Posted on 06/09/2005 6:00:30 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
MONTERREY, Mexico — For weeks, no one applied for the Nuevo Laredo police chief job. Many saw it as a death sentence. But Alejandro Dominguez proudly took office on Wednesday, saying he wasn't afraid of anything. Nine hours later, he was ambushed and killed by gunmen who fired some three dozen times. Dominguez's violent death was the latest blow to Nuevo Laredo, a city across from Laredo, Texas, that has been crippled by a wave of drug violence. The city is on the front line of a turf battle between Mexico's two largest drug gangs, the Gulf and Juarez cartels. Since January, more than 60 people have been killed there, including several city police officers.
President Vicente Fox's administration sent in 700 soldiers and federal agents in March to try to restore law and order. Dominguez, a businessman who once worked at the federal Attorney General's office, was sworn in Wednesday afternoon, and promised to weed out corruption in the city. "I don't owe anybody anything. My duty is to the citizenry," he said. "I think those who should be afraid are those who have been compromised." After dark, a group of assailants opened fire as he climbed into his Ford Lobo outside the city's business chamber, which he led.
State police director Fernando Vallejo said officials had recovered 35 to 40 casings from assault rifles similar to those used by drug gangs. A witness told authorities Dominguez was targeted by a group of men who arrived in three dark Chevy Suburbans. "They cut him off so he couldn't go," said the witness, who asked not to be identified. "They shot him from inside (the vehicles) and then got out to shoot him some more." The witness said that once Dominguez was dead, the gunmen climbed back into the Suburbans and drove slowly away, with their lights turned off.
Last month, Nuevo Laredo Mayor Daniel Pena said no one had come forward to replace Police Chief Jose Valdes, who left the post to become City Council secretary. Dominguez was selected from a group of three potential candidates. He was the only one to voluntarily seek the job. Authorities say drug violence in Nuevo Laredo intensified after the 2003 arrest of Osiel Cardenas, the alleged leader of the Gulf Cartel, in the nearby city of Matamoros. They say accused drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has been fighting Cardenas to gain access to drug smuggling routes in Nuevo Laredo and other border cities. The U.S. government has issued a warning to tourists traveling to the border, at the request of U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza. Garza has come under fire from Mexican officials who say the warning is unnecessary.
this is what is comming over the border now and will continue to flow into our country. Drugs are everywhere now thanks to the GOP refusal to do something about our borders.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
Time and NEWSWEAK? I think those media sources seem to sensationalize things a bit.
Seems like the U.S. has been plauged with gangs throughout time...bloods, crips, mafia (organized) gangs, the dalton boys...now, MS-13.
Putting things in perspective...are they a problem? Yes. Are they going to descend the American way of life into chaos? No. Our citizenry and subsequently are dually elected representatives will not allow it...yeah we allow barking, crazy, seditionist libs, to exist, but seems like we've recongnized the problem and will likely deal with it.
Just like we did the Dalton boys. Maybe I am being optimistic, but I just dont see roving bands of "murderous" Latin hooligans being stood for in this country.
First word - scary. I also think that the Mexican government is corrupt, at all levels, and this will be hard to change. When something like this happens within a few hours of swearing in the new chief, its more than just some drug ring. These guys are organized and connected. And incredibly bold!
You have to wonder why the drug rings didn't at least try to test the man with bribes, blackmail, etc. Just a thought, but what are the chances that he was already in with one gang, and the second gang whacked him. The man may have been truly honest (as stated in the article) and I shouldn't impugn the man, but it's a thought that I had. Why not test him? Is there a need to send such a strong message?
I don't believe it will.
The upper echelon traffickers here are well entrenched and well insulated, often cloaked in pseudo respectability.
There will continue to be street level homicides from time to time. But we won't see graphic public assassinations of honest LEOs. That would be bad for business.
The system has numerous built in mechanisms designed to frustrate any who attempt to alter the status quo.
We have a winner.
Although, they could have been with the state police, the feds, the military or the zatas (former cops & military).
NL Police Chief Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
So even though he was technically the 'police chief', could we still refer to his car as the 'Sheriff's Lobo'?
We are going to be blessed with all the nice quaint folksy Mexican customs. "Bribe as you go", kidnapping and paying ransom for relatives I'm sure will also be among the most popular.
So that is your benchmark?
And again...must countries depend on an influx of immigrants to survive...
Really, whatever happened to birthrates?
This problem is more than just Mexico. It's the sheer volume of vastly differing cultures pouring in here. Some of who view it as a reconquest and many of whom have a tradition of voting Left. Not to mention the legality or border issues.
So illegal Mexicans are better than Raghead nutjobs bent on our destruction?...well yea, who could argue with that.
That is not objective justification.
Oh, come on, it's just that allergies are so prevalent there. Haven't you heard Mexico is the allergy capitol of the world??/ sarc
I'll drop 100.00 into your 10.00 pot. The "Troops" are nothing more than government paid Drug Runner guardsmen and have been for years.
You are joking I hope. If you believe drugs weren't everywhere prior to 1/20/2001 you are severely deluded.
Go hang around the Bellaire and Hilcroft intersection at night.
You will see more than you bargained for.
I don't know where you live but here in south east Texas we a being overwhelmed with meth and crak cocane all of it comming in from Mexico.
Another present courtesy of the sweet, hard working peasants to the South.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1419360/posts
Most of the meth in the US is made right here by our own lovable fellow Americans and crack has been a huge problem for well over a decade. It is generally home created as well though from imported ingredients.
There has been no significant increase in across border drug trade of late. It has always been a flood.
An article yesterday mentioned that the Mayor had promised that a new chief would be appointed soon.
I satirically speculated that there weren't many people lining up for the job. I'm ashamed now that I took it so lightly.
The slain police chief obviously knew he was going into a red sector and bravely went forward. He was a true hero and all of Mexico (and their friends across the border)should honor him.
This issue of mass illegal immigration is not an issue the government can afford to be reactive on (which unfortunately it already is). Otherwise, the USA will find itself years down the road just as western Europe is finding itself today, being infilterated, surrounded and having their national culture replaced with the immigrants culture. IMO.
No that is not my bench mark...that is my response to the sensationalism found within the press. A benchmark was never implied. As I typed...it is a problem, but not one leading to the chaos implied by the latest craze. All gangs are a problem.
Yes, birthrates are an issue...but as that birthrates are on the decline in Euroupe and here (Amongst other than Latino demographics)...Look it up, if you don't want take my word for it...immigration still counts. There have always been culture differences, thoughout time...come on...
"Some of who view what as a reconquest"...who and whom? And how many? I have been hearing this for years...yet when looking at reality...seems to be an alarmist position you've taken there. Yes, Mexico is trying to take back Texas, right? Is that what you're implying...ahhhh I shudder at the thought. That is not going to happen. Let's be realistic.
Really "diverse cultures pouring in" here...you don't say? Seems to me that is how this country was founded. I mean chinese, irish, scottish, and on an on..poured into this country to build it...so, we're going to bigotted now...right? We shouldnt let the crazed lunatics in, which is a given...but legal immigration should be warranted.
sorry, tend to disagree with you pal, seems I was being pretty objective to me.
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