the crisis over the border has become a serious national security concern for the United States.
The visit by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff underlined US concern over the escalating violence, which experts say is fed by easy access to guns and drug profits on the US side of the border.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
“Mexico is not just our neighbor. She is our good friend and a nation with whom we share a long border and shared responsibilities.”
Sure, they really offered to help us in Iraq after 9/11 - NOT!
That country needs revolution.
I don’t care, this is in our best interest, we share a long border with them and their war is starting to spill into the United States. We need to defend ourselves. Doing nothing is not an option and will result in worse things in the future.
Check the history of Los Zetas.
“Shamelessly bumping my own thread Mexico is not our problem.
That country needs revolution. “
Mexico needs the 2nd amendment...
And we need a WALL!
speaking of zetas
Zetas hitman gets life in prison in Laredo
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2201419/posts
Yes, but you don’t understand that Mexico is corrupt from top to bottom, and we have been sending them all kinds of ‘assistance’ for their drug war for years and years and it has only gotten worse.
You cannot send a dollar or a piece of technical equipment to Mexico that it does not end up as graft. Period.
We need a wall...and we need to do like the good old days and annex their northern tier of states as a buffer area (without the welfare goodies for them somehow). Make ‘em into a big “reservation”.
The only reason we don’t have more drug related violence in the US is because the crime statistics here categorize as “gang violence” the same crimes which are called “drug violence” in Mexico.
The US drug market is the root of the problem.
“We need a wall...and we need to do like the good old days and annex their northern tier of states as a buffer area (without the welfare goodies for them somehow). Make ‘em into a big “reservation”.
With the flow of asylum seekers we will be seeing because of the war in Mexico, I imagine there will be ‘regugee camps’.
Wall it off...then worry about cleaning it up.
“La Mordida” I believe it is called. In short, graft is institutionalized.
You are right. American vice is making Mexico worse.
Let’s see now: we’re going to engage in Mexico while balancing the budget swiftly by slashing the military.
Spanking fresh from Iraq.
A few dozen big holes in the ground will help them to remember what they ate a week ago.
We cannot allow a failed country on our border.
“That country (Mexico) needs revolution.”
Sadly, I think you are right.
But when the smoke clears and the bodies are carted away, will Mexico have yet another bunch of thugs governing them?
That depends on which side we support.
We can "share intel" until Hell freezes over, but it is worthless if the host country is unable to make meaningful use of it.
You cannot send a dollar or a piece of technical equipment to Mexico that it does not end up as graft. Period.
Sounds like New Jersey.
Ping!
I am all for defending ourselves. I think we need to secure our border and protect it; and stay out of Mexico— any money we give them will end up in pockets and any LEO or military equipment we send will also end up in the wrong hands and likely be used against our Border Patrol or citizens.
Sadly many of us who live on the border have been trying to warn our government and those that don’t live on the border about the issues for a very long time. We have been called racist and many other names and our warnings have been ignored and railed against. I personally have been saying for years right here on FR that Mexico was becoming the problem that Columbia used to be and few believed me. Now that it is becoming obvious to everyone that Mexico is a serious problem- I hope it is not too late to protect our country and citizens.
There are still lies being told by the MSM- this morning on FOX Geraldo was reporting that people fleeing the cartels that had left Mexico for the US posed no problem... I am sure no one will pursue them and I am also sure they will no longer participate in the drug trade. (Do I need a sarcasm warning?)
Picture the anaolgy of the intelligence we have to “share”...
The intelligence we would share is the equivalent of a “mirror” that in all actuality the person(s) reviewing that information might very well be part of the problem that the intelligence identifies...
So what may actually be “shared” is stuff that you just can’t really use, and is probably well known anyway...
It is a visious circle, and one you probably don’t want to get caught up in, because those following you are the ones chasing you...
Get my drift...
This is not a war we are going to win...
That’s the point; Clinton destroyed the two and half front war capability and now the One says he’s going to slash further, but the need for the half war previously assumed is here.
Seal the border with Mexico and let them fight it out: If
they hadn’t been able to sneak into the U.S. there would
have been a revolution.
Mexico needs to arm their citizens. They need a bill of rights.
You are correct. The only thing that is going to fix this is a second amendment for Mexico. People are being murdered by these thugs everyday if they do not cooperate. The Army is in on this too. Whatever we give the Mexicans is going to be in the hands of the drug dealers the next day. They will use it against us to entrench their position.
Mexican expatriots will return to Mexico if they could defend themselves.
Maybe there should be a larger and or more permanent bounty set on U.S. drug users, just saying. I'm really getting tired of those whiners causing this crap with no regard for the nation of their birth. And don't tell me it should be legalized; just control your urges you freaks. I know it can be done.....
Econ 101 legqalize drugs and regulate the market. More domestic supply. Let Mexico do whatever they wnat.
NO...There is no national security crisis as long as it's over the border...
What IS a national security crisis is allowing the criminals free access to the U.S...
In which case, the military should probably head to Washington D.C...
The United States is working to rush assistance to Mexico as it fights violent drug cartels, including equipment to help authorities track the narcotics mafia, according to the top US military officer.And when the "authorities" don't actually use the equipment because they're already in the employ of the drug cartels?
Hey, can’t we just quit telling other countries how to govern themselves? /sarc
Mexico troops enter drug war city
BBC | BBC Staff
Posted on 03/04/2009 7:33:11 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2198970/posts
Mexican government faces collapse before Soviet-backed drug cartels
Once Upon a Time in the West | March 5, 2009 | Perilous Times
Posted on 03/06/2009 7:25:58 AM PST by ihatedemocrats
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2200670/posts
Mexico’s Meltdown (scare tactics to grab US tax dollars - uses Mideast playbook)
NY POST | 3/6/09 | ROBERT B. CHARLES
Posted on 03/06/2009 2:26:57 AM PST by Liz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2200489/posts
There goes the Obama budget savings.
It's hard to know who to root for, maybe they can both kill each other off. We did regime change on the wrong nation.
Only problem is, the military is the drug smuggler. Oh well.
I think the Mexican military is already spread pretty thin with the build-up around the border, which has been happening for a few years now...they really don’t have the resources to send their military abroad. If you consider the ratio between the numbers in the Mexican military vs. the suspected number of foot soldiers in the various drug cartels (100,000 +), you can get a pretty clear picture of why the battle has been so fierce. This is a real problem for both of our countries and I’d hate to see our military having to patrol border cities because of the increasing violence. Really, we need to start thinking of these cartels as rebel insurgents, send in aid money as well as training support, etc. We did it for Colombia and helped them go after Pablo Escobar, and that country is doing so much better since the 80s. The drug war is not just Mexico’s fault...as I recall, tons of pot heads in LA and other big cities are buying the illegal drugs, so many of our citizens are contributing to the problem.
There goes the Obama budget savings.There were Obama budget savings? I thought the only way to achieve that was to dump Obama, along with all his drunken spendthrift copartisans in the Congress. :')
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Somebody remembers! Appreciate that. We seem to forget easily what allies are SUPPOSED to act like...
“We seem to forget easily what allies are SUPPOSED to act like...”
As well, at the time of 9/11 Fox was more concerned about the possibility of Bush opening up the border. Fox was so upset that 9/11 took the focus off of his efforts/meetings with Bush to push Amnesty. Remember all of the diplomatic meetings the two were having?? I sure do!
We don’t need a wall. We need a minefield. We need a DMZ just like the one between North and South Korea.
Or a DMZ on the border. It’s true, there are drug wars but the war is see who is going to control the drugs. The Cartels or the government of Mexico? Close the border.
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