Posted on 03/31/2011 8:27:08 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
BROWNSVILLE A new law enforcement bulletin warns that members of drug cartels have been overheard plotting to kill federal agents and Texas Rangers who guard the border, officials in Washington reported Thursday.
The bulletin, which was issued in March, said cartel members planned to use AK-47 assault rifles to shoot agents and Rangers from across the border. It did not name the cartels.
The information was released at a hearing before a panel of the House Committee on Homeland Security. The Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Management addressed The U.S. Homeland Security Role in the Mexican War Against the Drug Cartels.
U.S. Rep. Michael T. McCaul, R-Texas, talked briefly about the bulletin at the hearing. He said this and other findings he cited are acts of terrorism as defined by law. The shooting of Special Agent Zapata and Avila is a game changer, which alters the landscape of United States involvement in Mexicos war against drug cartels.
He was referring to Jaime Jorge Zapata, 32, a Brownsville native and special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who was killed on Feb. 15 while on duty in Mexico. Injured in the same attack was Special Agent Victor Avila. Members of the Zetas criminal organization are suspected in the attack.
Tom Vinger, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Thursday in a statement: DPS constantly keeps our officers and our law enforcement partners informed of any intelligence that suggests possible threats to their safety. However, we cannot comment on specific law enforcement bulletins.
In a response to the threats, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security official said, Out of an abundance of caution, we routinely share information that could impact our frontline personnel in order to ensure that they are aware of any and all threats.
The news comes at time when ICE reportedly is having a difficult time recruiting agents willing to work in Mexico, said Luis Alvarez, assistant director for ICE International Affairs, who testified at the hearing.
Although cooperation with the Mexican government has been excellent, Alvarez said, it is getting more and more difficult (to recruit) because of the increase in violence.
It is a difficult work environment. They are constantly looking out for their safety, their surroundings. ... They are concerned about their families from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep, Alvarez said.
At the hearing, a picture of the vehicle in which Zapata and Avila were riding was displayed. McCaul described it as a highly secure vehicle. More than 80 rounds from AK-47 rifles were fired at the SUV.
This demonstrates how violent the situation has become down there. It looks like something out of a Bonnie and Clyde movie. This is real, and that is what is happening in Mexico, McCaul said.
In response to the attack, ICE has brought back its agents from Mexico for additional training, Alvarez said.
We have provided them with some defensive driving tactics so they can carry out their mission and be prepared for whatever they are going to withstand down in Mexico, he said.
McCaul said Zapata and Avila pleaded for their lives in Spanish and identified themselves as U.S. federal agents. The attackers responded by firing a barrage of bullets.
I know agent Avila said that (there were) 10 guys with AK-47s, McCaul said. What can you do in that situation? Totally out-gunned and out-manned.
The U.S. government has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for the attack on Zapata and Avila. The Mexican government has offered a reward of up to 10 million pesos equal to roughly $837,000.
That includes 4 brand new Black Hawks while CBP flies the oldest A models in existence.
I think this is one of the downsides of an omni-present media. Things that need doing don't get undertaken because they may offend delicate, hyper-charged sensibilities at home and every error, mistake or flub will be disproportionately magnified beyond reason and through gross mischaracterization. We could not have fought WW2 under these constraints.
Notice how the traitorous actions of a few at Abu Ghraib became the face of the Iraq War and greatly undermined the effort.
So long as alarmism and handwringing reigns in an increasingly camera-connected culture, it will only get harder and harder to accomplish difficult things.
Right or just action is often not pretty. We see increased alarmist claims of police brutality no matter the dangerousness of the person being wrestled to the ground.
Border patrol get armed with bean bags while the other side carry weapons of war? It's not rational but appeases the militant peaceniks at home.
Agreed. Though don´t expect it from soetoro.
You are threatening to shoot using AK-47 at our guys?
No problem.
Don’t act surprised when you see .50 cal, .42,.338 coming back at ya’.
“10 guys with AK-47s, McCaul said. What can you do in that situation?”
Start ranging them at 1,200 yrds with .50.
I disagree with that statement. Our current crop of military volunteers is lesser than none, ever. Maybe an age of lesser leaders.
Thanks for the ping SwinneySwitch.
The repubs in the US congress are trying to get the cartels designated as terrorist organizations. This is to be able to use the military against them.
The dims and the acting president are content keep their current status organized criminals. They see this as a law enforcement issue, like Bill Clinton and the first attack on the World trade towers.
This country will not defend it’s southern border from the cartels, but is arming Al Queda in Lybia.
You are right about always on 24/7 media with cameras everywhere. One could conclude that, at root, our inability to defend ourselves against mortal threats can be blamed on Bill Shockley and his teammates John Bardeen and Walter Brattain (only slightly tongue in cheek).
Perhaps it is time to educate these terrorists to the fact that bullets are omnidirectional. Thanks for the ping.
Wonderful pictures. Thanks for posting.
Utterly unneeded; this is an excuse for not using the military on them NOW.
US Constitution |
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Article 4, Section 4 The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence. |
Article 1, Section 8 The Congress shall have Power To [...] provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; |
thanks for the ping
Note: this topic is from 3/31/2011. Fast and Furious ping. Thanks SwinneySwitch.
-——What can you do in that situation?-——
Send in the drone
If their homes are found and wives and children killed, the message will be delivered. There are no innocents. No wive innocents, no kid innocents. Eradication is the only solution.
That’s cool. I revere Capitan Robert E Lee and Lt Ulysess S Grant for their roles in conquering Mexico City and the Halls Of Montezuma but really didn’t know about 1914.
Yes the Cartels, known as the Mexican Mafia made similar threats and put out bounties on our authorities in the 1970s. We sent elements of our military to the “border” meaning even into Mexico and the threats died out...no doubt some of the bad guys weren’t doing so good either.
Sorry, didn’t pay attention that yours was an old post in this revived thread...
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