Posted on 02/01/2005 3:29:34 PM PST by SandRat
DOUGLAS - Individuals on the Mexican side of the border shot at a pair of U.S. Border Patrol agents on Friday and Monday, according to an agency's Tucson Sector spokeswoman.
The two incidents bring the number of shootings aimed at agents in Cochise County to three since last Wednesday and four since Oct. 1, Andrea Zortman said. All involved agents from the Douglas Station.
"They are definitely a lot more aggressive," Zortman said about assaults against agents.
In the most two recent shooting incidents in the county, a vehicle and material protecting cameras were hit, she said.
Around 6 p.m. Friday, an agent was patrolling near the Douglas International Airport when the agent "heard three distinct shots coming from Mexico," Zortman said.
The agent moved to a secure location as other agents responded to secure the scene, she said, adding, no suspects were encountered.
An examination of the agents' vehicle revealed it had been hit twice, one hitting the rear tire on the driver's side and the other went through the front bumper with the bullet lodging in the motor, Zortman said.
The Monday incident took place about 12:30 a.m. and involved an agent who was patrolling about two miles east of Douglas, near a remote video surveillance site's camera pole, she said.
"The agent heard four shots coming from Mexico," the spokeswoman said.
Again the agent headed for cover as additional agents responded, and again, no suspects were found, she added.
An inspection of the camera system was made and "revealed four bullet holes in the Plexiglas that protects the solar panels of the system," the spokeswoman said. The camera system was undamaged.
Last Wednesday's incident involved a shooting near the Douglas airport and was reported Saturday by the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review. In that case an agent was fired on and said he heard bullets whiz by his head. The shots came from Mexico.
As agents were looking for the culprits, a vehicle crossed into the United States from Mexico, which apparently as a drug-load truck.
But once agents saw that action, they began a pursuit and the truck went back into Mexico.
Zortman said it is not unusual for drug smugglers to create some kind of diversion.
Since Oct. 1 through Monday, there have been 90 assault incidents against agents in the Tucson Sector, of which 27 have happened in Cochise County, Zortman said.
For all of the previous federal fiscal year there were a total of 118 assaults on agents.
Besides the shootings so far this year, assaults have included attempts to run down agents with vehicles and rocks thrown at agents.
Luckily, no agents have been injured, Zortman said.
But if the assaults continue there is a possibility that Border Patrol people may be injured or killed, she said.
Vincente won't allow US to shoot back.
We're all thinking it...
Oh, you caught that too, huh? And post vanities lecturing the rest of us who were actually BORN here!
My mildest of thoughts is that we need an entire company of Old Style Texas Rangers told only two words "END IT!"
I guess that shouldn't come as any surprise. There have been quite a few times that I suspected a certain group to at least be on the payroll of the Mexican government. It's not like they don't have the internet over there --- at least for the elites and government types.
"...Are landmines really as bad as they're made out out be?.."
It's funny, if one passes this suggestion in "polite" company, dinner guests will drop their forks in shock and everyone will point and tell you you've become a hateful monster. It's actually very fair and would ultimately result in the drastic reduction of Mexican and American casualties.
In my mind it's not that difficult. Make the minefield a quarter-mile wide with high fencing on both sides with warnings in multiple languages on bright yellow signs with black writing and reflective red borders. The warning signs would be visible day or night in all weather conditions. The fences should be at least a half-mile from the edge of the minefield to prevent tunneling. These precautions would prevent animals or wayward hikers from getting killed or hurt.
It would only take a few foolhardy people being detonated to see that we mean business about crossing only at DESIGNATED areas. Illegal immigration would slow to a trickle within one month.
~ Blue Jays ~
Sounds like Arizona needs to import a Texas Ranger to straighten out things for y'all.
Actually, it looks like increased enforcement has squeezed the dope smugglers into a limited area of operations.
If they can't bribe the inspectors at the crossings anymore, there must have been some internal affairs tightening. And if they can't fly light planes over the treetops, there must be some better air surveillance and crackdown on county sheriffs.
What d'ya think?
That isn't happening. All the corupe inspectors are still working and OIG claims they are still investigating.
Nope, they are still operating all over, it's just this group in this area that seems a little uppity.
By the way, what type drugs do people try to walk into the country?
IF I say what I'm thinking Bayoufraud will have a stroke and I'll get banned. Suffice to say that we need some helicopters with armed troops to fire on these people. We ARE the world's superpower and we can't even protect our borders??? Give me a break!!! Can you imagine what would happen if WE were shooting at Mexicans on their side of the border? Do you think Canada would sit still while we were shooting at Canadians on THEIR side of the border? NO!! Could you see China sitting still if North Korea was shooting at Chinese inside their border. NO! This is TOTAL INSANITY!!! WE are being attacked!! WHAT in God's name is Bush thinking? This IS WAR!!!!!
I think you don't believe a word you're saying.
Declaration of war BUMP!
You don't need to give the training to those in Cochise County, as a significant number are retired or in the case of those in and around Sierra Vista AZ Active military.
I think not.
Don't recall any of the anti-Hispanic posters posting any tributes or prayers for their families.
Weeeeeelllllll - OK.
"It's funny, if one passes this suggestion in "polite" company, dinner guests will drop their forks in shock and everyone will point and tell you you've become a hateful monster."
I see nothing polite about that kind of company. They are too dumb to be polite. You're too good to hang out with 'em.
"...They are too dumb to be polite. You're too good to hang out with 'em..."
That's the funny part. Some of these folks are reliable Republicans, but they get all crazy-in-the-head when discussion turns to simple measures that can be taken to protect our borders.
I have no idea about the ICE/INS policies are in a place like, say, Austria, but I know I would never try to sneak over the mountains into their country. Naturally, I would be concerned about the consequences of my actions.
My feeling is that the same healthy respect needs to be instilled along our southern border. Mexican citizens can still visit us...just use the well-marked doors and don't crawl beneath the fence and try to run past the sun-bleached skeletons laying out in the san...BOOM...oops, and there goes another landmine. They'll learn yet.
~ Blue Jays ~
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