Armed Mexican troops question American soldiers on US side of border

CNN ^ | 19 April 2019 | Ryan Browne

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

(CNN)"On April 13, 2019, at approximately 2 p.m. CDT, five to six Mexican military personnel questioned two U.S. Army soldiers who were conducting border support operations in an unmarked (CBP) vehicle near the southwest border in the vicinity of Clint, Texas," US Northern Command told CNN in a statement. "The US soldiers were appropriately in US territory" during the encounter, the statement added. During the incident, the Mexican soldiers pointed their weapons at the US troops, removing a soldier's sidearm and returning it to the unmarked US vehicle, the officials said. The Mexican troops were armed with what appeared to be assault rifles (Snip) Officials said that the US soldiers allowed the weapon to be taken "in an attempt to de-escalate a potential volatile situation."

(Snip)

One of the American soldiers spoke some Spanish and was able to explain the situation to the Mexican forces. The two sides talked the incident over and promised to de-conflict in the future, the officials said. "An inquiry by (Customs and Border Patrol) and (the Department of Defense) revealed that the Mexican military members believed that the US Army soldiers were south of the border," Northern Command said while adding that the US troops were north of the border. "Though they were south of the border fence, US soldiers remained in US territory, north of the actual border," the statement said, adding that "after a brief discussion between the soldiers from the two nations, the Mexican military members departed the area."

[technically right]

There was a time when an incident like this would have seen the Ambassador of the offending nation summoned to the White House and told in no uncertain terms that an immediate apology be tendered and if it ever happened again military action would be taken.

[LouAvul]

But we usually ignore this, because, believe me, we DON’T want to get into a shooting situation. The rest of the Mexican troops would naturally be livid if their friends get shot at and/or killed. And then we would have REAL trouble along the border.

So de-escalation is the better way to go.

You've been asked several times for clarification. What are you talking about?

[Flaming Conservative]

Not a military person, but don’t troops have to have an order to shoot or not shoot, unless in an actual war or conflict situation?

[Chuckster]

It sounds like Mexican soldiers detained and disarmed US Soldiers on the US side of the border?!?!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?

[bgill]

There’s only one answer.

[Lurker51]

“So de-escalation is the better way to go.”

Dead wrong. Declaring war and bombing the crap out of them is the way to go. Wreck their s***hole of a country right up to the point they decide to build a wall on the border just so they don’t have to deal with us. De-escalation when Mexican troops have been invading US soil is just like handing your lunch money over to the school bully. They’ll never stop if they can get away with it.

[Blue Highway]

Great plan most sane Americans would support.

[NativeSon]

Same here, I did not serve but my strong self preservation circuit would have a real hard time being disarmed in a confrontation.

I don’t think that I would have acted in similar manner. Our soldiers were/are way more calm and assured than I could ever be in a situation and I respect that.

[dp0622]

I need to read more about this story.

I’m HOPING there’s something more to it.

[magna carta]

thats what I think

[mikefive]

"Why are they not dead?"

Bet you dollars to donuts, that those NG troops had no ammo for their weapons, or if they did have live ammo, they definitely were not locked n loaded. If they had ammo, probably 1 mag of 9mm tied down in a cargo pocket.

[cpdiii]

There is a damn river there. I grew up there. The Mexican soldiers knew they were in US territory. There is only one logical explanation for there presence in US territory, they were protecting drug running or illegal immigration to the US territory or both.

This should have been a fire fight. I wonder what our rules of engagement are on the border?

[5th MEB]

I disagree; appeasement has always led to war, always has and always will.
Just issue a statement saying that any mexican soldier caught on our side of the border under arms will be considered an enemy combatant and engaged as such.

[o-n-money]

CNN reporting. Is it true? Could the media actually start a war?

[5th MEB]

Get our guys back first, then send in a Recon team and off them all, especially the officers, they are the most corrupt.
Get the Team back home and deny any knowledge of the incident.

SEMPER FI

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

I had to retract my post. Very angry. Very.

Which post, may I ask?

[DesertRhino]

“Better question, what is the mexican government guarding at the northern border?”

Careful, your critical thinking skills are showing.

[Rebelbase]

My first thought.

[Mister Da]

Stress levels must be high on the border for the BP, US military, and Mexican military.

There are many bad people along the border. Mexico is in near civil war with drug cartels, who are at war with everybody. Bad guys have access to the uniforms & military gear of both countries. What looks like a soldier might not be - on either side.

Why would Mexican soldiers be on our border? Could they have been looking for drug gangs, or helping them? Hard to know, but given they didn’t start shooting & it ended peacefully, I’m guessing their presents was legit.

Congratulations to 2 groups of soldiers who didn’t shoot each other up over a misunderstanding. Clearly marked vehicles should be required in the future.

[2CAVTrooper]

Uh huh, and we don’t have a military of our own?