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U.S. war on drugs claims 15 young victims
Sat, 2011-01-08 18:12
#1
U.S. war on drugs claims 15 young victims
Sat, 2011-01-08 18:14
#2
[url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/01/08/acapulco-headless-bodies.html]D... bodies found in Acapulco[/url]
The bodies of 15 young men, 14 of them headless, were found Saturday outside a shopping centre in the Mexican resort of Acapulco, police said.
Police believe the victims, all appearing to be in their 20s, were killed and their bodies stuffed into five vehicles by drug cartel members.
Investigators say handwritten signs were left with the bodies, a common calling card for the country's cartels.
This was the largest single group of decapitation victims since Mexican President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against cartels more than four years ago.
Sat, 2011-01-08 19:14
#3
A terrible tragedy, and a situation I don't expect is going to get better anytime soon.
Sun, 2011-01-09 03:03
#4
Bec.De.Corbin
From Ju'arez, Mexico... 8 to 9 murders a night...
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/10/16/world/americas/1247464962911/j...
Sun, 2011-01-09 04:23
#5
Cueball
I was in Ciudad Juarez back in the nineties. I wouldn't even stop there now.
Sun, 2011-01-09 10:45
#6
I presume everyone here has at least heard about the "What do you want from us?" editorial in the Laredo newspaper:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/mexico/article/Juarez-editorial-ignites...
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2010/09/diario-juarez-editorial-...
Sun, 2011-01-09 12:37
#7
Bec.De.Corbin
Yeah I read it when it came out. I'm in El Paso rigth now and I can see Juarez from my hotel room as a matter of fact.
I got some kick ass boots made over there back before the troubles started and I used to buy bulk leather from over there, it was good quality and cheap. I don't even think about going over there now.
Sun, 2011-01-09 14:27
#8
Cueball
I presume everyone here has at least heard about the "What do you want from us?" editorial in the Laredo newspaper:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/mexico/article/Juarez-editorial-ignites...
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2010/09/diario-juarez-editorial-...
One of the consequences of increased enforcement against gangs is increased inter and intra-gang violence, since the removal of key power brokers in the gang structure leads to power struggles. For example, in this case violence in Juarez since 2008 seems to have been triggered by the arrest of one of the Beltran Leyva brothers, who was a major figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, whom some believe was set up by his boss. This alleged betrayal led to the present infighting, and the realignment of the Beltran-Leyva brothers with the enemies of the Sinaloa Cartel, the Zetas, Juarez and Gulf Cartels.
Indeed, the infighting prior to 2008 was partly caused by the arrest of the leader of the Gulf Cartel in 2003, because this was seen as an opportunity for the Sinaloa Cartel to increase its influence.
Most gangs are run by people who prefer an orderly house in which to do "business" and will opt for stability over conflict if given the choice, however government pressure and arrests lead to the breaking up of delicate power balances between competitors and allies.
Is it worth pointing out that the Zetas were founded by ex-Mexican Special forces, some of who were likely trained in the "School of the Americas", and run sophisticated tactical military operations, with a full compliment of small arms; Kevlar vests, helmets, M16's, Ak47's, rocket launchers and often pose as police?
I guess that is an old story, however, in answer to the question posed by El Diario what is notable about the recent Acapulco killings (which apparently is actually 27 individuals killed, including the 14 who were beheaded) is that the Sinaloa Cartel considers what they did to be a public service to the community, since they left notes with the bodies saying: "Compliments to all citizens, and will not be charged fees. Sincerely El Chapo Guzman".
Sun, 2011-01-09 23:42
#9
Bec.De.Corbin
I guess that is an old story, however, in answer to the question posed by El Diario what is notable about the recent Acapulco killings (which apparently is actually 27 individuals killed, including the 14 who were beheaded) is that the Sinaloa Cartel considers what they did to be a public service to the community, since they left notes with the bodies saying: "Compliments to all citizens, and will not be charged fees. Sincerely El Chapo Guzman".
So the Sinaloa cartel is trying to act as protectors of the people... by slaughtering 27 interloping thugs. This shows you what the Mexican government is up against.
Reforma said they apparently indicated the victims were killed by the Sinaloa cartel for trying to intrude on the gang's turf and extort residents.
Mon, 2011-01-10 00:14
#10
Not to divert this thread or draw too close a parallel (because there are some differences), but I think in most company towns the business owner assumes that what is good for business is good for the community, whether it is entirely true or not.
What is most signigicant is not whether that business is legal or illegal, but the degree to which it supports and/or harms the community.
Mon, 2011-01-10 13:45
#11
So the Sinaloa cartel is trying to act as protectors of the people... by slaughtering 27 interloping thugs. This shows you what the Mexican government is up against.
The point is that the cartels are the Mexican government, both literally and figuratively.
Mon, 2011-01-10 13:45
#12
Bec.De.Corbin
I understand what you're saying: a "Pax Sinaloa" if you will. The Sinaloa cartel quietly runs its smuggling operation out of site while the town, under the cartels protection, runs its tourist industry safe from the crime and violence that scares tourists away.