BajaNomad - US Reporting on Drug Cartels

US Reporting on Drug Cartels

comitan - 1-26-2009 at 12:45 PM

A personalized perspective on the Drug Cartels from a Blogger;

Well it is a long and complicated story. One that I know of from a perspective different then reading in the paper.
I did talk to an old friend from US Customs while in Houston. He said a LOT of the rhetoric is from various governmental agencies trying to "beef" up their funding for their agency at the expense of Mexico - ie, DEA, Border Patrol, Homeland Security. You see those agencies weren't around 15 years ago when all of the borders were the responsibility of US Customs-even drug interdiction. He smirked as he talked about it. The sad thing is that it gives Mexico a "black" eye AND certainly hurts the economy.
My tour group has cancelled their trip here in August thanks to those articles in the Houston Chronicle!

Babs

CaboRon - 1-26-2009 at 04:57 PM

The only way to get Mexico to clean up their act is to cut off the money.

It is the consumers ultimate weapon.

How can you possibly blame the reporting of the news.

Mexico is corrupt to the highest levels of her government.

The public needs to be kept informed of the state of affairs down here.

CaboRon

spelling

[Edited on 1-27-2009 by CaboRon]

Bajahowodd - 1-26-2009 at 05:58 PM

There is a good point made here. I know that some of you who are living in or near the areas of the greatest violence rightfully have a perspective eminating from your own proximity. But I have to say that i was quite shocked when folks within our own government lumped Mexico with countries like Afganistan and Pakistan. the idea that it will somehow aid certain agencies requests for funding makes sense. Not to mention that many Mexican politicians and journalists point to the fact that most of the country is quiet and safe. I really don't think someone living in Merida shares the same heightened sense of gloom as someone living in Juarez.

Mango - 1-27-2009 at 12:10 AM

"Just another nice day in Mexico", does not sell very many newspapers...

The press is in it to make money. The press get used and manipulated by people trying to further agendas all the time.

The press in the USA is more able to accurately report about the narcos as they don't have to worry about being killed as much as the Mexican press does. However; the truth is not the priority in the USA. It's money.

Journalistic ethics is a huge issue that most people really don't have a good grip on. I spent a short time working for a large magazine and found out quickly, they would not review, or review favorably, products unless they advertised in the magazine. That is the norm for most publishers, and the public really has no idea. It's pay to play.

Nowadays, the news is just a way to make money by selling ad space, period.

motoged - 1-27-2009 at 01:04 AM

CR,
I do believe that Mexico is not the only North American country that is so corrupt...

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=oszATUJ4IRE&feature=related

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
<snip....
How can you possibly blame the reporting of the news.

Mexico is corrupt to the highest levels of her government.

The public needs to be kept informed of the state of affairs down here.

[Edited on 1-27-2009 by CaboRon]

CaboRon - 1-27-2009 at 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged
CR,
I do believe that Mexico is not the only North American country that is so corrupt...

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=oszATUJ4IRE&feature=related

Quote:

It may not be the only country that is corrupt,

However that does not excuse the corruption .

And we happen to be discussing Mexico in this forum.

CaboRon

oldlady - 1-27-2009 at 06:50 AM

In this thread we seem to be discussing a perspective of Mexico by the US media and some governmental agencies. If corruption comes into the discussion...well the pot may be calling the kettle...

Isn't the core issue still illegal drug use in the US..and that's been beaten to death. I'm too much the cynic to believe our charitable and peace loving fellow citizens north of the border would just voluntarily stop using drugs altogether instead of feeding this carnage.

Comitan's friend makes a good point. There's a stampede for a piece of the stimulus pie that is about to come out of Washington. Raising the volume, the awareness and possibly exaggerating the situation in Mexico would be consistent with tactics that we've seen used before to gain support for increased funding.

[Edited on 1-27-2009 by oldlady]

The Gull - 1-27-2009 at 07:20 AM

Where is it in the US news reporting social consciousness to write a headline: "Unrelenting Drug Use by Americans Devastates and Destabilizes Yet Another Latin Country"?

It could cover the rampart use of drugs in Hollywood and in our universities.

Are those areas too protected by the miserable liberals?

oldlady - 1-27-2009 at 07:33 AM

Yes.

CaboRon - 1-27-2009 at 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by memin.pinguin

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
The only way to get Mexico to clean up their act is to cut off the money.

It is the consumers ultimate weapon.

How can you possibly blame the reporting of the news.

Mexico is corrupt to the highest levels of her government.

The public needs to be kept informed of the state of affairs down here.

CaboRon

spelling

[Edited on 1-27-2009 by CaboRon]

The only way to get Mexico to clean up their act is to cut off the money. <----- false!

The only way no drug business in that dimension from thru and from Mexico is when there are no more buyers of the drugs! Who's buying....... ??

And that is not going to happen...

If they can't keep a clean house we should cut off every cent and let Mexico collapse to their drug loards.

Mexico has blamed the USA for everything bad that has happened ....

Time the Mexicans take a little responsibility for their crap ...

And stop this passive-aggresive behavior towerd the good people of the United States of America.

CaboRon

gnukid - 1-27-2009 at 11:13 AM

Ron

Its possible that the internal politics of Mexico and the United States and their historical inter-relationship are so complex, intertwined and compartmentalized and therefore impossible for hardly any one individual to understand the true operations of military, mafia and government and how contraband and commercial goods pass and how deals are made and by whom.

But, we certainly know corruption is not implicitly centrally controlled by anyone group, although surely attempts to maintain power are constant. There is a constant organic change to these agreements to coexist and allow trafficking.

It seems that the one constant is the blatent corruption by many high level key people, who "look the other way" along with denial by many, of obvious absolute cooperation of some public figures to transact and move drug sales across borders.

CaboRon - 1-27-2009 at 11:31 AM

Corruption is endemic to Mexico ...

There culture is rotten to the core ....

You can blame the Catholic church for much of what has gone wrong ....

CaboRon

Iflyfish - 1-27-2009 at 11:37 AM

When they do lab research on stock market "bubbles", by providing subjects with "money" to "wager" on the stock market the result is ALWAYS a bubble. Drugs have existed in all cultures over all time. So maybe greed and the need to change consciousness are inate to human nature. Both are clearly at work in this current situation.

Iflyfish

motoged - 1-28-2009 at 12:07 AM

Ron,
I must point out that this thread is about "US Reporting...", and NOT Mexico...

As such, the "endemic corruption" has to include the role the US has in reporting on drug cartels...especially since their not-so-covert involvement in a range of drug cartels places them as a cartel.

The "good people" of the US deserve better than the glop they get fed in their government's propaganda that suggests everyone else is to blame...

We don't even need a good conspiracy theory when we just need to get accurate information regarding US complicity in drug trade around the world. I am not singling out the USA in this regard...but, rather, am encouraging this discussion to step beyond simply blaming Mexico (which, Ron, also has good people) for "US Reporting..."

Now, I am not a fan of the Catholic church for a litany of reasons, but had to smile when I saw you bringing them into this fray....it was a comical extrapolation.

What puzzles me, is your condemnation of a country and a people when you choose to be a guest residing there...

Ron, corruption unfortunately seems to be part of the human condition around the world....but only the corrupt are corrupt.

So, read the intro title of this thread before you condemn the facts I presented to the dung heap just because the facts don't fit with your opinion.

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
Corruption is endemic to Mexico ...

There culture is rotten to the core ....

You can blame the Catholic church for much of what has gone wrong ....

CaboRon

Bajahowodd - 1-28-2009 at 12:15 AM

Since the United States has the highest per capita illicit drug consumption in the world, do you blame corruption in Mexico for that?

motoged - 1-28-2009 at 12:38 AM

Uhhhh.... that would be the fault of the Evangelicals or Baptists....as the Catholic church has already been assigned to Mexico... :lol:

oldlady - 1-28-2009 at 06:44 AM

:lol:

Good point, motoged, let's march on all those evil protestants and close down those drug dens they call churches!

CaboRon - 1-28-2009 at 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged
Uhhhh.... that would be the fault of the Evangelicals or Baptists....as the Catholic church has already been assigned to Mexico... :lol:

The Catholic church is responsible for more death and misery on this planet than Hitler ....

Check you history books ....

And furthermore theilr anti birth control stance is responsible for much of the poverty in Mexico and around the world.

This is a blanket condemnation of all organized religin.

If you want to cover your eyes to the truth that is of course your right.

CaboRon

[Edited on 1-28-2009 by CaboRon]

The Gull - 1-28-2009 at 07:35 AM

CrapoRon, when are you leaving Baja and this board?

CaboRon - 1-28-2009 at 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
CrapoRon, when are you leaving Baja and this board?

You question my facts ?

During the three inquisitions the Catholic church murdered more than four million women ...

You call that crap ???

You are beyond words ....

You can expedite my leaving by contributing to my PayPal account.

And you have not read anything yet ... as soon as I clear the border you will read about the state of afairs here in Baja in your local papers back home.

CaboRon

k-rico - 1-28-2009 at 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
CrapoRon, when are you leaving Baja and this board?

Ron, if you explain how to contribute to your departure, you'll probably make a tidy sum.

CaboRon - 1-28-2009 at 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
CrapoRon, when are you leaving Baja and this board?

Ron, if you explain how to contribute to your departure, you'll probably make a tidy sum.

Sounds great, I will post the information soon.

CaboRon

Bajajack - 1-28-2009 at 09:45 AM

To the average mexican selling or manufacturing drugs is not a problem.

Their opinion is it's just another commodity and much more lucrative than working in the fields for nothing.

If there were only three mexicans and one Mota plant left in the country there would still be a cartel operating and drugs for sale.

flyfishinPam - 1-28-2009 at 10:04 AM

"I was a Catholic until I reached the age of.....REASON"
George Carlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCFimDBj_V4

[Edited on 1-28-2009 by flyfishinPam]

Terry28 - 1-28-2009 at 10:13 AM

Cabo Ron.
You have taken the first step in improving relations between the U.S. and Mexico by announcing that you are leaving the country, Mexico, that yiou obviousley dislike so much...Why you kever moved here in the first place is still a mystery. I can only assume Somalia was full

comitan - 1-28-2009 at 10:43 AM

Terry28

Thanks for the stop on the road.

And well said.

CaboRon - 1-28-2009 at 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Terry28
Cabo Ron.
You have taken the first step in improving relations between the U.S. and Mexico by announcing that you are leaving the country, Mexico, that yiou obviousley dislike so much...Why you kever moved here in the first place is still a mystery. I can only assume Somalia was full

I moved here for several reasons ....

I remember the Baja Califoria of the fifties and sixties ....

The Baja where gringos weren't lied to and cheated by so called builders and tradesmen.

This is not Mexico !

Mexico is on the mainland ....

I probably should have moved to San Miguel de Alliande ...

I have several friends that have moved there , they seem to enjoy it.

Also, I thought I would be in for a cheap retirement in a beautiful part of the planet.

Todos Santos is an expensive place to llive ....

All in all, except for the tropical summer, it has been a good life experience.

I am not, with a couple of exceptions, impressed with the Baja Mexicans (a view held by many on the mainland).

And by the way ....

Tipping when NO service is provided really grates on me.

And all of the propinas and mordidas that suck the economy dry while contributing nothing to the infrastructure. I pay a 10% rental tax on my casa and they can't fix the one foot deep potholes I drive through to cross into town :fire:

My vehicle has been virtuall shaken to death by the roads here.

And the dust, don't get me started ....

And yes, I don't belong here ....

You will be reading of the really serious issues after I clear the border ... it is not safe to speak of many things that happen even in a place like Todos Santos :wow:

So I have laid bare my innermost feelings here ....

Those of you who would try to silence opinions or news, or who would resort to name calling and personel attacks do not matter to me. Those who would censure are the lowest of the low.

Like I mentioned, you will get your opportunity to hasten my departure, and to put your money where your mouths are.

The only well balanced and happy gringos I have met, simply do not live here without periodic trips back north.

Have a great day, I know I will,
Oh, yes I fully expect several of you to take shots, be my guest,

CaboRon

comitan - 1-28-2009 at 11:12 AM

Ron

Good luck in SMA cheap living, non of the crap you have to put up with here. :?:

Bajahowodd - 1-28-2009 at 11:13 AM

In fact, many of the so-called Baja Mexicans you refer to as less impressive than mainland Mexicans, are exactly that. Mainland Mexicans. The building boom in the 80's and 90's required the developers to bring thousands of workers over from the mainland. I remember the awful living conditions they tolerated while building the time share resorts, Etc. Let's face it, if you were a Mexican on the mainland, with any education, a decent job, or good prospects, would you agree the ship over to the Baja to live in a tar paper shack/dorm?

shari - 1-28-2009 at 11:19 AM

May I be so bold as to suggest a "Ron's Nearly Gone" new thread so it doesnt get lost in this cartel thread?

just a note...I figure I am better balanced now and MUCH happier now that I rarely (every 5 years or so for wedding or funeral) make trips north.

CaboRon - 1-28-2009 at 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by flyfishinPam
"I was a Catholic until I reached the age of.....REASON"
George Carlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCFimDBj_V4

[Edited on 1-28-2009 by flyfishinPam]

What a great mind .

Thank you for posting that.

Isn't U tube awesome !

CaboRon

oldlady - 1-28-2009 at 11:27 AM

I certainly hope those aren't religious events.

CaboRon - 1-28-2009 at 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by comitan
Ron

Good luck in SMA cheap living, non of the crap you have to put up with here. :?:

I am actually moving to Las Vegas ....

I realized I am also boared and LV has a very active entertainment industry ...

I enjoy my work and miss entertaining people .

CaboRon

Woooosh - 1-28-2009 at 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mango
"Just another nice day in Mexico", does not sell very many newspapers...

The press is in it to make money. The press get used and manipulated by people trying to further agendas all the time.

The press in the USA is more able to accurately report about the narcos as they don't have to worry about being killed as much as the Mexican press does. However; the truth is not the priority in the USA. It's money.

Journalistic ethics is a huge issue that most people really don't have a good grip on. I spent a short time working for a large magazine and found out quickly, they would not review, or review favorably, products unless they advertised in the magazine. That is the norm for most publishers, and the public really has no idea. It's pay to play.

Nowadays, the news is just a way to make money by selling ad space, period.

Obama's first interview was to reach out with the muslim world. No mention of Mexico. When he feels Mexico is worthy comment- he will- and the press will cover it ad nauseum.

The muslim word still has leaders the USA can reach out to- leaders who have a direct influence on the actions of their followers. Mexico has no one free from corruption that their people will follow (except for Calderon presumably- who is totally impotent- it is the narcos who control his country and were part of his inner circle as well).

When Mexico is capable of doing something about it's many social and economic problems- it will get some positive attention from Obama and the US press. Even Castro and Chavez are talking nicey nice about Omaba now- and Russia just delayed putting it's short range missles in western europe citing the new tone from Obama.

Mexico is not Obamas or americans priorty by any means. He has too many economic and geo-political issues to deal with that peole want to solve. What team of geniuses is working on Mexican security issues for her people?

Mexico will have to wait for good press until Mexico herself steps up, cleans herself up and aquires the credibility to join Obama on the world stage. Until then it's just a third-world neighbor in distress.

I can't figure out wh the many smart Mexicans who left Mexico for the USA for better educations and hope for their futures- can't return to Mexico to start bringing hope and eduation to their homeland. Mexicans are ready to follow a leader who can fix the problmes- but no one has stood up to take the job.

[Edited on 1-28-2009 by Woooosh]

flyfishinPam - 1-28-2009 at 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

Originally posted by flyfishinPam
"I was a Catholic until I reached the age of.....REASON"
George Carlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCFimDBj_V4

[Edited on 1-28-2009 by flyfishinPam]

What a great mind .

Thank you for posting that.

Isn't U tube awesome !

CaboRon

gotta admit Carlin is a genius. I'd imagine that a few televised and sponsored upside down naked crucifixions of the bankers that launder the drug money would solve this problem immediately :lol:

Bajahowodd - 1-28-2009 at 12:11 PM

Calderone visited with Obama just before the inauguration. Can't really find fault if Obama's administration feels that a priority to world safety is doing something about the Midele East.

BajaGringo - 1-28-2009 at 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh

I can't figure out wh the many smart Mexicans who left Mexico for the USA for better educations and hope for their futures- can't return to Mexico to start bringing hope and eduation to their homeland. Mexicans are ready to follow a leader who can fix the problmes- but no one has stood up to take the job.

I agree that would be a great first step to help changing things. The problem lies in that THEY are waiting for someone else to fix things before they risk coming back.

It truly is a Catch-22...

:rolleyes:

motoged - 1-28-2009 at 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

I am actually moving to Las Vegas ....
I realized I am also boared and LV has a very active entertainment industry ...
I enjoy my work and miss entertaining people .

CaboRon

Ron,
Don't be too disheartened....you are entertaining a few of us with your stand-up routine on this forum... :lol:

Moving to Lost Wages???

And your disappointment with your Baja fantasy has turned you bitter :no:

wait till you hit Vegas

LV ain't what it was "in the day" of your memories, I bet.

I encourage you to find the true source of your bitterness (aside from potholes in Todos...of which there must have been many more in its glory days...).

I must say that I agree with your disdain for religion (the corporate bastardization of spirituality), but that isn't the point of this thread....it is, once again, "US Reporting..."

I hope you research your next move a little better so your expectations will be congruent with reality...

Que via bien :cool:

CaboRon - 1-28-2009 at 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged

Quote:

Ron,
Don't be too disheartened....you are entertaining a few of us with your stand-up routine on this forum... :lol:

Moving to Lost Wages???

And your disappointment with your Baja fantasy has turned you bitter :no:

wait till you hit Vegas

LV ain't what it was "in the day" of your memories, I bet.

Que via bien :cool:

Actually before I moved here in the fall of '97 I would ususlly fly to Las Vegas three or four times a year either to see a new show or to work on one.

Cheers,

CaboRon

Terry28 - 1-29-2009 at 10:07 AM

Comitan,
Your welcome. It is nice to meet someone from this board along the road.

Been lately?

Dave - 1-29-2009 at 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
Actually before I moved here in the fall of '97 I would ususlly fly to Las Vegas three or four times a year either to see a new show or to work on one.

Most all the hotels 'four wall' their showrooms. The talent brings in the crew, soup to nuts. Very little in the way of musicians or back house left in Vegas. They've all retired to Mexico.

[Edited on 1-29-2009 by Dave]

CaboRon - 1-29-2009 at 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
Actually before I moved here in the fall of '97 I would ususlly fly to Las Vegas three or four times a year either to see a new show or to work on one.

Most all the hotels 'four wall' their showrooms. The talent brings in the crew, soup to nuts. Very little in the way of musicians or back house left in Vegas. They've all retired to Mexico.

[Edited on 1-29-2009 by Dave]

Haven't been there in sixteen months.

BTY Dave I am getting mixed signals from you :?:

I thought you wanted me out of Baja,

And now it feels as if you are trying to discourage my move .

Go figure :lol:

CaboRon

I said that?

Dave - 1-29-2009 at 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

BTY Dave I am getting mixed signals from you :?:

I thought you wanted me out of Baja,
And now it feels as if you are trying to discourage my move .

Go figure :lol:

CaboRon

No way. Show me.

robrt8 - 1-29-2009 at 10:45 PM

Cabo,

Try Vegas for a Summer. Rent a place (they must be giving them away now) for a few months. I don't know if that's when the dust storms happen. But when they do happen, you'll be cryin'.

Bajahowodd - 1-29-2009 at 11:00 PM

Cirque de Cabo?

Pato - 1-31-2009 at 06:53 AM

George Carlin was a genius and a real "patriot". With the kind of power the Catholic church has wielded, it has to be a comedian to bring it down a few notches. What's wrong with pointing out a bit of their sordid history and hypocrisy ?