Monday, July 5, 2010

Mexico's Complex Struggle against Crime and Atrocities

By Jerry Brewer

A fluid strategy of engagement and containment of an enemy wanting to inflict massive violence and death on a homeland must include a comprehensive understanding of the real threat posed, as well as a strategic, intense and acute focus on the most viable options for success.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s recent speech to his nation emphasized zeal and personal passion for the security of the Mexican people, but little on associated infrastructure for the battle that looms ahead.  He boldly announced, “Under no circumstances will our government weaken its policy on democratic security.”  The latest Mexican election results could in fact disrupt his ambitious priorities.

Often, when it comes to formulating viable solutions to complex problems, cynicism raises its ugly head. Unfortunately, the symbolism of opinion in lieu of intestinal fortitude does nothing to protect and secure a homeland.  This is deeply inherent in much of the criticism of the use of the Mexican military as the lead enforcers in the intense conflict against murderous barbarians.

It is clear that President Calderon possesses the correct grasp of the realities of the war-like carnage that has gripped Mexico.  Too, it is clear within his actions and decisions that he is well-versed on the factual capabilities of this superior enemy that goes far beyond what U.S. law enforcers could even imagine within their own homeland and jurisdictions.

Mexico is facing and battling a new and deadly enemy on its soil that is far better trained in paramilitary tactics and special guerrilla-style insurgency than virtually any local, county, and state law enforcement agency.  The enemy’s armaments and capabilities rival any state militia or tactical military unit, short of tanks, artillery, and air support.  What part of this do the critics of Calderon’s use of the military to counter the offensive not understand?

When the murder, capture, torture, and beheading of Mexican police began as far back as 2005, it became clear that they were no longer dealing with routine enforcement actions.  In 2005, in Nuevo Laredo, nearly 200 people were murdered and other victims simply vanished.  Just as appalling, 20 police officers, including a chief of police and a Nuevo Laredo city councilman, have been gunned down in that city of around 335,000 people.  More recently, the armed violence resulted in the closing of that city's U.S. Consulate for a brief period of time.

That attack alone became a reoccurring nightmare for police and police administrators as the realities of AK-47 assault rifles, grenades, a rocket propelled grenade launcher and related automatic weapons were used against local police by the combatants.  As if that was not disturbing enough, a state policeman who asked not to be identified said that investigators found numerous photographs of municipal police officers at a battle site residence, and an apparent hit list of officials sentenced to death. Further intelligence revealed that each of the photographs listed the officer's name and assigned location, along with maps to their homes.

Meanwhile, back in Arizona during the 2005 time frame, two U.S. Border Patrol agents were wounded near Nogales, ambushed and shot by assailants dressed in black commando-type clothing.  More than 50 rounds were fired at the agents.  To aid in the combatants escape, one apparently remained behind and used a portable radio to pinpoint the agents' location for snipers hidden nearby.  Authorities said the gunmen fled using military-style cover and concealment tactics, while investigators later found commando clothing and other "sophisticated equipment" at the ambush attack site.

An embarrassing reality of this emerging threat more than five years ago, on U.S. soil, was — is — that it simply resulted in obscurely written reports detailing a rising number of assaults on Border Patrol agents in the Tucson-Nogales sector.

Since October 1, 2004, 196 assaults on U.S. agents, including 24 shootings, have been recorded.  As well, reportedly US$50,000 bounties were placed on Border Patrol agents, as well as state and local police officers.

Many people, including U.S. government policy makers, still question whether the U.S. has experienced “spillover” violence.  This elephant hiding under a leaf contiguous to the U.S. border for over five years is a massive beast that lives and wanders inconspicuously in our cities.

President Calderon knows that Mexico’s situation exceeds the capacity and resources of his jurisdictional police.  Too, he frankly admits, “And I want to be clear, ours is not a struggle solely or mainly against drug traffickers, it is a struggle against every expression of organized crime that affects citizens.”

This is a long-term endeavor and it requires anti-terrorism policing methods.

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Jerry Brewer is C.E.O. of Criminal Justice International Associates, a global risk mitigation firm headquartered in Miami, Florida.  His website is located at www.cjiausa.org.