tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post7145556073372784927..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Mexican Cartels openly recruiting military, courting public opinionGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-66575042270658070092008-05-15T13:01:00.000-05:002008-05-15T13:01:00.000-05:00Here's some really cheery reading on this subject:...Here's some really cheery reading on this subject:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://fabiusmaximus.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/mexico-3/" REL="nofollow">Mexcio: On the Road to a Failed State?</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-5330713023545837902008-05-08T17:09:00.000-05:002008-05-08T17:09:00.000-05:002:11, the reason you'd think such a ridiculous thi...2:11, the reason you'd think such a ridiculous thing is that you're projecting your own prejudice and ignorance into the debate instead of reacting to anything I've written. Also, fwiw, I haven't worked for the ACLU in nearly almost two years, and believe me when I tell you I'm now <I>persona non grata</I> in their shop, for a variety of reasons. Trying to link my positions to theirs is just silly. They're not doing a damn thing on these issues.<BR/><BR/>I never know whether it's the right thing to do to correct commenters, as in your case, who're just puking out ignorant statements based in malice rather than evidence, but regardless of the wisdom of responding, the bottom line is you just don't have a clue what you're talking about. I can't put it more directly than that.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-80495114534639629382008-05-08T14:11:00.000-05:002008-05-08T14:11:00.000-05:00I can't believe you think the cartel are a bunch o...I can't believe you think the cartel are a bunch of criminals. I thought everyone was innocent until proven guilty beyond the satisfaction of the ACLU. My gosh, are you turning republican, or do just a different set of rules apply for south of the border crooks?<BR/><BR/>I figured you'd want to hug them and put them in counseling, because like american criminals in your eyes, they are just misunderstood.<BR/><BR/>Jeez, pick a side.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-37134805968576766622008-05-08T10:06:00.000-05:002008-05-08T10:06:00.000-05:00I heard in Laredo that the banner was a joke and t...I heard in Laredo that the banner was a joke and that the phone number was fake, although I haven't called it myself.el_longhornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14726492234859814230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-39310435212724584452008-05-08T09:25:00.000-05:002008-05-08T09:25:00.000-05:00You know, Daniel, we've talked before about how th...You know, Daniel, we've talked before about how the Zetas originated from Mexican special forces troops trained at Fort Benning, GA by US Green Berets, but who then defected. This is just a more grandiose version of that recruiting tactic.<BR/><BR/>That's one of my beefs with the Bush Plan Mexico - training Mexican police and military who are defecting at high rates (or playing both sides against each other), just risks making their operations more sophisticated when those guys flip sides, and a big percentage inevitably will. It's easy for cartels to vet infiltrators - require them to commit a murder or other serious felony as the cost of admission, and thereafter they're pretty much on the hook.<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile, on the US side, police, border patrol, jailers and prison guards, basically everybody has had to lower recruiting standards to meet extra post-9/11 demand, letting in folks with minor criminal records or even family connections to organized crime figures. If anything, the risk of infiltration is greater on our side because there's no comparable way for authorities to make them prove their overall commitment.<BR/><BR/>I've repeatedly argued I'd rather see greater resources in Mexico AND on the US side go first to rooting out existing corruption before expanding corrupt systems.<BR/><BR/>My personal view is that Mexican drug gangs are a FAR greater security threat to America and its way of life than Al Qaeda, but our policies often seem <A HREF="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2008/03/immigration-enforcement-interfering.html" REL="nofollow">almost aimed to benefit them</A>.<BR/><BR/>And lawschoolinmate, nobody will need to sue the cartels, I'd imagine, because they're playing a PR game. They'll pay out the health benefits (self-insured, no doubt, given their cash flow), because to fail to fulfill the promise would run counter to the <A HREF="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2008/04/drug-cartel-charity-giving-secures.html" REL="nofollow">money they're spending to better their public image</A>. It's a relatively small price to pay in the context of black market drug revenue.<BR/><BR/>They're trying to demonstrate to the public that they're more stable and reliable than the Mexican government. The sad part is, it might be true! Even <A HREF="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2008/05/redefining-drug-war-success.html" REL="nofollow">The Economist considers</A> the cartels to "well-run international business[es]." Who can say the same, after all, for the Mexican government?<BR/><BR/>My personal view is that Mexican drug gangs are a FAR greater security threat to America and its way of life than Al Qaeda, but our policies frequently seem <A HREF="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2008/03/immigration-enforcement-interfering.html" REL="nofollow">almost aimed to benefit</A> instead of undercut them.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-54918227274329559772008-05-08T08:29:00.000-05:002008-05-08T08:29:00.000-05:00Return with me now to those thrilling days of yest...Return with me now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when Pancho Villa's army roamed unmolested and dominant across the Chihuahua Desert of Northern Mexico and Southwestern United States.<BR/><BR/>As Mexico moves closer to all-out armed conflict in Northern Mexico between the government and the cartels, the armies of the latter will undoubtedly use the vast openess of Far West Texas, southern New Mexico and Arizona for tactical maneuvering room. Mexican Army troops may pursue the Los Zetas into the US.<BR/><BR/>Of course, the US government should not and will not tolerate such incursions. No sir! The US government will----wait for it---BUILD A DAMN WALL.<BR/><BR/>No, that won't work. If the civil war-like fighting in Mexico starts to spill over into the US, we will need to have a huge troop presence along the border. Those troops will come from where? Our already stretched thin Army? The National Guard? Not unless the Democrats win in November, and not if they continue to crater before President Moron's demand to keep the Iraq occupation going on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-12804327075404316812008-05-08T06:22:00.000-05:002008-05-08T06:22:00.000-05:00I durn near choked on my morning Pepsi when I read...I durn near choked on my morning Pepsi when I read this. <BR/><BR/>If anything can illustrate just how much the cartels represent 'free market', 'laissez faire' capitalism, it's recruitment of personnel in the conventional fashion...via <I>advertisements</I>. <BR/><BR/>This is getting downright Pythonesque; what's next, TV commercials? It'd be funny if it weren't for the fact drug prohibition has left blood in the streets...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-81442218577532651162008-05-07T23:46:00.000-05:002008-05-07T23:46:00.000-05:00Howdy,Wouldn't mass recruitment just open them up ...Howdy,<BR/><BR/><I>Wouldn't mass recruitment just open them up even more to infiltration by government agents?</I><BR/><BR/>Yeah, because out of the trillions they spend on their organizations; with all the former military/government folks they employ/bribe... I'm sure they forgot about operational security. :)Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17847770777949916479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-47338702152085042032008-05-07T21:27:00.000-05:002008-05-07T21:27:00.000-05:00I love it that the cartel is offering health benef...I love it that the cartel is offering health benefits. In this day and age where companies are dropping benefits like a hot potato, it really amuses me that a profit-driven entity like a cartel would find it worthwhile to offer benefits. Even assuming there's some sort of oral contract, if the cartel doesn't come through with its medical care for your family, could you sue the cartel?<BR/><BR/>More seriously, it does say a lot when there's open recruitment. Wouldn't mass recruitment just open them up even more to infiltration by government agents?ms_saulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18217740368113221289noreply@blogger.com