Thread: Mexican Officials Want to Rebrand Cartel Members Terrorist

Mexican Officials Want to Rebrand Cartel Members as Terrorists

Reported by: Will Ripley
Last Update: 11:11 am

Mexican lawmakers are fighting a war against the cartels and against public opinion.

Fred Burton, vice president of the Global Intelligence company Stratfor, wrote an article claiming Mexico is trying to rebrand the cartel wars. Some Mexican lawmakers want to label crimes committed by the drug cartels as acts of terrorism.

Burton says by labeling cartel crimes as domestic terrorism, it would allow Mexican authorities to hand out harsher prison sentences.

The violence is so intense some citizens blame the Mexican government. Burton thinks by labeling cartel members as terrorists, Mexico could try to win back public support. He says they may have a harder time actually prosecuting kingpins for terrorism.

"The corruption aspect, the degree of influence that the cartel bosses have over the judicial system, the police, the elected officials in many ways place them in positions where they're untouchable," says Burton.

A prison break two weeks ago in Nuevo Laredo proves even if cartel members are thrown in jail, there is no guarantee they'll stay there.

Just before that prison break, Mexican lawmakers approved a change in the law allowing 10- to 50-year sentences for terrorist acts. There was no word on if they will actually implement these reforms.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Me ... uYEBg.cspx

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Burton says by labeling cartel crimes as domestic terrorism, it would allow Mexican authorities to hand out harsher prison sentences.

I guess being a drug dealing murder doesn't carry as much as being a drug smuggling terrorist!

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

"The corruption aspect, the degree of influence that the cartel bosses have over the judicial system, the police, the elected officials in many ways place them in positions where they're untouchable," says Burton

The US offered to help! Calderon is probably one of em'!

LOL what "harsher penalties? They don't even have the death penalty! That does make it the government's fault 100%.

Enact the death penalty and get rid of the dirtbags once and for all. That should put some fear into the cartels.

How many years did it take for Messico to wake up and see that the cartels ARE terrorists? And our government won't militarize our border while cartels are already here and the border is in kaos.

Yes, we know Mexico is narco-terrorist state. Call them what they are and bring on the death penalty. Mohammed Law works really well. Steal - cut off the hand. Get serious.