IED’s & Automatic Weapons on the Border
Federal authorities reported the seizure of “…stacks of automatic weapons, grenades, gunpowder, ammunition, and drugs, as well as IEDs” in Laredo, Texas. IED’s are improvised explosive devices, and they were the type used against our troops and civilians in the Middle East conflict.
According to the article, the weapons are thought to be in Laredo in conjunction with the ongoing drug cartel wars. The cartels are fighting over control of the drug routes from Mexico into the U.S.
This revelation, if for no other reason, is justification to declare a National emergency concerning the U.S.-Mexican border. Naturally some federal authorities will not agree with that conclusion out of an abundance of caution for what the Mexican authorities would say. And, yes the Mexicans would be upset, but who has the most to gain and the most to lose in this situation?
Mexico is a major source of imported oil for the U.S. and deteriorating conditions between the two nations would be deleterious to both in terms of revenue and oil supply respectively. U.S. dollars from Mexican citizens account for the greatest amount of revenue that Mexico receives, and it exceeds Mexican oil revenue.
A national emergency border declaration, a couple of border states have already made such declarations, would be interpreted by the Mexicans as an insult. Mexican President Vicente Fox would have political problems and his tenuous party could be in trouble.
If we only address immigration and drug problems, it makes sense for the U.S. to disregard the concerns of the Mexicans and to build a fence along the border and back it up with military troops. But, the game is bigger than that since it is in the interest of the U.S. to ensure that a leftist regime does not come to power in Mexico, as it has in Venezuela and Bolivia.
If the Mexican military and law enforcement were not corrupt, the answer would be a joint military/law enforcement operation to eradicate the problem. But, they are corrupt.
There are many competing needs and that is why the Bush administration and Homeland Security are not boldly enacting mechanisms to slam shut the border to illegal crossings. But, to not do so increasingly puts our nation in greater danger. It’s a dilemma that has to be solved now!
According to the article, the weapons are thought to be in Laredo in conjunction with the ongoing drug cartel wars. The cartels are fighting over control of the drug routes from Mexico into the U.S.
This revelation, if for no other reason, is justification to declare a National emergency concerning the U.S.-Mexican border. Naturally some federal authorities will not agree with that conclusion out of an abundance of caution for what the Mexican authorities would say. And, yes the Mexicans would be upset, but who has the most to gain and the most to lose in this situation?
Mexico is a major source of imported oil for the U.S. and deteriorating conditions between the two nations would be deleterious to both in terms of revenue and oil supply respectively. U.S. dollars from Mexican citizens account for the greatest amount of revenue that Mexico receives, and it exceeds Mexican oil revenue.
A national emergency border declaration, a couple of border states have already made such declarations, would be interpreted by the Mexicans as an insult. Mexican President Vicente Fox would have political problems and his tenuous party could be in trouble.
If we only address immigration and drug problems, it makes sense for the U.S. to disregard the concerns of the Mexicans and to build a fence along the border and back it up with military troops. But, the game is bigger than that since it is in the interest of the U.S. to ensure that a leftist regime does not come to power in Mexico, as it has in Venezuela and Bolivia.
If the Mexican military and law enforcement were not corrupt, the answer would be a joint military/law enforcement operation to eradicate the problem. But, they are corrupt.
There are many competing needs and that is why the Bush administration and Homeland Security are not boldly enacting mechanisms to slam shut the border to illegal crossings. But, to not do so increasingly puts our nation in greater danger. It’s a dilemma that has to be solved now!
posted by Paul Coambs | 6:49 PM
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