Thread: Juarez Mexico in Chaos, Article Galore

take your pick of any of these articles to see the chaos across the border from El Paso:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/juarez

Here is one such article from above link:

"Drug cartel gangs threatening border security, state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh says
By Diana Washington Valdez \ El Paso Times
Posted: 03/19/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT


EL PASO -- Gangs that work for drug cartels in Mexico are threatening the security of border communities such as El Paso, state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh said Thursday.

He said the presence of gangs associated with cartels had increased in eastern El Paso County.

"Based on anecdotal evidence, it appears that elements of gangs in Juárez, who are under pressure in Juárez, are moving their operations to the Mission Valley," said Shapleigh, D-El Paso. "We have received numerous reports of gang members living in the San Elizario, Socorro and Fabens communities of the Mission Valley."

Shapleigh had just returned from the Border Legislative Conference in Mexico City, where insecurity caused by drug violence was the top concern of lawmakers from both countries.

The flight of people from Juárez to El Paso prompted El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen early this year to seek funding for 1,100 M4 assault rifles. The city approved his request, using a federal grant to pay for the weapons.

Mexican authorities have reported fierce battles across the border from the valley, in Valle de Juárez communities such as Guadalupe, Caseta and El Millon, for control of the Rio Grande corridor.

But Shapleigh said he was hopeful because high-level U.S. officials are to announce a policy development in U.S.-Mexico bilateral relations later this month. He said the federal policy would build on a recent fact-finding mission involving the entire border.

"We had more than 250 experts from different federal agencies, such as DEA, FBI, USAID, the Treasury Department and others, who talked to hundreds of people along the border," Shapleigh said. "This is the biggest policy research effort undertaken for our bilateral relations with Mexico, probably since the Kennedy administration."
The experts are crafting policy recommendations for Merida II, which will expand the scope of the initial Merida Initiative. The first Merida Initiative was designed to provide Mexico with $1.3 billion of training and equipment to fight the drug cartels. Mexico has not received all the resources yet.

U.S. leaders this month are supposed to put the final touches on their recommendations and present them to officials in Washington, D.C., and to state and local governments.

Gov. Rick Perry recently made a splash when he announced that he was activating state border-security measures in light of the threats posed by the drug cartels.

Regarding Merida II and the Border Legislative Conference, Perry's spokeswoman said the governor had not seen the research findings, but that his message had not changed.

"You cannot research your way to securing the border," said Katherine Cesinger, Perry's spokeswoman. "What we need are additional resources, and we need them now. Border security is a federal responsibility, but we cannot afford to wait. The governor is still asking for 1,000 boots on the ground, drones and other technology tools for surveillance and intelligence to secure the border.""

Most of the violence seems intentionally aimed at other, competing cartel groups. Second target, Mexican military. Third target, innocent civilians caught in crossfire.

My daughter just started her Spring Break. The college sent emails to all their students telling them not to go anywhere in Mexico. The reason they stated was that Drug Cartels were killing innocent bystanders.

I lived in El Paso for a few years and must say contrary to popular belief El Paso was safe. Being on the border it has always had a bad image. Now, thanks to its neighbor its not the case anymore at least in certain areas.

The drug cartels have nothing to lose as mexico does not have the death penalty. Many politicians, federal and law enforcement officers work for and profit from drug sales. We need to seal our southern border and let mexico take care of its own mess. Mexican citizens can migrate south to other parts of mexico or to guatemala, et al. We have no more room or money.