Don't make me get my purse out!
Posted on 02/25/2003 7:32:04 AM PST by FITZ
The March issue of Soldier of Fortune magazine features a story titled "America's Border War." The teaser on the cover calls it "War on U.S. Southern Border," beneath the one for how Marines and Army soldiers are preparing for urban combat in Baghdad.
At the end of the four-page article, the publication indicates that there will be more next month, including magazine staff taking part "in the armed patrolling of our southern border by concerned citizens" and how a Soldier of Fortune "advertiser-equipped tactical team" interdicted drug-traffickers.
The story features photographs of Mexican army soldiers, and asserts that the Mexican army has crossed the U.S. border illegally with increasing frequency. It includes a sidebar on Ranch Rescue, based in Abilene, Texas, described as a "grass-roots volunteer network dedicated to protecting and defending property rights." Critics of such movements call it a vigilante group.
The story raises concerns about border incursions by Mexican military and police officers that have resulted in unpleasant and sometimes violent encounters with U.S. border officials.
Soldiers vs. terrorists
Mexican President Vicente Fox recently announced that he plans to send more troops to the border as part of his country's effort to combat terrorism and beef up the region's security.
Timothy Dunn, an expert on the militarization of the U.S. border, said it's a mistake to deploy more soldiers -- U.S. or Mexican -- to the border zone.
"It will result in the same kind of problems that I foretold would result if we placed U.S. soldiers on the border," he said. "Soldiers are not equipped to conduct civilian law-enforcement operations. Like U.S. soldiers, they are trained to eliminate hostile threats."
Dunn said he doesn't believe border area crime, including drug and immigrant smuggling, is a U.S. national security issue. He contends that the Mexican army is ill-equipped to enforce laws in these areas.
"If they want drug enforcement, they need to follow the money ... and use the intelligence they have already to get to the major players," he said.
El Paso's Border Patrol
Although Soldier of Fortune cites Border Patrol officials in other places, Paul Beeson, assistant chief patrol agent for El Paso's Border Patrol, said he had not seen the magazine article.
The last Mexican military incursion, which the magazine mentions as having occurred in El Paso, actually took place in 2000 in the vicinity of Sunland Park. Mexican soldiers fired shots at Border Patrol agents on horseback, but fortunately, no one was injured.
Beeson said that incident was an exception, because El Paso Border Patrol agents enjoy good working relations with Mexican soldiers and police officers.
Hopefully, those relations will stick once the Mexican army tanks and other reinforcements arrive any day now.
Diana Washington Valdez's column on border affairs appears each Monday. She may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com
a rationalized increase in the rising nazi police state presently taking over America.
Only morally
Maybe monkeys will fly out of my butt?
The Advance Guard to the Trans Asian-Mexican People's Army
Just two reasons why they haven't launched their attack
Call it what you will.
When the government will not do what's necessary to protect it's citizens, sometimes the citizens must do what is necessary.
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