Posted on 02/18/2009 9:20:43 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Mexico has pretty much always been a rough-and-tumble place. In recent years, however, the security environment has deteriorated rapidly, and parts of the country have become incredibly violent. It is now common to see military weaponry such as fragmentation grenades and assault rifles used almost daily in attacks.
In fact, just last week we noted two separate strings of grenade attacks directed against police in Durango and Michoacan states. In the Michoacan incident, police in Uruapan and Lazaro Cardenas were targeted by three grenade attacks during a 12-hour period. Then on Feb. 17, a major firefight occurred just across the border from the United States in Reynosa, when Mexican authorities attempted to apprehend several armed men seen riding in a vehicle. The men fled to a nearby residence and engaged the pursuing police with gunfire, hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). After the incident, in which five cartel gunmen were killed and several gunmen, cops, soldiers and civilians were wounded, authorities recovered a 60 mm mortar, five RPG rounds and two fragmentation grenades.
Make no mistake, considering the military weapons now being used in Mexico and the number of deaths involved, the country is in the middle of a war. In fact, there are actually three concurrent wars being waged in Mexico involving the Mexican drug cartels. The first is the battle being waged among the various Mexican drug cartels seeking control over lucrative smuggling corridors, called plazas. One such battleground is Ciudad Juarez, which provides access to the Interstate 10, Interstate 20 and Interstate 25 corridors inside the United States. The second battle is being fought between the various cartels and the Mexican government forces who are seeking to interrupt smuggling operations, curb violence and bring the cartel members to justice.
(Excerpt) Read more at stratfor.com ...
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Mexico is particularly vulnerable in the Economic troubles we're having and this only strengthens the sway of the Cartels. Look for these problems to add to our already troubled situation, especially in the Southwest.
Very interesting. I suspect that if drugs were legalized here that all of the out of work drug dealers would find this a lucrative new employment.
Well as a new citizen of New Mexico, owner of a small ranch, all I can say is I won’t back down
“not getting the play it deserves...”
So very true. I have been as worried about South America and Mexico as I have been of the Middle East.
Thanks for sharing...and yes this Mexi-Narco violence is not getting enough media attention.
Of course, the pro-illegal and Open Borders crowd knows that amnesty is dead if too many Americans become aware of the violence
bump .... Iran has a perfect delivery highway right into a major city .... cross the border and just run the interstates.
Even democrats in my family think we should invade.
True. FOX News did a pretty in-depth piece on the Mexican war this morning but I think that most news outlets, particularly network news, are reluctant to cover it because of their pretentious adherence to political correctness. This current war in Mexico could have serious, fatal consequences here in the US and the media just sit back an yawn like it’s no biggie. Calderone, unlike Vincente Fox, has vowed to go after the drug cartels — making war against them if necessary. FOX News reported that this “protest” by Mexican citizens may be due to the fact that the drug cartels are paying them to do so. Just goes to show you how deeply implanted into Mexican society the drug cartels have become.
Thanks for posting this article. It was emailed to me by our former border agents group. Lots of info in there!
“Then there is a third war being waged in Mexico, though because of its nature it is a bit more subdued. It does not get the same degree of international media attention generated by the running gun battles and grenade and RPG attacks. However, it is no less real, and in many ways it is more dangerous to innocent civilians (as well as foreign tourists and business travelers) than the pitched battles between the cartels and the Mexican government. This third war is the war being waged on the Mexican population by criminals who may or may not be involved with the cartels. Unlike the other battles, where cartel members or government forces are the primary targets and civilians are only killed as collateral damage, on this battlefront, civilians are squarely in the crosshairs.”
Another article today:
Border drug war is too close for comfort
http://news.google.com/nwshp?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hl=en&tab=wn&q=Border%20drug%20war%20is%20too%20close%20for%20comfort
“Tiny Columbus, N.M., a haven for baby boomer retirees seeking cheap living, small-town values and solitude, can’t quite believe that a bloody brawl has broken out on its doorstep.”
Stratfor ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
COMPLETE SERIES
Use the list below to sort and view all Los Angeles Times coverage of Mexico Under Siege
It’s a War -Mexican President Felipe Calderon
http://projects.latimes.com/mexico-drug-war/#/its-a-war
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