Thread: CA: Battle of the border

Battle of the border

By: PHIL STRICKLAND - For the The Californian

You're probably aware by now that heading to the Baja isn't a great idea these days.

For many folks in Southwest County and beyond, living so close to one of the neatest places on Earth is a diversion that has attained blessing status.

If, city life, "civilization," is more your thing, just stop at the western gateway to this place of primitive beauty, San Diego/Tijuana -- the 21st largest agglomeration in the Western Hemisphere with about 5 million residents -- where there is a little something for everyone.

But that's all changing.

It's not the State Department travel alerts or three-hour gun battles with gangs that are as upsetting as it is the reports from longtime and frequent Baja visitors of victimization at a level they have not seen over the decades they have been crossing the border for business and pleasure.

This is not about some cop putting the bite on you for $20 and this is not even about getting caught in the crossfire between the good guys -- those being the cops and the military -- and the bad guys -- the drug gangs, smugglers, and corrupt cops and military officials.

This is about the apparently increasing incidences of armed robbery and rape reported against tourists and violence directed at our border personnel.

With Mexican law enforcement in official denial about crimes against tourists, travelers might be well-advised to forgo trips south.

And, as troubling as that is for people who like to explore the hinterlands, just getting back across the border from a day trip may carry increased risks if violence such as that which erupted recently between lawless elements in Colonia Libertad, just east of the San Ysidro crossing, and the U.S. Border Patrol spreads elsewhere and becomes less discriminating as such things have a habit of doing.

If there weren't a crisis with illegal immigrants draining our public services and if there weren't a fear that the next terrorist strike will be imported from Mexico, the state of affairs along our border still should be desperate enough to make clear that it is imperative we secure our border as best we can against the violence that is spinning out of control and the demonstrated willingness to confront us.

International gangs already have a strong presence in our harder neighborhoods and prisons. A porous border coupled with a confused state of affairs enhances the prospect of "internationalizing" parts of our backyard in a wholly unacceptable manner.

Given Mexico's failure to act, violence against tourists and our border personnel likely will continue to grow, making border security a personal-safety issue for anyone visiting Mexico or living within an easy commute.

With growing border violence ignited by rabble or worse on the other side -- which the Mexican government is unable or unwilling to halt -- U.S. citizens of border communities must be ever watchful for signs the infection is spreading.

And, our Border Patrol agents, National Guard members and municipal law enforcement officials must have the authority to respond to any provocation in whatever manner they deem necessary.

You'd think it would not be necessary to say that.

www.nctimes.com

The U.S. State Department has NOT changed its TRAVEL ALERT to MEXICO since October 24, 2007 despite the recent problems in the Mexican border cities.

The US and Mexican governments must not want to upset the tourism business.

Travel Alert
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This information is current as of today, Mon Jan 21 23:49:56 2008.

Mexico

October 24, 2007


This Travel Alert updates information for U.S. citizens on security situations in Mexico that may affect their activities while in that country. This supersedes the previous Travel Alert for Mexico dated April 19, 2007. This Travel Alert expires on April 15, 2008.

Narcotics-Related Violence — U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Mexico should exercise caution when in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Violence by criminal elements affects many parts of the country, urban and rural, including border areas. In the last twelve months there have been execution-style murders of Mexican officials in Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Baja California, Guerrero (particularly Acapulco), Nuevo Leon (especially in and around Monterrey), and other states. Though there is no evidence that U.S. citizens are specifically targeted, Mexican and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in some violent attacks demonstrating the heightened risk in public places. In its effort to combat violence, the Government of Mexico has deployed military troops in various parts of the country. U.S. citizens are advised to cooperate with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways.

In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico and many cases remain unresolved. Moreover, new cases of disappearances and kidnap-for-ransom continue to be reported. No one can be considered immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. Criminals have been known to follow and harass U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Tijuana. U.S. citizens who believe they are being followed should notify Mexican officials as soon as possible. U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll (“cuotaâ€

When visiting Mexico the State Department reminds U.S. citizens to avoid participating in demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed political by Mexican authorities. The Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions may result in detention and/or deportation




Ironic isn't it? Our government will go out of it's way to advise our citizens to be respectful of Mexico's constitution and their government has not one shred of respect for ours and blatantly encourages it's citizens and agents to trample over it.

Amazing..........


Sounds like things are getting uglier by the day over there which is their problem but I'm just wondering how long it will be before the violent protests spill over into this country?

Things are tense as it is and adding to that there are those who are trying to stir the pot. Thinking about it, if there is violence which breaks out somewhere over there, there is really nothing preventing sympathizers from erupting over here at the same time and especially if they are blaming the US for their problems.

And I think we all need to be concerned about that call by the Mexican government for their citizens....both here and those there.....to begin preparing for that "mass march" against our government.

Hmmmm, has anyone heard anymore about that?