FUBAR
Any agent stupid enough to be in Mexico with out a gun needs to have their head examined. I would have quit my job before I let that happen.
“FUBAR”
Exactly!
This is an interview from the other day about all this.
Cartels infiltrating US agencies
TJ Bonner, President of the National Border Council
RA: TJ, prior to tonight’s show we received contact from various members of the law enforcement community. For obvious reasons, I won’t say from whom or from what city or state. But I have been told that drug cartel members are infiltrating U.S. law enforcement ranks and that law enforcement professionals are nervous and concerned about their safety. Do you have any knowledge of this and is there anything you care to comment on?
TJ Bonner: (Pause). Sadly it’s true, Rick. There are a couple of documented instances where drug cartels’ members have been arrested after having been hired by U.S. law enforcement agencies. What we don’t know is how broad it is.
RA: Wait a minute. TJ, this is astounding. I fully expected you to say that you heard a rumor or two or that there is a lot of misinformation floating around out there. Instead, you are telling me in no uncertain terms that drug cartel members have, without question, infiltrated U.S. law enforcement agencies. The only question is, to what extent?
TJ Bonner: Yes, it’s the gospel truth, Rick. We only know who it is that we have arrested; again, what we don’t know is how broad it is. You assume if you have arrested a couple then it only stands to reason that there are more out there. It’s sad because when these guys go on a mission they expect their partner will have their back. They don’t know who they can trust or who it is that is behind them.
TJ Bonner
RA: During the Ramos-Compean saga, which occurred under the Bush administration, you once told that me that in your long-storied career as a Border Agent you never saw the morale lower among agents than it was (under President Bush). How does it compare today under the Obama adminsistation?
TJ Bonner: (Slight derisive chuckle). I guess you should be careful of what you wish for. Things have gotten worse. The morale among border patrol agents is worse now than even it was before. Obama wants to cut the pay of agents and also have them work overtime hours without getting paid for it. He wants them to work for free.
RA: What should the Obama administration response be to the ambush and assassination of agents Zapata and Avila?
TJ Bonner: We should pull all U.S. law enforcement agents out of Mexico immediately. It is a sham to say they are not allowed to carry weapons there in the name of diplomacy. Of course we should also track down the killers, but we know that won’t happen.
It is a war in Mexico. Consider this: Under 6,000 U.S. troops have been killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over 30,000 people have been killed in the drug war in Mexico. The drug cartels are running the country. The President of Mexico tried to take them on and he has learned they are too powerful. He can’t win.
RA: What response do you expect from the Obama administration?
TJ Bonner: The usual. Tough talk at first and then nothing. It doesn’t help that the Head of the Department of Homeland Security (Janet Napolitano) challenges the cartels by saying “bring it on.” The U.S. is not committed to winning the war, and drug cartels are. It’s too bad because we are the United States and we can defeat the drug cartels if we ever get serious about it.
You can hear my entire interview with TJ Bonner HERE.