Mexican law prohibits foreign armed forces to operate within the country without Congressional approval, but a new report claims that the United States has agents inside the country fighting in the “war on drugs,” and is planning to send even more as private contractors. The opposition says this is a violation of the country’s constitution.
The New York Times this weekend reported that CIA and DEA operatives have been posted at Mexican military bases to help collect information and plan operations against local drug cartels. The paper also said officials plan to embed American contractors as backup for Mexico’s own anti-drug agency.
Mexico’s National Security Adviser denied any foreign forces were taking armed action in the country. He refused to elaborate on the veracity of the Times report, citing “national security concerns.”
Ricardo Monreal, a representative of Mexico’s Labor Party in the Senate, condemned the “serious interference”, which he said was a “direct intrusion by a foreign government into our internal policies.”
The revelations come on the heels of an embarrassing report that thousands of military-style weapons ended up in the hands of Mexican drug gangs after the US government encouraged American gun shops to sell them to obvious cartel members. The gun-shop owners wanted to stop the sales but the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms encouraged them to continue so the arms could be traced and the cartels busted. But the guns are often only traced after they have killed many people and are found as evidence to a heinous crime.
More than 41,000 people have been killed in Mexico’s drug war since 2006, when President Felipe Calderón began the militarized offensive against the cartels, AFP reported. Most of these deaths come after the US’ $1.4 billion Mérida Initiative, which funds the Mexican government so it can stop the flow of drugs into the United States, the Americas’ primary illicit-drug consumer. The Mexican authorities cite the death toll as proof the initiative is working. Civil society groups aren’t so sure.
The Obama Administration, as usual, is silent on the matter.
(photo by Alexander Lapshin)
who knows what kind of shenanigans those goons carry out… Although we already know they ship in the drugs, launder the money, fund/ equip the cartel's with weaponry then blame it on US citizens.
I don't see any problem between "no foreign armed forces" and CIA and DEA agents. An entirely different matter though are private contractors. The privatization of security/military/defense work is one of the great atrocities of late. And probably the reason we have some type of operation in every country on earth. The government cares more about the military industrial complex than about itself. If it were armed forces everywhere, the government might be even inclined to reduce foreign involvement. But since these private military mafias are the ones making the big bucks, we can't touch that part of the budget. These countries need our help when it comes to fighting the narco terrorists, but not that kind of help- sending a bunch of illiterate killers for hire isn't going to help Mejico, nor us.
USA has its most beloved and most popular National Public Radio (NPR), with the latest news on the war front covered a couple dozen times daily.
Problem is, the same corporate rich that donate the most to NPR, they donate the least taxes to government. So, NPR is dead silent about a tax starved government, loud and clear about our impoverished government, and dead certain that its all because we have a liberal-socialist almost anti-war President running government.
Obama? Antiwar? Are you serious? Haven't you been paying attention? Since Obama took office he has escalated US military adventures and expanded their area of operation. He has greatly increased the number of drone attacks – and the number of civilian deaths. He has increased US presence and military involvement in Yemen and Sudan, not to mention Pakistan and Libya. He has accepted the war hawks justifications for keeping Gitmo alive and functioning. Antiwar? I don't think so. He may have campaigned on that platform but facts have proven otherwise.
RickR30
“These countries need our help when it comes to fighting the narco terrorists…”
USA kill-terrorism is the root cause of why we have vengence filled “narco terrorists.” So where is your logic?
That's what happens when you accept foreign aid. The US then has a pretext for taking over.
The origin of the problem, the Demand Side, comes from across Mexico´s northern border, the USA.
The remedies for fixing the drug problems and creating a civil war also come from Mexico´s northern border, the USA.
No bounty on their head?
The USA can enter Canada now and have corrupted are government.We were peace keepers and loved the world over.Now the government listens to whatever the most corropt government on the planet tells them the US.Canada need a law abiding government but it may take a revolution.We now help a coutry that assasinates people is the worlds biggest drug dealer and get us to join them in there illegal unconstitutional wars.I white and no many good people of my coular but we have tryed are best to stop any country to grow and steel therew natural resourses.Im am ashamed of the ting my colar of people have and continue to do to the world.Its not so much race now its ritch and poor colar means nothing no longer we need to put diferences aside and stand united against the world corrupt.TRhere is 7 billion of use we by over a million to 1 out number them time to stand for equal treatment and put the in world leaders that belive all people are equal.You get futher in life ripping people of than you do being onest and helping.
Jamie N we do have schools here in Canada, attend one for a while.
the US would never send armed forces to a foreign country……….would they?
Sorry pendulum I don't type that good and sometimes forget to see if I made a mistake before posting.Wish I was perfect like you.I only have a grade ten and am going to finnish my grade 12 but have no problem understandig what I read and spell good for now.Sorry Mr perfect.Have fun insulting people get your joy for the day.With my grade ten and not being in school for over 16 years probably now more about the world than you.Besides my education I've been through more than most people I"ve ever ment I know what its like to face death in the face and stand strong and not be a coward.Would not get of insulting someone I don't know shows your inteligence.But as smart as you are there are mistakes in punctuation or someting.Some times get angree and type faster than I should then forget to look to make sure It came out right.Wish I was perfect like you.Can I have your secret?