Video 4/7 Observations: Infiltration, Penetration and Subversion

Video 4/7 Observations: Infiltration, Penetration and Subversion
*Note- personal observations are included with the reported observations captured by BBC.

Video clip 4 focuses on some interesting facts that highlight the level of instability in Mexico.

The state cannot contain people like El Chapo, even when imprisoned. Cartel/Mexican government collusion is too pervasive. Chapo, and drug lords like him, maintain an image they are both the law and above the law.

While President Calderon and his key staff have increased the security force presence in cartel infested areas, and making “unprecedented numbers of arrests”, the cartels remain pervasive. Why is that?

Some very interesting facts are presented by recognized organized criminal expert Edgardo Buscaglia that counters the Mexican government’s claims of progress. Buscaglia states the thousands of captures result with only a 2% successful conviction rate. He also clearly states the criminal economic base remains undisrupted, and that is entwined within the legal economy. In other words, the criminals now make up society. He also claims on the BBC video clip that 78% of GDP sectors have been penetrated by organized crime.

Because cartel activities have been allowed to grow so pervasive, Mexico’s efforts to attack government corruption are extremely difficult. Government officials, and their families, find themselves in a dilemma. They are often forced to collude to either take money or die….”plata o plomo”,”silver or lead”.

This understood policy counters law enforcement claims the fight is only amongst cartel members and criminals. The policy states you, AND YOUR FAMILY, will be targeted if you do not support their activities.

This also implies illegal immigrants who have placement and access into the US will be targeted/leveraged by cartels who may extort support from them.

So What?

While academics and security experts debate whether the state of Mexico is facing a full blown insurgency, it cannot be argued that the governments of various cities in Mexico have been infiltrated, penetrated and subverted…a series of mini localized-insurgencies that may lead up to the subversion of the state.