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US Warns Tourists of 'Small-Unit Combat' at Mexico Border
CNSNews.com ^ | May 16, 2008 | Penny Starr

Posted on 05/16/2008 7:26:49 AM PDT by SJackson

(CNSNews.com) - The U.S. State Department has issued an alert, warning travelers that the "equivalent to military small-unit combat" is taking place across the southern U.S. border in Mexico and that Americans are being kidnapped and murdered there.

"Recent Mexican army and police force conflicts with heavily-armed narcotics cartels have escalated to levels equivalent to military small-unit combat and have included use of machine guns and fragmentation grenades," said the State Department alert.

"Confrontations have taken place in numerous towns and cities in northern Mexico, including Tijuana in the Mexican state of Baja California, and Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez in the state of Chihuahua," reads the alert. "The situation in northern Mexico remains very fluid; the location and timing of future armed engagements there cannot be predicted."

The State Department particularly urged that Americans be wary when traveling in that part of Mexico closest to the United States. "U.S. citizens are urged to be especially alert to safety and security concerns when visiting the border region," said the alert.

Murder and kidnapping of Americans has become routine in Tijuana, which sits just across the border from San Diego, California, according to the State Department, and sometimes heavily armed attackers wear the uniforms of the Mexican police or military.

"Dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped and/or murdered in Tijuana in 2007," says the alert. "Public shootouts have occurred during daylight hours near shopping areas. Criminals are armed with a wide array of sophisticated weapons. In some cases, assailants have worn full or partial police or military uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles."

The alert also warns Americans to avoid areas where drugs and prostitution are evident and to "refrain from displaying expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of money and other valuable items."

In light of this alert, which was first issued on Apr. 14, and was listed as "current as of today, Thursday May 15 17:51:35 2008" on State's Web site on Wednesday, Cybercast News Service submitted a number of questions to the State Department via e-mail, and received non-responsive answers the next day. Cybercast News Service's questions were as follows:

-- "The alert says 'attacks are aimed primarily at members of drug trafficking organizations, Mexican police forces, criminal justice officials and journalists.' Can you provide more details about who has been attacked and the result of those attacks, including injuries, fatalities and legal ramifications?

-- "The alert says violence has 'escalated to levels equivalent to military small-unit combat and have included use of machine guns and fragmentation grenades.' Can you provide more information, including the number of incidents involving these kinds of weapons and the number of weapons confiscated?

-- "The alert says that violence not related to drug trafficking has increased in Tijuana and Ciudad Jarez, with 'dozens of U.S. citizens ... kidnapped and/or murdered in Tijuana in 2007.' How many people were kidnapped or murdered and how do those numbers compare with the numbers in prior years?"

-- "The alert recommends that Americans avoid areas where prostitution and drug dealing occurs. Where are those areas?"

-- "How many incidents in 2007 and other years are recorded that show U.S. citizens being followed or harassed in the border areas, including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros and Tijuana?"

-- "How many kidnapping cases of U.S. citizens remain unsolved?"

-- "What actions is the state department taking to reduce the violence on the border?"

The State Department's written answer to those questions is as follows:

"The State Department's Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security.

"Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate information about short-term conditions, generally within a particular country, that pose imminent risks to the security of U.S. citizens. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events, election-related demonstrations or violence, and high-profile events such as international conferences or regional sports events are examples of conditions that might generate a Travel Alert.

"The travel alert is a collaborative effort based on media reports and other information released within a particular country. It is provided so that American travellers (sic) can make an informed decision about their plans to visit a particular location at a particular time.

"For various reasons, American citizens often choose not to report their involvement in activities while abroad.

"Your best source for detailed statistics and information about specific locations would be from sources within Mexico."


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: border; immigration; mexico; neighbors
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To: wideawake

From what I’ve read all they needed was to tell their immediate superiors in the field what happened since they did not believe they hit the perp with any shots.
And they did tell their immediate superiors.
So your left wing propaganda is a lie.


21 posted on 05/16/2008 8:08:31 AM PDT by smoketree (the insanity, the lunacy these days)
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To: wideawake

I didn’t say my local police should be exempted from having to fill out incident reports detailing their activity.

But I wouldn’t send them to prison for over a decade if they failed to do so.


22 posted on 05/16/2008 8:11:13 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: AU72

You apparently forgot that General Winfield Scott, assisted by Capitan Robert E Lee, conquered Mexico in a combined arms invasion. They landed at Vera Cruz and marched inland to Mexico City where they soundly defeated General Santa Anna. Part of the campaign involved US Marines at the Halls of Montezuma.


23 posted on 05/16/2008 8:19:22 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . The Bitcons will elect a Democrat by default)
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To: Carpe Cerevisi

As usual, you didn’t listen to what he actully said.

In the speech delivered in 2013, he said the governors of the border states declared the borders secure


24 posted on 05/16/2008 8:21:27 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . The Bitcons will elect a Democrat by default)
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To: tiki

You are right that Palomas has always been bad, but I have lived in the area for over 25 years and it really is worse. There are still the regular weekend murders that are not reported- what is being reported is the murders related to the overall new little drug war that is going on in Mexico. The Mexican government used to have the ultimate control over the drug leaders, and for years were actually at the top of the drug chain, receiving the biggest profit. The difference now is the drug lords have cut the government out of the chain, and the government no longer has control of them. The government is trying to get control back- on the pretext of trying to stop the drug trade- though I don’t swallow that. Mexico now is like Colombia was a few years back.


25 posted on 05/16/2008 8:28:20 AM PDT by Tammy8 (Please Support and pray for our Troops, as they serve us every day.)
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To: SJackson
The State Department particularly urged that Americans be wary when traveling in that part of Mexico closest to the United States.

That part of Mexico, my eye. They're here already, well infiltrated, on a rampaging crime spree, raping and murdering people all over the country. If the State Department had an ounce of integrity, it would urge Americans to be wary of Mexican criminals when traveling anywhere in Mexico or the US.

26 posted on 05/16/2008 8:41:47 AM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: SJackson
I'm sorry to hear this. I spent quite a bit of time in Chihuahua and Delicias a few years ago. Decent towns, both of them - at least at the time.

Delicias in particular, was very friendly to Americans. Lots of girls at the plant I was working at made it a point to talk to me. I was flattered until my "guide" told me that they just wanted a chance to practice their English. lol!

27 posted on 05/16/2008 8:42:10 AM PDT by wbill
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To: SJackson; HiJinx; gubamyster

Coming soon to a barrio near you, thanks to the open border traitors.


28 posted on 05/16/2008 8:44:46 AM PDT by Travis McGee (--- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com ---)
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To: Tammy8

And if the open-borders crowd has their way, we can expect the same violence to migrate north.
We have enemies of every stripe gearing up to take us down, and our elected officials sit and do nothing. They’re too busy wringing their hands over “global warming” & trying to destroy what freedoms we still have left.
America is in for a world of hurt if we don’t wake up.


29 posted on 05/16/2008 8:48:02 AM PDT by 95 Bravo ("Freedom is not free.")
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To: AU72
Paging General Black Jack Pershing and Lt. George Patton.

How about Zachery Taylor and Winfield Scott. We need some rereconquistadors.

30 posted on 05/16/2008 8:51:30 AM PDT by ALPAPilot
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To: smoketree
From what I’ve read all they needed was to tell their immediate superiors in the field what happened since they did not believe they hit the perp with any shots.

Every time a peace officer fires a weapon he is required to make a report.

And they did tell their immediate superiors.

They told their immediate superiors an edited version verbally. Yet they did not commit this edited version to paper. Interesting.

So your left wing propaganda is a lie.

If I had any left-wing propaganda, I'm sure that would be true. Unfortunately for your man of straw, I have legally established facts instead.

31 posted on 05/16/2008 8:56:09 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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To: Travis McGee; LibWhacker

The US side of the border should have been included in the warning as well. There are areas that haven’t been safe for years.


32 posted on 05/16/2008 8:58:57 AM PDT by SJackson (It is impossible to build a peace process based on blood, Natan Sharansky)
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To: SJackson

Murder and kidnapping of Americans has become routine in Tijuana,.....

And why isn’t this headline on the front page of any newspaper?....(I conclude it’s not P.C.)


33 posted on 05/16/2008 9:01:27 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: SJackson
"Dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped and/or murdered in Tijuana in 2007," says the alert.

Strange how the MSM has never seen fit to report on any of these cases, isn't it?

34 posted on 05/16/2008 9:07:18 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("One man's 'magic' is another man's engineering. 'Supernatural' is a null word." -- Robert Heinlein)
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To: wideawake

So ten years in prison for a paperwork infraction???????
We should not have even heard of this.


35 posted on 05/16/2008 9:09:03 AM PDT by smoketree (the insanity, the lunacy these days)
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To: smoketree
So ten years in prison for a paperwork infraction???????

That's not the crime they were sentenced for.

And covering up your actions while you are supposed to be engaging in public business is not a "paperwork infraction."

It's a breach of the public trust.

36 posted on 05/16/2008 9:10:58 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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To: Tammy8
The Mexican police . . . are literally fleeing to the US for protection.

I'm afraid that will be the next giant loophole for the illegals. They won't be "economic" refugees, but "political refuges fleeing the violence" or some such. Other immigrants have used the "I will be killed if I go back" defense in order to stay here, so those in authority who want open borders will jump all over this and open the floodgate (wider).

37 posted on 05/16/2008 9:11:29 AM PDT by Oatka (A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." –Bertrand de Jouvenel)
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To: wideawake

I know they were sentenced for using a firearm in the commision of a crime.
The crime was what? Protecting the border and going after drug smugglers?


38 posted on 05/16/2008 9:19:25 AM PDT by smoketree (the insanity, the lunacy these days)
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To: SJackson

Any idiot American gets what he /she deserves crossing that border going south!....It’s no man’s land and our damn government should say so!


39 posted on 05/16/2008 9:21:23 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: AngelesCrestHighway

Agreed.
However what would happen to the cartels if drugs were legalized? They would be out of business and most of this crime would stop.
I don’t use any drugs and don’t approve of them but the crime associated affects everyone just as it did during prohibition.


40 posted on 05/16/2008 9:26:14 AM PDT by smoketree (the insanity, the lunacy these days)
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