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| Latin America |
| AP: Mexican Army Deserters Form Drug Gang |
| 2003-10-11 |
| Somehow the AP lede seems redundant. Members of an elite Mexican army unit have deserted and formed a drug gang, using their military training to launch a violent battle for control of this border city. The war for Nuevo Laredo is unlike other recent drug conflicts — it’s a turf war involving most of Mexico’s major cartels in broad alliances not seen in a decade. It has the Mexican army fighting an organized unit of former comrades, and it has cost American lives. I think that qualifies for the WoT. ``They are extremely violent, and they are very much feared in the region because of the bloodshed they unleash,’’ Jose Santiago Vasconcelos, Mexico’s top anti-drug prosecutor, told AP. Mr. Fox, we can solve this if you can’t. The battles, which have taken 87 lives since 2002, have involved unprecedented alliances among Mexico’s drug cartels, according to Nuevo Laredo police commander Martin Landa Herrera. ``I don’t think anything like this has happened before in Mexico,’’ he said in an interview. ``I have never heard of this many cartels fighting for one piece of territory.’’ Known as the ``Zetas’’ or ``Z``s, the new drug gang — which appears to have won control of the city — is led by former members of an elite paratroop and intelligence battalion that was posted to the border state of Tamaulipas in the 1990s to fight drug traffickers. Vasconcelos said about 31 of the estimated 350 members of the Special Air Mobile Force Group, posted to the border state of Tamaulipas in the 1990s, had deserted and joined the drug turf war. Got the idea that the money wasn’t in chasing drug dealers but in being one. ``They have high-powered weapons, training and intelligence capabilities,’’ Landa Herrera said of the Zetas, whose name comes from the radio code word designating a police commander. ``They have even tapped our radio communications. They listen in on us.’’ The Defense Department has refused to confirm any of its soldiers formed the Zetas. But the army recently began posting wanted posters across the country offering rewards for the deserters, some still pictured in army uniforms. That led to They may be dirty, but apparently they’re also really good at this. The Zetas have killed dozens of rival traffickers, trading shots from passing sport utility vehicles on the streets of Nuevo Laredo. In one attack, they engaged in a shootout in broad daylight just yards from where the city’s mayor was attending a flag-raising ceremony. Nobody has to tell Houston resident Noe Villarreal how vicious the war has become. On Sept. 27, a commando of at least 30 masked men carrying assault rifles kidnapped his brother - Hayward, Calif., businessman Juan Villarreal Garcia — from his Mexico home in Sabinas Hidalgo, a town south of Nuevo Laredo. Villarreal remains missing and is presumed dead. The area is so violent that nobody is sure who kidnapped him or why. ``I don’t know if it was the Zetas,’’ said Noe Villarreal, ``because the Zetas have never released anyone alive. That’s not their style.’’ It wouldn’t be the first time that Americans have died in the conflict. A wild pre-dawn battle on Aug. 1 in Nuevo Laredo left at least three dead — one of them a man from Laredo, Texas — and six wounded. Police and army troops exchanged fire with cars believed to be carrying drug traffickers. The three were killed when their SUV exploded after police bullets hit the vehicle’s gas tank. And in June 2001, a couple from Laredo, Texas — Sylvia Solis and Juan Villagomez — were kidnapped by drug traffickers, although it is unclear why. She was raped and strangled. He was beaten and buried alive. This makes the Zetas our problem. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #9 I said it once, I'll say it again. We need to get tough on illegal aliens and those who support them. Deny federal funds to local and state governments who refuse to enforce federal immigration laws. Deny also to those who accept that card from the Mexican government. Stop providing free (non-humanitarian) medical, educational, and social security to illegal immigrants. Deny american citizenships to children born in the US of one or more illegal immigrants parents. Arrest Illegal immigrants and deport them by the cheapest means. If that means by cattle car or beatup train then so be it. If they dont like it then they dont have to come back do they? If it means temporarily housing them in camps then so be it. Note that this is *not* race related like the Japanese internment of WW2 - these people are here in violation of federal law. Arrest and charge people (including politicians such as mayors, county officals, etc..) who assist illegal aliens by providing services and support (thus are accessories in the crime). Have a strong border to the south and north. If this includes using drones and preditors to 'discourage' crossings (incuding lethal measures) so be it. I think that it is only a matter of time before some AL-Q terrorists cross our border from the south and do another WTC. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2003-10-11 5:41:20 PM |
| #8 Drone launched dye pack,I like it. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2003-10-11 5:22:24 PM |
| #7 Drones Tested to Patrol US-Mexico Border This would probably work in one of two scenarios: agents are within a reasonable distance of the drone's partol area to ensure a timely response to detected illegal crossing activity, or the drones are equipped with offensive systems to enable an attack from the air. (doesn't have to be Hellfire missiles, but something less lethal like say, a large concussion charge or a dye packet to "mark" illegals) |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-10-11 2:38:12 PM |
| #6 Here's some info you folks might be interested in Drones Tested to Patrol US-Mexico Border Looks like somebodies trying, at least. |
| Posted by: Hodadenon 2003-10-11 2:01:27 PM |
| #5 It's not that simple OP. That type of thing costs money. Right now Congress and the Senate are debating wether to give Bush his money for Afghanistan and Iraq. Add to that the Hispanic population that would through a hissy fit, possibly riots, and you have a major problem. I'm sure Bush wants to secure the border, but he needs congressional approval. The elected officials on the border states, many of them Democrats, refuse to allow it. They are afraid of losing the Hispanic vote if they vote for a security fence. You must also add into the equation that many of our own citizens are helping the drug trafficers. I agree with you 100% OP, but unless 150,000 volunteers suddenly sign up and complete they're training in the boot-camps, this issue isn't going to come up at all in Washington. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-10-11 12:41:42 PM |
| #4 An offshoot of the Danish Banditos? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-10-11 11:26:53 AM |
| #3 I thought all Mexicans were friendly folk, who just want to work in our fields for dollars, free education and excellent free medical attention in our emergency rooms. These Zeta's could turn the Southwest into a shooting gallery. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-11 9:10:48 AM |
| #2 Geez - Coffee Alert!!! Okay, BH, that's at least twice (prolly 10, by now) that I've had to clean up after you... Keep it up! ;^) |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-11 4:01:38 AM |
| #1 Remember: one man's "gang" is another man's motorcycle club. /reuters |
| Posted by: BH 2003-10-11 1:41:57 AM |