March of soldiers on the border?

A thank you to a South Texas Grackle who sent the following along to me tonight, and before you read it, understand that it is from one source, but it fits with what is being reported across the web about Northern Mexico.

"Sources at Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx state that the Mexican Army is poised to move troops to the Reynosa/Matamoros area with roughly 1500-2000 troops being sent to Matamoros. The goal is to create a pincer movement to put the squeeze on the cartels. The troop movement will occur after the Troops in the Southern part of Mexico finish up with the crop burning detail they are currently engaged in.

Look for a push against the cartels in the next few weeks.

On the US side, we are on high alert and have deployed rapid response teams, very much like SWAT from all over the country. They are manning the bridges 24/7 and can be seen wearing full tactical gear and carrying M4’s- of course, all personnel are wearing body armor."

Now, Stratfor just released a new article entitled, Mexico: The Third War, and states:

By Fred Burton and Scott Stewart

Mexico has pretty much always been a rough-and-tumble place. In recent years, however, the security environment has deteriorated rapidly, and parts of the country have become incredibly violent. It is now common to see military weaponry such as fragmentation grenades and assault rifles used almost daily in attacks.

AND

Make no mistake, considering the military weapons now being used in Mexico and the number of deaths involved, the country is in the middle of a war. In fact, there are actually three concurrent wars being waged in Mexico involving the Mexican drug cartels. The first is the battle being waged among the various Mexican drug cartels seeking control over lucrative smuggling corridors, called plazas. One such battleground is Ciudad Juarez, which provides access to the Interstate 10, Interstate 20 and Interstate 25 corridors inside the United States. The second battle is being fought between the various cartels and the Mexican government forces who are seeking to interrupt smuggling operations, curb violence and bring the cartel members to justice.

We also have the following warning:

Travel Alert
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs

This information is current as of today, Thu Feb 26 2009 00:35:07 GMT-0600 (Central Standard Time).

Mexico

February 20, 2009

This Travel Alert updates security information for U.S. citizens traveling and living in Mexico. It supersedes the Travel Alert for Mexico dated October 15, 2008, and expires on August 20, 2009.

While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year (including thousands who cross the land border every day for study, tourism or business), violence in the country has increased recently. It is imperative that travelers understand the risks of travel to Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and whom to contact if one becomes a crime victim. Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.

Crime and Violence Throughout Mexico

The greatest increase in violence has occurred near the U.S. border. However, U.S. citizens traveling throughout Mexico should exercise caution in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Mexican and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in violent attacks in cities across the country, demonstrating the heightened risk of violence in public places. In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped across Mexico. Many of these cases remain unresolved. U.S. citizens who believe they are being targeted for kidnapping or other crimes should notify Mexican officials and the nearest American consulate or the Embassy as soon as possible, and should consider returning to the United States.

I did read that 40 pounds of cocaine were seized at the border:

February 23, 2009 - 7:24 PM

The Monitor

PHARR | DRUGS SEIZURE

About 40 pounds of cocaine were seized Friday in two separate border inspections.

Customs and Border Protection officers found a cocaine package hidden in the oil pan of a Jeep Cherokee on the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge, a CBP news release says. Anita DePlanty, 30, of Houston, was arrested on federal drug charges.

Two hours later, officers working at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge found 11 packages of cocaine hidden in the wheel well of a Ford EcoSport. Two Reynosa residents, Ernesto Hernandez Aguilar, 28, and Blas Zuniga Torres, 24, were arrested on drug charges.

The street value for both seizures is $1.3 million.

Then Sunday, the San Juan, Texas police nabbed an 18-wheeler with $3.5 million in cocaine:

SAN JUAN — Police pulled over a tractor-trailer Sunday that was carrying a load of cucumbers - and about $3.5 million worth of cocaine.

The traffic stop occurred about 4:23 p.m. on the 1400 block of the eastbound Expressway 83 frontage road, said Investigator Rolando Garcia, a San Juan police spokesman.

A San Juan patrol sergeant saw the driver of the semitrailer fail to use his turn signal during a lane change on the frontage road, so the officer pulled over the rig, according to a police statement.

You should read the comments by the locals for a better understanding of that lane change, and I must also point out that last Friday, Border Patrol seized more than two tons of marijuana near Escobares, Texas:

February 20, 2009 - 10:45 PM
The Monitor

FOR THE RECORD

ESCOBARES | DRUG SEIZURE

U.S. Border Patrol agents seized more than 2 tons of marijuana Thursday after spotting several men loading a GMC cargo van with the narcotics.

Agents from the Rio Grande City station seized the 166 bundles of marijuana while conducting surveillance along the Rio Grande, according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The men fled toward Mexico when the agents approached the van and identified themselves.

No one was arrested.

The 4,159 pounds of marijuana seized by the agents has an estimated street value of more than $3 million.

However, all of this pales in comparison with the knowledge that the Mayor of Ciudad Juarez is alive and well- in El Paso Texas:

After threats, Juárez mayor in El Paso
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 02/24/2009 12:00:00 AM MST

EL PASO -- Police are investigating threats against Juárez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz, who moved his family to El Paso for safety, El Paso police Detective Carlos Carrillo said Monday.

"We received information that the Juárez mayor lives in El Paso, and that possibly they were going to come to El Paso to get him," Carrillo said. "He has not asked us for our help, but it's our duty to protect any resident of our city who may be under threat."

Juárez police said written threats against Reyes Ferriz and his family were left in different parts of Juárez after the police chief, Roberto Orduña Cruz, resigned Friday. The threats were written on the kind of banners and posters that the Juárez drug cartel has used to send messages to police and others.

Meanwhile, Mexican authorities were unraveling a shooting Sunday in Chihuahua City that killed one of Chihuahua Gov. Jose Reyes Baeza Terraza's bodyguards.

Alejandro Chaparro Coronel died while defending another state agent in a convoy. He was a commander who served on the Chihuahua state police force for 11 years.

The assailants wounded two other bodyguards, both also members of the state police.

Mexican officials said police returned fire and wounded one suspect, Eduardo Hernandez Valdez, 36. He served in the Mexican army from 2001 to 2003.

Sorry to read of the death of his bodyguard, and my condolences go out to his family, but I must confess, the stupidest thing about all of this is the Department of Homeland Security:

Homeland Security official affirms Mexican drug cartel violence has spilled over into Texas

By Brandi Grissom / Austin Bureau
Posted: 02/24/2009 12:00:00 AM MST

AUSTIN -- Violence from Mexican drug cartels has spilled over into Texas, state Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw said Monday.

"Yes, absolutely it has occurred; there's no question about it," McCraw said after a hearing before the House Committee on Border and International Affairs.

No Shit Sherlock!

Repeat after me- FAILED STATE! (and not just Mexico).

Now, all of this is occurring while the CONVICT Bobby Rush pushes his victim disarmament bill- yeah convict, keep pushing. We here in Texas REALLY will give them up- but it will be ONE ROUND AT A TIME you coward!

Though it should go without saying, I will say it anyway, keep your powder dry and continue to prepare.

WP