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."
You answered my question. But I still don't understand the "logic".
My logic?
No. The logic of the two parties.
I have to guess it's power.
And not having to be accountable for their actions.
I never understood the thirst for power over others, so it mystifies me.
To me, having power over others just makes you a babysitter for all the annoying brats.
Read some of their dreck.
http://www.cfr.org/publication.html?id=8138
I've read it all. I think they're nuts.
I'll check it out and thanks.
The government in Mexico has always been corrupt, and our government has usually tried to pretend they weren't and dealt with them on that assumption. (Why, I do not know)
The officials used to be bought off, now I think they no longer have any power, no need to buy them off. Drug lords are in control now, and each has their own area. There are drug wars all over Mexico to determine who will control each area. I don't think the Mexican gov't has to help illegal traffic any longer- I don't think the smugglers need the help any more. That is why I have come to the conclusion Mexico is the new Columbia. There are mass desertions from their Military, and LE. The deserters are joining up with the Mexican "mafia" gangs and drug lords. Military and LE over there has always gone to the highest bidder but now they are not even pretending to be honest.
To answer your other question about what they export to the US other than illegals and drugs; the answer is oil, and many products made by former American companies who moved south of the border. Vegetables are imported also, and of course a variety of tourist related items. As far as I am concerned, they need us worse than we need them, no matter what they export.
There's piles of docs on the subject if you need more.
They are certainly not concerned with anyone seeing the plan.
I had no idea this plan was being hatched--and for many years. Color me enlightened.
Actually, start here. Phyllis has a nice easy summary with links.
http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2005/july05/05-07-13.html
Please see the link in post 50, if you have not already seen it.
If it's news to you, it will unsettle you a bit.
It's not really news to me, I have 2 things to say about that (at least for now LOL) First, it ain't over until the fat lady sings. If enough people stand up against this idea, it will never happen. Second, the only way the Gov't will get any support from me for an open border with Mexico is if we completely take over Mexico, execute all those in power now and start over with it as a new territory to become new states when we are finished. Only when that is totally accomplished will I entertain the idea of opening this border.
I know that makes me sound radical and even racist to some, but I am not. The majority of the Mexican people are good, honest, hard working people who want the same thing out of life that we do. Their government was set up to fail from the beginning, and now has failed. Mexico has a ton of natural resources and there is no reason it couldn't have been and now become a wonderful country if the system (or lack of) was demolished and rebuilt from the ground up.
...If enough people stand up against this idea, it will never happen....
Been beating the bushes for a while, few listen.
...Second, the only way the Gov't will get any support from me...
That's the plan, to eliminate the need for your vote/support and make you just a taxcow.
More people are starting to listen, if we fight for a major fence/wall/barrier it is the first step. I can promise once it is in place, the resulting events in Mexico will convince Americans that we don't want to be a part of that chaos.
If we don't get the fence, all bets are off and this crazy scheme of open borders will happen.
That is scary. We need a wall now.
My daughter, 31, was stunned. She considers herself "on top of things" and this was news to her. We need to build on our own momentum by spreading the word.
BTTT
Good Luck.
My daughter is convinced this is just a conspiracy theory. Just sent her the link to their site (prior link was Phyllis). Think she'll still say that "this will never happen", aka liberal thinking.
Or at the ranch with v fox eating tacos and planning the next shipment...
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