Santiago
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"Down by the River" by Charles Bowden
Someone one this board, I believe it was Dennis, suggested this book. I took this suggestions and frankly, am ambivalent about recommending it to
others interested in Mexico's politics. It took Mr Bowden 7 years of research to follow a story of a young man's murder in El Paso and weaving this
tragedy through the insidious drug business in Ciudad Juarez and the resulting rise of Amado Carrillo Fuentes.
The interplay between USA and Mexico that the resulting money from the drug business is fascinating and disturbing.
The book is full of many statistics back by 15 pages of notes but is not dry reading. An example: Mr Bowden reports that in the late 1990s, the total
deposits made to accounts help in El Paso banks outstripped the entire El Paso economy (it's gross product as it were) by 25-30%.
If you read it then be prepared to have your view of US/Mexico relations altered.
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DENNIS
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Don't understand your ambivalence, Jim. Past that word, your post sounds like a hearty recommendation.
Anyway...Bowden has a pile of books on the shelves....most [not all] recommendable in my estimation.
I've just started "Murder City..... Ciudad Juarez and the global economy's new killing fields."
Like you mentioned, he does his research and I consider his "facts" reliable.
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Santiago
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MC is on my Xmas wish list. Ambivalent probably the wrong word here - I do heartily recommend the book, but only if you're willing to change what you
believe based on new and maybe different info than what you're used to. Not a lot of that going around these days.
For example: by the mid 90s the DEA had established clear lines of drug money all the way to the Presidency of Mexico. In my naivety, I would assume
that all the departments of the USA's executive branch would work together on the war on drugs. Turns out the Janet Reno and the State Department
stopped any further work along these lines - NAFTA and all that was going down.
Geeze - I'm starting to sound like Gnukid. Where is he anyway?
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Dave
Elite Nomad
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Neil Young should sue.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Santiago
Geeze - I'm starting to sound like Gnukid. Where is he anyway? |
shhhhhhh....he's taking a nap. 
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Santiago...that is one of the many things I LOVE LOVE LOVE about you...open mind and willing to share your knowledge with others!!!
but dang...I was all set to download one of my favs...down by the river...to I Tunes...now I cant stop hummin it.
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rocmoc
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Mood: Live today like it maybe your LAST!
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I just order a used copy from Amazon. Thanks
rocmoc n AZ
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
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wsdunc
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Mood: Upbeat
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I thought it was an amazing book. Its obvious that the narco business is huge, but my estimate was still orders of magnitude low. It made me realize
that there is little chance for legalization, as too many powerful people on both sides of the border are making way too much money. That's
disapointing as I don't see many other viable options, as it appears that the war on drugs is over, and drugs won.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Flood the US market with poisened dope and give it away. It won't be long before the problem disappears.
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