Dang. I had the BP Tucson Sector Commander (Michael Nicely) available last night and didn't even think to bring up the question of how long he thinks it will be before one of his agents gets shot.
The bulk of the Town Hall meeting focused on the Minutemen, and he reiterated his opposition to what he sees as amateurs coming down here to 'help' the Border Patrol.
After the meeting, he said he loves getting out to talk with us and appreciates the help the locals are giving his agents. It just scares him to death to have a third unknown element introduced into the mix down here. We're all going to need to walk on eggshells for awhile...
A bunch of well-meaning, mostly law abiding, maybe a little less than well trained Americans scares him more than heavily armed paramilitary units operating for major drug trafficking gangs?
Not trying to put words in your mouth here, but it seems odd that Nicely would view things that way on his own - which I don't doubt. He should have brought up the subject of the Zetas on his own without prompting. Somehow I really can't remember the last time foreign and hostile military groups operated on U.S. soil with impunity. You'd think that might be rather central to his thoughts lately.