Mexican troops aiding smugglers, says report

[question everything]

Mexican troops aiding smugglers, says report

Border drug war backfiring
By Mason Stockstill, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

(snip)

The Daily Bulletin reported Sunday on a Department of Homeland Security document that outlines 216 incidents since 1996 where Mexican military personnel crossed the U.S.-Mexican border and were spotted or confronted by the Border Patrol.

(snip)

During the past decade, Mexico's military has become involved with anti-drug efforts to a greater degree than ever before, a trend furthered by President Vicente Fox in 2001, when he disbanded the nation's federal judicial police, saying it was too corrupt to successfully fight drug trafficking.

However, while the Mexican armed forces once had a better reputation for avoiding corruption than the nation's police departments, the huge amount of available bribes means many soldiers and high-ranking army officials are now on the payroll of the cartels, according to a report from the Washington Office on Latin America, a nonprofit policy and research organization.

(snip)

Ironically, involving the military in Mexico's drug war has done little to slow the production of illicit drugs or their movement into the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration's seizures of heroin, cocaine and marijuana have remained relatively steady during the past five years... Deserters from Mexico's military are known to work for drug cartels, including a paramilitary unit called Los Zetas -- a U.S.-trained anti-narcotics force connected to violence as far north of the border as Dallas.

(snip)

Staff writer Sara A. Carter contributed to this report.

Mason Stockstill can be reached by phone at [phone].

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3408634

[NaturalHigh]

1. This is no surprise.

The Mexican government has demanded that the U.S. allow more immigration from Mexico. It's a big source of their income, and they rely on it. It's no surprise that the Mexican military would also become involved in border crime.

[nautibits]

2. I suppose that we will invade Mexico next...

We really need to rethink our border strategy. Who are we to keep hard working people from coming to this nation? How much money are we spending on the Border Patrol? Can't this money be put to better use?

[hogwyld]

3. Sure

Just let every single poor person in the world to come into our country. What can be more empathetic than to actually become a 3rd world country. I'm sure you have no problem letting them stay at your house.:sarcasm:

[nautibits]

8. Who says it's our country?

This was their land before it was "ours".

[ugarte]

4. Several US Border Patrol agents have been busted for bribe-taking also

With the big $$$ floating around, probably just the tip of the iceberg.

[Clutch Cargo]

5. Gee, I wonder what would happen if...

we kept our southern borders open and allowed everyone and anyone to just walk on over, and, we kept it open and allowed them to keep walking and walking.... right through to Canada. Do you think Canada would put up with shit like that? Well then, why should we???

[alfred e bush]

6. canada

protects their workers rights......they have nothing in common with u s

[Clutch Cargo]

7. Illegal immigrants are not our workers by any recognized law.

Would you mind if they became yours through illegal means?