Brutal Mexican drug gang crosses into U.S.-- Zetas butcher victims to spread message of fear

The Washington Times ^ | April 19, 2011 | Jerry Seper

[jazusamo]

The signature crimes of the most violent drug cartel in Mexico are its beheading and dismemberment of rival gang members, military personnel, law enforcement officers and public officials, and the random kidnappings and killings of civilians who get caught in its butchery and bloodletting.

But this disparate band of criminals known as Los Zetas is no longer just a concern in Mexico. It has expanded its deadly operations across the southwestern border, establishing footholds and alliances in states from New York to California. Just last year, federal agents tied a cocaine operation in Baltimore to the Zetas.

“Those of us who live and work along the border know they’re already here,” said Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez Jr., whose Texas county lies on the Rio Grande 50 miles southeast of the Zetas’ stronghold of Nuevo Laredo. “There’s already been killings and many residents here are living in fear.”

Sheriff Gonzalez, whose Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition sought help from the federal government to control growing violence along the border, said the rising brutality of Mexican drug gangs, particularly the Zetas, “never stops shocking me.”

Trained as an elite band of Mexican anti-drug commandos, the Zetas evolved into mercenaries for the infamous Gulf Cartel, bringing a new wave of brutality to Mexico’s escalating drug wars. Bolstered by an influx of assassins, bandits, thieves, thugs and corrupt federal, state and local police officers, the Zetas have since evolved into a well-financed and heavily armed drug smuggling force of their own.

Known for mounting the severed heads of their rivals on poles or hanging their dismembered bodies from bridges in cities throughout Mexico, the Zetas have easily become the most feared criminal gang in Mexico — where 35,000 people have been killed in a continuing drug war. Everyone is a potential victim: men, women...

[jazusamo]

Good point, haven’t heard a word out of him on that, he’s too busy campaigning.

[BerryDingle]

We are worried about Libya but not Mexico.

Obama and George Soros are worried about Libya.

[ronnyquest]

The US federal government has, once again, failed the American people. The citizens of this country are constrained and not allowed by law to act to protect our territory and the federal government will not. How much more, America? How much more?

[LouAvul]

I wonder what Bush has to say about this?

[Misterioso]

legalize drugs and it will stop over night

Crickets.

[white17x]

Here’s the solution

http://www.reuters.com/news/video/story?videoId=187406842&videoChannel=2602

[apocalypto]

I have not heard him make a comment. I would guess he is okay with it.

[al_c]

“The border has never been safer.”

Uh, Janet ... Quit open your eyes

Obama ... Get off the golf course.

[rockinqsranch]

This government has to be changed, and changed soon. There isn’t any choice in the matter if the Nation is to survive.

The whole lot of ‘em have to be cleaned out, the system cleaned up, and the Constitutional government restored.

Prayers for a leader.

[unixfox]

The citizens of this country are constrained and not allowed by law to act to protect our territory and the federal government will not.

I can say this for myself, if any one of these asswipes steps one foot on my property they will be shot on sight no questions asked.

I'm sure the buzzards will thank me too.

[untwist]

Legalize drugs and it will all stop overnight? Oh yeah, sure. The Zetas will happily and peacefully welcome an open, competitive market for their goods. And we will welcome them to open factories and distribution centers run by those scrupulous Zeta fellows all throughout the fruited plain. And all those nice mom and pop competitors will all be welcomed to peacefully share in the fruits of this prosperous business.

We are dealing in a business run by murderous, horrific beasts. Since the situation is already out of control we have no choice but to kill the beast, get it out of our country, or be overrun and killed by the beast.

[Pelham]

The Crawford Coyote says:

Just Doing the Jobs Americans Won't Do Anymore

[nonliberal]

It is going to take an extended and prominant military action to contain it

Or we could just decriminalize drugs. Nah. That would be too easy.

[ronnyquest]

Buzzards gotta eat, too.

[jazusamo]

This government has to be changed, and changed soon. There isn’t any choice in the matter if the Nation is to survive.

Dead on the mark. This government is a criminal enterprise headed by a puppet that has surrounded himself with lapdogs. All of them ignore the law and the Constitution and don't give a whit who knows it.

[LibLieSlayer]

When we win our country back... maybe we can try and execute those that are responsible for the treason of allowing this to happen.

LLS

[robowombat]

Well I can remember in 2006 during Bush2’s amnesty drive that a fair number of individuals that posted here on FR regularly contemptuously dismissed predictions of the ‘Mexicanization, of the border area by criminal gangs and their collaborators and enablers. Indeed not a few FR posters got sanctioned and some banned for being very persistent in pointing out where the emerging trends were heading in the Southwest. I note those who were once so vociferous in denouncing those who saw the unarmed invasion as becoming an armed invasion as racists have now pretty much fallen silent. Where are they? Or were they always just trolls for agribusiness and operators like Steve Schmitz?

[Jonty30]

I don’t believe decriminalizing would work. It didn’t work in Amsterdam, where they are recriminalizing them.

If it didn’t work there, I don’t know why it would work here.

[Georgia Girl 2]

What I wouldn’t give for a few Army snipers on the border in strategic locations taking kill shots at will on those homeys’.

[dragnet2]

Well I can remember in 2006 during Bush2’s amnesty drive that a fair number of individuals that posted here on FR regularly contemptuously dismissed predictions of the ‘Mexicanization, of the border area by criminal gangs and their collaborators and enablers.

Some are still here. They now avoid these threads like the plague.