Shanty Towns, Slums and Drug Gangs – Mexico’s Reality, The US Future – A Brazilian Example

Shanty Towns, Slum and Drug Gangs – Mexico’s Reality, The US Future – A Brazilian Example

Comment: Below are excerpts worth noting before reading the actual source article linked below. The article shows how the unpopular ‘counterinsurgency’ (COIN) remains a valid concept in areas plagued by violence, criminal activity, poverty as well as corrupt local officials. COIN is unpopular because it means slogging to peace; COIN means house cleaning; it means hard work and a dedicated focus; COIN is about constantly remaining in touch with the people, society and their needs or risk widespread social unrest.
Add the bad world economy, growing unemployment rate and you have desperate people trying to find ways to survive at the expense of law, order, self-respect and faith- moral relativism replaces ideals as survival for the fittest steps in. People, with a social Darwinistic ideal, become a majority and chaos ensues. Add the growing world population and we, human beings, find our own selves being the great plague against mankind.

Mexico already has a number of these areas existing already. There are no clear indications the drug problem in Mexico is improving…there are no indications the situation is stabilizing…instead, it appears the drug war is simply a part of the culture and way of life in Mexico. If America is not careful, she will have the same problems too.

There are a couple of things readers may want to take away:

-Not addressing local drug problems contribute to chronic ungovernable regions where other crimes can fester.

-Brazil’s gangs are often made up of “rogue off-duty police and firefighters”. In other words, when law and governance fail, so does social stability.

-Slums and shanty towns contain a silent population who hope for law and instability and are will to go public if they have a sense of security. However, when legal authorities are as brutal as the local thugs, people remain fearful.

-The authorities in Brazil are using counterinsurgency tactics to address the local problem…yes, counterinsurgency insights are applicable to counter-gang and counter-organized criminal activities. The Brazilian authorities are running “pacification” activities in slums in the form of “community relations”. Security forces are temporarily filling in the governance void until effective civilian authorities can take over. They will hopefully ensure the people have electricity, health and other basic necessities addressed to they can be brought into “the formal economy”.

-Last, this effort is part of a campaign plan for change that’s intended to reach “all of the remaining major gang strongholds by 2014”

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read Article: Brazilian commandos occupy Rio's biggest slum

Bill Summary & Status - 112th Congress (2011 - 2012) - H.R.3401 - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

Comment:  This bill is worth monitoring.  What you are seeing are nascent efforts by the US political leadership to actively engage the “terrorist insurgency” in Mexico.  A fight appears to be brewing. 

Bill Summary & Status
112th Congress (2011 - 2012)
H.R.3401

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H.R.3401
Latest Title: To apply counterinsurgency tactics under a coordinated and targeted strategy to combat the terrorist insurgency in Mexico waged by transnational criminal organizations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Mack, Connie [FL-14] (introduced 11/10/2011)       Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 11/10/2011 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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Bill Summary & Status - 112th Congress (2011 - 2012) - H.R.3401 - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

Expert Sylvia Longmire: Mexican Drug Cartels Infesting US, Even Our National Parks

"Roberta Jacobson, deputy secretary of state for Mexico and Canada, said on April 12 that Mexican drug cartels are now operating in 230 American cities. Drug trafficking 'is not a crisis that affects only the border,' Jacobson said. ''It's a crisis in our cities across the country.'"

Why don't most Americans know the extent of the Mexican drug cartels' influence in the U.S.?

"Americans have confused the issue of immigration with what is a serious national security issue at the border -- and drug traffickers have capitalized on the confusion. Illegal immigration is controversial, but worrying about Juan and Maria is totally separate from the issue of criminal drug trafficking. The cartels have been able to hide behind the immigration issue. It's perfect for them that the attention is on illegal aliens, not them."

What does the immediate future hold?

"The cartels are testing us. If they find out they can overwhelm us and continue to get away with murders and kidnappings, they'll spread even deeper in the U.S. Drug interdiction is not working. There is no strategy in place to separate the issue of illegals from criminal traffickers. Both the U.S. and Mexican government need to do some rethinking, because the situation is only getting worse."

source: Expert Sylvia Longmire: Mexican Drug Cartels Infesting US, Even Our National Parks

Cartels Kills American from Colorado

This is a controversial article as it ties illegal immigration to this tragic incident.

source article: Juarez violence claims life of 21 year old Colorado man

State Web Site Tracks Mexican Cartel Violence Along Border - The Moral Liberal

State Web Site Tracks Mexican Cartel Violence Along Border
The Moral Liberal
Officials in Texas are under attack from a mainstream newspaper critical of a state web site created to track Mexican drug-cartel violence that's transformed the southern border into a war zone. The Texas Department of Agriculture started the web site ...
and more »

State Web Site Tracks Mexican Cartel Violence Along Border - The Moral Liberal
Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:20:49 GMT

2012 and the Mexican Drug War - 38,000 Killed and Counting

2012 and the Mexican Drug War - 38,000 Killed and Counting

3Jan12, freelance reporter Larry Kaplow noted the following points in his piece for The Daily Beast, "2012 Will Be a Decisive Year in Mexico's Deadly Drug War".

* Mexican newspaper "Reforma <http://www.reforma.com/> " has a graphic on their site that records the casualty numbers for the Drug War. The graphic is called the "Executionmeter" or "Ejecutometro". The year 2011 ended with 12,359 killings; an increase of almost 7% from the previous year. Beheadings rose from just under 400 to just fewer than 600. Unspecified sources also purport drug related organizations influence governance is over "71% of the country's municipalities." Reforma claimed the total death toll as a result of the drug war to be about 38,000, while other unnamed sources claim the death toll is higher.

* The article did note some parts of Mexico did clean up, but also noted cartel activity did spread to other areas...so no real change.

* Many Mexicans still support the use of military force and other security related activities to disrupt narco-cartel influence, but about "a third" want to "negotiate with the cartels or legalize drugs". Only 18% of Mexicans reportedly believe the government is winning the war against the cartels.

* Cartels retain the ability to leverage corrupt political and police officials.

* The government is taking several approaches to mitigate the cartel's grip on the population on multiple levels from addressing social conditions that may contribute to cartel growth and development such as poverty, education, disrupting police and political corruption at the local community levels.

Full Article: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/01/03/2012-will-be-a-decisive-year-in-mexico-s-deadly-drug-war.html

2012 Mexican Drug War- Where are We? What We Can Do? A Second Source Says 50,000 Dead from Dec 2006 to Dec 2011

 
2012 Mexican Drug War- Where are We? What We Can Do?  A Second Source Says 50,000 Dead from Dec 2006 to Dec 2011

Below is a video from al Jazeera which wraps up what was summarized in a few recent posts regarding the death tolls in Mexico. The key points of the video are this:

-Mexican media, and at least one political scientist, see the death toll somewhere in the neighborhood of 50,000. The reason for this confusion in death toll numbers is because many incidences go unreported and/or missing people are not considered casualties. It’s also because members of the media face limitation due to cartel violence, torture and coercion.  Of note, the al Jazeera video stated the Mexican government will come out with their numbers later in January 2012. We will get a chance to see what the public perception says, versus the government perception.  Perception rules in low intensity conflict environments.

-Right now, the two dominant cartels are the Sinaloa (aka Pacific) and Los Zetas Cartels. Note in the prior posts listed under ‘other references’ the Mexican Drug War Death Toll from December 2006 to December 2012 is 50,000 NOT 38,000 - See 2012 Trends notes the Sinaloa is more strategic thinking, while Los Zetas tend to be more like local thugs.

-One of the cartels major targets are reporters/media folks. Why? The media brings worldwide attention to the problem; they attempt to expose entities contributing to the problem; and, their reports shape the public’s view of the problem. No press, no problem…no problem…governments, to include the US, ignore the issue. Have press, one cannot ignore the problem…including the US. ***NOTE*** REMEMBER, WHOEVER DOMINATES THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BATTLEFIELD, DOMINATES THE FIGHT. MEXICO NEEDS MORE MEDIA COVERAGE TO EXPOSE THE ACTIONS/ACTIVITIES OF CORRUPT POLICE, CITY OFFICIALS, LOCALS COLLUDING WITH THE CARTELS. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS DYNAMIC BELOW BY READING Bottom Line Up Front: Dominate Psychological Environment – Notes of a Counterinsurgent


-Last, Calderon’s time is up. Mexican Presidents can only serve one six-year term. To Calderon’s credit he’s increased emphasis on cleaning up the police forces throughout Mexico…a very hard task. Calderon is also credited for helping to lessen violence in major drug corridors, such a Ciudad Juarez.

See Video Now

Other references:

-Mexican Drug War Death Toll from December 2006 to December 2012 is 50,000 NOT 38,000 - See 2012 Trends

-2012 and the Mexican Drug War - 38,000 Killed and Counting

-Bottom Line Up Front: Dominate Psychological Environment – Notes of a Counterinsurgent

US State Department Warning to Americans: 45 Percent of Mexico under Cartel Influence/Control

 
8 and 10 Feb 12

Key Point:
-The U.S. State Department warned Americans to avoid travel to all or parts of 14 of 31 (comes out to 45%), Mexican states in the widest travel advisory issued since Mexico stepped up its drug war in 2006.
Here is the actual report:

Travel Warning: Mexico
Crime
Western Hemisphere > Mexico
2/8/2012
The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens about the security situation in Mexico. General information on the overall security situation is provided immediately below. For information on security conditions in specific regions of Mexico, which can vary, travelers should reference the state-by-state assessments further below.

This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Mexico dated April 22, 2011 to consolidate and update information about the security situation and to advise the public of additional restrictions on the travel of U.S. government (USG) personnel.



General Conditions:



Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day. The Mexican government makes a considerable effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) have targeted U.S. visitors and residents based on their nationality. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major trafficking routes.



Nevertheless, U.S. travelers should be aware that the Mexican government has been engaged in an extensive effort to counter TCOs which engage in narcotics trafficking and other unlawful activities throughout Mexico. The TCOs themselves are engaged in a violent struggle to control drug trafficking routes and other criminal activity. As a result, crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country and can occur anywhere. U.S. citizens have fallen victim to TCO activity, including homicide, gun battles, kidnapping, carjacking and highway robbery.

According to the most recent homicide figures published by the Mexican government, 47,515 people were killed in narcotics-related violence in Mexico between December 1, 2006 and September 30, 2011, with 12,903 narcotics-related homicides in the first nine months of 2011 alone. While most of those killed in narcotics-related violence have been members of TCOs, innocent persons have also been killed. The number of U.S. citizens reported to the Department of State as murdered in Mexico increased from 35 in 2007 to 120 in 2011.



Gun battles between rival TCOs or with Mexican authorities have taken place in towns and cities in many parts of Mexico, especially in the border region. Gun battles have occurred in broad daylight on streets and in other public venues, such as restaurants and clubs. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area. TCOs use stolen cars and trucks to create roadblocks on major thoroughfares, preventing the military and police from responding to criminal activity. The location and timing of future armed engagements is unpredictable. We recommend that you defer travel to the areas indicated in this Travel Warning and to exercise extreme caution when traveling throughout the northern border region.



The rising number of kidnappings and disappearances throughout Mexico is of particular concern. Both local and expatriate communities have been victimized. In addition, local police have been implicated in some of these incidents. We strongly advise you to lower your profile and avoid displaying any evidence of wealth that might draw attention.



Carjacking and highway robbery are serious problems in many parts of the border region and U.S. citizens have been murdered in such incidents. Most victims who complied with carjackers at these checkpoints have reported that they were not physically harmed. Incidents have occurred during the day and at night, and carjackers have used a variety of techniques, including bumping/moving vehicles to force them to stop and running vehicles off the road at high speeds. There are some indications that criminals have particularly targeted newer and larger vehicles, especially dark-colored SUVs. However, victims driving a variety of vehicles, from late model SUVs to old sedans have also been targeted. While violent incidents have occurred at all hours of the day and night on both modern toll ("cuotas") highways and on secondary roads, they have occurred most frequently at night and on isolated roads. To reduce risk, we strongly urge you to travel between cities throughout Mexico only during daylight hours, to avoid isolated roads, and to use toll roads whenever possible. The Mexican government has deployed federal police and military personnel throughout the country as part of its efforts to combat the TCOs. U.S. citizens traveling on Mexican roads and highways may encounter government checkpoints, which are often staffed by military personnel or law enforcement personnel. TCOs have erected their own unauthorized checkpoints, and killed or abducted motorists who have failed to stop at them. You should cooperate at all checkpoints.

Effective July 15, 2010, the U.S. Mission in Mexico imposed restrictions on U.S. government employees' travel. U.S. government employees and their families are not permitted to drive for personal reasons from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior of Mexico or Central America. Personal travel by vehicle is permitted between Hermosillo and Nogales but is restricted to daylight hours and the Highway 15 toll road (cuota).



U.S. government personnel and their families are prohibited from personal travel to all areas described as “defer non-essential travel” and when travel for official purposes is essential it is conducted with extensive security precautions. USG personnel and their families are allowed to travel for personal reasons to the areas where no advisory is in effect or where the advisory is to exercise caution.



For more information on road safety and crime along Mexico's roadways, see the Department of State's Country Specific Information.



State-by-State Assessment:



Below is a state-by-state assessment of security conditions throughout Mexico divided into northern and southern regions. The accompanying map will help in identifying individual locations. Travelers should be mindful that even if no advisories are in effect for a given state, crime and violence can occur anywhere. For general information about travel conditions in Mexico, see our Country Specific Information.



Northern Mexico



Baja California (north): Tijuana is a major city/travel destination in the Northern portion of Baja California -see attached map to identify its exact location: You should exercise caution in the northern state of Baja California, particularly at night. Targeted TCO assassinations continue to take place in Baja California. Turf battles between criminal groups proliferated and resulted in numerous assassinations in areas of Tijuana frequented by U.S. citizens. Shooting incidents, in which innocent bystanders have been injured, have occurred during daylight hours throughout the city. In one such incident, an U.S. citizen was shot and seriously wounded. According to the Government of Mexico, as of August 2011, the city’s murder rate was approximately 20 per 100,000. During 2011, 34 U.S. citizens were the victims of homicide in the state. In the majority of these cases, the killings appeared to be related to narcotics trafficking.



Baja California (South): Cabo San Lucas is a major city/travel destination in the Southern portion of Baja California -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: No advisory is in effect.



Chihuahua: Juarez and Chihuahua are the major cities/travel destinations in Chihuahua -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Chihuahua. The situation in the state of Chihuahua, specifically Ciudad Juarez, is of special concern. Ciudad Juarez has one of the highest murder rates in Mexico. The Mexican government reports that more than 3,100 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez in 2010 and 1,933 were killed in 2011. Three persons associated with the Consulate General were murdered in March 2010. The state of Chihuahua is normally entered through Columbus, NM, and the El Paso, Fabens and Fort Hancock, TX, ports-of-entry. There have been incidents of narcotics-related violence in the vicinity of the Copper Canyon in Chihuahua.



Coahuila: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Coahuila. The State of Coahuila continues to experience high rates of violent crimes and narcotics-related murders. TCOs continue to compete for territory and coveted border crossings to the United States. In August 2011, suspected members of TCOs and police exchange fire near a crowded soccer stadium in Torreón causing panic. The city of Torreón had a murder rate of more than 40 per 100,000 population between January and August of 2011. USG personnel may not frequent casinos, sport books, or other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments.

Durango: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Durango. Between 2006 and 2010, the number of narcotics-related murders in the State of Durango increased dramatically. In 2011 several areas in the state continue to experience high rates of violence and remained volatile and unpredictable. USG personnel may not frequent casinos, sport books, or other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments.



Nuevo Leon: Monterrey is a major city/travel destination in Nuevo Leon -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Nuevo Leon, except the metropolitan area of Monterrey where you should exercise caution. The level of violence and insecurity in Monterrey has increased, illustrated by an attack on a popular local casino in August that resulted in 52 deaths. One U.S. citizen was injured in that incident. Local police and private patrols do not have the capacity to deter criminal elements or respond effectively to security incidents. As a result of a Department of State assessment of the overall security situation, on September 10, 2010, the Consulate General in Monterrey became a partially unaccompanied post with no minor dependents of USG personnel permitted. USG personnel serving at the U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey may not frequent casinos, sport books, or other gambling establishments and may not travel outside the San Pedro municipal boundaries between midnight and 6 a.m. Although there have been no such incidents in 2011, in 2010 TCOs kidnapped guests out of reputable hotels in the downtown Monterrey area, blocking off adjoining streets to prevent law enforcement response. TCOs have also regularly attacked local government facilities, prisons and police stations, and engaged in public shootouts with the military and between themselves. TCOs have used vehicle born improvised explosive devices against military and law enforcement units. Pedestrians and innocent bystanders have been killed in these incidents.



San Luis Potosi: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of San Luis Potosi, except the city of San Luis Potosi where you should exercise caution. The entire stretch of highway 57D in San Luis Potosi and portions of the state east of highway 57D towards Tamaulipas are particularly dangerous. In February 2011, one U.S. government employee was killed and another wounded when they were attacked in their U.S. government vehicle on Highway 57 near Santa Maria del Rio. Cartel violence and highway lawlessness are a continuing security concern. USG personnel may not frequent casinos, sport books, or other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments.



Sinaloa: Mazatlan is a major city/travel destination in Sinaloa -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan where you should exercise caution particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico's most powerful TCOs is based in the state of Sinaloa. With the exception of Ciudad Juarez, since 2006 more homicides have occurred in the state's capital city of Culiacan than in any other city in Mexico. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. In the last year, the city of Mazatlan has experienced a level of violence (primarily confrontations between TCOs) not seen before and incidents of violence are occurring more frequently in tourist areas. USG personnel are permitted to travel between the Mazatlan airport and the tourist areas only during daylight hours. We recommend that any other travel in Mazatlan be limited to the tourist areas (Zona Dorada and the historic town center). In 2010 there were over 300 narcotics-related murders within the city, compared to fewer than 100 in 2009. In the first seven months of 2011, there were 300 narcotics-related murders.



Sonora: Nogales and Puerto Peñasco are the major cities/travel destinations in Sonora -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: You should defer non-essential travel between the city of Nogales and the cities of Sonoyta and Caborca (which area also includes the smaller cities of Saric, Tubutama, and Altar), defer non-essential travel to the eastern edge of the State of Sonora which borders the State of Chihuahua (all points along that border east of the northern city of Agua Prieta and the southern town of Alamos), defer non-essential travel within the state south of the city of Ciudad Obregon with the exception of travel to Alamos (traveling only during daylight hours and using only the Highway 15 toll road, aka cuota, and Sonora State Road 162), and exercise caution when visiting the coastal town of Puerto Peñasco. Sonora is a key region in the international drug and human trafficking trades, and can be extremely dangerous for travelers. The region west of Nogales, east of Sonoyta, and from Caborca north, including the towns of Saric, Tubutama and Altar, and the eastern edge of Sonora bordering Chihuahua, are known centers of illegal activity. U.S. citizens visiting Puerto Peñasco are urged to use the Lukeville, Arizona/Sonoyta, Sonora border crossing, in order to limit driving through Mexico, and to limit travel to main roads during daylight hours.



Tamaulipas: Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, and Tampico are the major cities/travel destinations in Tamaulipas -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Tamaulipas. All USG employees are: prohibited from personal travel on Tamaulipas highways outside of Matamoros, Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo due to the risks posed by armed robbery and carjacking; may not frequent casinos and adult entertainment establishments within these cities; and in Matamoros are subject to a midnight to 6 a.m. curfew. Be aware of the risks posed by armed robbery and carjacking on state highways throughout Tamaulipas. In January 2011, a U.S. citizen was murdered in what appears to have been a failed carjacking attempt. While no highway routes through Tamaulipas are considered safe, many of the crimes reported to the U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros have taken place along the Matamoros-Tampico highway, particularly around San Fernando and the area north of Tampico.



Zacatecas: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Zacatecas except the city of Zacatecas where you should exercise caution. The regions of the state bordering Durango and Coahuila as well as the cities of Fresnillo and Fresnillo-Sombrete and surrounding area are particularly dangerous. The northwestern portion of the state of Zacatecas has become notably dangerous and insecure. Robberies and carjackings are occurring with increased frequency and both local authorities and residents have reported a surge in observed TCO activity. This area is remote, and local authorities are unable to regularly patrol it or quickly respond to incidents that occur there. Gun battles between criminal groups and authorities occur in the area of the state bordering the state of Jalisco. There have also been reports of roadblocks and false checkpoints on highways between the states of Zacatecas and Jalisco. The city of Fresnillo, the area extending northwest from Fresnillo along Highway 45 (Fresnillo-Sombrete) between Highways 44 and 49, and highway 49 northwards from Fresnillo through Durango and in to Chihuahua are considered dangerous. Extreme caution should be taken when traveling in the remainder of the state. USG personnel may not frequent casinos, sport books, or other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments. USG personnel may not travel outside the City of Zacatecas after dark and must abide by a curfew of midnight to 6 a.m. within a secured venue.



Southern Mexico



Aguascalientes: You should defer non-essential travel to the areas of the state that border the state of Zacatecas. The security situation along the Zacatecas border continues to be unstable and gun battles between criminal groups and authorities occur. Concerns include roadblocks placed by individuals posing as police or military personnel and recent gun battles between rival TCOs involving automatic weapons.



Campeche: No advisory is in effect.



Chiapas: San Cristobal de las Casas is a major city/travel destination in Chiapas -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: No advisory is in effect.



Colima: Manzanillo is a major city/travel destination in Colima -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: You should exercise extreme caution when traveling through the areas of the state of Colima that border the state of Michoacán. You should also exercise caution when traveling at night outside of cities in the remaining portions of the state. The security situation along the Michoacán border continues to be unstable and gun battles between criminal groups and authorities occur. Concerns include roadblocks placed by individuals posing as police or military personnel and recent gun battles between rival TCOs involving automatic weapons.



Estado de Mexico: Toluca is a major city/travel destination in Estado de Mexico -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: No advisory is in effect.



Guanajuato: San Miguel de Allende and Leon are the major cities/travel destinations in Guanajuato -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: No advisory is in effect.



Guerrero: Acapulco, Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo and Taxco are the major cities/travel destinations in Guerrero -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: You should defer non-essential travel to the northwestern and southern portions of the state (the area west and south of the town of Arcelia on the border with Estado de Mexico in the north and the town of Tlapa near the border with Oaxaca), except for the cities of Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and Ixtapa. In those cities, you should exercise caution and stay within tourist areas. You should also exercise caution and travel only during daylight hours on highway 95D (cuota/toll road) between Mexico City and Acapulco and highway 200 between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa. In Acapulco, defer non-essential travel to areas further than 2 blocks inland of the Costera Miguel Aleman Boulevard, which parallels the popular beach areas. In general, the popular tourist area of Diamante, just south of the city, has been less affected by violence. Flying into the coastal cities in southern Guerrero remains the preferred method of travel. You should also exercise caution in the northern region of Guerrero (the area north of the town of Arcelia on the border with Estado de Mexico in the north and the town of Tlapa near the border with Oaxaca). The state of Guerrero has seen an increase in violence among rival criminal organizations. Acapulco's murder rates increased dramatically since 2009; in response, the Government of Mexico has sent additional military and federal police to the state to assist State security forces in implementing operation “Guerrero Seguro” (Secure Guerrero) that focuses on combating organized crime and returning security to the environs of popular tourist areas.



Hidalgo: No advisory is in effect.



Jalisco Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta are the major cities/travel destinations in Jalisco -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: You should defer non-essential travel to areas of the state that border the states of Michoacán and Zacatecas. You should also exercise caution when traveling at night outside of cities in the remaining portions of this state. The security situation along the Michoacán and Zacatecas borders continues to be unstable and gun battles between criminal groups and authorities occur. Concerns include roadblocks placed by individuals posing as police or military personnel and recent gun battles between rival TCOs involving automatic weapons.



Mexico City (also known as the Federal District): No advisory is in effect.



Michoacán: Morelia is a major city/travel destination in Michoacán -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: You should defer non-essential travel to the state of Michoacán except the cities of Morelia and Lázaro Cardenas where you should exercise caution. Flying into Morelia and Lázaro Cardenas, or driving to Lázaro Cardenas via highway 200 from Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, are the recommended methods of travel. Attacks on Mexican government officials, law enforcement and military personnel, and other incidents of TCO-related violence, have occurred throughout Michoacán.



Morelos: Cuernavaca is a major city/travel destination in Morelos -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: You should exercise caution in the state of Morelos due to the unpredictable nature of TCO violence. Numerous incidents of narcotics-related violence have occurred in the city of Cuernavaca, a popular destination for U.S. students.



Nayarit: You should defer non-essential travel to all areas of the state of Nayarit north of the city of Tepic as well as to the cities of Tepic and Xalisco. The security situation north of Tepic and in these cities is unstable and travelers could encounter roadblocks or shootouts between rival criminals. There is no recommendation against travel either to Riviera Nayarit in the southern portion of the state or to principal highways in the southern portion of the state used to travel from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta.



Oaxaca: Oaxaca, Huatulco and Puerto Escondido are the major cities/travel destinations in Oaxaca -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: No warning is in effect.

Puebla: No advisory is in effect.



Queretaro: No advisory is in effect.



Quintana Roo: Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum are the major cities/travel destinations in Quintana Roo -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify their exact locations: No advisory is in effect.



Tabasco: Villahermosa is a major city/travel destination in Tabasco -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: No advisory is in effect.

Tlaxcala: No advisory is in effect.



Veracruz: You should exercise caution when traveling in the state of Veracruz. In recent months, the state of Veracruz has seen an increase in violence among rival criminal organizations. In response, the Government of Mexico has sent additional military and federal police to the state to assist State security forces in implementing operation “Veracruz Seguro” (Secure Veracruz) that focuses on combating organized crime.



Yucatan: Merida and Chichen Itza are the major cities/travel destinations in Yucatan -see map (PDF, 286 kb) to identify its exact location: No advisory is in effect.



Further Information



We encourage you to review the U.S. Embassy's Mexico Security Update. The update contains information about recent security incidents in Mexico that could affect the safety of the traveling public. For more detailed information on staying safe in Mexico, please see the State Department's Country Specific Information for Mexico.



For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department's internet web site, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). U.S. citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to enroll with the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please contact the U.S. Embassy or the closest U.S. Consulate (see list below). The numbers provided below for the Embassy and Consulates are available around the clock. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. U.S. citizens may also contact the Embassy by e-mail.



Consulates (with consular districts)



Ciudad Juarez (Chihuahua): Paseo de la Victoria 3650, telephone (011) (52) (656) 227-3000. Facebook& Twitter



Guadalajara (Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguas Calientes, and Colima): Progreso 175, Col. Americana; telephone (011) (52) (333) 268-2100. Facebook& Twitter



Hermosillo (Sinaloa and the southern part of Sonora): Calle Monterrey 141 Poniente, Col. Esqueda; telephone (011) (52) (662) 289-3500. Facebook



Matamoros (the southern part of Tamaulipas with the exception of the city of Tampico): Avenida Primera 2002 y Azaleas; telephone (011) (52) (868) 812-4402. Facebook& Twitter



Merida (Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo): Calle 60 No. 338 K x 29 y 31, Col. Alcala Martin; telephone (011) (52) (999) 942-5700.



Monterrey (Nuevo Leon, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, and the southern part of Coahuila): Avenida Constitucion 411 Poniente; telephone (011) (52) (818) 047-3100. Facebook & Twitter



Nogales (the northern part of Sonora): Calle San Jose, Fraccionamiento “Los Alamos”; telephone (011) (52) (631) 311-8150. Facebook



Nuevo Laredo (the northern part of Coahuila and the northwestern part of Tamaulipas): Calle Allende 3330, Col. Jardin; telephone (011) (52) (867) 714-0512.



Tijuana (Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur): Paseo de Las Culturas s/n Mesa de Otay; telephone (011) (52) (664) 977-2000. Facebook



All other Mexican states, the Federal District of Mexico City, and the city of Tampico, Tamaulipas, are part of the Embassy's consular district.



Consular Agencies (mainly serving the location city only)



Acapulco: Hotel Emporio, Costera Miguel Aleman 121 – Suite 14; telephone (011)(52)(744) 481-0100 or (011)(52)(744) 484-0300.



Los Cabos: Las Tiendas de Palmilla Local B221, Carretera Transpeninsular Km. 27.5, San José del Cabo, BCS, Mexico 23406 Telephone: (624) 143-3566 Fax: (624) 143-6750.



Cancun: Blvd. Kukulcan Km 13 ZH Torre La Europea, Despacho 301 Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico C.P. 77500; telephone (011)(52)(998) 883-0272.



Cozumel: Plaza Villa Mar en El Centro, Plaza Principal, (Parque Juárez between Melgar and 5th Ave.) 2nd floor, Locales #8 and 9; telephone (011)(52)(987) 872-4574.



Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo: Hotel Fontan, Blvd. Ixtapa; telephone (011)(52)(755) 553-2100.

Mazatlan: Hotel Playa Mazatlán, Playa Gaviotas 202, Zona Dorada; telephone (011)(52)(669) 916-5889.



Oaxaca: Macedonio Alcala No. 407, Interior 20; telephone (011)(52)(951)514-3054 or (011)(52)(951) 516-2853.



Piedras Negras: Abasolo 211, Local 3, Col. Centro; telephone (011)(52)(878) 782-5586 or (011)(52)(878) 782-8664.



Playa del Carmen: The Palapa, Calle 1 Sur, between Avenida 15 and Avenida 20; telephone (011)(52)(984) 873-0303.



Puerto Vallarta: Paseo de Los Cocoteros 85 Sur, Paradise Plaza – Local L-7, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit C.P.; telephone (011)(52)(322) 222-0069.



Reynosa: Calle Emilio Portes Gil #703, Col. Prado Sur; telephone: (011)(52) (899)-921-6530



San Luis Potosi: Edificio "Las Terrazas", Avenida Venustiano Carranza 2076-41, Col. Polanco; telephone (011)(52)(444) 811-7802 or (011)(52)(444) 811-7803.



San Miguel de Allende: Centro Comercial La Luciernaga, Libramiento Manuel Zavala (Pepe KBZON), telephone (011)(52)(415) 152-2357.

Sources:
http://articles.boston.com/2012-02-10/news/31047146_1_nonessential-travel-mexican-states-state-warning; accessed 11Feb12
https://www.osac.gov/Pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=11961; accessed 11Feb12

Site Cleanup

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Zetas kill rivals, escape Mexico prison - WWLP 22News

 

WWLP 22News

Zetas kill rivals, escape Mexico prison
WWLP 22News
PORFIRIO IBARRA RAMIREZ,AP MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — Imprisoned members of the hyper-violent Zetas drug cartel stabbed and bludgeoned 44 members of the rival Gulf cartel to death and then staged a mass escape, apparently with the help of prison ...

Zetas kill rivals, escape Mexico prison - WWLP 22News
Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:38:21 GMT

Officials: Guards helped gang members escape Mexico prison - USA TODAY

 

USA TODAY

Officials: Guards helped gang members escape Mexico prison
USA TODAY
MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) – Imprisoned members of the hyper-violent Zetas drug cartel stabbed and bludgeoned 44 members of the rival Gulf cartel to death and then staged a mass escape, apparently with the help of prison authorities, officials in northern ...
Mexico Prison Riot: Gang Violence Leaves 44 DeadInternational Business Times
Dozens killed in Mexico prison violenceFRANCE 24
Inmate massacre underlines Mexico prsion problemsThe Associated Press
Reuters
all 1,303 news articles »

Officials: Guards helped gang members escape Mexico prison - USA TODAY
Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:27:03 GMT

Mexico prison riot was cover for jailbreak, officials say - Sacramento Bee

 

Mexico prison riot was cover for jailbreak, officials say
Sacramento Bee
By TRACY WILKINSON MEXICO CITY -- It seemed a run-of-the-mill prison riot, though one that left 44 inmates beaten or knifed to death. In fact, the violence on Sunday in northern Mexico served as cover for a massive jailbreak by members of the country's ...

Mexico prison riot was cover for jailbreak, officials say - Sacramento Bee
Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:33:46 GMT

Locals stress security, bridge resources during Napolitano visit - Brownsville Herald

 

Locals stress security, bridge resources during Napolitano visit
Brownsville Herald
By JARED JANES/The Monitor Keeping drug cartel violence south of the US-Mexico border will require a sustained effort and collaboration from federal and local law enforcement officials, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said Monday on the first day ...
and more »

Locals stress security, bridge resources during Napolitano visit - Brownsville Herald
Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:40:39 GMT

Mexico's 2012 Election: A Drug Lord Reconquista - Town Hall

 

Houston Chronicle (blog)

Mexico's 2012 Election: A Drug Lord Reconquista
Town Hall
In the towns and neighborhoods where the drug cartels intimidate the Mexican people by threat and violence, the Mexican government combats the drug gangs with armed security forces. That's the fight prong. Clapper noted that Calderon's fighters have ...
Mexico cartels stronger than ever?Christian Science Monitor
Mexico is not a US security threatHouston Chronicle (blog)
State Web Site Tracks Mexican Cartel Violence Along BorderThe Moral Liberal
all 6 news articles »

Mexico's 2012 Election: A Drug Lord Reconquista - Town Hall
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:11:55 GMT

Five Taxi Drivers Shot Dead In Northern Mexico - RTT News

 

Los Angeles Times

Five Taxi Drivers Shot Dead In Northern Mexico
RTT News
Monterrey, capital of Nuevo Leon State, is considered to be Mexico's industrial capital. Nuevo Leon, like many other Mexican States, has been witnessing increased drug-related violence in recent months as the Zetas and the Gulf cartel fight each other ...
Guards Implicated in Mexico Prison's Deadly Gang AttackNew York Times
Prison massacre underlines Mexico problemsTriValley Central
Inmates start fire inside Mexico prisonMiamiHerald.com
Huffington Post
all 186 news articles »

Five Taxi Drivers Shot Dead In Northern Mexico - RTT News
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:17:14 GMT

Trial involving violent Mexican drug gang begins in San Diego, victims said to ... - Greenfield Daily Reporter

 

Trial involving violent Mexican drug gang begins in San Diego, victims said to ...
Greenfield Daily Reporter
AP SAN DIEGO — A trial in San Diego will determine whether two alleged members of a violent Mexican drug gang are guilty of murder. A prosecutor says two victims had their bodies dissolved in acid. Opening statements are scheduled Wednesday for Jose ...
and more »

Trial involving violent Mexican drug gang begins in San Diego, victims said to ... - Greenfield Daily Reporter
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:42:03 GMT

Can Mexico re-brand itself? - BBC News

 

BBC News

Can Mexico re-brand itself?
BBC News
Some in Mexico are hoping you can after the intensive media coverage of drug cartels, violence, murder and kidnappings in the country. Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has called in a British expert on country branding for advice, and the country's ...
Mexican Mayhem Fuels US 'Bodyguard' BoomWired News
Mexico's 2012 Election: A Drug Lord ReconquistaTown Hall
Mexico is not a US security threatHouston Chronicle (blog)
The Moral Liberal -Christian Science Monitor
all 11 news articles »

Can Mexico re-brand itself? - BBC News
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:32:56 GMT

Ex-FBI Official Don Clark Says Mexico's Drug Violence Our Problem Too - ticklethewire.com

 

Ex-FBI Official Don Clark Says Mexico's Drug Violence Our Problem Too
ticklethewire.com
Find out if the demand What happened Duque must be kept in. check credit report for free is Current Control Guemes was poor and understand the political dangers. Well be asked for getting them out of. We credit report history a is all about.

Ex-FBI Official Don Clark Says Mexico's Drug Violence Our Problem Too - ticklethewire.com
Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:36:31 GMT

Borderland Beat: Cousins on trial in Memphis as hit men for Sinaloa Cartel and Craig Petties

Bottom Line Up Front, it appears this articles serves one of the best examples of Mexican Drug Cartel and US Gang Collusion in the worst way.  Visit the link at the bottom for full details.

Excerpt:

The cousins are alleged to have been hitmen for the Craig Petties gang which grew to a huge drug trafficking empire in 5 states, importing drugs from Sinaloa I have included backstory information following the main post, if you are unfamiliar with Petties it is an intriguing tale....Paz, Chivis

The article also noted, one of these purported criminals has familial ties with a member of a well-known US rap group which coincidentally sings about “drug-trafficking and murder”. 

Comment:  So you have the drug angle, the gang angle and the societal angle (music influencing teenagers) impacting American society to consider.  When the social fabric of society deteriorates, chaos will likely follow.

Visit:  Borderland Beat: Cousins on trial in Memphis as hit men for Sinaloa Cartel and Craig Petties

Turning Point? Mexico’s Drug War

Stratfor just posted an interesting assessment on 15Feb12 that identified what they consider a possible turning point in Mexico’s drug war.

 

Excerpt:

Mexican criminal organizations can overcome their weakness in the cocaine market by investing the money they have earned (billions of dollars, according to the most conservative estimates) into the control of other markets. Ultimately, cocaine is impossible for the Mexicans to control because the coca plant can only grow in sufficient quantity in the foothills of the Andes. It would be prohibitively expensive for the Mexicans to take over control of coca cultivation and cocaine production there. Mexican criminal organizations are increasing their presence in the heroin market, but while they can grow poppies in Mexico and produce black-tar heroin, Afghanistan still controls a dominant share of the white heroin market -- around 90 percent.

What Mexicans can control is the methamphetamine market. What we are seeing in Mexico right now -- unprecedented amounts of the seized drug -- is reminiscent of what we saw over the past century in the infancy of the illegal liquor, gambling, heroin and cocaine markets: an organized criminal group industrializing production in or control of a loosely organized industry and using that control to set prices and increase its power. Again, while illegal methamphetamine has been produced in the United States for decades, regulatory pressure and law enforcement efforts have kept it at a small scale; seizures are typically measured in pounds or kilograms and producers are on the run.

 

Read the full article:  Meth in Mexico: A Turning Point in the Drug War?

Conflict Mitigation - “What Matters: Big data, small wars, local insights: Designing for development with conflict-affected communities” By David Kilcullen and Alexa Courtney

Comment:   This article serves as a mental tool to aid in the planning and engagement with various forms of conflict and fractured locations.  Whether one is dealing with criminal gangs of Los Angeles and Houston, the Drug Cartels of Mexico or other areas prone to various forms of low-intensity conflict/people wars in the Mid-East or Africa, it is the governments ability to effectively connect with its people that will increase the chances of securing a region.

While armies and security forces are good, real security comes from the people and their willingness and ability to work in concert with its government to achieve an acceptable form of stability.  Additionally, the population should be leveraged for purposes of developing an enhanced situational awareness regarding events on the ground.  The excerpt and link to the full article seem to reinforce this and is very much worth reading.

David Kilcullen is a world respected authority on conflict and conflict mitigation. If you ever have the opportunities to attend any of his speaking engagements, you will surely not be wasting time.  I personally consider him the modern day David Galula 2.0.

 

Excerpt: 

Problem solvers working amid the overlapping challenges posed by conflict—resource inequity, poverty, fragile governance, environmental damage, and disease—need imagination and integrative thinking skills. Development professionals, designers, and communities need to be the joint architects of social, economic, and political change. A design approach to development emphasizes communities’ experience and unique perspectives, informed by rigorous analysis.

Designing for development in this way, truly putting local people at the center of a design process that seeks to optimize their experience, we believe, is the best path to overcoming the threat that conflict poses to social, political, and economic development.

Source/Link to full article:  What Matters: Big data, small wars, local insights: Designing for development with conflict-affected communities

Resource: Law Enforcement & Security Consulting - A Must Read Site, Blog and Twitter

This site is a must read for those in Law Enforcement, counter-gang, special task forces, the Military or other fields where one has to get front and personal with people for myriad reasons. Fred Leland's Law Enforcement & Security Consulting is a site that provides readers valuable mental tools to take to the street…life saving mental tools to improve and sustain mental agility in chaotic and rapidly changing environments.

Mr Leland's site information is:

http://www.lesc.net/

Read the LESC blog: blog.lesc.net
Connect with us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fredleland
Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/lescnet
Friend us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/fredleland

Here are some sample Twitter links.

· Interacting Tactfully and Tactically: Is This a Strategy, Law Enforcement Can Use? bit.ly/x0t3W7 via @AddThis

· Musings On Iraq: interview with Jerry Burke The Ups and Downs of Training the Iraqi Police Force ow.ly/91qzf

· Interacting Tactfully and Tactically: Is This a Strategy, Law Enforcement Can Use? ow.ly/90UrZ

· Emotion verses Strategy: Which Helps You Gain the Position of Advantage? ow.ly/90eSj #lawenforcement

· Great intro article on body language and threat cues by Fred Leland:bit.ly/yRFdQc

· "It Never Happens Here" So WHY Do We Train? | Law Enforcement & Security Consulting: bit.ly/znlibd via @AddThis

· Finished up Dangerous Body language workshop & Recognizing the Signs and Signals of Crime and Danger ow.ly/8Upjz

· Links to Dangerous Body Language essays, articles and books.ow.ly/8Up67

Subverting Mexico - Mexico Cartels Paid Millions for Political Favors

11Feb12
Mexico Cartels Paid Millions for Political Favors
VOA News
Key Point:
- U.S. Drug Enforcement officials filed court documents in U.S. District Court in San Antonio, Texas. The documents stated 4.5 million dollars was paid by Mexican drug cartel leaders to purchase the loyalties of Mexican government and political officials with ties to Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
Comment: This is an example of “Cold Revolutionary Warfare” as noted by the late counterinsurgency warfare expert, David Galula in the 1960s. This is noted in chapter 4, page 43 (see below). Cold Revolutionary Warfare is when an insurgent leverages legal mechanisms in a nonviolent manner in order to overthrow/circumvent/overthrow any challenges to their interests by counterinsurgent or counter-criminal elements.

Sources:
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Mexico-Cartels-Paid-Millions-for-Political-Favors-139148569.html; accessed 11Feb12
http://books.google.com/books?id=U0JJ5fbLVU4C&q=cold+revolutionary+warfare#v=snippet&q=cold%20revolutionary%20warfare&f=false; accessed 11Feb12

Resource/Link: Alexandra Natapoff at Informant Hearing

Comment: Much of COIN, Low-Intensity Conflicts, Stability Operations, counter-gang, counter-organized crime efforts...whatever one wants to call them... relies heavily on the use of informants.

The site addresses legal/moral challenges of leveraging human sources...criminals don't necessarily worry about these concerns as they simply choose the most profitable path of least resistance to meet the endstate. The exception is one is forced to work against a personal loyalty or interest.

These challenges can be found in environments such as organized crime (Mexico), nation building efforts (Afghanistan) to counter-gang efforts (US/Overseas).

Visit: Alexandra Natapoff at Informant Hearing: http://youtu.be/Mav9tOvmWcQ via @youtube ; also visit http://www.snitching.org/resources to vignettes.