Posted on 02/08/2009 8:34:32 AM PST by AuntB
While U.S. leaders focus on Afghanistan, Iran and other problems in distant regions, there is an alarming security problem brewing right next door. Violence in Mexico..... is spiraling out of control. Even worse, it is increasingly apparent that the drug-traffickers are winning their fight against the Mexican government.
Los Zetas, the enforcement arm of the powerful and especially ruthless Gulf Cartel, openly sought recruits to their ranks, posting help-wanted signs and hanging a large banner across a major thoroughfare with the message: "The Zetas want you, soldier or ex-soldier. We offer a good salary, food and benefits for your family."
Washington, is backing President Felipe Calderon's government with the Merida Initiative, a multibillion dollar measure to aid anti-trafficking initiatives. But that measure shows few positive results. Indeed, the death toll in Mexico is growing, not declining. More than 5,300 people perished in the fighting in 2008, and 2009 is off to an ugly start. In just one two-day period (Jan. 26-27) 18 people were found shot dead in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, and another four in a neighboring state....
The carnage is now so bad that the U.S. State Department has issued travel alerts for Americans traveling in Mexico. One such alert warned that the battles in portions of northern Mexico are "the equivalent of military small-unit combat and have included the use of machine guns and fragmentation grenades." Even the Marines at Camp Pendleton are now prohibited from spending leave time in neighboring Tijuana because it has become too dangerous.
Even more troubling, Mexico's violence is spilling across the border into communities in the southwestern United States.
Indeed, Mexican drug gangs now operate in numerous cities throughout our country. Cartel enforcers have published lists of Americans, including police officers, who are targeted for assassination.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Gee, what phenomenon starting with “I” is it that enables Mexican drug gangs to infiltrate the US with ease?
Mexico US cross border crime wave
According to U.S. Home Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, crime along the Mexico and United States should be a major concern for incoming Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona who will replace him.
In 2008, more than 5,300 people were killed along the Southwest border which has been home to drug smugglers for twenty to thirty years. In spite of huge enforcement actions on both sides, the Mexican trade is more active and brazen as their tactics become more sophisticated. New tunnels are continually being excavated and ramps help to get the marijuana across the border.
Now the four largest drug cartels, the Federation, the Tijuana Cartel, the Juarez Cartell and the Gulf Cartel are working with prison and street gangs in the United States. According to a Congressional report one year ago, increased drug traffic activity was detected in Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Steatle and Yakima, Wash.
Marijuana crops are now being grown in the U.S., from Miami to San Diego including in vineyards that have been leased by the cartels in Washington State. Over 6.6 million cannabis plants, mostly grown by the cartels, were found by drug enforcement in 2007, one third more than those destroyed in 2006. In California alone, 2.9 million plants were found by authorities in December 2008.
In spite of the planting done in the U.S. the cartels use smuggling as their main supply route. However, now the cross border activity has brought the violence associated with the drug cartels in Mexico to the U.S. The expectation is that there will be more violence and blood as the cartels vie for dominance in the marijuana trade.
Obama will save them from their troubles soon...
he just has to help those problems get a little worse first.
What a coincidence that the annexation of Mexico will come at just the right time to help our economic problems.
Just lucky I guess!
Check this out! Mexico...such a lovely place....
Mexico voodoo promo gets new partner, Blockbuster
By PETER ORSI – 1 day ago
MEXICO CITY (AP) — After Radioshack dropped out, a Mexican newspaper has found a new U.S. corporate sponsor to help put a voodoo hex on the U.S. national soccer team — and end Mexico’s decade-long losing streak.
Blockbuster stores in Mexico City began trading Record newspaper coupons for voodoo-doll likenesses of U.S. soccer players Friday. The back of the dolls’ jersey reads, “Gringos.”
They should be used to wish for a Mexico goal during the World Cup qualifier Wednesday in Colombus, Ohio, according to the instructions.
Mexico has not beaten the Americans on U.S. soil in 10 years.
“Hold a needle firmly between your thumb and index finger and prick slowly the part of the doll where you want to affect the opponent,” the instructions say.
Electronics retailer RadioShack, of Fort Worth, Texas, dropped out as a distribution partner last week after learning details of the campaign.[snip]
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iN6wSlOTtezFO-u0vUFYXQH7JfOwD966FEC00
Instead, of course, she's promoted to a cabinet postion. It boils your blood.
Why should we worry, we have that fence! /sarcasm
No problem......
Obama will advise Mexico to simply outlaw guns and then he will sit down and talk the gangs out of a life of crime...../sarc
“Obama will advise Mexico to simply outlaw guns and then he will sit down and talk the gangs out of a life of crime...../sarc”
The sad thing about that is, Mexico needs the second amendment! Obama and his ilk blame our gun laws & guns for Mexico’s violence.
Mexico is as it is because of the War on (some) Drugs, ergo, the War on (some) Drugs is a threat to national security. You wanted a war, Drug Warriors, you’ve got it. It might take down Mexico with it, I hope you’re happy about this outcome, because you brought it about.
“Mexico is as it is because of the War on (some) Drugs, “
Oh, please! Any more excuses for that mess down there? Mexico is Mexico! Yes, the war on drugs is a failure. THAT isn’t what is wrong with Mexico. Pandering by our politicians and excuses by too many is the problem.
The drug war is worse than a failure, it is extremely counterproductive. You might have missed the recent article in which the US military expressed its opinion that the government of Mexico could fall as a result of drug gang activities.
“You might have missed the recent article in which the US military expressed its opinion that the government of Mexico could fall as a result of drug gang activities.”
No, you just miss the entire point. Mexico SUCKS. Slam that border shut, problem solved.
The obvious historical truth is that US politicians and Government officials at all levels have been corrupted by money from the criminal drug profiteers.
Consequently, all efforts to “win” the War On Drugs are fatally compromised from inception.
Someday, all this will appear painfully transparent. That day is not soon, sadly.
“The obvious historical truth is that US politicians and Government officials at all levels have been corrupted by money from the criminal drug profiteers.”
Evidently even Bernie Madoff was tied up with Latin American Drug cartels.
Some of Madoff’s money “came from the Russian mob and the Latin American drug cartels,” Markopolos explained. “If he would have known my name and he knew that we had a team tracking him, I didn’t think I was long for this world.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/04/AR200902040
I think you are right. It pains me to say it but, when the facts make no apparent sense, like our chaotic and ineffective "Border security", then the only thing left to do is "Follow the money."
And in the matter at hand, all the money is dirty.
Free.
If farmers or drug stores make profits on the stuff they'll lobby our corrupt congressmen to keep it legal. And that's a mistake.
Keep it free
Free and as much as the druggie wants - once he's registered. Hand the stuff out by caring social workers in store fronts like the old welfare offices... Food stamps here - drugs - here.
Loserville.
"Free" bankrupts drug gangs - and takes away casche -- free make drug users pathetic - not glamorous. Free sucks the money and incentives to hook new users.
Free allows cameras to interview the losers - look into their lives and show the world the real story. Free WINS the drug war.
Fixed it. And the answer is "prohibition", as in prohibition of marijuana. The government estimates put around 62% of the cartels profits from marijuana. End the war on marijuana and the cartels are cut off at the knees. Continue this war and Mexico may become a failed state. There just isn't a compelling reason to ban marijuana. The old arguments(health, gateway drug, etc) have been widely discredited).
That makes as much sense as building a fence on your property line to wall off an ever growing toxic sludge plant next door.
Even with weed illegal, it is highly unlikely that Mexican cartels would have been able to move in with significant force without the huge (mostly immigrated) Mexican population around the US. There would still have been weed smuggling, of course, but much less large-scale gang activity.
Now, as for Marijuana prohibition being silly, well, we all know that. Except for the politicians, that is.
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