Thread: U.S. military warns troops to be wary while visiting Mexican

Growing concerns along border
U.S. military warns troops to be wary while visiting Mexican towns
By KEVIN HOWE
Herald Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 05/30/2008 01:36:15 AM PDT


A drug war on the U.S.-Mexican border has escalated to the point that military servicemen and women are being advised to avoid the area or take training in personal protection before going there.
The advisory was issued last Friday by the Presidio of Monterey's command authority through its antiterrorism officer, Peter Huller.

It repeats a similar advisory issued in April by the U.S. State Department, said Army spokeswoman Daisy Bueno.

"Violent criminal activity fueled by a war between criminal organizations struggling for control of the lucrative narcotics trade continues along the U.S.-Mexico border," the warning notes. Recent fighting between Mexican army and police forces on the one hand, and heavily armed narcotics traffickers on the other, "has escalated to levels equivalent to military small-unit combat and have included use of machine guns and fragmentation grenades."

The advisory states that attacks have been aimed primarily at drug traffickers, Mexican police, criminal justice officials and journalists. But it notes that foreign visitors and residents, including Americans, have been among the victims of homicides and kidnappings in the border region.

The Mexican government has deployed police and soldiers in numerous towns and cities in northern Mexico, particularly Tijuana, the Mexican state of Baja California, Chihuahua City and Juarez.

"Armed robberies and carjackings, apparently unconnected to the narcotics-related violence, have increased in

Tijuana and Juarez," the warning states. "Dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped and/or murdered in Tijuana in 2007.
"Public shootouts have occurred during daylight hours near shopping areas. Criminals are armed with a wide array of sophisticated weapons. In some cases, assailants have worn full or partial police or military uniforms and have used transportation that resembles police vehicles."

In response, the U.S. Army Northern Command has advised lower commands to restrict soldiers' travel to the border towns of Tijuana, Nogales, Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Acuna, Piedras Negras and Reynosa-Matamoros until safety and security conditions improve.

If travel to the areas is absolutely necessary, the Northern Command has recommended travelers receive appropriate anti-terrorist and force protection training on personal protection procedures, and attend appropriate security threat and area briefings prior to travel.

Military family members, Department of the Army civilians and civilian contractors are being urged to avoid travel to the areas.

The State Department version of the advisory urges U.S. citizens to be especially alert to safety and security concerns when visiting the border region.

While Mexican citizens overwhelmingly are the victims of crime, "this uncertain security situation poses risks for U.S. citizens as well," the advisory notes.

"Thousands of U.S. citizens cross the border safely each day, exercising common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas of border towns during daylight hours. It is strongly recommended that travelers avoid areas where prostitution and drug dealing occur.

"Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros and Tijuana. There is no evidence, however, that U.S. citizens are targeted because of their nationality."

The advisory notes that, effective Jan. 31, U.S. citizens need to present a passport or a government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license, and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, when entering the United States from Mexico or Canada by land or sea.

http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_9 ... ck_check=1

Why isn't Mexico off-limits to our military?

We don't need a member of our military kidnapped and turned over to Terrorist factions in the world.