Comments on: The Mexican Narco-Insurgency http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 20:40:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: RHK http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811016 RHK Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811016 Seems like the Cartels are just exercising free market principles and when they are infringed upon, they behave just like the US of A does. Substitute oil instead of drugs and no one would be shocked at what's happening. Seems like the Cartels are just exercising free market principles and when they are infringed upon, they behave just like the US of A does. Substitute oil instead of drugs and no one would be shocked at what’s happening.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811017 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811017 So brown is the new black???? I guess we will have to run that one past the NAACP. Remove the profit, and you remove the motivation. So brown is the new black???? I guess we will have to run that one past the NAACP.

Remove the profit, and you remove the motivation.

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-812556 Cowicide Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-812556 Amen. End of thread. Amen. End of thread.

]]> By: Nadreck http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811279 Nadreck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811279 In case no one's noticed, we lost the War On Drugs: all that remains to be seen is what Drugs' terms of surrender are. In case no one’s noticed, we lost the War On Drugs: all that remains to be seen is what Drugs’ terms of surrender are.

]]> By: Chris Arkenberg http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-813077 Chris Arkenberg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-813077 Good points, zombieite. Cartels do not control parts of Arizona but it's alarming and instructional that they are making such blatant incursions into the state. And equally alarming that state authorities can't manage an effective response. Note that Babeau is also asking for 3,000 US troops. Now, according to the Phoenix New Times, an Arizona neo-nazi militia is planning to run armed ops against the cartels along the border, with possible incursions into Mexico. This again reflects the inability of the state to act effectively, opening up opportunities for even the worst of domestic militias to step in. http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2010/06/post_5.php Good points, zombieite. Cartels do not control parts of Arizona but it’s alarming and instructional that they are making such blatant incursions into the state. And equally alarming that state authorities can’t manage an effective response. Note that Babeau is also asking for 3,000 US troops.

Now, according to the Phoenix New Times, an Arizona neo-nazi militia is planning to run armed ops against the cartels along the border, with possible incursions into Mexico. This again reflects the inability of the state to act effectively, opening up opportunities for even the worst of domestic militias to step in.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2010/06/post_5.php

]]> By: TharkLord http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-812062 TharkLord Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-812062 How are those billions of dollars getting back into Mexico? Truckloads of $100 bills? Transfers from American banks? Or is it just some guys dropping by the Western Union and wiring $100,000 to Grandma every hour? Wouldn't that be a little suspicious? I hear a lot about walls, guards and guns, but is there much being done to track the money flow? How are those billions of dollars getting back into Mexico? Truckloads of $100 bills? Transfers from American banks? Or is it just some guys dropping by the Western Union and wiring $100,000 to Grandma every hour? Wouldn’t that be a little suspicious? I hear a lot about walls, guards and guns, but is there much being done to track the money flow?

]]> By: SKR http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811305 SKR Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811305 "In case no one's noticed, we lost the War On Drugs: all that remains to be seen is what Drugs' terms of surrender are." or fight to the death. “In case no one’s noticed, we lost the War On Drugs: all that remains to be seen is what Drugs’ terms of surrender are.”

or fight to the death.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811050 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811050 I am not looking forward to whatever new business the cartels get into if they loose their major revenue stream through legalization. I am not looking forward to whatever new business the cartels get into if they loose their major revenue stream through legalization.

]]> By: Mark Frauenfelder http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811322 Mark Frauenfelder Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811322 Kidnapping, for starters. Kidnapping, for starters.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811328 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811328 Worse. Hollywood. Worse. Hollywood.

]]> By: cratermoon http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811335 cratermoon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811335 The cartels siphon about $1B in oil annually? Why aren't we hiring THEM to fix the Deepwater Horizon gusher? The cartels siphon about $1B in oil annually? Why aren’t we hiring THEM to fix the Deepwater Horizon gusher?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811105 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811105 Lord knows we have to keep marijuana illegal, because keeping marijuana illegal means that the incredibly lucrative drug trade has been wiped out forever. Lord knows we have to keep marijuana illegal, because keeping marijuana illegal means that the incredibly lucrative drug trade has been wiped out forever.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811106 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811106 Whatever business that is they're probably already in it. Guess where they got the startup capital? See also: alcohol prohibition. (Specifically, did Al Capone and his buddies get more or less powerful after congress passed the 21st amendment?) Whatever business that is they’re probably already in it. Guess where they got the startup capital?

See also: alcohol prohibition. (Specifically, did Al Capone and his buddies get more or less powerful after congress passed the 21st amendment?)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811128 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811128 "It's important to understand that the Mexican narco-insurgency is possibly the most direct threat to the stability of American communities, far more so than any of our foreign wars. " Wait? Did this article just try to scare me into thinking "The Mexicans are coming! The Mexicans are coming!" I'm pretty sure it's actually killer bees, bird flu, and Russians. “It’s important to understand that the Mexican narco-insurgency is possibly the most direct threat to the stability of American communities, far more so than any of our foreign wars. ”

Wait? Did this article just try to scare me into thinking “The Mexicans are coming! The Mexicans are coming!” I’m pretty sure it’s actually killer bees, bird flu, and Russians.

]]> By: Carl Rigney http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811134 Carl Rigney Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811134 Suggested reading for those interested in learning more:<br><em>Brave New War</em> by John Robb, and his Global Guerrillas blog.<br><em>Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers, and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy</em>, by Moises Naim.<br><em>Tequila Junction: 4th-Generation Counterinsurgency</em> by H. John Poole. Suggested reading for those interested in learning more:
Brave New War by John Robb, and his Global Guerrillas blog.
Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers, and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy, by Moises Naim.
Tequila Junction: 4th-Generation Counterinsurgency by H. John Poole.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811391 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811391 If it really is this bad, invade Mexico take the first 60 miles or borderlands and turn them into a buffer zone through which nothing passes. Turn the draft back on. That's what will happen, you know it, the Mexican G knows it, the cartels know it. If it really is this bad, invade Mexico take the first 60 miles or borderlands and turn them into a buffer zone through which nothing passes. Turn the draft back on. That’s what will happen, you know it, the Mexican G knows it, the cartels know it.

]]> By: zombieite http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-812928 zombieite Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-812928 I'm pro-legalization, and I do believe legalization will make the violent drug trade disappear overnight. That being said, it's a bit hyperbolic to say that "Mexican drug cartels now control parts of Arizona". Follow the links a bit, and the actual quote by Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu appears to be "We are outgunned, we are out manned and we don't have the resources here locally to fight this". Reporter MaryEllen Resendez takes this to mean "he no longer has control over parts of his county". She, or the headline writer, reinterprets that once again as "Mexican drug cartels now control parts of Arizona". Arizona is a really big place, and the illegal drug trafficking mostly hides way out in the middle of nowhere. I love Arizona, and it does concern me that there are beautiful, wild places that I probably shouldn't visit. But it's a bit spoiled of us to believe that we can always oursource or safety to police. Arizona makes it easy and legal to get a gun to defend yourself against "two-legged snakes" (criminals) when you're daring enough to venture into places where cell phones get no service and the nearest police are an hour's drive away. Finally, violent crime in El Paso and Phoenix has been dropping despite Sheriff Joe Arpaio's fearmongering and heavy-handed overreactions. http://reason.com/archives/2009/07/06/the-el-paso-miracle http://reason.com/blog/2010/05/25/what-the-new-fbi-crime-stats-s So, much as I'd like to scare everyone away from Arizona so I can have it to myself someday, it's not nearly the cartel-owned post-apocalyptic wasteland it's being made out to be. I’m pro-legalization, and I do believe legalization will make the violent drug trade disappear overnight.

That being said, it’s a bit hyperbolic to say that “Mexican drug cartels now control parts of Arizona”.

Follow the links a bit, and the actual quote by Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu appears to be “We are outgunned, we are out manned and we don’t have the resources here locally to fight this”.

Reporter MaryEllen Resendez takes this to mean “he no longer has control over parts of his county”. She, or the headline writer, reinterprets that once again as “Mexican drug cartels now control parts of Arizona”.

Arizona is a really big place, and the illegal drug trafficking mostly hides way out in the middle of nowhere. I love Arizona, and it does concern me that there are beautiful, wild places that I probably shouldn’t visit. But it’s a bit spoiled of us to believe that we can always oursource or safety to police. Arizona makes it easy and legal to get a gun to defend yourself against “two-legged snakes” (criminals) when you’re daring enough to venture into places where cell phones get no service and the nearest police are an hour’s drive away.

Finally, violent crime in El Paso and Phoenix has been dropping despite Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s fearmongering and heavy-handed overreactions.

http://reason.com/archives/2009/07/06/the-el-paso-miracle

http://reason.com/blog/2010/05/25/what-the-new-fbi-crime-stats-s

So, much as I’d like to scare everyone away from Arizona so I can have it to myself someday, it’s not nearly the cartel-owned post-apocalyptic wasteland it’s being made out to be.

]]> By: snsr http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811652 snsr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811652 @ackpht - Nobody has the right to tell me what I can and cannot do with my own body and mind, so long as I don't infringe upon others' similar liberties. This situation (prohibition and its consequences) is due largely to the actions of short-sighted fascists like you and your poor grasp of the concept of liberty. Mind your own fucking business. @ackpht – Nobody has the right to tell me what I can and cannot do with my own body and mind, so long as I don’t infringe upon others’ similar liberties. This situation (prohibition and its consequences) is due largely to the actions of short-sighted fascists like you and your poor grasp of the concept of liberty. Mind your own fucking business.

]]> By: ZDepthCharge http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811143 ZDepthCharge Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811143 "Between this article, the oil disaster,$Trillions worth of minerals in Afghanistan and our longest war when will it be too much?" When it breaks. Seriously. None of this shit is causing the U.S. to behave any differently. The somewhat more intelligent people on the coasts have ZERO infuence over the bahavior of the fucking morons in the heartland. The 'Fucking Morons' will continue along their lifescript until the machine, choking on its own miasma, breaks down and stops. This is the Christian deathwish writ large. And the fuckers are trying to take everyone else with them. “Between this article, the oil disaster,$Trillions worth of minerals in Afghanistan and our longest war when will it be too much?”

When it breaks.

Seriously. None of this shit is causing the U.S. to behave any differently. The somewhat more intelligent people on the coasts have ZERO infuence over the bahavior of the fucking morons in the heartland. The ‘Fucking Morons’ will continue along their lifescript until the machine, choking on its own miasma, breaks down and stops. This is the Christian deathwish writ large.
And the fuckers are trying to take everyone else with them.

]]> By: sdmikev http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811154 sdmikev Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811154 So simple to fix, but most governments don't have the guts to legalize drugs. Legalize everything, control the distribution of substances and crush immediately any violence associated with whatever black market trade stays. So simple to fix, but most governments don’t have the guts to legalize drugs.
Legalize everything, control the distribution of substances and crush immediately any violence associated with whatever black market trade stays.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811159 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811159 "I am not looking forward to whatever new business the cartels get into if they loose their major revenue stream through legalization." The US Military seems to have the lock-down on opiates through their work in Afghanistan, so not that. “I am not looking forward to whatever new business the cartels get into if they loose their major revenue stream through legalization.”

The US Military seems to have the lock-down on opiates through their work in Afghanistan, so not that.

]]> By: SKR http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811184 SKR Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811184 The problem with decriminalization is that it creates a sanctioned way to launder money. This is what happened in Amsterdam. It's like handing a gift to the cartels. The problem with decriminalization is that it creates a sanctioned way to launder money. This is what happened in Amsterdam. It’s like handing a gift to the cartels.

]]> By: SKR http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811191 SKR Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811191 Which is why I have an urge to punch people that try to lump them in with Libertarians (not saying you're doing that btw). Of course being a Libertarian I don't initiate violence so I smoke pot instead. Tea Partiers are not Libertarians. Libertarians hate the WoD, Iraq, and we think BP should be held liable for ALL the damage they have caused not just the tiny limit that both the Rep's and Dem's decided upon. Which is why I have an urge to punch people that try to lump them in with Libertarians (not saying you’re doing that btw). Of course being a Libertarian I don’t initiate violence so I smoke pot instead.

Tea Partiers are not Libertarians. Libertarians hate the WoD, Iraq, and we think BP should be held liable for ALL the damage they have caused not just the tiny limit that both the Rep’s and Dem’s decided upon.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811199 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811199 <blockquote>Tea Partiers are not Libertarians.</blockquote> TP darling Rand Paul is in favor of the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and wants to keep drugs illegal and make abortion illegal. He really seems to like BP, though.

Tea Partiers are not Libertarians.

TP darling Rand Paul is in favor of the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and wants to keep drugs illegal and make abortion illegal. He really seems to like BP, though.

]]> By: ackpht http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811460 ackpht Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811460 Legalize drugs? Not while I can vote. Legalize drugs? Not while I can vote.

]]> By: Ichabod http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-810961 Ichabod Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-810961 And decriminalizing drugs is worse than this. Between this article, the oil disaster,$Trillions worth of minerals in Afghanistan and our longest war when will it be too much? And decriminalizing drugs is worse than this.

Between this article, the oil disaster,$Trillions worth of minerals in Afghanistan and our longest war when will it be too much?

]]> By: Suds http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811474 Suds Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811474 ForaTv had a very educational lecture about some of the economic factors we see in this case. If this subject interests you I highly recommend watching it. http://fora.tv/2010/05/10/Nils_Gilman_Deviant_Globalization ForaTv had a very educational lecture about some of the economic factors we see in this case. If this subject interests you I highly recommend watching it.

http://fora.tv/2010/05/10/Nils_Gilman_Deviant_Globalization

]]> By: SKR http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-811225 SKR Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-811225 Good point Antinous. Why people think he is a libertarian is beyond me. Wars of adventure? Check. Corporeal Paternalism? Check. Corporatism? Check. Sounds like the old boss to me. Good point Antinous. Why people think he is a libertarian is beyond me. Wars of adventure? Check. Corporeal Paternalism? Check. Corporatism? Check. Sounds like the old boss to me.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-810970 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-810970 The strongest evidence that the Tea Party movement is full of ideologically inconsistent hypocrites is that they aren't gathering en masse to protest our government's War on Drugs. The strongest evidence that the Tea Party movement is full of ideologically inconsistent hypocrites is that they aren’t gathering en masse to protest our government’s War on Drugs.

]]> By: Phlip http://boingboing.net/2010/06/15/the-mexican-narco-in.html#comment-810971 Phlip Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-810971 But we've /always/ been at war with Oceania! But we’ve /always/ been at war with Oceania!

]]>