Amid Rising Violence, Mexicans Fight Back (law enforcement no longer works; looming civil war?)

WSJ ^ | DAVID LUHNOW and JOSÉ DE CÓRDOBA | DAVID LUHNOW and JOSÉ DE CÓRDOBA

[TigerLikesRooster]

Amid Rising Violence, Mexicans Fight Back

Government Efforts to Control Drug Turf Wars Aren't Enough, Some Say; Mayor Promises to 'Clean Up' Organized Crime

By DAVID LUHNOW and JOSÉ DE CÓRDOBA

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's war on drugs took a grim twist this week, as a prominent mayor said he had created an undercover group of operatives to "clean up" criminal elements -- even if it had to act outside the law. Underscoring why the mayor may have felt compelled to take such steps, the new police chief in a neighboring town, a retired brigadier general, was shot and killed Wednesday, four days after taking up his post.

The events shed light on the state of Mexico's battle to try to control powerful drug cartels and stop the turf wars between rival gangs that have killed an estimated 14,000 people since President Felipe Calderón took office in December 2006. Frustrated with the government's approach, Mexicans are searching for other solutions.

[GauchoUSA]

They have been in a revolution since the 1800, even now they do not know if the revolution ended at all... First land thirty thugs, now the thugs are high.

[gaijin]

great post

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Right now, there are a whole bunch of American combat veterans who could make some big bucks as gunslingers.

The Mexicans already are tormented by “Zetas”, Mexican army deserters who act as banditos for the cartels. If the Americans could just clean them up, it would be worth many millions of dollars.

The hilarious irony of this is that not only does Mexico have strict gun control, and no death penalty even for the most heinous of crimes, but a *maximum* number of years they can put even the most horrific criminal in prison. If they were any more liberal, they would be back to having human sacrifices on their temples.

[TigerLikesRooster]

they would be back to having human sacrifices on their temples.

Liberals make nice sacrifice materials.

[DemforBush]

Not that I expect President Obama or either party in Congress to do anything, but if there ever was a reason to increase security on our southern border, this is it.

It’s no longer merely about illegal immigration. We’re seeing open warfare between powerful drug cartels and anyone who gets in their way. The border areas are awash with blood and violence, with elements of a localized civil war and/or a de facto narcostate in some towns. That scenario is likely to continue, and possibly escalate, for some time before it gets any better. Adding manpower to keep (or at least limit) that violence from spilling over to the U.S. side of the border seems not only prudent, but essential.

[Nat Turner]

"We're tired of sitting around on our hands and waiting for daddy or mommy Calderón to come to fix our fights. We in San Pedro took the decision to grab the bull by the horns," Mr. Fernández said in a radio interview. "Even acting outside the limits of my role as mayor, I will end the kidnappings, extortions and drug trafficking. We are going to do this by whatever means, fair or foul."

I know the DC elites better be paying attention to this