Sylvia Longmire's Blog: Mexico's Drug War, page 7

Doing five live radio interviews on 10/13 to promote NatGeo's "Border Wars"

OK...whew! I'm doing FIVE live radio interviews tomorrow (Thursday, Oct. 13) to help promote National Geographic Channel's "Border Wars," with a sprinkling of Cartel thrown in. Here's the schedule, in case you live in any of these listening areas (all times are local):

8:10am EST - AM Tampa Bay on WFLA Radio, Tampa, FL

7:35am CST - Morning Show, KCRS AM, Odessa/Midland, TX

7:05am PST - Bob Rivers, 95.7 KJR, Seattle, WA

10:35am EST - America's Radio News Network (TRN), Washington, DC

3:30 pm...

"U.S. Accuses Iranians of Plotting to Kill Saudi Envoy."

Here is an excerpt from J. David Goodman's article in The New York Times:

"Federal authorities foiled a plot by men linked to the Iranian government to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States and to bomb the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said in a news conference on Tuesday. Mr. Holder said the plot began with a meeting in Mexico in May, "the first of a series that would result in an international conspiracy by elements of the Iranian...

Congratulations to the winners of the "Cartel" giveaway!

I'd like to congratulate Mike Blakesley, Jose De Avila, and David Fielding for being randomly selected to receive a signed copy of my new book, Cartel: The Coming Invasion of Mexico's Drug Wars!

I've emailed the three of you with instructions for claiming your prize, but in case you don't receive it, please contact Adam Pendergraph of 1105 Media (sponsors of the giveawar for the GovSec West conference) at apendergraph@1105media.com with your contact/mailing information.

Thanks again to all...

"Paramilitaries may have entered Mexico's drug wars."

Here is an excerpt from Tim Johnson's article for McClatchy Newspapers:

"The gruesome discovery of 32 bodies scattered in houses in the port city of Veracruz this week is the latest sign that Mexico's drug-fueled violence is entering a new phase in which murky paramilitary-style squads are carrying out mass exterminations... It was the latest ghastly event to send shudders through Veracruz. Two weeks ago, gunmen dumped 35 semi-nude, mutilated bodies along a freeway underpass in Veracruz in...

PODCAST: Interview with Dr Kevin Sabet, former Senior Policy Advisor to ONDCP Director

I was very excited to speak with Dr Sabet this morning for my latest podcast because, personally, I've been going back and forth regarding my stance regarding the legalization of drugs. In my last podcast, I spoke with the Director of Texas NORML, who is clearly in favor of legalizing marijuana. There are also many well-respected authorities on drugs and drug policy, like Dr Sanho Tree, who feel that ending drug prohibition makes sense if done properly, and would put an end to the violence...

Interview with BBC World Service "Newshour" on 10/05

I just finished an interview for the BBC World Service's radio program, "Newshour," during which we discussed the premise of the Mexican government making a deal or arrangement with the TCOs, and on the impact of potentially designating the TCOs as foreign terrorist groups.

BBC World Radio 100511

Texas Public Radio Interview on 9/28

My apologies for taking a while to get this posted! If you're interested in listening to my brief (and heavily edited) interview on Texas Public Radio from last week, just click on the player below.

TX Public Radio 092811

Top Ten Myths about Mexico's Drug War

Although the number of reports about the drug war south of the border has increased in the last few years, it's still miniscule compared to the volume of news about Afghanistan, the economy, and the 2012 US presidential election. As such, the bits of information the American public gets exposed to can often be skewed, and present a haphazard impression of the drug war and the impact it has on US national security.

To help clarify some of the major issues surrounding the drug war and border...

"Perry puts focus on border."

Here is an excerpt from my recently published opinion piece in The Houston Chronicle: 

"Although a late entry into the 2012 presidential race, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is already considered a front-runner. In the Sept. 22 GOP debate, he engaged in a spirited back-and- forth with several of the other candidates - Mitt Romney in particular - over Social Security, immigration and foreign policy, and is definitely in the media spotlight for many of his responses - for better or for worse. It's...

Partnership with GovSec West for a "Cartel" Giveaway!

GovSec West is a security conference taking place in Phoenix, AZ on November 14-16, 2011. It provides relevant and timely insights, tools and tactics to anticipate, prepare, prevent and respond to terrorism, accidental and natural disasters, and attacks on critical infrastructure. I will be both a participant and a presenter, providing a session on the impact of the debate over border violence spillover. I'll also be doing a joint book signing with keynote speaker and good friend Nicholas...