Destabilizing Mexico

By Richard Skaff

Attorney General Eric Holder stated on February 25, 2009 that Mexican drug cartels pose a national security threat, and issued a direct warning to these cartels that they will be destroyed.

The warning came as the attorney general and acting Drug Enforcement Administration chief Michele Leonhart announced the completion of the final phase of DEA’s "Operation Xcellerator," which targeted the Sinaloa cartel, a major western Mexico drug operation that has been expanding its reach into the United States . [1].

Meanwhile, the blood shed in the Mexican cities continues to be extensive and has expanded its tentacles of violence to various cities in Mexico. Lawlessness, corruption, murders, decapitations, and kidnappings have taken the Mexican cities by a storm, giving rise to a new radical group calling itself the Juarez Citizens Command that is threatening to strike back against lawlessness that has gripped Mexico for a long time. The group stated that they are going to strike back by killing one criminal a day until order and peace is restored. Similar groups are popping up all across Mexico. [2].

In its last report, the US Department of justice disclosed that 17.2 billion dollars in cash entered Mexico in only the past two years as a result of money laundering operation in their country. The report advised that Mexico and Colombia are the principal destinations of narco resources that operate in the US and that “the laundering of drug money is a global industry” with transnational organizations present in various countries. [2].

According to a DEA undercover operative, the Mexican drug cartels have gained more and more of the American market. They have grown bolder in their attempts to expand their operations in Mexico and the United States . They now control the ruling party in Mexico and operate the biggest drug business on earth right here in the USA . [2].

Mexico’s drug and violence problem now engulfs the entire country, inundating cities along the U.S.-Mexico border. The robust drug cartel reduced its position in the western mountains, and lunged into the heart of national power in Mexico City. The capital that was once relatively immune to such contemptuous boldness of drug killings has become the scene of multiple assassinations of high-ranking federal police officials in about a week. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Mexico this year in drug-related violence and about 6,290 in 2008. [11].

Mexican police and soldiers are battling a wave of drug-related violence across the country, particularly in northern areas bordering the US . The Mexican Federal Government launched a campaign against drug-related violence more than two years ago involving the deployment of around 36,000 troops across the country.

The situation in Mexico has become so dire and out of control that U.S. Defense secretary Gates stated on March 01, 2009 that the US is in the position to provide more help to Mexico in the fight against drug cartels operating near the U.S. border. [4].

Not surprisingly, the violence has over-spilled into the United States . Brian Ross of ABC news reported that Phoenix Arizona has become the kidnapping capital of America , with more incidents than any other city in the world outside of Mexico City , and over 370 cases in 2008 alone. Phoenix police Chief Andy Anderson told ABC news that if the situation doesn’t stop here and is not turned around, it will spread across the nation. Another law enforcement officer compared the Arizona border to that of Pakistan . [5].

Apparently, Mexico is in a losing battle with drug cartels whose escalating violence is providing cover for Marxist insurgents to become active. The newest cartel murderous offensive raises troubling questions about the ability of the Mexican government to provide safety and security for its citizens, and heralds a future of bloody anarchy if officials cannot regain control of the streets. As a result, the United will be coming to the rescue. President Obama recently announced that he was looking at possibly deploying National Guard troops to contain the violence but ruled out immediate military force. [6].

Ironically, while we are beating the drums of national security and intervention, the Associated reported on March 13, 2009 that Forbes magazine ranked Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, Mexico’s most violent drug cartels on its list of billionaires, with an estimated $1 billion fortune, at No. 701, between a Swiss oil-trading tycoon and an American chemical heir. Guzman , Mexico ’s most-wanted fugitive, is believed to head the Sinaloa cartel. President Felipe Calderon said Thursday that "magazines are not only attacking and lying about the situation in Mexico but are also praising criminals." [8].

Analysis:

Who benefits from the destabilization of Mexico?

KNX News radio station a subsidiary of Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) reported this week that most of the guns that land in the hands of the drug cartel allegedly came from the black market in the United States . Ironically, most of the drugs that enter the United States from Mexico , have been funneled to the Mexican drug lords through rendition flights from Columbia (cocaine) and Afghanistan (opium) to Mexico , then, rerouted to the US through the Mexican drug lords. Per example, On September 24, 2007, a Florida based Gulfstream II jet aircraft, number N987SA, crashed in the Yucatan . As it turns out, not only was the plane used on at least three CIA rendition flights from Europe and the United States to the Guantánamo torture chamber, but it was loaded with tons of cocaine when it went down. El Nuevo Herald reported that the CIA plane was loaded up with 3.3 tons of coke in Medellín, Colombia, and was used to ferry “hundreds of delinquents,” including alleged members of the Taliban, to Cuba for water boarding and other specialties. [10].

Historically, most of the illegal activities especially in drugs and human trafficking, originate in the poorer and the less developed areas of the world, then, moves across borders to rich, developed country markets. In order for this process to take place, criminal organizations are fostered, subsidized, and protected by high level government officials, in order to launder money throughout the international banking systems and to increase the global cash flow. The IMF has reported in 2003, that 1.5 trillion US dollars a year is laundered through banks, where 500 to 600 billion dollars of that money is from drug trade and the aggregate size of money laundering in the world could be somewhere between 2 to 5 percent of the world’s GDP. It has also been a well known and documented fact in the press and in congressional records that the US intelligence agencies have dealt and circulated drugs in the US and abroad for many years.

So, is there a connection between our global policies and the destabilization of Mexico?

It would make sense to assume that Mexico is going to become a national security risk for the United States , which in turn will justify our Samaritan military aid and intervention to help the Mexican government contain the Mexican drug cartel. Therefore, Mexico will become a safer place for transnational corporations like Chevron and Exxon-Mobil. In addition, this process will pave the way for the security and prosperity partnership to unravel, as well as the privatization of Mexico ’s oil and natural resources and their takeover by the global corporations. As a result, a massive transfer of wealth and power to the new North American Union Government will unfold.

Is the American public aware and in agreement with the SPP?

Are we going to witness more conflict within our borders due to economic woes, or contrived attacks, which in return will solidify further the iron hand of our new democratic government?

Are we going to witness another major economic collapse like the prospective commercial real estate disaster that will cause major reverberations in the stock market, will induce further impoverishment of the population, and will lead to more bailouts leading to higher inflation, new currency, and poorer standard of living?

Are we heading toward civil unrest incited by the economic woes that will lead to the balkanization of America ?

Or, are we simply going to be led like sheep to the slaughter house where we will give up our freedom to satisfy our primal needs like food, shelter, and safety, then, become totally impoverished, micro-chipped, and controlled, and finally be forced into accepting the new global order?

References

1. ABC News, February 25, 2009. Holder Vows ’Cartels Will Be Destroyed’ Operation Targeted the Sinaloa Cartel; Highlights Spread of Drug Gang Violence

2. The American Chronicle, January 20, 2009, The Revolution in Mexico has begun.

3. UPI, January, 21, 2009. New Juarez police chief decapitated after 4 days.

4. Associated press, 03-01-09, Gates says military can help Mexico in drug war.

5. AFP, March 2-9, 2009, Issue 9/10. Arizona as dangerous as “ Pakistan ,” say top phoenix cop.

6. McClatchy Newspapers, March 12, 2009. Obama: Troop move to Mexican Border under consideration.

7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oszATUJ4IRE

8. Associated Press, March 13, 2009. Mexican Drug Lord makes Forbes Billionaire list.

9. KNX News, (1070), March 11, 2009.

10. El Nuevo Herald, 11-29-2007 04:37 PM. Avión usado por la CIA y la DEA traficaba drogas

11. Associated Press, march 9, 2009. Obama discusses U.S. military assistance to Mexico for drug war.