Combat Operations in the Border Zone

Elites on the coasts don't want to recognize what can only be described as combat operations conducted north of the US - Mexican border.

On April 30^th a Pinal County Sheriff deputy was wounded by drug traffickers in a shootout about 50 miles south of Phoenix. Deputy Louie Puroll confronted five illegals who attacked him in an ambush. Puroll fought a 20 minute gun battle with men armed with AK-47 assault rifles before being hit from behind. He was able to call for assistance on his cell phone. But until help arrived Puroll fought the traffickers off with his pistol and his AR-15, the law enforcement version of the M-16 rifle issued to the U.S. military.

When that assistance arrived, along with a sheriff department helicopter, the chopper also came under fire. Eventually 17 illegal immigrants were apprehended after a force of more than 200 lawmen responded to Deputy Puroll's shooting.

In Cochise County, south and east of Tucson, fences are cut so drug traffickers can have access to the remote areas and avoid the roads and check points of the Border Patrol. Small family businesses can't afford the time it takes to mend fences and check on cattle that may have strayed too far away.

One rancher reported that between 300 and 1200 people cross his ranch every day. They vandalize his property, steal his vehicles and leave garbage everywhere. The same man has found 17 dead bodies over the last two years, those of "mules" , people used to transport drugs across the border then shot, on his ranch.

Another rancher says drugs cross his land daily. A point man with a machine gun enters, then more guards about ½ mile behind. Next, are the backpackers carrying the drugs (the mules), followed by more armed men providing security in the rear -- all at ½ mile intervals. Gunfire can be heard in the night in many of the remote parts of this area near the Arizona-New Mexico border. According to State Senator Sylvia Allen, 80% of the law officers killed or wounded in Arizona were attacked by illegal aliens.

Robert Krentz, who was killed in March, was known to be kind to illegal immigrants. He often gave water to those in need who walked miles under the brutal Arizona sun. Krentz radioed his brother telling him he was going to the aid of an illegal immigrant in need of medical attention. His kindness got him killed.

In west Texas, Mexican Army vehicles cross the border supporting drug trafficking. One report indicated an Army vehicle, with machine guns mounted on it, was 200 yards inside the U.S. border. Agents from the Fort Hancock Border Patrol Station called for backup after confronting six men in Mexican military uniforms and driving military vehicles north of the Rio Grande. Chief Deputy of Hudspeth County Sheriff's Department, Mike Doyal, said, "It happens quite often here."

Also in Texas, helicopters from the Mexican Army and Navy have crossed the border. Several civilians and members of law enforcement witnessed these crossings. This cannot be a helicopter that is lost or having navigational problems -- the Rio Grande clearly delineates Mexico from the United States at that location. There is no reasonable explanation coming from the U.S. or Mexican government why these helicopters are in American airspace.

It doesn't take my 23 years of military service to recognize these are combat patrols. The ambush is one of the most basic tactics trained by every army in the world. Deputy Puroll engaged a number of suspects, and was shot from behind. That indicates the drug traffickers maneuvered on the deputy -- one man provided "cover fire" while another moved in for the shot. A combat patrol with automatic weapons, front and rear security, and moving in proper intervals indicates at least a certain level of military training. Incursions into American airspace by Mexican helicopters and ground vehicles, ground fire against a sheriff department chopper and armed men protecting drugs on ranches in Arizona are all indications of a force conducting combat operations.

Robert Krentz was killed the day after 280 pounds of marijuana was seized on his ranch. Krentz was known to give water to those illegal immigrants who needed it. It doesn't take much analysis to know that Krentz paid for the loss of the drugs with his life. It is likely that drug traffickers knew that Robert Krentz would bring him water, and therefore provide an opportunity to ambush him. This indicates the drug traffickers are collecting intelligence, analyzing it, and using it, to conduct their operations.

This is war. Drug traffickers are using military tactics and techniques to get their products across the border. They carry automatic weapons and use vehicles with machine guns mounted on them. They are ready and willing to kill anybody who gets in their way. It's time to close the southern border.

TJ Woodard is a retired Army officer who lives less than 10 miles from the Mexican border. He carries a pistol even in his own house in order to be prepared to defend his family whenever necessary.

“It doesn’t take my 23 years of military service to recognize these are combat patrols.”

I have NO military experience beyond some civi training, talking to hardcore friends, and reading military history.

That said, a 12 year old could see that “these are combat patrols.” Unless he/she was suffering from that mental illness called “liberalism” aka “progressivism” aka marxism. In which case they wouldn’t see it - or rather admit it - at 45...

One solution would be to ban travel to Mexico and close every port of entry from Matamoros to Tijuana. There would be economic damage on both sides of the border but in the short term Mexico would hurt worse. After a week or so the corporate monopolies that run Mexico would start cleaning house.

Not a chance the border will be closed. Not going to happen. This violence has been happening for years and years, nothing new about that. There is too much money involved for anything to be done about it.

I do have to add this: ONE American with a sidearm and an AR-15 (which most of us can legally own) held off and survived a Mexican drug cartel/military ambush. And held out for quite a while, 20 minutes being a virtual eternity in that situation.

That in itself is worth noting.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.