Posted on 12/23/2003 12:31:21 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
An official with a civilian border group says a squad of Mexican soldiers opened fire on a position only moments after it was vacated by group volunteers patrolling private property near Douglas, Ariz.
Jack Foote, national spokesman for property protection group Ranch Rescue, told NewsMax a reconnaissance squad of his volunteers spotted two armed Mexican soldiers wearing green combat fatigues and Kevlar helmets on U.S. soil adjacent to property the group was asked to protect.
Foote said his volunteers, part of a mission Ranch Rescue dubbed "Operation Thunderbird," deployed at the landowner's request to interdict smuggling of illegal aliens and drugs on the property, reported the shootings about 5:22 p.m. Saturday. There were no injuries, and Ranch Rescue members, who are patrolling the property armed, did not return fire.
The group spokesman said the leader of the reconnaissance unit reported movement about 200 meters north of the landowner's southern boundary, a location near the U.S.-Mexico border.
"He waited until the first two soldiers moved into the clear. One was carrying an AK-47 and the other an RPK," a light machine gun version of the AK. "Both were wearing [olive drab] green fatigues and Kevlar helmets," Foote said.
Foote said the recon point man yelled in Spanish for the two soldiers to stop, but they turned around instead. Recon volunteers reported seeing the entire unit run back into Mexico. It wasn't clear how many Mexican soldiers had crossed into the U.S.
For safety, the volunteer recon unit moved to a different position, Foote said. About a minute later "the Mexicans fired on our squad's previous position." Members heard about six to eight shots fired, said Foote.
Mexican Embassy officials in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Incidents of Mexican troops crossing the international boundary into the United States are nothing new, say Border Patrol agents.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., head of the House Immigration Reform Caucus, says 115 incursions by Mexican military and police have been documented by the U.S. government since 1996.
"The purpose of these incursions is not totally understood, but U.S. officials have speculated that they are designed to help facilitate the flow of illegal drugs into America, either by creating a diversion or by providing cover for the traffickers," Tancredo says, on his caucus Web site.
Ranch Rescue has had its share of problems during operations. The landowner host for Operation Thunderbird, Casey Nethercott, was arrested Nov. 25 by federal authorities for failing to appear for a court date in Texas.
Nethercott and fellow Ranch Rescue volunteer Hank Connor were arrested by Texas authorities in March during a group operation on the property of Joe Sutton, near Hebbronville in Jim Hogg County. They were charged with allegedly detaining and beating two illegal aliens from El Salvador, allegations the group vehemently denied.
Foote said Nethercott's attorney told him Nethercott did not have to appear at the Texas hearing. The attorney said he would appear instead, but got sick and also missed the date. Foote said Nethercott's attorney filed papers with the court seeking a change in court date and explained the circumstances for missing the initial hearing, but Jim Hogg County prosecutors "pushed the issue and got a warrant issued for Casey."
Now, Arizona authorities are holding Nethercott on a "fugitive" warrant, but Nethercott is fighting the extradition to Texas. He remains in jail, Foote said, and will likely be there until February, unless bail can be arranged.
Federal officials also filed charges against Nethercott and Connor in the Hebbronville case, but eventually those were dropped.
The Mexican army and police ARE the cartel enforcers. And I've seen dozens of AKs in Mexico, though more commonly in police hands than Army ones. The 7.62mm German G3 is most common, though FAL rifles in the same caliber and American Garands are also very common, as ar M16s of various models and AKs from various national manufacture.
Mister, have you gotten any results from your above mentioned activities? No.
Anybody flooding you with money to resolve this issue? No.
I don't know what you consider to be "a few" such weapons but 5-6 would be more than sufficient to handle most any small border incursion as an AR-15 has about a 30% to 40% edge on an AK, both in range and accuracy.
Even without that edge, 6 men, when properly deployed in response to such an incursion, would be able to easily resolve the issue, swiftly. Yet, when individuals possessing the correct training to provide direction in a deployment of this nature appear literally at your doorsteps, you turn them away. To me, this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Given the lack of any interest whatsoever from anyone that you have traditionally been going to for help on this issue, I suggest you rethink your reliance on this "help" in the future. Looks like you (figuratively speaking... you) will have to request help from where you CAN get it, from individuals that can resolve such issues. To stand around decrying "militia rejects" you guys might try having a bit of a discussion as to what can be accomplished.
It has been my experience (21 years worth) that the "militia rejects" that are referred to consist of approximately 1/3 LEO, 1/3 prior military (usually infantry), and about 1/3 highly educated and motivated individuals. If this is not good enough to get the job done, just say so, I can recommend, publicly or privately a more detailed course of response to your issues.
TLI
I think you're right. I'm used to seeing the two-hole ventilated wood handguard of the Commonwealth L1A1 version rather than the Belgian/Argentine/Brazilian three-slot synthetic handguard.
That's important to remember --- especially with Mexico --- not everyone wearing a particular uniform is supposed to be wearing that uniform. Anyone can put on a uniform for whatever purpose --- this sounds more like a drug smuggling ring rather than the official Mexican army. I know there are men dressed like Mexican army and probably actual army all along the border.
The Mexican drug cartels have way too much power ---- and they would gladly kill any American getting in the way of their "deliveries". Someday there will be a border war and it could be very ugly.
So what is the problem? Does this mean the U.S. Government is STILL not doing its job? Who cares if it is the Mexican Military or cartel enforcers? It is illegal and should be stopped by our government.
You slackers who want to put the blame on citizens in the area should get a life and search for the answer as to why the FEDs aren't protecting our borders. If the federal government won't step in and do what is right by its citizens then it is up to the citizens to enforce the law....or else change the government.
Jackelope Breeder is one of those citizens who is doing something.
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