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BajaNews
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Mexico's Calderon vows no respite in drug gang war
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN10266059200702...
Feb 10, 2007
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Saturday vowed no respite in his crackdown on drug gangs after brazen attacks on police
stations this week killed seven.
Gunmen disguised as soldiers assaulted two police stations in the resort of Acapulco on Tuesday and killed seven in broad daylight. They left the
message: "We don't give a damn about the federal government and this is proof."
Calderon, who won a razor-thin victory in Mexico's presidential election last year, was unbowed.
"We are not going to give up, not because of provocations or attacks against the security of Mexicans," Calderon said in a speech to the military.
"There will be no truce ... against the enemies of Mexico."
Calderon, who took office on December 1, has sent thousands of troops to violent regions of Mexico to tackle drug gangs that killed 2,000 people in
feuds last year.
As part of the clampdown, soldiers have been investigating local police forces for connections with drug cartels. In the rowdy border city of Tijuana,
just south of San Diego, the army has confiscated all the city police's guns.
In January, almost 8,000 troops and federal police were sent to the region around Acapulco to clamp down on rival gangs at war for control of
lucrative drug plantations and smuggling routes.
Despite the crackdown, there were 190 drug gang-related deaths in Mexico in January, just a handful less than a year ago.
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capn.sharky
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Calderon is right on in his war with the Cartel. In Central America and South America the Cartel took over some of the countries. They had the
government in their pocket and had the army and police outgunned. It is time to take a stand against the Mexican Mafia and Cartel now---before it is
too late. This would be a good time for the U.S. to offer to assist in any way it can....if Bush could get his head out of Iran for a little while.
If there is no fishing in heaven, I am not going
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Capt. George
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more oil in Iran/Iraq
why would he go to Mexico?
\"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men\" Plato
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Skeet/Loreto
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The Final and only answer to the Problem of Drugs.
Teach the Americans not to use Drugs!!!!!!!!!!
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Capt. George
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AMEN, AMEN Skeet
Supply and demand! will always be someone willing to supply
"anything" if the money is right.
george
\"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men\" Plato
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capn.sharky
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"Teach the Americans not to use Drugs!" Skeet---Easier said then done.
If there is no fishing in heaven, I am not going
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Taco de Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by capn.sharky
"Teach the Americans not to use Drugs!" Skeet---Easier said then done. |
Amen!
Very hard, since we can't barely even teach Americans the Capital of Mexico....
Where is Mexico anyway??? 
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Capt. George
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beat them in grammar school,
look what it did for me  
\"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men\" Plato
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djh
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Ok, so that rules out beatings...
Its all just stuff and some numbers.
A day spent sailing isn\'t deducted from one\'s life.
Peace, Love, and Music
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Bob and Susan
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george is sure on a roll this week 
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Capt. George
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BS (wow, what initials they are)
it's those shock treatments ...they really help.
This beautiful morn I only broke two plates and one cup...
But I have yet today "to touch base with the feminin side of myself!"
djh did ya ever have a nun beat ya? it's spiritual I tell ya.......
\"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men\" Plato
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Dave
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NO!
| Quote: | Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
The Final and only answer to the Problem of Drugs.
Teach the Americans not to use Drugs!!!!!!!!!! |
PUNISH ALL Americans who use drugs. Every...single...one!
A MANDATORY 3 month sentence for simple possession should do it.
How you gonna explain that to your boss? 
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djh
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Hey Capt. G....
I once had a similar dream... (or maybe that was a fantasy??). Wonder if they have a special "habit" for beatings?
Dave, You sure you want to pay enough taxes for those prisons? There are sooooooooooo many who use and abuse. Yet another huge unravelling of the
deteriorated fabric of western civilization...
But, hey... Happy Valentines Day. Today we celebrate with people we love!
djh
Its all just stuff and some numbers.
A day spent sailing isn\'t deducted from one\'s life.
Peace, Love, and Music
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Capt. George
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I think it was just a "dirty habit".........after almost being kicked by a Dominican..................
I can't go past a woman wearing big, ugly black men's type shoes.
Maybe therapy will help?
\"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men\" Plato
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Iflyfish
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Another option would be to legalize, tax and therefore control these substances. This would take the cartels out of the business as legalized growers
and producers would be licensed by the state. This would take the profit out of the underground economy and allow tax revenue to be generated as it is
with cigarettes and alcohol.
The US tried prohibition with alcohol and it failed miserably and created a criminal class of both consumers and suppliers. Our prisons are now filled
with people who have committed drug offenses both on the production and consumption end.
It is possible to deal with drug use as a Medical and Social Problem and to attack it as has been done with cigarette smoking. When there is a social
stigma attached to this sort of behavior and sufficient public education, behavior can change. Do you recall when smoking cigarettes was accepted
everywhere? Do you recall the years when smoking was increasing among teens? This very addictive behavior has been taxed significantly and lots of
public education has changed usage patterns.
Human beings are addictive organisms. Schemes like the "war against drugs" are doomed to failure. The Nixon administration turned the nations
attention toward its "war on drugs" in order to counter the increased power of the "counter culture" of the seventies. A successful scare campaign
identified and mobilized a "silent majority" against the behavior of pot smoking and drug use, which were common in the "counter culture." A huge
industry has now grown around the "War on Drugs" with powerful stake in the "war" continuing. This has been an unanticipated consequence of this
reactionary approach to drug use.
Prior to the Nixon/Agnew campaign, the Congress was on the verge of legalizing or decriminalizing the use of marijuana, after studies, like the
LaGuardia report, found that smoking marijuana was a rather benign activity. Since then the pot that is grown, due to the underground nature of the
product, has become exponentially more powerful as underground growers turned to growing this cash crop indoors. This has been another unintended
consequence of this failed approach to the problem.
Marijuana is the second leading cash crop of both Oregon and British Columbia. It would appear that the current efforts to eradicate its use have
actually increased its use. It certainly has increased the potency of the drug. There is a tremendous demand for these illicit drugs.
It is difficult to propose and support a nuanced approach to issues like drug abuse. It is easy to say, “lock ‘em up”. It is easy to characterize one
who proposes other solutions like legalization, social education, and the use of medical interventions to the problem of drug use, as advocating for
the use of these drugs. I have personally seen people destroyed by drugs. I have seen families destroyed by drugs. I have seen people die of drug use,
including alcohol and tobacco. I am not advocating drug use, I am advocating a different way to think about and approach this very significant social
and medical problem.
I believe there are those people who are hooked on drugs, alcohol, or tobacco either the first time they use them or who become addicted or dependant
upon them over time. I also know that there are people who have used these drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, like Cigars, in a way that does not destroy
their lives. There appear to be people who can moderate their use of these substances and others who cannot. I think it is important to distinguish
between these people and to provide medical help to those who become addicted.
I believe that this war on drugs is as great a folly as the “War on Terrorism.” What is required in both situations is not simplistic solutions, i.e.
use of force alone, but a combination of well thought out responses that take into account the underlying issues involved.
It is easy to label someone who supports more nuanced approaches to the drug problem as an advocate of drug use. Just like it was easy to label those
opposed the invasion of Iraq, as advocating for the "enemy.” These are ad hominum arguments, aimed at discrediting the proponent; they do not address
the issues. I do not wish to engage in this sort of argument.
Iflyfish
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Iflyfish
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I neglected to state that I also support the current campaign against the Cartels and their goons. If I were alive during prohibition, I wouild also
have been an advocate of imprisonment for Sociopaths like Al Capone.
Iflyfish
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sylens
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iflyfish
de acuerdo.
eventually legalization will happen. but not soon. and not easily. as someone recently noted, there's waaaaay too much money in it for the current
situation to change.
i appreciate how clearly you identified the issues. and when the bashing begins, don't let the reactionary responses hook you
lili
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Iflyfish
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sylens,
Good to hear from you!
Happy Valentines Day!
Fore warned is fore armed.
Iflyfish
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djh
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You state some very good points, Uflyfish.. Good food for thought (not chum, right? . And it is going to take MUCH good thinking to turn the tide on this issue ~ and many others humans face on our shrinking planet.
I especially like your comment "These are ad hominum arguments, aimed at discrediting the proponent; they do not address the issues. I do not wish to
engage in this sort of argument."
I've commented on this on Nomads several times before. Diverse views, experiences, expertise, and skills are required to create real solutions.
Marginalizing differing views, opinions, etc., detours diverse people from creating real, workable solutions. ie., fellow nomads, please both
consider and be considerate 
djh
Its all just stuff and some numbers.
A day spent sailing isn\'t deducted from one\'s life.
Peace, Love, and Music
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Baja&Back
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Iflyfish
Another option would be to legalize, tax and therefore control these substances. |
Which substances? I can see & aggree with your point about pot,
but,
people I've known who killed themselves with speed would be just as dead if that substance was legalized.
Legalization would multiply the number of dead & dying junkies by 10 times, at a minimum!
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