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Mexican Army takes over customs on Mexican Side of border
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:14 pm
by dicion
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This just in:
Mexico Fired Tons of their border agents, and put the army in charge of the border.
NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico — Mexico's Army took control of customs Sunday on the busy US border, as federal authorities pulled agents off the job in a massive anti-corruption shakeup, officials told AFP.
An Interior Ministry official said the dismissals were being carried out at all Mexican border facilities, and that the customs agents were being replaced.
Customs agents were sacked after some were found to be linked to contraband operations, according to sources at the ministry.
Agents in Nuevo Laredo, on the border with the southern US state of Texas, were called in Saturday to be told they were fired, and to hand in their badges and weapons. A total of 1,100 agents were sacked, Mexican media said.
Army troops took over customs border posts temporarily on Sunday.
Mexico and the United States share a border that stretches across some 2,000 miles (3,220 kilometers) and are partners with Canada in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Mexico is in the midst of a raging war on organized crime, and has expressed serious concern about US weapons crossing into the country.
During a visit to Mexico last week, US President Barack Obama praised President Felipe Calderon for his controversial military crackdown on the country's drug gangs, which involves more than 36,000 troops.
The United States has pledged around 1.6 billion dollars to tackle drug trafficking in Mexico and Central America under the Merida Initiative, which also includes funds for training and equipment to boost security on the Mexican side of the border.
The Obama administration has acknowledged the US role in the violence, pledging to stem the flow of weapons into Mexico and curb demand for drugs in the United States, one of the world's top cocaine consumers.
Re: Mexican Army takes over customs on US border
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:21 pm
by Beiruty
To solve the problem and once for all. Lay mines on the border, if not possible. Authorize deadly force (shoot to kill, on the site) for any illegal border crossing. Problem solved. No more drugs, and no more illegal draining the health care and schooling system in the southern states.
Radical majors, maybe. But if Mexico Army take over all the border control and fires all the custom agents, then something major has to happen on the other side.
Re: Mexican Army takes over customs on Mexican Side of border
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:25 pm
by TheArmedFarmer
Those are all good ideas.
I would supplement them with another idea: stop welfare altogether, at least for illegals. If you're not documented, then no free handouts. Of course, even better would be no free handouts altogether, but we've gotta start somewhere.
Re: Mexican Army takes over customs on Mexican Side of border
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:35 pm
by stevie_d_64
Whats funny to me is that there are people who believe the mexcian drug cartels (now being called full fledged mafioso's) didn't know this was going to happen...
They just traded the old guard, with the new guard...It'll be the same ole same ole...
Re: Mexican Army takes over customs on Mexican Side of border
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:08 am
by Liberty
Does anyone really believe that the the Mexican Army is less corrupt than their border patrol?
Re: Mexican Army takes over customs on Mexican Side of border
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:48 am
by GaryAdrian
My wife and I had a long discussion this morning on the way in to work. (we carpool)
The simple answer is to put "Bulls Eye" targets along the entire US and Mexico boarder. Then open it to the public as a free NRA Range and you get extra points for the "Moving Targets"!
Re: Mexican Army takes over customs on Mexican Side of border
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:44 pm
by TDDude
Liberty wrote:Does anyone really believe that the the Mexican Army is less corrupt than their border patrol?
Not this dude. All this means is that someone didn't get there payoff in time. I hate to be this cynical but unless there is a program that rotates the soldiers AND THEIR COMMANDERS every 6 weeks or so, it's just a sham. Having new faces and new bosses every few weeks would go a long way to keeping the corruption at least in check.
Re: Mexican Army takes over customs on Mexican Side of border
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:46 pm
by WildBill
I think I'll stay on the north side of the border.
