Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Drug violence....
What should the United States do about the cartel violence that threatens both the security of the United States and the Stability of Mexico? The drugs are being sold in the U.S. with the profits going into Mexico. We are responsible so what should our actions be? Something would be preferable to nothing, which is all we seem to get now.
Calderon: U.S. help in drug war is 'insufficient'
Mexican President Felipe Calderon says U.S. cooperation in the fight against drug cartels has been "insufficient."
Calderon says the United States should help by reducing drug use and stemming the flow of automatic rifles to Mexican drug cartels.
Calderon tells the Mexican newspaper 'El Universal' that relations with the United States were strained when secret U.S. diplomatic cables criticizing Mexico's anti-drug strategy were leaked to the public.
Calderon said in the interview published Tuesday that some of the leaked cables show U.S. diplomats' ignorance about Mexico's security situation, and that that's why some reports distort or exaggerate.
More than 35,000 people have been killed since Calderon launched a crackdown against drug gangs in December 2006.
The statements came on the same day that family members buried slain U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jaime Zapata.
The Brownsville native was killed in the line of duty in the State of San Luis Potosi where another ICE agent was also wounded in the attack.
No suspects have been officially identified or arrested in the attack.
ARTICLE LINK
Calderon says the United States should help by reducing drug use and stemming the flow of automatic rifles to Mexican drug cartels.
Calderon tells the Mexican newspaper 'El Universal' that relations with the United States were strained when secret U.S. diplomatic cables criticizing Mexico's anti-drug strategy were leaked to the public.
Calderon said in the interview published Tuesday that some of the leaked cables show U.S. diplomats' ignorance about Mexico's security situation, and that that's why some reports distort or exaggerate.
More than 35,000 people have been killed since Calderon launched a crackdown against drug gangs in December 2006.
The statements came on the same day that family members buried slain U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jaime Zapata.
The Brownsville native was killed in the line of duty in the State of San Luis Potosi where another ICE agent was also wounded in the attack.
No suspects have been officially identified or arrested in the attack.
ARTICLE LINK
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Cartel Violence
The Mexican drug cartels have shown that they can reach and kill almost anyone. The DOD/State Department has declared Mexico to be threatened as a nation. The DOD is concerned that the legitimate government of Mexico will fall because of the rise of the cartels. The cartels are running many parts of the country. What can be done about it? What is the response of both Washington and Austin? The threat is very real. Texas as a border state is threatened but it is not limited to Texas. The drug cartels have member and influence throughout the United States. There have been major busts in Georgia to California. The threat is real... this cannot be stated enough.
The majority of the cartels profits are marijuana so when marijuana does kill!!!! This one fact changes the whole decriminalize argument about marijuana.
The majority of the cartels profits are marijuana so when marijuana does kill!!!! This one fact changes the whole decriminalize argument about marijuana.
Statement from ICE on death of agent Jaime Zapata
WASHINGTON - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent Jaime Zapata was shot and killed in the line of duty Tuesday afternoon after he was attacked by unknown assailants while driving between Monterrey, Mexico, and Mexico City.
During the attack, a second ICE special agent was shot twice in the leg. He has been transported back to the United States and is in stable condition. Both special agents were assigned to ICE's attaché office in Mexico City.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Zapata family for their tragic loss," said ICE Director John Morton. "May the work we continue to do as an agency be worthy of a sacrifice as great as the one made by Special Agent Zapata."
Special Agent Zapata joined ICE in 2006. He was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Special Agent in Charge in Laredo, Texas, where he served on the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit as well as the Border Enforcement Security Task Force.
He most recently was detailed to ICE's attaché office at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
Special Agent Zapata began his federal law enforcement career with the Department of Homeland Security as a member of the U.S. Border Patrol in Yuma, Arizona.
A native of Brownsville, Texas, Special Agent Zapata graduated from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
U.S. law enforcement agencies continue to work closely with Mexican authorities who are investigating the shooting to ensure the perpetrators of this unconscionable crime are captured as quickly as possible. The full resources of the Department of Homeland Security are at the disposal of our Mexican partners in this investigation.
During the attack, a second ICE special agent was shot twice in the leg. He has been transported back to the United States and is in stable condition. Both special agents were assigned to ICE's attaché office in Mexico City.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Zapata family for their tragic loss," said ICE Director John Morton. "May the work we continue to do as an agency be worthy of a sacrifice as great as the one made by Special Agent Zapata."
Special Agent Zapata joined ICE in 2006. He was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Special Agent in Charge in Laredo, Texas, where he served on the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit as well as the Border Enforcement Security Task Force.
He most recently was detailed to ICE's attaché office at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
Special Agent Zapata began his federal law enforcement career with the Department of Homeland Security as a member of the U.S. Border Patrol in Yuma, Arizona.
A native of Brownsville, Texas, Special Agent Zapata graduated from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
U.S. law enforcement agencies continue to work closely with Mexican authorities who are investigating the shooting to ensure the perpetrators of this unconscionable crime are captured as quickly as possible. The full resources of the Department of Homeland Security are at the disposal of our Mexican partners in this investigation.
ARTICLE LINK
Sunday, February 13, 2011
23 cartel members dead, 31 arrested, Mexican military says
REYNOSA, MEXICO — Twenty-three alleged cartel members were killed this past week, while 31 others were arrested, according to a news release from the Mexican military.
Officials from the military’s 8th zone, which includes Reynosa, did not specify how or where the alleged criminals were killed. They simply noted the deaths and listed items collected during a seven-day span from Feb. 5 to Feb. 12. The names of the dead were not released.
Soldiers seized more than 11,000 pounds of marijuana, more than 2,24 pounds of cocaine and a small amount of crack cocaine, according to the release. They also recovered 76 “long guns,” 10 handguns, 11 grenades, three grenade launchers and one grenade launcher attachment.
More than $75,000 in both U.S. and Mexican currency was seized, along with 42 vehicles, two of which were armored, officials added.
Soldiers also obtained two tractors, two bullet-proof vests, four cell phones and nine radios.
No other information was provided.
ARTICLE LINK
Officials from the military’s 8th zone, which includes Reynosa, did not specify how or where the alleged criminals were killed. They simply noted the deaths and listed items collected during a seven-day span from Feb. 5 to Feb. 12. The names of the dead were not released.
Soldiers seized more than 11,000 pounds of marijuana, more than 2,24 pounds of cocaine and a small amount of crack cocaine, according to the release. They also recovered 76 “long guns,” 10 handguns, 11 grenades, three grenade launchers and one grenade launcher attachment.
More than $75,000 in both U.S. and Mexican currency was seized, along with 42 vehicles, two of which were armored, officials added.
Soldiers also obtained two tractors, two bullet-proof vests, four cell phones and nine radios.
No other information was provided.
ARTICLE LINK
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