Mexico Army Likely Part of Border Incident
By ALICIA A. CALDWELL (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
January 28, 2006 4:41 AM EST
EL PASO, Texas - It wasn't just Mexican military-style uniforms that suspected drug runners were wearing when they were confronted by Texas lawmen,
the Hudspeth County sheriff says.
The men carried Mexican military-issue weapons and drove a military Humvee, said Arvin West, whose officers who were involved in the standoff.
"It was military," he said Friday. "Due to the pending congressional hearings I can't comment further."
West said the determination that the equipment was military-issue came from the federal government, but he would not elaborate.
A U.S. Army spokesman said he could not confirm West's statement, and the Mexican Foreign Relations Department said it would have no comment.
The Mexican government has denied that any soldiers were involved in the standoff Monday in a remote spot along the Rio Grande in West Texas. The
smugglers escaped back across the border without a shot fired, abandoning more than a half-ton of marijuana as they fled.
Mexican officials have said the uniforms and other equipment could have been stolen.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and other officials have said they will seek hearings investigating such border incursions.
U.S. Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar, in El Paso Friday, said he could not rule out Mexican soldiers' involvement in the standoff at Neely's
Crossing, about 50 miles east of El Paso.
In Mexico, kidnappers and drug smugglers regularly wear police gear, which is sold at street stands.
On Thursday, Mexico's foreign relations secretary suggested the smugglers may have been U.S. soldiers or American criminals disguised as Mexican
troops.
Aguilar said he has spoken with his Mexican counterparts and was assured that an intense investigation is under way in Mexico.
A California newspaper reported this month that Mexican military units had crossed into the United States 216 times since 1996. It cited a Department
of Homeland Security document, but department Secretary Michael Chertoff has said many of those incidents were just mistakes.
Also Friday, Aguilar said Border Patrol and other law enforcement are reporting that a new violent tactic is being used against them. They said they
are being targeted by "flaming rocks," rocks wrapped in cloth, dipped in gasoline, set on fire and thrown across the border.
Most of the incidents have happened near San Diego, and one officer has been injured, he said.
Authorities fear a deadly confrontation as attacks against Border Patrol agents increase. Last fiscal year there were 778 reported incidents, compared
with 396 in 2004.Dave - 1-30-2006 at 09:01 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Cincodemayo
On Thursday, Mexico's foreign relations secretary suggested the smugglers may have been U.S. soldiers or American criminals disguised as Mexican
troops.
That's what I'd do.
Keep a low profile. Taco de Baja - 2-1-2006 at 08:28 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Cincodemayo
On Thursday, Mexico's foreign relations secretary suggested the smugglers may have been U.S. soldiers or American criminals disguised as Mexican
troops.
He's about as believable as 'Baghdad Bob' the Iraqi spokesmen who during the first days of the invasion of Iraq said "the Americans are nowhere near
Baghdad" as plumes of smoke are rising in the behind him from US bombs.
This would be funny if it wasn't so serious.surfer jim - 2-1-2006 at 09:19 AM
Taco...you beat me to it.....Baghdad Bob is/was my favorite ....does he speak Spanish also?.....JESSE - 2-2-2006 at 09:01 PM
I can see Narcotraffickers dressing like Mexican soldiers, driving Humvess, but no self respecting drug dealer would carry those old french made
assault rifles, so as you see, my opinion is that those where definately soldiers. This will drag on for a while longer, the Mexicans denying it, the
americans PRETENDING they want to know the truth, but in reality both want to bury this and move on.
Insulting
MrBillM - 2-3-2006 at 10:51 AM
It's true that the FN FALs carried by the average trooper are old and well-worn with the surface finish down to bare metal, but the FAL is still being
purchased new for service by Armies in the Third World. It was, and is, a first-class rifle when new.
BTW, FN is a "Belgian", not French, company.
[Edited on 2-3-2006 by MrBillM]Dave - 2-3-2006 at 12:43 PM
I can attest to FN workmanship. I have a FN Browning 'sweet' 16 that is a prize possession. However, FN no longer manufactures the FAL. Don't know who
does now.
