Soldiers dismantle telecom network used by Mexican traffickers

Comment: Hopefully this is the lead into a major operation to put the cartels on the run. Over the weekend, a group of hackers threatened to expose cartel members, as well as local and authorities colluding with cartel activities.

Excerpt:

Soldiers dismantle telecom network used by Mexican traffickers

Published October 31, 2011

Mexico City - Soldiers seized communications equipment being used by drug traffickers in Reynosa, a border city in the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, the army said.
The telecommunications gear was seized on Oct. 11 and Oct. 25 by army patrols, the 4th Military Region command said, without identifying the criminal organization operating the network.

A total of 21 antennas, 22 repeaters, 18 duplexers, eight filters and three transceivers were seized.

The telecom network was dismantled as part of the government's "Operation Northeast" targeting drug traffickers and other organized crime groups, the army said.

Marines dismantled an encrypted communications network last month being used by the Los Zetas drug cartel in 10 cities in the Gulf state of Veracruz.

The network employed 12 antennas, computers, radio transmitters, scanners, thousands of feet of cable, cell phones, decoders and solar panels.

The Gulf cartel and Los Zetas have been waging a brutal turf war in Tamaulipas that has left hundreds of people dead since last year.

The two drug trafficking organizations are trying to gain control of smuggling routes into the United States.

...

A total of 15,270 people died in drug-related violence in Mexico last year, and more than 40,000 people have died since President Felipe Calderon declared war on the country's cartels shortly after taking office in December 2006.

Source:
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/10/31/soldiers-dismantle-telecom-network-used-by-mexican-traffickers/

Video 7/7 Observations: The Future of Mexico????

Video 7/7 Observations: The Future of Mexico????

Note: This is the last commentary on the BBC video - Mexico's Drug War 2010 with Katya Adler.

This last segment of the video focuses on the future of Mexico; it shows hope.

The video centers on two persons of interest, both of whom seem to represent the best of society. One is a lawyer, now mayor. The other person is a new female police officer.

Of the two personalities, the female police officer catches ones attention. She’s a single mother. Her husband was killed by criminals in front her young son. His death appears to be one of the major motivating factors for her joining the local police force. She is also interesting because she appears to be the only police officer willing to go on camera to speak with BBC, according to the BBC interview. She is a symbol of courage.

Despite this courage, we have to look at trends and indicators for what the future will bring.

Of all the police officers standing in formation in the video, one has to ask the following question. How many of them are already colluding with the criminals/cartels by will, or by force.

Since this video, have the crime rates gone down in the area where this new police force graduated?

How many of these policemen continue to serve? How many of them are on-the-take?

Can the mayor walk about town freely?

Do the people support their local police, and do they trust their police to protect them?

The answers to these questions do not appear in the video, but it will be interesting to see if BBC does an update to this piece.

I want to also highlight this video series concentrated on just a few areas of Mexico, and on one organization. Most zones of violence have areas where violence may be nonexistent. For instance, the Kurdish territory of Iraq has been one of the safer areas of Iraq despite many of the suicide and car bombings that have made the country seem too dangerous to visit.

This does not lessen the severity of the situation in Mexico, it simply implies that problems exist and they should not be ignored.




The Three U.S.-Mexico Border Wars: Drugs, Immigration, and Homeland Security (Praeger Security International)

Mexico's "War" on Drugs: Causes and Consequences (Studies on the Impact of the Illegal Drug Trade)

Inside Mexico's drug war.: An article from: World Policy Journal

MEXICO'S DRUG WARS KEEP TOURISTS AWAY.(Main): An article from: The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, NM)

Zares. (elogios hacia México sobre lucha antidrogas son falaces)(TT: Czars) (TA: praise for Mexico about the anti-drug war are fake): An article from: Proceso

Video 6/7 Observations: Futility- Falling of a Nation State?

Video 6/7 Observations: Futility- Falling of a Nation State?

Video six captures the futility the people are feeling in Mexico (MX).

You have a Mexican official who states the victims of the cartel killings are criminals, or suspected criminals, themselves. When countered by the BBC reporter on this observation he [Romero Morena] responds that you also have to be realistic. Realistic, meaning, the MX government has a limited amount of resources to address the problem. He is saying MX lacks the capability and resources to address the growing problem in MX.

Is the representative of the MX government saying they have a choice to either investigate crime or fight the cartels? This observation is a thought, not a criticism. It’s an observation that may further underscore the depth of the challenges MX faces…an indicator leading to a possible failing state…a term that draws angst amongst US academic and government officials. Think about this.

A US military command (Joint Forces Command [JFCOM]) made such an assessment that drew strong rebuke from both US and MX government officials, but the videos may indicate they were on to something…that MX may be on the verge of collapse, and that the security consequences “could represent a homeland security problem of immense proportions to the United States”. The link to that report can be found by visiting here.

http://www.jfcom.mil%2Fnewslink%2Fstoryarchive%2F2008%2FJOE2008.pdf&ei=7v2ETMT3AYKclgfA2dHRBQ&usg=AFQjCNGPfXO9yAf1WLbOA6eMJqpoJ_2ALQ&sig2=VNLZm2OvvrOG15LvbwxgFw

Here are the indicators that seem to support this in the video:

1. You have a government representative saying they do not have enough resources to protect the population.

2. You have children being targeted by the cartel, such as the murder of an innocent 7 year old boy.

3. You have a former hit-man who speaks out about the cartels, but is later executed. Okay, not surprising, but was he under government protection?


4. You have a strong US demand for marijuana supply, a supply that contributes approximately 60% of the cartels annual income. Why isn’t the US making TV commercials asking consumers how much blood was spilled for your joint?

5. You have Mexican citizens who are afraid to report organized criminal activity for fear of being persecuted or targeted by cartels that infiltrated law enforcement…sounds like Iraq and Afghanistan here. Locals often find themselves that it is better to work out deals with the drug lords in order to minimize bloodshed.


6. You have a cartel leader, El Chapo, who allegedly gets married in “broad daylight”. Allegedly present at his wedding are three governors and an army detachment…yes, a MX government army detachment…reportedly providing security.

7. You have Forbes magazine, unwittingly, emboldening El Chapo’s image of dominance over the MX government and people via the US media. They note El Chapo is the 41st most powerful man in the world. Forbes is essentially, and unwittingly, a “useful idiot”.


8. You have an organized criminal expert state that the cartel influences and controls the economic, security and political institutions of Mexico.

Readers, if this is not indicative of a major security problem, what is? What is the US doing to prevent this from spreading into the US? How does the US prevent such a culture of wheeling and dealing with organized criminal elements from spreading into the US?


El Cartel De Sinaloa (Spanish Edition)

El cartel de Juarez/ Juarez Cartel (Spanish Edition)

The Infiltrator: My Secret Life Inside the Dirty Banks Behind Pablo Escobar's Medellín Cartel

Video 5/7 Observations: “Psychological Dominance of the Battlespace”

Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice Video 5/7 Observations: “Psychological Dominance of the Battlespace” This video clip continues to focus on the cartel’s “psychological dominance of the battle space”; a counterinsurgency term noted in a book, “Notes of a Counterinsurgent”. What is “Psychological Dominance of the Battlespace”? “Psychological Dominance of the Battlespace” refers to an insurgent’s ability to exercise control over a populated area by real, or perceived, force or control- namely fear and intimidation. By controlling perceptions, you control the people. Perception shapes their reality. So regardless of the successes the Mexican government touts, their efforts are useless if the Government is unable to influence the environment to make perceptions lean toward their favor. While there is debate as to whether the cartels fall under the insurgent paradigm, there are many similarities. The most critical similarity is that control over a population gives the threat its freedom of movement, logistics support, information to conduct their operations and protect their interests. Some Indicators of “Psychological Dominance of the Battlespace” In this clip, we see that security forces do not even feel safe, as they must cover their faces to protect themselves and/or their loved ones. Go 52 seconds into the video and watchers can observe something is occurring in the background while the BBC reporter and crew are unwitting. In the background you will see three women walking with a small child behind the camera crew. You will see one lady wearing a blue top cover her face. A moment later, a lady wearing a maroon top follows suit and covers her face. This observation begs questions regarding to how safe the people really feel in Mexico. Why did the women cover their faces? Did they have something to fear? Did they have something to hide? Are they ashamed of being on camera? Are they supporters of the cartels? Are they afraid they will be targeted by the cartels? This all occurred while armed government forces and BBC reporters passed by. Regardless, this is an indicator the cartels have psychological control over the local environment. Reinforcing or Disrupting “Psychological Dominance of the Battlespace” What helps to reinforce the cartel’s grip on the local environment is in debate. The Mexican government blames the US desire for drugs and weapon sales as the reason for the cartels influence. However, one gun salesman on the US side notes that the cartel would not be such a problem if local citizens were allowed to be armed so they can fight back. The gun salesman makes another valid point in that criminals will obtain guns regardless of the law; it is the innocent law-abiding citizen who is unarmed. Considering the police and other government officials are tainted themselves, allowing Mexicans to have easier access to arms may even the playing field somewhat. It may also embolden a countermovement. While this is a very dangerous concept to consider, the security, economic and political apparatus has been penetrated, infiltrated and exploited by the cartels for their own use. Entrenchment continues to make them stronger. Empowering the people to fight for their own government should not be totally excluded. This has met some success in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Until Mexicans are able to better arm themselves against cartels and security and government officials, they will continue to fall victim. There is approximately 2000 miles of border and approximately 1.4 billion dollars dumped into the Mexico via the US, and the problem does not seem to be under control yet. Who is to say that that some of that US money is not leaking about to cartel members who penetrated the government? We, the US, had such problems in Iraq.

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.

Video 3/7 Observations: More on Moral Relativism

Video 3/7 Observations: More on Moral Relativism
*Note- personal observations are included with the reported observations.


A Society Broken Down

The third video clip highlights the overall good and order of society appears broken down. People from honest hardworking beginnings find themselves caught up in supporting the cartel based on personal gain and survival. Police, teachers and bricklayers do not escape the societal trap laid before them.


What People Will Do to Survive

---The BBC reporter interviews a former school teacher imprisoned for running drugs in support of the Sinaloa Cartel. He ran drugs for the cartel for 20 years. The video captures a humble man willing to do anything to provide for his family. He states in the interview that his cartel activities allowed him to purchase a home; a car for his wife; take his kids to the US to Universal Studios, Disney Land and Sea World. And, while he notes he’s spending time in prison now, he tells the BBC reporter that when he gets out he will never have to work again.


---The video clip notes of another humble person. Lacking a job, a bricklayer became a ‘stew-maker’; dumping bodies into acid for disposal in support of the cartel. It appears the video notes he helped the cartel rid of an estimated 300 bodies.


Time- Shaping Generations of Latinos

---Journalists killed. Cartels are killing journalists to protect themselves from prosecution, hide vulnerabilities and disrupt the potential of having a negative image specifically tied to their acts. Journalist reporting counters the ballads sung where cartel leaders are made heros.


---Deaths in the hundreds. The constant reminder of death still creates fear, but more in the realm of apathy. People do not appear to band together to fight the cartel and their activities as they do not know who to trust (including authorities), lack the weapons, manpower and the means to dedicate themselves to curtail the threat.

---This leads to desperation. Mexicans find themselves having to only concern themselves with their own localized universes. Drug activity provides a way of life for many people who simply see it as a means to survive. Maximum security prisons cannot even contain one of the most powerful men (el Chapo) in the cartels, a criminal who is perceived to have the support of Mexican government insiders.

---The price of ignoring the drug cartel problem. The drug problem is old, been around for decades. El Chapo Guzman started gaining notoriety in the early 90s. However, the video clip captures what happens when society simply turns away, or ignores a societal issue...especially old issues, as they eventually gain momentum and wider acceptance. Local problems become communal and regional problems, only to become state problems. The survival of the state of Mexico is on edge. How can a national problem be mitigated into an international problem? We are seeing this today.

---Generations of Mexicans have been growing up in a society where cartel activity is a norm. This perception will only reinforce the pervasive localized vision of the world and how it works. This is a major concern as illegal immigrants, well-meaning/but contaminated with this culture, start taking this way of life across borders-illegally.

What does this indicate for the US?

Consider the current economic crisis in the US, broken families; broken towns that cannot afford good police, yet have a high amount of gang activity, like Oakland California, where police are reportedly only able to address the most extreme crimes- the normal citizen is on their own for other serious crimes. This is specifically noted in a piece, “Oakland police layoffs mark the end of community policing. Police layoffs, the first in 30 years, hit a city with the “fourth highest violent crime rate in the country”.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inoakland/detail?entry_id=67845#ixzz0yH5VAmIZ” dated 14Jul10.

Read This
Lack of community policing contributed to insurgencies and terrorism in Iraq. Lack of community policing is what helps give the Taliban of Afghanistan their freedom of movement.

If we learn nothing from our wars overseas, we should take note that stable societies can only exist when there is good governance. Without good laws, immigration, policing etc, we open ourselves to infiltration, penetration and subversion.

Is Oakland our own US Petri dish? Are other cities with similar environment our Petri dish/dishes. Worse yet, are these other cities vectors to a growing societal disease? Are we seeing erosion of the US sense of societal stability? Does the cartel activity provide good cover for other threats to penetrate the US e.g. terrorists, other organized criminal organizations or groups like Hezbollah or al Qaeda? We need to think about this and ACT.

These issues provide societal voids the cartels can fill. Money, a sense of belonging, a form of social order, can thrive based on personal gain at the expense of society…till there is no society.

Video 2/7 Observations: Drug Problem Ignored Is Now Endemic To Society - This Created an Atmosphere of Moral Relativism

Video 2/7 Observations: Drug Problem Ignored Is Now Endemic To Society - This Created an Atmosphere of Moral Relativism

According to the BBC report, drug production and distribution is a way of life in some parts of Mexican Society. The heart of the cartel activity appears to be in the Sinaloa region of Mexico, which is ~900 miles south of Tijuana. Criminal organizations have operated freely in this region for decades.

---Most of Mexico’s Marijuana is grown in the Sinaloa region. Mexico is one of the world’s largest producers of marijuana in the world. Marijuana constitutes ~60% of the cartels revenue – 8 billion dollars a year.

---~90% of the Colombian Cocaine comes to the US from this region; an estimated 50 billion dollars a year. This forces cartels to compete against one another for control over key points of entry into the US where the drugs are consumed. Sinaloa is best geographically positioned to leverage this opportunity.

---Drug production and trafficking is seen as a way of life in this region; a means to survive. Cartels hire bands to sing praises of them and their efforts via folk ballads called ‘corridos’. Locals admire their drug lords, and protect them due to their influence, power and opportunities for good pay. School children are introduced to the cartel culture at an early age and are enticed by the money, comfort and fame that comes from such activity. One Mexican reporter interviewed noted the drug culture pervades all of Mexican society from the bedroom, the family to society as a whole.

---Those who threaten the cartel are said to disappear, or killed outright. “Whole communities” disappear.

---And while the Mexican government is eradicating some of the drug crops. The interview between the Mexican General and the BBC reporter is interesting. It appears the general attempts to dissuade the BBC reporter from pushing for more information regarding the Sinaloa cartel leader’s whereabouts. Whether this is an operational security move, or a move based on self-preservation, makes one wonder.

Video 1/7 Observations: Powerful Psychological Grip Over the Population

Video 1/7 Observations: Powerful Psychological Grip Over the Population

The drug cartels have a strong psychological grip over the civilian populace and the security forces. The BBC reporter claims there have been approximately 16000 drug related killings since around 2007.

--- People do not report criminal acts for fear of retribution.

--- People seem desperate and appear to only find temporary solace in church.

---Security forces seem reluctant to investigate reports of disappearances or kidnappings. They appear complicit or fearful as the video notes the cartels are better armed than the police; they have military grade weaponry.

---The BBC reporter notes the police claim the murders in Mexico are only amongst the criminals, but the BBC reporter and the family of one possible victim dispute this. Locals claim the police are ignoring their requests. One father was sent to multiple police stations for assistance to find his missing son without any resolution, or assistance.