Free Republic

The government announced that it will begin implementing a new series of social programs in Ciudad Juarez (Chihuahua state) that will help the police and army battle narcotics cartels. If it sounds a bit like a classic Counter-insurgency (COIN) “political and social warfare” (where social and economic programs integrate with security operations), well, it is. One of the programs will be directed at impoverished Juarez teenagers. The narcotics gangs throw around money and have bought support in several neighborhoods. Some of the kids eventually “move up” and join the gang. The government intends to attack this “recruitment” process. There will...

Holland Township, MI — An illegal immigrant who struck and killed a motorcyclist in a July crash in Holland Township pleaded guilty to negligent homicide Monday, Dec. 29, in Ottawa County Circuit Court. Rodrigo Delacruz-Encarnacion, 25, could face a maximum two-year sentence for the charge. He will be sentenced Jan. 26. William O’Brien, 52, died at the scene when a southbound van driven by Delacruz-Encarnacion turned left into his path as O’Brien drove north on Butternut Drive on July 23. Police said Delacruz-Encarnacion is an illegal immigrant who had found employment at a local blueberry farm and had come to...

The path of destruction and fear stretched at least 5 miles yesterday morning after a 24-year-old man rocketed his car the wrong way on the South Outerbelt. The toll: Seven people injured, including the critically injured driver, Altunar Baltazar. Six vehicles crunched, including the smashed Nissan Maxima that witnesses say other cars were lucky to avoid. "He headed right for us," Columbus resident Robert Crawford said. "It was like he was trying to hit us. He had the pedal to the floor. I knew he was going to clip someone quick." Crawford, who was heading east on I-270, said the...

I'll Never Go to Baja Again They were looking forward to surfing the uncrowded south swell. A pending protest at the border on Friday was sure to slow down the normal throngs of south bound surfers. Baja at dusk. It should be an exciting time, but not a life threatening one. It was 4 a.m. Friday morning, August 31. Duke, Walt and Roger, three buddies from North San Diego County, were headed down to Mexico keen on surfing the predicted south swell. Their destination: San Carlos, Baja California for a Labor Day holiday weekend filled with surfing, kite surfing and...