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| Texas-Mexico Border Standoff Reported |
| 2006-01-25 |
| SIERRA BLANCA, Texas: Texas law enforcement officers faced off with men dressed as Mexican Army soldiers and apparent drug suspects near the U.S.-Mexican border Tuesday, after three SUVs attempted to flee state authorities, officials said. Andrea Simmons, an agency spokeswoman in El Paso, told The Associated Press that Texas Department of Public Safety troopers chased three SUVs, believing they were carrying drugs, to the banks of the Rio Grande during Monday's incident. Men dressed in Mexican military uniforms or camouflage were on the U.S. side of the border in Texas, she said. Simmons said the FBI was not involved and referred requests for further details to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin of Ontario, Calif., reported Tuesday that the incident included an armed standoff involving the Mexican military and suspected drug smugglers. The incident follows a story in the Bulletin on Jan. 15 that said the Mexican military had crossed into the United States more than 200 times since 1996. In a news conference, Rick Glancey of the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, said three Hudspeth County deputies and at least two Texas Department of Public Safety troopers squared off against at least 10 heavily armed men from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. U.S. officials who pursued three fleeing SUVs to the Mexican border saw what appeared to be a Mexican military Humvee help one of the SUVs when it got stuck in the river, he said. When that didn't work, a group of men dressed in civilian clothes started unloading what appeared to be bundles of marijuana from the SUV, and the stuck vehicle was then torched, he said. A second SUV had a flat tire and was left behind in the United States and its occupant ran across the border, he said. Glancey said he could not confirm whether the armed men seen at the site were Mexican Army, police officers, or drug dealers, and would not detail what markings deputies may have seen on the men's uniforms or the Humvee. Chief Deputy Mike Doyal of the Hudspeth County Sheriff's Department said that Mexican army personnel had several mounted machine guns on the ground more than 200 yards inside the U.S. border, the Daily Bulletin newspaper reported earlier. "It's been so bred into everyone not to start an international incident with Mexico that it's been going on for years," Doyal said. "When you're up against mounted machine guns, what can you do? Who wants to pull the trigger first? Certainly not us." Hudspeth County Sheriff Arvin West, whose officers were involved in a similar incident last year, said he is certain that Mexican authorities know who was involved. After the newspaper reported on Mexican military crossings earlier this month, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the report was overblown and most of the incursions were just mistakes. In eastern California, Arizona and New Mexico, the U.S.-Mexico border is largely unmarked. But in Texas, the Rio Grande separates the two countries and even when dry, is a riverbed about 200 feet wide. In November, Doyal said Border Patrol agents in the border town of Fort Hancock called for help after confronting more than six men dressed in Mexican military uniforms. The men allegedly were trying to bring more than three tons of marijuana across the Rio Grande, Doyal told the newspaper. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #34 I'm OK wit that |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-01-25 22:54 |
| #33 This shit has been going on for more than 25 years. All the locals know it. The local police should not have to face off against these Federales. That should be done by US Army. Put two Cobras at Bliss and two at Huachuca. These can produce dismembered bodies from 5 kilometers. Turn them loose and cut these bastards to sheds a couple of times. Let their rotting carcases lay out there until the sky gets black with buzzards. They'll never try it again |
| Posted by: SOP35/Rat 2006-01-25 22:43 |
| #32 The Lefties will of course vote for everything before voting against everything - STAY ARMED, AND STAY VERY VERY V-E-R-Y WELL ARMED, EQUIPPED, AND READY. "TRUST BUT VERIFY", and "PEACE THRU STRENGTH". |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-01-25 21:37 |
| #31 It was the Mexican Army. A Hummer with 50 cal Browning, others with government issue rifles, offical governmment transportation. Not something you can just casually pick up in Mexico. Photographic evidence. It's a "provication" to be sure. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2006-01-25 20:24 |
| #30 I am reminded of a Brother Dave Gardner routine. He was around during the Cuban Missile Crisis and pointed out that Cuba was a problem: we had all sorts of intercontinental clout we could call upon, but Cuba? We didn't have anything that would "go that short". But he posited that the Mississippi National Guard in a flatbed wagon could take Cuba down, if we'd just turn 'em loose. I think he mentioned we should tell them that there were lots of squirrels 'n such in Cuba, too, but it was a long time ago, so I could be mistaken. If Gov Perry wasn't in Iraq, we'd be hearing his ideas right now. He won't wait for any Federal assistance, he'll just do what he figures needs doing with what he has at hand. I do like CS's "1 incursion 1 Ranger" post, lol. Perry has lots of assets and will put some major hurt on these turds. Supposedly, the Mexican Govt has now directed all of their Army units to stay at least 3 miles from the border without direct authorization. We'll see. When Perry gets back, he'll ramp up something effective. He's organized, not askeered to act, and honestly loves this shit, lol. Recall his immediate Katrina response, since his people were actually paying attention and not relying on the Feds for anything. Compare and contrast with the Dhimmis on both sides. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-01-25 19:16 |
| #29 d) all of the above |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-01-25 19:01 |
| #28 Lessee... a) The drug traffickers are disguised as Mexian Army. b) The drug traffickers are using elements within the real Mexican Army to shield them. c) The drug traffickers ARE the real Mexican Army. It's got to be one of those three. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2006-01-25 18:21 |
| #27 And where's my afternoon latte, and my pony, and that billionaire trainee job I demanded? Goddamnit, Bush, you fucking slacker. Don't you know MY agenda is the only agenda? When I say "Jump!" you say "How high, Master?" When I say "Snap to it!" you'd better, by God, get on the Lickety-Split Express! I'll show you - I'll never vote for you again! Sheesh. Grab some perspective, puhfuckingleeze. There's this buncha crooks and cowards called the US Congress, and this inconvenient bit of fluff called the Constitution, and other similarly inconvenient shit. Reality's a bitch. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-01-25 15:44 |
| #26 I did see video of this incident on over-the-air network TV last night. It was on the local Univision network station -- all in Spanish. (I don't understand the language, but some of those Univision reporter babes are hot.) There was no live action video of the incident, but there was video of the burnt out SUV being hauled out of the Rio, the unloading of drug bales, a fairly long video interview with a Spanish-speaking member of the Hudspeth County Sheriff's department, all within a few hours of the incident. |
| Posted by: Whutch Threth6418 2006-01-25 15:43 |
| #25 There are several technologies that can/should be deployed that will minimize the need for large numbers of troops. They can include non-lethal as well as lethal force. Integrated systems that include these features are already designed with fully operational and tested components. This is not a tough nut to crack, it just takes the backbone and dollars to do it. |
| Posted by: remoteman 2006-01-25 15:41 |
| #24 I agree, where's the 'contract with America' ? Item one, close the borders. Let's write the contract and present it to campaigners for their signature. We know who to vote for. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-01-25 15:35 |
| #23 We're going to have to militarize our borders, or we're going to have some real problems in the not too distant future. The Border Patrol is worthless - it's a "police officer" approach to a military problem. We need something along the lines of the Swiss Army Border Guards units. We also need to plant 3" steel pipes 10 feet into the ground, with another six feet sticking up, painted red, white, and blue, three feet inside the US border. Put a big sign on it in six languages: "This sign is three feet inside the US boundary. Further intrusion into the US without proper clearance and approval may result in the immediate death of any wanderer." Build a road six feet beyond the poles. Build small garrisons every 100 miles along the border, each capable of supporting 60 Border Guards and their equipment. Equipment should include Strykers, Bradley APCs, armored Hummvees, trucks and other support vehicles. Patrol the border with Predator or similar aircraft, helicopter gunships, and mounted ground patrols. If you catch illegal immigrants, drive them back across the border. Make sure there are fewer of them going back across as came across the first time. Tie the bodies of those that don't make it to the border poles. It will take seven or eight divisions of border guards: two for the Mexican border, two for the border between the US and Canada from Lake Superior to the Pacific, one for the border between the US and Canada from Lake Superior to the Atlantic, one for the US/Canadian border with Alaska, one in reserve that could be used as back-up in case of an emergency, or that could be deployed along either the east or west coast, and one training/support division. This mess can be stopped, but only if we get serious about doing it. The American people, especially bloggers, websites, places like Rantburg and LGF, could make this an issue in the next elections, if we push hard enough. It's time to put an end to "business as usual" and blatant stupidity. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2006-01-25 15:13 |
| #22 "Mexican army personnel had several mounted machine guns on the ground more than 200 yards inside the U.S. border" What an outrage, and worse yet that our government is allowing this to occur. We need to stop this PC attitude, and take back our land. Oh and Steve, while backpacking in the Pacific Northwest many years ago, I saw bigfoot's footprint embedded into an old dried up riverbed. If we see remnants of these activities on our side of the border, use it. |
| Posted by: Jan 2006-01-25 13:46 |
| #21 Bush is normally a good man, but every now and then he pulls his ass over his head. No more Bush's in the White House for me. When this one's gone, then real conservatives only, please. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-01-25 13:45 |
| #20 A Mexican government commission will distribute at least 70,000 maps showing highways, rescue beacons and water tanks in the Arizona desert to curb the death toll among illegal immigrants. "Included on the maps is a route labeled 'Jose Minh Trail'." |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2006-01-25 13:32 |
| #19 AP reports today: MEXICO CITY - A Mexican government commission will distribute at least 70,000 maps showing highways, rescue beacons and water tanks in the Arizona desert to curb the death toll among illegal immigrants. The National Human Rights Commission, a government-funded agency with independent powers, denied that the maps would encourage illegal immigration. Officials said they would help guide those in trouble to rescue beacons and areas with cell phone reception. The maps will also show the distance a person can walk in the desert in a single day. "We are not trying in any way to encourage or promote migration," said Mauricio Farah, one of the commission's national inspectors. "The only thing we are trying to do is warn them of the risks they face and where to get water, so they don't die." |
| Posted by: growler 2006-01-25 12:47 |
| #18 #10 has it right. The North American Command is quietly preparing for ground opns as well as air/space defense and marine detection of ships with iffy cargos. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-01-25 12:28 |
| #17 metal storm devices aimed along the border would make a pretty good wall. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-01-25 11:54 |
| #16 "The men allegedly were trying to bring more than three tons of marijuana across the Rio Grande..." Undocumented workers now here will be required to pay a one-time fee to register for the temporary worker program. President G(uest)W(orker) Bush Wonder how many "registration fees" could be bought with 3 tons of bud? |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2006-01-25 11:37 |
| #15 1 incursion 1 Ranger. |
| Posted by: Crease Slolung3988 2006-01-25 11:31 |
| #14 When you're up against mounted machine guns, what can you do? Who wants to pull the trigger first? One sniper with a 300 Winmag and the event is over. As with most ambushes he who shoots first wins. Lets get on with this, pop a Mex Army troop on US soil and show him to the world and it will end. We are being way to PC on this issue. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-01-25 11:31 |
| #13 Governor Perry can solve this quickly. Activate a company of the Texas National Guard, and do some realistic training in counter-terrorism/insurgency ops along the border. Do a week of training, activate another company, lather, rinse, repeat. The NG units will get good training to complement what they've learned in Iraq, and you won't find a Mexican 'military' unit within five miles of their location on the border. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2006-01-25 11:25 |
| #12 The article failed to note the Mexicans had 50 caliber machine guns to use against 5 with rifles from the sheriff's department. If they won't use the necessary military, maybe we should take the White Fence gang member in the CNN interview up on the offer to "protect the 'hood'"? |
| Posted by: Danielle 2006-01-25 11:12 |
| #11 In other news, 1945 Berlin was totally surrounded by men dressed in Red Army uniforms shooting at men dressed in Wehrmacht uniforms.... _________________ "If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck....its probably a duck." |
| Posted by: borgboy 2006-01-25 10:58 |
| #10 Under Rummey's restationing plans the 1st Armored Division is headed to Ft. Bliss, EL Paso, Tx. The 1st Cav remains at Ft Hood, Tx. All with veterans from the Iraq theater of operations. Which bears remarkable resemblance to the terrain and culture of Northern Mexico, drug lords=clans and corrupt brutal local officials. Note well, that many of our folk do speak the local language. Hola. |
| Posted by: Angineng Whomonter7804 2006-01-25 10:37 |
| #9 It's like Bigfoot, no one's gonna believe you saw one till you produce a body. |
| Posted by: Steve 2006-01-25 10:32 |
| #8 Let's see 200 incursions by Mexican Soldiers into our country since 1996...really? Three mounted machine guns 200 yards within our border...hmmm. " The incident has been "overblown" and most of the incursions were "accidental". Perhaps a wall between checkpoints that is 20 feet high with razor wire on top with a "no-mans" zone laced with mines could fix this...yes? Have you ever heard of the Berlin Wall? If nothing else it was effective! |
| Posted by: Smoky Mirrors 2006-01-25 10:32 |
| #7 A JDAM would clear things up nicely. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2006-01-25 10:32 |
| #6 I suggest posting a number of snipers around these "hot spots" then your mounted machine guns will be far less effective. |
| Posted by: bk 2006-01-25 10:23 |
| #5 I'd sure like to see a picture or two of these incidents. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-01-25 10:20 |
| #4 Texas law enforcement officers faced off with men dressed as Mexican Army soldiers and apparent drug suspects near the U.S.-Mexican border Tuesday, after three SUVs attempted to flee state authorities, officials said. Andrea Simmons, an agency spokeswoman in El Paso, told The Associated Press that Texas Department of Public Safety troopers chased three SUVs, believing they were carrying drugs, to the banks of the Rio Grande during Monday's incident. Men dressed in Mexican military uniforms or camouflage were on the U.S. side of the border in Texas, she said. Why is this seemingly being treated as a "law enforcement" problem? Members of another country's military forces may be involved here, and that means OUR armed forces need to be called in. IMMEDIATELY. After the newspaper reported on Mexican military crossings earlier this month, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the report was overblown and most of the incursions were just mistakes. Two hundred "mistakes"???? Please. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2006-01-25 10:14 |
| #3 Sorry, sherrif, but it don't count without pictures and air time for the pix. The only way that will happen is BTW, I heard this story mentioned on NPR this morning, so there is hope that it may get air time. I hope the Sherrif gets some dramatic video and leaks it to the press. While I don't want anyone to get hurt, It will probly take a dramatic shooting on tape to get a serious response. |
| Posted by: N guard 2006-01-25 10:10 |
| #2 Where is the outrage? Please edit the headline to include, "and the soldiers appeared to be killing puppies." |
| Posted by: Master of Obvious 2006-01-25 10:08 |
| #1 FBI was not involved and referred requests for further details to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Classic "not my job" syndrone from the Federal Bureau of Idiots. Maybe someone will do something about it when the bastards finally bivuac in Crawford Texas. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-01-25 10:05 |