Threat to the government and regime
The Zapatistas in Chiapas are not the only alternative to the Mexican government. A bigger threat exists in the far north. The limits of state power are clearly on display.Drug Trade Tyranny on Mexico's Border
"Events in three border cities over the past three months illustrate the military and financial power of Mexico's cartels and the extent of their reach into a society shaken by fear.
"More than 20,000 Mexican troops and federal police are engaged in a multi-front war with the private armies of rival drug lords, a conflict that is being waged most fiercely along the 2,000-mile length of the U.S.-Mexico border...
"A total of more than 4,800 Mexicans were slain in 2006 and 2007, making the murder rate in each of those years twice that of 2005. Law enforcement officials and journalists, politicians and peasants have been gunned down in the wave of violence...
"Drawing on firepower, savage intimidation and cash, the [drug] cartels have come to control key parts of the border...
"More than 1,900 miles southeast of Tijuana, the city of Reynosa... is Gulf cartel country, a region dominated by the cartel's private army, Los Zetas. Their arsenal befits a military brigade, exceeding those of some Mexican army units.
"Led by Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano, Los Zetas are a highly disciplined mercenary squad composed of former elite Mexican troops, including officers trained by the U.S. military before they deserted..."
See also:
- Mexico gunmen slay seven in attack on law firm
"Unidentified gunmen burst into a law firm in the western Mexican city of Guadalajara and killed seven people, officials said Friday, in what appeared to be the latest round of drug slayings.
"Five men and one woman died in the shooting Thursday afternoon at the office of the Rangel Garcia y Asociados law firm, which Mexican media said had high-profile drug smugglers among its clients..." - Mexico captures top cartel leader
"Mexican authorities announced yesterday that they had detained a man they described as a top leader of Arellano Félix's drug cartel and said he would be deported immediately to the United States..." - Mexico authorities find 33 bodies in backyard in border city
"Mexican investigators found 19 more bodies buried in the backyard of a house in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas, increasing the tally of corpses found there to 33..."
Labels: Mexico, sovereignty
posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:42 AM
1 Comments:
Mexico sending 2,500 agents into troubled border town
"The government of President Felipe Calderon on Thursday began a military surge of more than 2,500 soldiers and federal agents into this besieged border community in an attempt to tamp down a bloody drug war...
"More than 3,000 people, including more than 300 police officers and some 40 soldiers, have died since Calderon took office in December 2006 and began the crackdown, according to the Mexico City newspaper Reforma..."
Post a Comment
<< Home