Ronald Reagan's defense secretary, Caspar Weinberger, credited with engineering the demise of the Soviet Union, once predicted – because of illegal immigration and social unrest south of the border – the U.S. would be at war with Mexico by 2003.

As the U.S. becomes increasingly concerned about just those issues – and one more, the growing power and violence of the drug cartels operating in and around the border – some U.S. intelligence and military analysts are dusting off Weinberger's "Operation Aztec" battle plan for review.

Weinberger's scenario outlined a rapid three-pronged military invasion designed to control domestic Mexican unrest and stem the influx of millions of immigrants.

Likewise, in a 1994 Pentagon briefing paper dealing with "deployment of U.S. troops in Mexico as a result of widespread economic and social chaos," Donald E. Schultz, a professor of national security at the U.S. Army's War College around the same time wrote: "A hostile government could put U.S. investments in Mexico in danger, jeopardize access to oil, produce a flood of political refugees and economic migrants to the north."

Meanwhile, Mexican President Vicente Fox is indeed concerned about his country's internal security. A few days ago, he summoned to Sinaloa a meeting with top-level officials to discuss various issues of Mexican national security.

The meeting was described by observers as a "top-level group to define Mexican security actions." The president guided his group of experts to draft within the next 90 days, a structure and mechanism proposal on several critical security issues. He instructed the team to prepare strategies to combat illegal arms build-ups, to fight small time drug traders and to find ways to reduce drug addiction prevalence and money laundering. According to the presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar, Fox instructed his top-level group to divide the upcoming 90 days into 30-, 60- and 90-day time spans.

Oddly, however, the border with the U.S. was a very low priority for Fox and his advisers. They were concerned more with their own southern borders with Belize and Guatemala, where Mexico faces its own illegal immigration crisis.

It seems unavoidable that the U.S.-Mexico border is going to be the big issue in the 2006 mid-term elections in the U.S., whether or not it is a major issue for Mexican politicians vying for political office next year:

The Zetas, a group of U.S.-trained commandos who turned from drug interdiction to drug cartel protection, have killed hundreds along the border since January, raising concerns even from the U.S. Justice Department, which seldom likes to acknowledge any problems with Mexico.

The illegal immigration wave continues unabated with no plans in sight from the Bush administration. Members of Congress from both parties are currently planning to introduce bills in the coming weeks to militarize the border.

While the Zetas are concerned with cross-border drug-running operations, other criminal gangs, some just as deadly, run the people smuggling operations. And there are growing concerns in Washington about the ability of terrorist groups to buy their way into the U.S. through these contacts.

Illegal immigration in the U.S. far outpaces legal immigration, causing economic and cultural problems, as well as security issues. Experts on Mexican security and crime say Fox, preparing for the 2006 presidential campaign, is definitely worried about deteriorating relations with the U.S., particularly with U.S. border-states.

Fox is facing a big political challenge from the growing power and popularity of Mexico City's mayor, Anres Manuel Lopez Obrador, nicknamed AMLO. On May 24, Obrador came out with a remarkable show of force, bringing into the streets 1.2 million non-violent demonstrators to protest attempts by the president to curb his candidacy through judicial acrobatics. The demonstration's dimension, the way it reverberated across the country, and the apparent re-organizing of indigenous and left-wing guerrilla fighters and guerrilla sympathizers, sent shockwaves throughout the Mexican oligarchy.

More than 40 Percent of Mexicans live below the poverty line. Although Mexican officials tend to brag only 3.2 percent of the population is unemployed, CIA experts explain that more than 25 percent of those labeled as working are in reality, and according to any western standards, severely under employed. When these data are added to many other ailments in the country's socio-political reality it is no wonder the mass's discontent, unrest and instability is about to burst.

Security experts claim a variety of groups and organizations plan to play an active role in the coming election campaign, hoping to bring down the Fox administration as well as the present military and police establishments. These include the:

Aboriginal Zapatista National Liberation Army, EZLN, which in the 90s waged war on the state, and then negotiated a cease-fire with Fox's predecessor.

Commando Jaramillista Moreense de 23 Mayo, also known as the CJM23M. An illusive group which so far surfaced mainly through leaflets, press releases and threats against the state. More groups mentioned in the May-June 2001 publication of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center Military Review are:

The Clandestine Revolutionary Army of the Poor, CRAP. Defense Intelligence Agency analysts have recently added accumulating information on jihadi groups establishing shop in Mexico City and other urban centers. An FBI wanted list for drug cartel bosses placed Ramon Eduardo Arellano-Felix at the top, describing him as extremely violent and probably with extensive narco-terror connection, setting him next to terrorist Osama bin Laden on the FBI 10 most wanted list. This by itself illuminates the appalling scope of the problem.

The Sinaloa meeting deliberately avoided dealing with so-called "mega-problems" and instead focused more on relatively petty local crimes. This is an indication the Fox administration is planning to use the infamous traditional Mexican political solution of joining forces with drug cartels despite its malignant ripple affect on the Mexican and even U.S. societies.

The Mexican and the U.S. administrations, each government for reasons of its own, are doing their utmost to dodge issues around the border-crossing epidemic from Mexico to the U.S. As politicians in Washington are trying to avoid coping with public opinion or evade voicing support to such initiatives as the Minuteman Project and the Yuma Patriots, these very issues do not escape the eyes of the Department of Homeland Security and immigration authorities.

The above data when added to the overall, possibly shaky, political situation in Mexico, and with Fox's open disregard for mutual border respect, the U.S. is faced with a dangerously looming confrontation with her supposedly friendly neighbor in the south.

The Mexican Fifth Column

February 3, 2003

By Tom DeWeese, American Policy Center

Illegal immigration is about much more than fighting terrorism. Illegal Mexicans are pouring across our borders and, as a result, American tax-paid services like education and healthcare are being pushed to the brink of collapse. Each new report of activities along our 2,000-mile border with Mexico appears to be more outrageous than the last.

On January 22^nd, the nation’s newspapers reported that Hispanics now outnumber Blacks in America with a population that has grown to 37 million, up 4.7% from the 2000 Census. On the same day, the Washington Times reported that the General Services Administration had suspended recognition of identification cards issued by the Mexican government to “hundreds of thousands” of Mexican nationals to secure US documentation such as driver’s licenses and to establish bank accounts. None of the cards list the carrier’s immigration status.

The Mexican government of President Vicente Fox has basically demanded that the United States accept and care for citizens of his country who are sneaking in illegally. Fox has become increasingly vocal in demanding that the United States create amnesty and work-visa programs to legalize more than three million illegal Mexicans now living in the United States. As more than 10,000 illegal Mexicans flood into our nation every day, there is little concern on Capitol Hill and virtually no legislation pending to deal with the problem.

Those like Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado, who vocally oppose the open border policy, are ignored. President Bush continues to call for the amnesty that President Fox seeks. The new U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza, assured Mexico that reaching an accord legalizing the status of Mexican immigrants, without giving them citizenship, continues to be a top Bush Administration priority.

Consider these actions by the Mexican government inside the United States in just the past few months.

Item: The Mexican government has issued more than 800,000 slick, pocket-sized identification cards to both legal and illegal immigrants. Those cards are being distributed through Mexican consulates all over the United States. House Democrat Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi, has advocated their use in her San Francisco home district.

The cards list the holder’s birth date, place of birth, U.S. address and encoded information to prevent fraudulent duplication. Over the past year, Mexican officials have been openly lobbying local police departments, banks and local government agencies in the United States to accept the cards, making it easier for the holders to get jobs, open bank accounts, and get government services. The strategy is to work the system from the bottom up, making the cards acceptable on the local level before Congress can pass any legislation concerning the activity. That way, Mexico believes, the Congress will have no choice but to simply rubber stamp approval of the practice.

In spite of the fact that the GSA has suspended recognition of these cards, currently more than 800 U.S. police departments, 15 cities and 13 states now accept the cards as valid ID. At least 66 U.S. banks, led by Wells Fargo and Bank of America, have also agreed to accept the cards, opening tens of thousands of new bank accounts in states across the country, from California to Georgia. Mexico is reaping a bonanza as immigrants send more than $10 billion per year back to relatives at home. That figure equals what Mexico earns in annual tourism dollars.

Item: Mexican ambulance drivers are transporting hospital patients, unable to pay for medical care in Mexico, to facilities in the United States. They know that the federal Emergency Medical Act mandates that U.S. hospitals with emergency-room services must treat anyone who requires care, including illegal aliens.

Medical service for Americans in affected communities is being severely damaged as hospitals absorb more than $200 million in un-reimbursed costs. Some emergency rooms have shut down because they cannot afford to stay open. Local tax-paying Americans are either denied medical care or have to wait in long lines for service as the illegals flood the facilities. In California, the losses are calculated to be about $79 million, with $74 million in Texas, $31 million in Arizona, and $6 million in New Mexico.

Item: Schools are suffering the same fate as hospitals as illegal aliens fill classrooms, bloat budgets, and rob taxpayers of decent facilities for American children. Federal law and an incredible Supreme Court ruling ban schools from denying free education to illegal aliens.

In addition, state colleges and universities are being forced to allow illegal aliens to receive tuition discounts that are supposed to be reserved for U.S. residents. In California, a new law (Assembly Bill 540) allows undocumented high school graduates who have been in residence in California for three years to enroll in community colleges and the California State University and University of California systems without paying nonresident tuition. California opposes allowing schools to report illegal aliens or to deny them enrollment.

Item: Several cities have declared themselves “safe havens” for illegal aliens and refuse to enforce immigration laws. Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City have all declared themselves to be sanctuaries for illegal aliens. In other words, these city governments refuse to uphold federal law or defend American borders.

Item: On several occasions, heavily armed Mexican soldiers have actually crossed over into United Sates territory and fired on U.S. Border Patrol personnel. Border Patrol officials confirmed that the Juarez drug cartel has placed a bounty of $200,000 on U.S. lawmen.

Item: The U.S. Border Patrol is using tax dollars to advertise the establishment of eight “rescue beacons” along the border to help illegal aliens find they way. A strobe light is used to direct illegal aliens to the beacons to help with night crossings. During the day a reflective mirror guides the crossers.

The one-minute commercials are expected to run in 2003 on TV stations in Mexico and in the border city of Yuma, Arizona. “Officials want to reach viewers in the interior parts of Mexico, where potential border crossers may know little about the treacherous terrain and nothing about the beacons,” the Associated Press reported.

So great is the Mexican invasion that the U.S. government has decided to accept illegal aliens as an economic fact instead of trying to stop it. There is no movement on Capitol Hill to stem the flow of illegal Mexicans even though recent polls show overwhelming support by Americans for stronger action against illegal immigrants. It is now up to American taxpayers to apply pressure on our elected officials to demand an end to these outrageous policies.

This is our land, not Mexico’s. It’s high time we told that to our own leaders and especially to the government of Mexico.

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