Feds: Mexican Cartel Plotted Attack on U.S. to 'Send the Gringos a Message'

cnsnews.com ^ | November 11, 2011 | KAREN HAWKINS

[neverdem]

Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — The leaders of a powerful Mexican cartel, frustrated that U.S. law enforcement was interfering with their lucrative drug business, plotted a military-style attack on a U.S. or Mexican government building to "send the gringos a message," federal prosecutors allege in documents filed this week.

Leaders of the Sinaloa cartel sought dozens of American-made weapons for an attack in Mexico City on possible targets that included government buildings, an embassy or consulate or media outlet, according to documents in the case against Vicente Zambada, an alleged top lieutenant in the cartel.

Zambada is in jail in Chicago awaiting trial, one of dozens of defendants charged in the city as part of a sweeping international investigation. He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he conspired to import and sell large amounts of cocaine and heroin in the United States, including Chicago.

Authorities say his father, Ismael Zambada, runs the cartel along with Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. There's nothing in the documents to indicate the plot was carried out.

Vicente Zambada's lawyers claim he and other cartel leaders were granted immunity by U.S. agents — and carte blanche to smuggle cocaine over the border — in exchange for intelligence about rival cartels engaged in bloody turf wars in Mexico. Prosecutors have denied that such an agreement exists.

But deals with key players in...

--snip--

During the conversation, the documents say, Guzman suggests they target a Mexican or American government building in Mexico City. Vicente Zambada then turns to Margarito Flores and tells him to find a U.S. soldier returning from overseas to give him 20-30 "big powerful weapons," specifying that they be American-made. During a later recorded phone conversation, prosecutors say, Vicente Zambada reiterates with Flores that the cartel will buy the weapons...

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[Vendome]

Do it and that will be “Returned to Sender” with Extreme Prejudice...

[JSteff]

The Cartel's are in for the market and money, the Islamists for Allah. The Islamists mostly for the 76 virgins.

Cash is a stronger motivator than woman. After all if you have the cash you can buy the women.

[Oceander]

And just think, the DOJ’s made sure that they’ve got the weapons to do it, too! Makes one feel all warm and fuzzy inside (oh, wait, that’s the blood seeping from the knife Holder stuck in our collective backs).

[John123]

plotted a military-style attack on a U.S. or Mexican government building to "send the gringos a message

Yet, another reason to "thank" Holder for Fast and Furious.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

This statement is coming from the Holder DOJ. Therefore, we are best served by viewing this statement through a political lens, the same lens that Obama and Holder use. The allegation likely serves as a feint or misdirection with respect to the Fast and Furious scandal. Nothing more, nothing less.

Indeed. The fact is that the War On Drugs is the cartels' best friend, as it inflates their profits.

[ctdonath2]

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2011/11/cocaine-plummeting-price-nationwide-drop-violent-crime/474/

[Ken H]

Very interesting take on the decline in violent crime. He makes a plausible argument, IMO.