Monday, November 24, 2008

Unity Needed to Fight Crime and Gangs in the Americas

By Jerry Brewer

Turmoil throughout the Americas remains an unsettling prognosis for the western hemisphere.  In particular, Latin America decries a quick and focused reckoning as much of the region has taken a backseat to the attention of other world events.

However, where is the moral outrage for the plight of U.S. southern neighbors as rivers of blood appear to remain a confluence of conjecture?

The intense violence in Latin America, coupled with uncertainty of the direction of left-leaning Latin regimes, forms an equation that adds to the sum of factual references that include the influence of transnational organized criminal elements.  Much of this totality equates to a sort of multinational corporation of radicalized components within a loosely formed sphere of activity contributing to the peril of these democratic nations.

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan that have previously taken center stage to world attention and agendas have metamorphosed into more complex international intangibles.  These complexities, although currently lacking clear definition, paint a dull picture of progress for free nations.

Russia's reminiscent cold-war stratagems in the form of movement throughout former Soviet-bloc countries must be suspect for democratically elected governments worldwide.  Too, Russia is led by a large contingent of former KGB officials.

Former Soviet activity and insurgency throughout Latin America, along with Cuban elements as willing partners, is notoriously legendary.  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's rogue proclivities in embracing revolution for revolution sake are factually noted in his mandates for "soviet style" intelligence/espionage training and a model for his people.  Russia's recent "military maneuvers" in Venezuela, as well as Chavez's statements proclaiming the need for security as his rationalizing method of Russian camaraderie, speaks loudly to neighbors.

Recent reports note Venezuela as the world's "number 1 murder capital."  Chavez's ten-year rule has been significantly marked by unrest and disorder.  Much of this attributed to "increased drug and gang violence."  Both Venezuela and Bolivia have since refused to cooperate with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, contrary to joint antidrug initiatives in the past.  

Mexican drug cartels and their associated violence have resulted in approximately 4,000 deaths in Mexico this year alone.  Nearly 200 cities in the U.S. are reported to be experiencing murder, kidnappings, and related crimes linked to the Mexican organized criminals. 

Yet United States and Mexican law enforcement authorities have seen notable progress in the fight against drug trafficking, much of which is due to mutual cooperation and the targeting of the drug cartel's criminal hierarchy.

The aggressive war led by Mexican President Felipe Calderon, against the cartels, is in part due to the cartel's flagrant attacks on innocent victims that include women and children.  Proactively shifting to a strategy of hunting flesh in lieu of drugs within the organized criminal hierarchy, success has been shown by the arrests and capture of notorious leaders who had long evaded authorities.  Many of the remaining traffickers are fighting to replace former leaders and lucrative drug routes, as well as an attempt to back Calderon's forces off of the hunt.

The unified tactical strategies by U.S. and Mexican authorities, in engaging the leadership hierarchy, embraces the strategic premise that an illicit organization is built around a pyramid of leaders.  This bold approach of being flexible and adaptable in pursuing the human elements is part of the learning curve that educates organized trafficking groups that they are not beyond the reach of enforcement efforts.  Multiagency approaches and jurisdictional cooperation is one of the strongest and more intricate strategies in dismantling these organized criminal syndicates.

Mexican law enforcement authorities are being tested to the extreme between the intense violence of the drug traffickers, gangs, the flow of weapons into Mexico, and human trafficking.  It has also been reported that Cuban migrants are heading to Mexico in record numbers for easier access to the United States.  Last year over 11,000 Cubans were counted.

As the U.S. leadership begins its change from now through the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, the new administration will be tested on a global basis by the radicalization process that stems from Al Qaeda and other terrorist organization leaders.  Al Qaeda's "second in command," Ayman al-Zawahri, has urged attacks on "criminal" America, while slamming Obama for vowing to back Israel and "turning his back on his Islamic roots."

U.S. leaders must continue to reject extremist ideologies throughout Latin America, and they must denounce those leftist regimes that do not value life and human rights.  As well, there must be continued pressure on Havana and Caracas to conform and unite on those agendas, while all must fight organized criminals and gang proliferation throughout the Americas.

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Jerry Brewer is Vice President of Criminal Justice International Associates, a global risk mitigation firm headquartered in Miami, Florida.