Mexico's deadly drug violence claims hundreds of lives in past 5 days

[phr]

MEXICO CITY -- An explosion of drug violence in Mexico has killed hundreds of people in the past five days and prompted the country's president to issue a 5,000-word manifesto warning that the fight against organized crime must continue "or we will always live in fear."

As the latest spasm of killing has spread across the country, cartel assassins, local thugs and federal troops have died in running gun battles, highway ambushes and prison melees. On Tuesday, shooting broke out in the popular tourist town of Taxco, south of the Mexican capital. Mexican army troops, acting on a tip, raided a house and a firefight ensued, leaving 14 gunmen dead.

The string of grisly attacks since Thursday has included the execution-style killing of 19 drug addicts in a rehabilitation clinic and several assaults targeting police, including an ambush this week that killed 12 federal officers.

In an editorial printed in newspapers nationwide Monday, President Felipe Calderón defended his drug war as vital to the country's security. More than 23,000 people have died in drug-related violence since December 2006, when Calderón first sent the Mexican military into the streets, according to a government report.

The president directly blamed the United States.

"The origin of our violence problem begins with the fact that Mexico is located next to the country that has the highest levels of drug consumption in the world," Calderón wrote. "It is as if our neighbor were the biggest drug addict in the world."

The cartels, he said, have grown rich and bold -- fed with billions of dollars from the United States. Experts estimate that $10 billion to $25 billion in drug profits flow to Mexico each year from the north. About 90 percent of the cocaine consumed in the United States passes through Mexico, which also smuggles at least half of the marijuana and methamphetamine sold in U.S. cities. Meanwhile, many of the weapons the cartels use, including grenades and military-style assault rifles, are smuggled into Mexico from the United States.

Calderón told his country that Mexico would be in a much worse state if his administration had not taken on the criminal gangs. It is a battle that is supported by the Obama administration and Congress, which has dedicated $1.3 billion in aid to train police, reform the courts, and supply drug-sniffing dogs, armored cars, night-vision goggles and Black Hawk military helicopters.

Several hundred Mexicans have been killed in confrontations in the past week in some of the worst violence since the U.S.-backed drug war began.

The Mexican newspapers that keep running tallies of drug-related violence reported last week that a record was set when 85 people died in a 24-hour period, topping the previous record from November 2008, when 58 were killed over a similar period.

But the pace of killing quickened. On Monday, El Universal newspaper reported that 96 people in seven states died, and another record was set.

The attacks began Thursday when two dozen gunmen stormed into the Faith and Life drug rehabilitation center in the northern state of Chihuahua, forced the patients onto the floor or against the wall and killed 19 of them. The dead ranged in age from 16 to 63.

One of the teenagers managed to make a cellphone call to his home, shouting: -- "Mommy, they've come to kill us!"

Violence against addicts at rehab centers, where patients are often low-level workers in the drug trade, is increasingly common in Mexico.

Calderón later issued a statement from Johannesburg, where he was attending the opening of the World Cup, decrying "the barbaric acts."

On Monday, gunmen killed 15 federal police officers in separate attacks in two states known for heavy narcotics trafficking. In the mountainous state of Michoacan, west of Mexico City, mafia assassins used burning buses to block a major highway and ambush a convoy of police returning to the capital, killing 12 officers and wounding at least eight others.

Also Monday, 29 prisoners from rival gangs attacked one another with pistols, an assault rifle and knives in the Mazatlan jail in the western state of Sinaloa, home to Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. The billionaire cartel boss, whom Forbes magazine has named one of the richest men in Mexico, is among the most wanted fugitives there and in the United States.

Prison officials said that 18 inmates were killed in initial assaults and that 11 others died of stab wounds and beatings when fighting spread to other cell blocks.

In Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, seven or eight people are killed in drug-related violence every day, often garnering only a few paragraphs in the local newspapers. Almost 1,200 people have died in Juarez this year.

Link!

Mexico's deadly drug violence claims hundreds of lives in past 5 days
William Booth
Washington Post
6.16.10

 

[cilosyb]

I wonder how much this has to do with the recent bust of 2000+ Mexican drug-trade folk that went down about a week ago (read about it here). I suspected that such a move would create a massive power vacuum which would only be filled after a lot of violence ensued as different groups vied to take over the top spots of the business. I can't understand why they continue to justify the drug war down there. Nothing ever changes...and nothing ever will change. The opportunities for profit are simply irresistible in such a poor, corrupt country. As soon as you bust one kingpin, 10 more will be fighting to take his place. Like a hydra. Add into the fact that Mexico's government takes in a huge percentage of their revenue from oil reserves which will play out in the next 10 years, and I take a fairly pessimistic view of the place. The only solution is to legitimize the drug trade and take it away from criminals. But I'm willing to bet the cartels assassinate any politician who tries that, because of the threat to their livelihood would be so great. What a clusterfuck

 

[JayJohnson]

The president directly blamed the United States.

"The origin of our violence problem begins with the fact that Mexico is located next to the country that has the highest levels of drug consumption in the world," Calderón wrote. "It is as if our neighbor were the biggest drug addict in the world."

^^^ This is just retarded to hear. That's right, bitch and moan about your rich neighbors who pay you to mow their lawn, because `they have a drug problem.` THAT's the reason you abuse your wife and children - because your neighbor has a drug problem.

 

[atruestory]

sometimes truth hurts?... the last line of the article says that 1200 people have died (this year) in the name of feeding american drug users. I'm also glad to see the racism is as rampant as ever.

 

[severely etarded]

The president directly blamed the United States.

"The origin of our violence problem begins with the fact that Mexico is located next to the country that has the highest levels of drug consumption in the world," Calderón wrote. "It is as if our neighbor were the biggest drug addict in the world."

This is pure 100% unadulterated BS. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with drug use. Mexico would be consuming just as much drugs as we do if they had the economy we do that allows most of us to have jobs and disposable income. The bottom line here is that prohibition does NOT work, and Calderon is just using an old political trick--placing the blame elsewhere in an effort to distract people from the real issue at hand. Most likely because he too has a hand in profiteering from the cartels he is friendly with, just like every other crook politician in Mexico. The bottom line is that nobody would buy Mexico's cut to fuck cocaine from the black market, if it were legalized(and regulated of course), and the cartels would likely have to resort to human trafficking & other black markets to even try to stay alive. It wouldn't surprise me at all if some of the politicians pushing the anti-drug propaganda here also have a hand in the drug business also.

The cartels, he said, have grown rich and bold -- fed with billions of dollars from the United States. Experts estimate that $10 billion to $25 billion in drug profits flow to Mexico each year from the north. About 90 percent of the cocaine consumed in the United States passes through Mexico, which also smuggles at least half of the marijuana and methamphetamine sold in U.S. cities. Meanwhile, many of the weapons the cartels use, including grenades and military-style assault rifles, are smuggled into Mexico from the United States.

First of all, the drugs would no longer come from Mexico, and be of much better quality if they were produced legally. No more violence.

Second, I would like to know WHO from the US is supplying all these military assault rifles, grenades, RPG's, etc. I don't think just anyone can buy them. I would guess somebody with inside access to this heavy weaponry would be stealing it from their sources and selling them to the cartels...

Calderón told his country that Mexico would be in a much worse state if his administration had not taken on the criminal gangs. It is a battle that is supported by the Obama administration and Congress, which has dedicated $1.3 billion in aid to train police, reform the courts, and supply drug-sniffing dogs, armored cars, night-vision goggles and Black Hawk military helicopters.

More BS... What do you expect from a Mexican politician? The whole Mexican political system is one of the most corrupt around the world. Mexican officials rub out the cartels that don't bribe them, while they let the cartels that do bribe them get away with everything under the sun. Mexico has a notorious reputation for this.

Several hundred Mexicans have been killed in confrontations in the past week in some of the worst violence since the U.S.-backed drug war began.

The Mexican newspapers that keep running tallies of drug-related violence reported last week that a record was set when 85 people died in a 24-hour period, topping the previous record from November 2008, when 58 were killed over a similar period.

But the pace of killing quickened. On Monday, El Universal newspaper reported that 96 people in seven states died, and another record was set.

According to Calderon's logic, this is due to the sudden increase in drug consumption in the US. 8) *cough* BS *cough* The truth here is that the cartels that have single-handedly dominated the drug business in Mexico since the US backed "war" on drugs began, are starting to lose power, and other cartels are on the rise. It's just a giant power struggle, and the escalations in the fight against them in Mexico is nothing more than a political attempt to help the cartels that have been dominant, and giving money to Mexican politicians over the years. None of this stops the drug business, but instead CONTROLS/REGULATES it.

On Monday, gunmen killed 15 federal police officers in separate attacks in two states known for heavy narcotics trafficking. In the mountainous state of Michoacan, west of Mexico City, mafia assassins used burning buses to block a major highway and ambush a convoy of police returning to the capital, killing 12 officers and wounding at least eight others.

I guess you could call the gunmen "insurgents", but the bottom line is the reason they kill police is because the police help their rival cartels. The police in Mexico are also notorious for being corrupt...

Also Monday, 29 prisoners from rival gangs attacked one another with pistols, an assault rifle and knives in the Mazatlan jail in the western state of Sinaloa, home to Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. The billionaire cartel boss, whom Forbes magazine has named one of the richest men in Mexico, is among the most wanted fugitives there and in the United States.

You can bet all that money buys some badass political connections that ensures his freedom in Mexico.

 

[atruestory]

I think everyone here would agree that legalization and regulation is the best option (because it is) but what do you expect Mexican politicians to do? yes, many of them are corrupt but there isn't much that they are even capable of. It takes balls to take on the cartels as Calderon has done... and what other option does he have other than telling the US to fuck off which probably wont happen.

 

[severely etarded]

I think everyone here would agree that legalization and regulation is the best option (because it is) but what do you expect Mexican politicians to do? yes, many of them are corrupt but there isn't much that they are even capable of. It takes balls to take on the cartels as Calderon has done... and what other option does he have other than telling the US to fuck off which probably wont happen.

Calderon isn't taking on the cartels, he's another crook just like the rest of all the politicians. Especially the Mexican ones. He's just BSing. The truth is, most all the officials in Mexico are influenced and paid off by particular cartels. These cartels rub out smaller cartels with their government connections, and in the last few years more cartels are popping up, trying to take control over the industry. They are killing police officers that work for the cartels currently in charge in order to do so. By him taking on the cartels, he really means only the smaller cartels that are trying to take control, while the ones that grease officials get away with it. Mexico's political system is completely corrupt, from local police to the executive branch.

His lame comment about our country's drug use being the problem is nothing but a BS political distraction. If he REALLY had any fucking balls, he would say the problem is the US's prohibition, especially given the amount of consumers we have since we have an economy that is so much better than theirs. The truth is, just like every other politician in Mexico, Calderon is probably profiteering somehow from the whole war on drugs, fighting off the cartels that are trying to take over the game, while taking bribes from another. That's how it works in Mexico. You just have to realize, you can't trust ANYTHING politicians say, ESPECIALLY ones from a crooked as country like Mexico. It's all BS.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

For people who make billions annually, only putting up 1.3 billion dollars to "combat" them is HILARIOUS. That's like "we don't want to win nor lose, we just want to see people die."

This is proof that it took a truly twisted person to create the war on drugs.

I think everyone here would agree that legalization and regulation is the best option (because it is) but what do you expect Mexican politicians to do? yes, many of them are corrupt but there isn't much that they are even capable of. It takes balls to take on the cartels as Calderon has done... and what other option does he have other than telling the US to fuck off which probably wont happen.

If it were possible to "fight the cartels" the cartels wouldn't still be around, and making billions of dollars.

It doesn't take balls to fight cartels, it just takes a little ignorance and stupidity.

 

[nioreh0422]

Calderon isn't taking on the cartels, he's another crook just like the rest of all the politicians. Especially the Mexican ones. He's just BSing. The truth is, most all the officials in Mexico are influenced and paid off by particular cartels. These cartels rub out smaller cartels with their government connections, and in the last few years more cartels are popping up, trying to take control over the industry. They are killing police officers that work for the cartels currently in charge in order to do so. By him taking on the cartels, he really means only the smaller cartels that are trying to take control, while the ones that grease officials get away with it. Mexico's political system is completely corrupt, from local police to the executive branch.

His lame comment about our country's drug use being the problem is nothing but a BS political distraction. If he REALLY had any fucking balls, he would say the problem is the US's prohibition, especially given the amount of consumers we have since we have an economy that is so much better than theirs. The truth is, just like every other politician in Mexico, Calderon is probably profiteering somehow from the whole war on drugs, fighting off the cartels that are trying to take over the game, while taking bribes from another. That's how it works in Mexico. You just have to realize, you can't trust ANYTHING politicians say, ESPECIALLY ones from a crooked as country like Mexico. It's all BS.

I couldn't have put it any better!

 

[Wizzle]

Since the public health argument can't persuade the people to think about regulating the drug trade this is the story that needs to be told. Ignorance is the culprit in this disaster.

 

[blazelate]

Just playing the blame game, trying to make their problem, ours.

 

[severely etarded]

Just playing the blame game, trying to make their problem, ours.

It is our problem actually, just NOT the way it's put in the article. Our problem isn't drug use, it's our entire policy of prohibition itself. How can they expect a country with a thriving economy (at least in contrast to theirs) not use drugs? That's complete BS; the real problem is the whole fact that drugs are illegal and forcefully mandated by our government to be a black market item vs legal, regulated product like Alcohol.

 

[OpiateGuy]

GET IT mexicans.

 

[phr]

The president directly blamed the United States.

"The origin of our violence problem begins with the fact that Mexico is located next to the country that has the highest levels of drug consumption in the world," Calderón wrote. "It is as if our neighbor were the biggest drug addict in the world."

I don't see anything wrong with that quote. Other than him not taking it far enough and reaching the logical conclusion, legalization.

 

[Homegrownuk]

If they are not winning the war on drugs.
Means theres a war going on and the peeps on drugs r winning!

 

[severely etarded]

I don't see anything wrong with that quote. Other than him not taking it far enough and reaching the logical conclusion, legalization.

That was the point... He intentionally didn't take it far enough, because a large portion of Mexican politicians' money comes from cartels, why would they intend to stop the gravy train? The reason for the escalation in violence is because smaller cartels are coming up in the game, doing whatever they have to in order to take over the game, no matter how many people they need to kill. It's nothing but greed--By the cartels, and the crooked Mexican politicians that pretend to want to stop the cartels, but are actually just trying to get a control over. The ideal Mexican system (for their politicians) is one with US prohibition effort and having the cartels that grease Mexican politicians have complete control over all of the drugs moving through there. But that's never going to happen as long as there is more competition popping up down there. The simple, HONEST solution is for the US to legalize drugs. But there's NOTHING honest about Mexican politics. That's why Calderon didn't take the explanation far enough, deliberately.

It just really pisses me off that Mexico is trying to pretend it doesn't have a serious problem with corrupted government officials

 

[severely etarded]

If they are not winning the war on drugs.
Means theres a war going on and the peeps on drugs r winning!

No offense bro, this makes absolutely 0 sense whatsoever. There are no winners in the bullshit war on drugs, besides the cartels who are making several billion dollars in profits, and any officials that help them by sending crooked cops chasing their rivals. The whole reason behind the violence is simple, rivalries. Each cartel has their own set of officials working for them, because the way to be successful in Mexican drug dealing is to get the police and public officials working for you. That's how it works there. Thats why officials are being targeted, because they are working for the gunmens' rival cartels.

 

[jspun]

Calderon blames the US's demand for drugs for his countries' own problems (which politicians in Mexico and several other drug producing countries have been doing for years, to the extent that it has become an old tired cliche). One thing that Calderon seems to ignore is that his own country has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of people using and abusing drugs. Calderon doesn't seem to be linked with any particular cartel, but who knows the real story in that country (unlike the situation when the PRI was in power.) But the question is why doesn't Calderon advocate for the USA to take the very sensible step that his country took to end the problems associated with drug prohibition and advocate the legalization or decriminilazation of all drugs in the USA, which, as has been pointed out would effectively put a huge dent in the Mexican narco trade. Maybe in Mexico fighting the drug war rather than cooperating with cartels has become if not more lucrative safer in that Calderon earns money and political capital- both nationally and internationally. So it would seem that Mr. Calderon has found a way of making money by fighting the war on drugs for the United States. Coming up next: Plan Mexico.

Since the public health argument can't persuade the people to think about regulating the drug trade this is the story that needs to be told. Ignorance is the culprit in this disaster.

Thats a good point. What is frustrating is that Mexico is more progressive in embracing this concept than its supposedly better educated neighbor to the North. Ignorance goes hand in hand with years of brain washing, propaganda, which breeds intellectual inflexibility and deep seated emotions clouding peoples accepting the notion that there might be a better way to deal with this problem.

 

[severely etarded]

Calderon doesn't seem to be linked with any particular cartel, but who knows the real story in that country

Exactly, who knows the real story in that country? It's mexico, so if any reporter somehow got the scoop, they would likely be bribed or killed and any witnesses that saw would be bribed or killed, and so forth, since in Mexico, money seems to control EVERYTHING, much worse so than here.

Another thing you have to take into consideration is most presidents are not completely mentally incompetent, and likely wouldn't be elected leader of a large nation if they were. Measures would be taken to make sure no direct connections that were there between Calderon and cartels would be discovered. While there may be no direct links between Calderon and any cartels, I would be willing to bet based on his avoidance of the real issue at hand, that he is most likely in favor of whichever cartel is willing to bring him the most money(likely the cartel making the most money), since that's pretty much how Mexican politics works in general. There's no doubt, there is well-documented evidence that officials below Calderon have been doing this since the US-backed war on drugs started.

But the question is why doesn't Calderon advocate for the USA to take the very sensible step that his country took to end the problems associated with drug prohibition and advocate the legalization or decriminilazation of all drugs in the USA, which, as has been pointed out would effectively put a huge dent in the Mexican narco trade.

My point exactly I reside in Brownsville, TX, which is a city which has 3 international bridges going into Matamorros, TL, MX, and the downtown urban area actually starts on the border. University of TX Brownsville campus is <1/4 mile from the border, and the county and civic courthouses are <1 mile, all in the downtown area. Reason I mention is that I read a LOT of Mexican news in the local papers, see a lot of Mexican culture, with all the Mexican citizens in my city, I'd guesstimate at least 50-60+% of the people that reside here are from Mexico, whether they be illegal immigrants seeking jobs (or committing crime), or EXTREMELY wealthy Mexican aristocrats seeking refuge from the drug war related violence. The reason I mention, is because I feel that my situation gives me a pretty good grasp on Mexico's problems in contrast to somebody in somewhere like Kansas maybe?

Maybe in Mexico fighting the drug war rather than cooperating with cartels has become if not more lucrative safer in that Calderon earns money and political capital- both nationally and internationally. So it would seem that Mr. Calderon has found a way of making money by fighting the war on drugs for the United States. Coming up next: Plan Mexico.

I'm not so convinced the whole war on drugs is legitimate on EITHER side of the border. My gut tells me it's all political greedy BS. The push to criminalize drugs in the US was done by brainwashing and propaganda, which is a red flag the politicians involved may have been benefitting from it IMO.

I honestly think a few good speeches before congress, along with a well-written explanation speech in a public State of the Uninon address by Obama would be enough to keep the overwhelming majority of people happy with decriminalization. All he would have to do is emphasize how much better off we really are. I can imagine Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity would be calling Obama an idiot, but what else is new? Who actually listens to them anymore anyway? A few stubborn, old, white people? It's 2010, a lot of old white people that were around in 2000-2004 aren't around anymore due to old age, and that is obvious by the results of the '06 and '08 elections. The older white people still around are now from a generation 10 years younger, which is becoming exponentially more progressive. WE VOTED A BLACK MAN PRESIDENT!

The bottom line though, is that I don't see any real efforts being made to solve the problems, which are related to this futile war on drugs. I see a bunch of BS and blame game, typical politics. There has to be a reason for all of this IMO.

 

[OC4ME]

If they are not winning the war on drugs.
Means theres a war going on and the peeps on drugs r winning!

A better sum up would be that the drugs are winning, and by the transitive property of equality, people on drugs are winning. That is not the case at all, everyone is losing, drugs included. People die, prices spike and everyone is still left scratching their heads.