US commandos boost numbers to train Mexican forces

UScommandos boost numbers to train Mexican forces

KIMBERLY DOZIER,AP Intelligence WriterAssociated Press
Posted: 01/17/2013 10:29:30 AM MST

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/liv...r_Arri_300.jpg
FILE - This Dec. 3, 2008 file photo shows Mexican Army soldiers holding two suspects, arrested during an operation against drug smuggling and kidnapping gangs, after being presented to the press in Tijuana, Mexico. U.S. officials say the Pentagon is stepping up aid for Mexico's bloody drug war with a new U.S.-based special operations headquarters to teach Mexican security forces how to hunt drug cartels the same way special operations teams hunt al-Qaida. (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias, File) (Guillermo Arias)

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. officials say the Pentagon is stepping up aid for Mexico's bloody drug war with a new U.S.-based special operations headquarters to teach Mexican security forces how to hunt drug cartels the same way special operations teams hunt al-Qaida.

The officials say such assistance could help Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto establish a military force to focus on drug criminal networks that have terrorized Mexico and threatened the Southwest border.

Based at the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado, Special Operations Command-North will build on a commando program that has brought Mexican security officials to study U.S. counterterrorist operations, to show them how the U.S. built an interagency network to target al-Qaida.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive missions.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_22392813/us-commandos-boost-numbers-train-mexican-forces