Sylvia Longmire's Blog: Mexico's Drug War, page 5

"How Would Private Gun Ownership In Mexico Impact Border Security?"

Here's an excerpt from my latest article for Homeland Security Today's Correspondents Watch:

"“Legalization” is a loaded word in any conversation dealing with Mexico’s drug war. But it always seems to center around illegal drugs -- primarily marijuana. Not too many people, especially on the US side of the border, ever really debate legalizing something else: private gun ownership in Mexico... Some people might be surprised to learn that private ownership of a firearm in Mex...

A few words about Love Thy Neighbor, Mexico

A little over a year ago (maybe more, maybe less...my memory is like a sieve), I was asked to serve on the Board of Advisers for an organization out of Stanford University called Love Thy Neighbor, Mexico. In a nutshell, their goal is to educate people between the ages of 18-30 that American drug use/demand is one of the primary and immediate causes of the violence in Mexico. College kids are one of their largest target audiences, mostly because many use marijuana, and are more prone to exper...

"3 men with military ties arrested in murder-for-hire sting, DEA says."

Here's an excerpt from Mariano Castillo's article on CNN.com:

"It would have been one of the most audacious plots between a Mexican drug cartel and American conspirators: a murder-for-hire in South Texas. But the men who allegedly were prepared to use their U.S. military training to carry out a mission in Laredo, Texas, for the
Zetas drug cartel were not actually making arrangements with drug traffickers. They had walked into a Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation, and were...

"US Gangs That Work With Mexican TCOs — Spillover Or Standard Violence?"

Here's an excerpt from my latest article for Homeland Security Today's Correspondents Watch:

"In February 2012, two alleged members of the San Diego, Calif., gang Los Palillos ("the toothpicks") went on trial in San Diego for conspiracy to commit kidnapping for ransom and murder -- with gang and gun-use allegations. Jose Olivera Beritan and David Valencia were just two of the 17 gang members who were indicted in 2009 for murder and kidnapping charges. At the time, nine Palillos were already...

"Head of Northern Command says it is too early to tell if drug war in Mexico is being won."

Here's an excerpt from this article translation from Mexico's La Jornada, and found on America's MexicoBlog:

"The head of U.S. Northern Command said today it is 'too early to estimate whether the drug war in Mexico is being won or lost,' despite 'the brave decision' to put the military in the streets. Gen. Charles Jacoby, head of Northern Command (Northcom), responsible for U.S. military affairs in North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico), appeared today (Tuesday) before the Armed Services...

"US State Department Renews - And Extends - Mexico Travel Warning."

Here's an excerpt from my latest article for Homeland Security Today's Correspondents Watch:

"The last travel warning the US State Department issued for Mexico in April, 2011 sounded dire enough. It advised Americans to defer all non-essential travel to several parts of the country and detailed various violent events in different places throughout the nation. But the renewed travel warning issued Feb.8 added four more states to the ten that were identified in the previous warning, and it...

"Texans on wrong side of border fence grow anxious."

Here is an excerpt from Christopher Sherman's article for the Associated Press:

"Max Pons is already anticipating the anxiety he'll feel when the heavy steel gate shuts behind him, leaving his home isolated on a strip of land between America's border fence and the violence raging across the Rio Grande in Mexico. For the past year, the manager of a sprawling preserve on the southern tip of Texas has been comforted by a gap in the rust-colored fence that gave him a quick escape route north in...

"Where Does Border Security Rank In National Priorities?"

Here's an excerpt from my latest article for Homeland Security Today's Correspondents Watch:

"On January 24, President Obama delivered his fourth State of the Union address. Given the typical length of presidential State of the Union addresses, he was able to cover a wide variety of topics, with the American economy as the centerpiece – and for good reason. However, when discussing foreign policy and external threats, the southwest border merited one sentence; Mexico was never mentioned...

What's the real goal of ending the drug war?

I just finished watching another episode of "Drugs, Inc." on the National Geographic Channel, a show that explores the illegal drug trade through interviews with manufacturers, dealers, and users. This week's episode was called "Pill Nation," and focused on the American obsession with legal prescription drugs - particularly powerful opiates, like oxycodone.

Most disturbing to me was the segment on Tiffany, a mother-to-be who had been addicted to OxyContin for four years, and now her unborn...

"Why Border Violence Spillover Needs To Be Defined."

Here's an excerpt from my latest article for Homeland Security Today's Correspondents Watch:

"If you asked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano or El Paso Mayor John Cook if the violence associated with Mexico's bloody drug war has spilled over into the United States, their answer would be a resounding "No!" But if you asked Southwest border region sheriffs and ranchers whose properties run along the border, some would answer with a resounding "Yes!" So who's...