Pubdate: Tue, 27 Dec 2005
Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY)
Copyright: 2005 Watertown Daily Times
Contact:  http://www.wdt.net
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792
Author: Jerry Brewer, Knight Ridder Newspapers
Note: Jerry Brewer, the vice president of Criminal Justice International
Associates, a global risk mitigation firm headquartered in Montgomery, Ala.,
is also a columnist with Mexidata.info
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/narco+terrorism
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/mexico

NARCOTERRORISM ALONG U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER DEMANDS ACTION

Terrorism by any other name is still terrorism. Terrorism is in fact
the calculated use or threat of violence, of coercion against a
government or society, to attain desired goals or objectives. In this
scenario narco-terrorism does just that. The drug trade via demand and
supply is the vehicle for narco-terrorist as they drive violence,
threat, intimidation, and fear for profit.

Mexico and counties in Central America lie directly between the drug
producing nations in South America and drug consumers in the United
States, this being a convenient conduit for illegal drug-trafficking
organizations that threaten our national security. Too, this sinister
and deadly link influences governments throughout the region.

As long as there are continuing demands for illicit drugs, weapons,
and other contraband among bordering counties, this region will remain
the primary transit zone. As for the United States, only an alert
nation, with a dedicated, clearly focused, and multi-agency
enforcement approach will protect our citizens from the death and
human destruction occurring within feet of our southern border. And
walls will not hide nor stop this specter from crossing over.

How strong is this illicit narcotics pipeline that flows relatively
unimpeded?

Today all seven Central American countries are used by major
trafficking organizations for smuggling between South America and
Mexico. An illicit drug transit zone littered with grim reminders of
those who have been bribed, kidnapped, tortured, and murdered.

The sad and sobering truth is that most Central American countries are
ill-equipped to handle the continuing growth and threat of violent
drug organizations and their associates. Weak economies, scarce
resources, and inadequate training dramatically increase the drug
lords, power to corrupt, and expand the difficulties of mounting
successful interdiction efforts against their onslaught. And
intimidation, violence, and corruption, the hallmarks of organized
crime, have the potential to destabilize the region.

Traffickers are influenced and educated through traditional terrorist
activities. This while law enforcement faces sophisticated weaponry
and tactics; elite transportation networks; and utilization of the
latest technology such as satellite telephones, text messaging, and
global positioning systems.

In addition, the criminals have adopted the compartmentalization of
many terrorist groups. Through this initiative, organizations are not
totally compromised if a particular cell is infiltrated or eliminated.
They operate on a "need to know" basis, and in many cases underlings
do not know who their superiors are in an organization's hierarchy or
the location of their base of operations.

Historically, the U.S. is a nation that respects visible signs of
authority such as badges, uniforms, and law enforcement. Recently,
Mexican officials in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulopas, intercepted an arsenal
of police uniforms, police and federal insignia, bullet proof vests,
gas mask, firearms, ammunition, handcuffs, night vision equipment, and
related gear.

This apparently being used by narco-terrorist in official disguise, to
spread their reign of terror and seek voluntary compliance from their
unwitting victims. Particularly frightening to U.S. citizens was the
seizure of an automobile with Texas license plates.

Furthermore, drug kingpins and their cartels have become increasingly
powerful by penetrating the protective shields of government and law
enforcement agencies working against them. This accomplished be
killing and corrupting police officers, politicians, judges,
journalist and others.

Latin America is seen as the birthplace of ideological terrorism,
which has traditionally used guerrilla warfare "in the name of
nationalism combined with economic revolution." Marxists and
non-Marxists alike believe North America's wealth has caused Latin
American poverty, a way of thinking that has manifested into regions
of organized crime, right-wing death squads, military juntas, and
other forms of fanaticism.

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela is an example of a leader, regime
and thinking that has become insistently confrontational towards the
U.S., our interest and ideology. World news reports have described
Chavez as hiding Colombian terrorist, and arming revolutionary cadres
all over Latin America. His close relationship with Fidel Castro, and
praise of the late revolutionary Che Guevara, are examples that breed
mistrust and fear in the U.S.

As well, the Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional recently reported that
Venezuela might be sending 30,000 automatic rifles to Argentina for
"reconditioning." Weapons "soon to be replaced by Russian-built
Kalashnikov" assault rifles, it said.

An estimated 1,100 drug related killings have taken place in Mexico
this year, with at least half of the deaths occurring along the
U.S.-Mexican border. And while violence, lawlessness and impunity on
the border are not options for U.S. interests, they are at America's
doorstep. The balance of power is shifting, and a wall will not stop
the move north.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin