Posted on 02/06/2006 9:01:41 AM PST by bikepacker67
Some officials suggested Wednesday that the confrontation between Texas law officers earlier this week was with drug smugglers, not Mexican soldiers assisting narcotics traffickers across the Rio Grande.
But a Border Patrol agent who spoke on condition of anonymity said continuous cover-ups by Mexican and U.S. officials have put many agents and American lives in danger.
"I think it shows how desperate the situation has become. I think it's insulting to expect Americans to believe what (Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael) Chertoff and the Mexican government are saying," the agent said Wednesday.
"Isn't it the most reasonable explanation that if men are dressed as soldiers, with military vehicles and mounted machine guns that these guys are soldiers - not some cartel trying to ruin diplomatic relations?"
Photos of what appeared to be Mexican troops in the United States during Monday's incident shocked many Americans, although Mexico officials denied the military was involved.
But to most Mexicans it just offered further proof that drug traffickers run rampant in the border area in military-style vehicles, wearing uniforms and, in some cases, using military firepower.
"It is known that these are drug traffickers using military uniforms and they were not even regulation military uniforms," said Mexican presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar.
T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said that he was insulted by the U.S. government's lack of response to the serious nature of the incursions.
"I don't believe they are rogue elements because of the markings of the vehicles and because of the insignias on their uniforms and further we've caught them in the past," Bonner said.
"Mexico is being less than honest with us. I don't understand what the U.S. interest is in aiding and abetting what is going on at the border. I don't have faith that it will stop before some of our law enforcement officers are murdered in the line of duty."
A U.S. law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity said the FBI and other agencies found no evidence the uniformed men involved in Monday's incident were Mexican soldiers.
But Hardrick Crawford Jr., a former special agent who was in charge of the FBI's El Paso's office, said he covered numerous narcotics cases along the border and documented military incursions since the mid-'90s. He said he expected both governments to deny the incursions.
"It's an embarrassment to both countries for the truth of these incursions to come out," Crawford said.
"I was concerned about the incursions on the border when I first got to El Paso. I wanted agents to go interview every rancher and resident in the area and I wanted the military incursions to be documented. I thought this would be important information - but many people didn't do anything about these incursions."
Crawford added that investigations in Mexico were difficult to conduct because the honest Mexican residents didn't want to put their own lives in danger by giving law enforcement officials information on the drug cartels.
"The drug trade is too lucrative," Crawford said. "Mexican soldiers and police officials are paid little. So it's just too tempting. With the increased efficiency and effort along the border, narcotics traffickers can bring in whatever they want. And if you go against them they'll kill you."
This week's standoff comes at a time of rising anger over border security, with the United States considering extending a wall along its 2,000-mile-long frontier with Mexico - an idea Mexicans resent.
"We have communicated at the diplomatic level with the government of Mexico on the matter and requested that they investigate the matter - and that U.S. authorities are already investigating the incident," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement.
The Mexican government also cited its long-standing policy that its soldiers must stay away from the border unless they have special authorization.
Rick Glancey of the Texas Border Sheriffs' Coalition said the confrontation began 50 miles east of El Paso when state police tried to stop three sport utility vehicles on Interstate 10. The vehicles made a quick U-turn and headed south toward the border, a few miles away.
Crossing the border, one SUV got stuck crossing the Rio Grande, and men in a Humvee tried in vain to tow it out. Then a group of men in civilian clothes began unloading what appeared to be bundles of marijuana, and torched the SUV before fleeing.
The Mexican army press office said it had no information on Monday's incident.
Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said in a statement that the confrontation, in which shots were not fired, could have been staged to "damage the image of our armed forces and bilateral cooperation."
If you shoot them and have the bodies you can identify them later. If they have guns and drugs and they are running what am I missing?
Watch the film "Traffic" and see how crazy the drug cartels/politics are.
Anone who thinks a wall wouldn't efectively cut down on the drug trafficking and the illegals coming across the border is simply not thinking or is all for ILLEGALS coming into this country.
Good Luck on that one, no previous administration has cared about the border issues either. This border did not get this bad under one administration. I have lived here over 30 years and it has been a steady progression, each administration has either ignored the problems or had a policy that made it worse.
I personally saw more illegals and drug traffic flowing through during the Carter and Clinton administrations than I do now. The fact is there have been efforts to enforce law on the border and that is part of the reason for the escalated violence we are seeing now. I know some areas are hotter spots now than my area is so it is hard for me to see the overall picture and I live right on the border. The other reason violence is escalating now is Mexico is the new Columbia with drug lords and mafia types in control and government officials no longer have any control of their law enforcement or their military; they are just figure heads.
Our government for what ever reason is not ready to admit to the real problems in Mexico. For that I do fault them, for sure I am not happy with President Bush and think he could do more. I think you are kidding yourself that the solution is to wait for an administration that will do more, we very well could get one that would do less.
I think the solution is to inform the people what is really going on, so we can stand together to bring pressure on our politicians to build a fence and enforce the laws. Now!! There are many steps in the process of closing the border, and I don't think any solution will work if a real fence/barrier is not step one.
ping
LOLOLOL
It's not as simple as the US covering for the Mexican Army. Mexico as a country is broken and is the new Columbia. So far our government is not willing to admit that to the American people.
There is still this pretense that Mexican officials are in charge and we can negotiate with them and support them to make things better in Mexico, which would in turn solve most of the border issues. It is time our government admit the fact that Mexicans officials have lost all control of the country to drug lords and mafia types, and tell the American people the truth. We have to deal with Mexico as it is today, and not how we wish it could be.
What you are seeing in D.C. is an effort to support the figurehead Mexican government, but the truth is, it is too late for that. We the people need to let our politicians know that we know the truth about Mexico, and we need to close the border to keep their violence from spilling over as it is now. Whatever can be done to help Mexico with their problems will be an issue we will eventually have to deal with, since they are next door. For right now, the most important thing is to get the border closed and then see what else needs to be done to protect this country.
Reinforced concrete footer that is wired for "sound" and "Shock therapy" should do the trick.
The Left like illegal immigrants, too.
"Reinforced concrete footer that is wired for 'sound' and 'Shock therapy' should do the trick."
I'm onboard with that.
See #17 for a more appropriate response to my question.
No US government would be stupid enough to get between an officer on the border and his/her right to use a weapon on an armed smuggler even if it turned out to be a Mexican official.
This would be clear cut on our side. The issue would be if there was entry into Mexico or a death in Mexico as happen a few weeks ago. A man was shot on the US side and ran to the Mexican side.
The recent return of Jackboot John Magaw to Homeland Security certainly gives strength to your argument.
Why else would they hire a man who's specialty is murdering citizens in their homes?
...What you are seeing in D.C. is an effort to support the figurehead Mexican government,...
What you are seeing is bi-partisan treason.
The plan is to eliminate the borders and create a continental Socialist hell of a Community.
Sidestep the Constitution, eliminate the need for re-election, and the American taxpayer will be bled to death paying for it all.
Google: North American Community
Add "Phyllis Schlafly" and you'll be directed to an excellent summary of the whole disgust thing.
Do you think this is a partisan issue?
Not sure what you mean.
IMO, it's a bi-partisan plan to destroy our sovereignity.
Hunt down the membership of the CFR.
You'll find enough vip's from both parties to make you puke.
George Soros and Dick Cheney snuggling together, along with Condi rice and Madeleine Dullbight. George H.W.Bush and Bill Clinton. Yech!
Should average dems and average pubs be on the same side against it?
Hell yes.
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