Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

[bcassill]

After our glorious president (and no, I refuse to capitalize it) went on TV last week to give us the big pep talk about the BP spill, I developed a nauseating sensation of doom followed by a visceral rage at the lack of leadership and sheer incompetence of the current administration. Of course, it's not like the last administration was any better but at least they talked tough. Under Bush the 2nd, we started the "War on Terror" and invaded two countries halfway around the globe. Iraq is just waiting for us to pull out so they can resume their sectarian civil war. So much for victory there. The latest spring offensive in Afghanistan has sputtered out before it even really got started. The world's strongest military beaten by a country of goat herders. Meanwhile, the failed state to our south has come back with a vengeance. Bush and Obama talked a tough game about securing the borders but both rolled over under pressure from the Mexican government from actually doing anything about it. Now the Mexican Cartels have moved in and they now control the southern portion of Arizona from the border to the outskirts of Phoenix. American soil has been invaded for the first time since Pancho Villa without so much as a whimper from our government. Suffice it to say that our government is rapidly losing any level of credibility it had left. It's basically shown itself incapable of managing anything successfully whether its the response to the economy (i.e. the banks are in charge), the Gulf oil spill (BP's in charge), two wars (military's in charge), or protecting sovereign territory from foreign incursion (nobody's in charge). Now there are rumors Cheney has approached General Petraeus about running for president on the Republican ticket. Great. A four star loser who can't secure victory in either theatre he commands and who passes out under arduous questioning by marshmallow senators. Excuse me while I go hyperventilate. I also need to get started on building that bunker in the back yard.

Meanwhile, for your reading pleasure:

Mexican Drug Cartels Control Parts of Arizona

[chr5648]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

After our glorious president (and no, I refuse to capitalize it) went on TV last week to give us the big pep talk about the BP spill, I developed a nauseating sensation of doom followed by a visceral rage at the lack of leadership and sheer incompetence of the current administration. Of course, it's not like the last administration was any better but at least they talked tough. Under Bush the 2nd, we started the "War on Terror" and invaded two countries halfway around the globe. Iraq is just waiting for us to pull out so they can resume their sectarian civil war. So much for victory there. The latest spring offensive in Afghanistan has sputtered out before it even really got started. The world's strongest military beaten by a country of goat herders. Meanwhile, the failed state to our south has come back with a vengeance. Bush and Obama talked a tough game about securing the borders but both rolled over under pressure from the Mexican government from actually doing anything about it. Now the Mexican Cartels have moved in and they now control the southern portion of Arizona from the border to the outskirts of Phoenix. American soil has been invaded for the first time since Pancho Villa without so much as a whimper from our government. Suffice it to say that our government is rapidly losing any level of credibility it had left. It's basically shown itself incapable of managing anything successfully whether its the response to the economy (i.e. the banks are in charge), the Gulf oil spill (BP's in charge), two wars (military's in charge), or protecting sovereign territory from foreign incursion (nobody's in charge). Now there are rumors Cheney has approached General Petraeus about running for president on the Republican ticket. Great. A four star loser who can't secure victory in either theatre he commands and who passes out under arduous questioning by marshmallow senators. Excuse me while I go hyperventilate. I also need to get started on building that bunker in the back yard.

Meanwhile, for your reading pleasure:

Mexican Drug Cartels Control Parts of Arizona

Not securing the border was the best chance at impeaching bush, he was was going around fighting the 'war on terror' and 'axis of evil' and they didn't even secure the border.

[hayekvindicated]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

After our glorious president (and no, I refuse to capitalize it) went on TV last week to give us the big pep talk about the BP spill, I developed a nauseating sensation of doom followed by a visceral rage at the lack of leadership and sheer incompetence of the current administration. Of course, it's not like the last administration was any better but at least they talked tough. Under Bush the 2nd, we started the "War on Terror" and invaded two countries halfway around the globe. Iraq is just waiting for us to pull out so they can resume their sectarian civil war. So much for victory there. The latest spring offensive in Afghanistan has sputtered out before it even really got started. The world's strongest military beaten by a country of goat herders. Meanwhile, the failed state to our south has come back with a vengeance. Bush and Obama talked a tough game about securing the borders but both rolled over under pressure from the Mexican government from actually doing anything about it. Now the Mexican Cartels have moved in and they now control the southern portion of Arizona from the border to the outskirts of Phoenix. American soil has been invaded for the first time since Pancho Villa without so much as a whimper from our government. Suffice it to say that our government is rapidly losing any level of credibility it had left. It's basically shown itself incapable of managing anything successfully whether its the response to the economy (i.e. the banks are in charge), the Gulf oil spill (BP's in charge), two wars (military's in charge), or protecting sovereign territory from foreign incursion (nobody's in charge). Now there are rumors Cheney has approached General Petraeus about running for president on the Republican ticket. Great. A four star loser who can't secure victory in either theatre he commands and who passes out under arduous questioning by marshmallow senators. Excuse me while I go hyperventilate. I also need to get started on building that bunker in the back yard.

Meanwhile, for your reading pleasure:

Mexican Drug Cartels Control Parts of Arizona

That's a racist observation.

[shiny!]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

My husband and I live in Arizona. We refuse to fly anymore because of the indignity of it. I will not submit to a strip search or body cavity search or any invasion of my person, under the assumption that I could be a threat to my country, while the border is Swiss cheese. I will not willing relinquish control of my body while the borders are unprotected. Millions of undocumented people freely enter our country, many of them bent on doing crime, if not outright acts of terrorism, while the focus is on treating American citizens like criminals at the airport.

My sister-in-law, a blond haired, blue-eyed 50-something woman with only one arm, from Minnesota, was "randomly selected" to be followed on her air journey across the country. At each stop, her luggage was pulled for searching, she was followed by an Air Marshal, singled out of the line by security and searched, again and again. At the same time, young men of Middle Eastern descent were allowed to go through the lines without an extra blink from security. They told her it was random selection to avoid racial profiling.

No we will never fly again, not until this country gets its head on straight. I see this whole War on Terror as our government seeing how many of our rights Citizens will part with in the name of National Security, when real security is the furthest thing from the government's mind. Just like the War on Drugs was a way to increase crime, and "solve" the ever-escalating violence by enacting gun control on law-abiding Citizens.

[bcassill]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

I was in no way implying that the Afghans or anyone else is inferior. In fact, I used to have a picture of Ahmed Shah Massoud in my office for awhile after 9/11 (until the wife made me take it down) since he had been the only one to continue the fight against the Taliban after the fall of Kabul in 1992, long after we had forgotten the Afghan people.

Ahmed_Shah_Massoud_1-smile.jpg

Afghanistan has been a inhospitable land to the world powers of the day going back to the time of Cyrus the Great. However, the country is horribly poor. Call them what you like: poor, goat herders, drug dealers, fanatical, whatever. They don't take s**t from anyone. And for that, you have to have at least a little respect.

[lsa420]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

I was in no way implying that the Afghans or anyone else is inferior. In fact, I used to have a picture of Ahmed Shah Massoud in my office for awhile after 9/11 (until the wife made me take it down) since he had been the only one to continue the fight against the Taliban after the fall of Kabul in 1992, long after we had forgotten the Afghan people.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]3412[/ATTACH]

Afghanistan has been a inhospitable land to the world powers of the day going back to the time of Cyrus the Great. However, the country is horribly poor. Call them what you like: poor, goat herders, drug dealers, fanatical, whatever. They don't take s**t from anyone. And for that, you have to have at least a little respect.

Exactly.

What the f*ck are doing over there again????

[aaron]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

The propaganda is ratcheting up. It is a slow process, but I swear the path looks clear: The U.S. will "bring democracy" to Mexico.

[karim0028]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

My husband and I live in Arizona. We refuse to fly anymore because of the indignity of it. I will not submit to a strip search or body cavity search or any invasion of my person, under the assumption that I could be a threat to my country, while the border is Swiss cheese. I will not willing relinquish control of my body while the borders are unprotected. Millions of undocumented people freely enter our country, many of them bent on doing crime, if not outright acts of terrorism, while the focus is on treating American citizens like criminals at the airport.

My sister-in-law, a blond haired, blue-eyed 50-something woman with only one arm, from Minnesota, was "randomly selected" to be followed on her air journey across the country. At each stop, her luggage was pulled for searching, she was followed by an Air Marshal, singled out of the line by security and searched, again and again. At the same time, young men of Middle Eastern descent were allowed to go through the lines without an extra blink from security. They told her it was random selection to avoid racial profiling.


No we will never fly again, not until this country gets its head on straight. I see this whole War on Terror as our government seeing how many of our rights Citizens will part with in the name of National Security, when real security is the furthest thing from the government's mind. Just like the War on Drugs was a way to increase crime, and "solve" the ever-escalating violence by enacting gun control on law-abiding Citizens.

I speak out of experience, trust me, i dont go through the airport without an extra blink ;) I am a young man of middle eastern descent, live in Arizona, born and raised in Minneapolis..... Lemme see... Nope, last i checked i didn't stroll through.... Apparently, i am on some "list"; wink wink , nod nod... One time with about 20 people in line behind me i actually was asked to unbutton my pants by a TSA douche... I told him that he had to shave that moustache and put on a dress before i let him unbutton my pants

[karim0028]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

Yup Afghans are one tough cookie....

[Jay]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

My sister-in-law, a blond haired, blue-eyed 50-something woman with only one arm, from Minnesota, was "randomly selected" to be followed on her air journey across the country. At each stop, her luggage was pulled for searching, she was followed by an Air Marshal, singled out of the line by security and searched, again and again. At the same time, young men of Middle Eastern descent were allowed to go through the lines without an extra blink from security. They told her it was random selection to avoid racial profiling.

The frog is in the pot and the temperature is rising. He hasn't jumped though. I don't think he will, too much McDonalds and XBox.

[BiscayneSunrise]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

Exactly.

What the f*ck are doing over there again????

The war in Afghanistan is not about Afghanistan in particular. It is just a small square on the geopolitical chessboard. However, it's square needs to be held.

This is really about stabilizing Pakistan, which, in turn, is about protecting India, which is a VERY important square on the chessboard.

Look at a map of the Indian Ocean and you'll see that India is the keystone for the entire region. Must be protected. There is a reason why India was called the jewel in the crown of the British empire.

Ensuring a strong and western friendly India protects supply lines from the Persian Gulf to east Asia, makes a strong counter balance against a belligerent China and creates an benevolent environment for SE Asia as well.

We also have this small matter of a feckless Iran causing all kinds of problems. Troops in afghanistan applies pressure on them as well.

[WildspitzE]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

We refuse to fly anymore because of the indignity of it. I will not submit to a strip search or body cavity search or any invasion of my person, under the assumption that I could be a threat to my country, while the border is Swiss cheese. I will not willing relinquish control of my body while the borders are unprotected. ...

... Just like the War on Drugs was a way to increase crime, and "solve" the ever-escalating violence by enacting gun control on law-abiding Citizens.

I commend you on your stand. I often wonder how so many people willfully hand over their rights to the much tauted "if you dont have anything to hide, then you shouldn't care" meme. Fortunately in this country, and should be in any that tauts individial freedom, I'm innocent till proven guilty. The problem with such meme, aside from being a fallacy, is that infects people with the notion that the innocent have to prove that they're innocent.

[thriftyandboringinohio]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

I commend you on your stand. I often wonder how so many people willfully hand over their rights to the much tauted "if you dont have anything to hide, then you shouldn't care" meme. Fortunately in this country, and should be in any that tauts individial freedom, I'm innocent till proven guilty. The problem with such meme, aside from being a fallacy, is that infects people with the notion that the innocent have to prove that they're innocent.

Yup. It is "security theater" that achieves two things. It calms the population by pretending to do something, and it trains people to submit to police-state procedures.

[shiny!]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

Yup. It is "security theater" that achieves two things. It calms the population by pretending to do something, and it trains people to submit to police-state procedures.

Well I'm glad I didn't get flamed as a racist. Actually my husband wears a long beard and turban. He gets eyeballed aplenty wherever he goes, even though the terrorists of 911 did not wear beards or turbans. Fortunately he's a really nice guy and makes friends with everyone he meets.

We made the decision to quit flying when he told me that if he ever saw security personnel ordering a strip search or body-cavity search of me, he wouldn't be able to keep his temper. I didn't want either of us going to jail for assault, so we decided to simply quit flying.

Not to drift off topic, because I think it has relevance to the boiling frog analogy and the propoganda being spewed about Arizonans wanting to protect the border:

I watched the events at Waco and knew that the citizens there were being marginalized by the way they were described as "cultists" rather than as "citizens". This was the beginning of testing the general public to see what people would put up with in the name of "security". Most people didn't identify with the victims because they didn't consider themselves as "cultists".

Once someone is called a "cultist", they're seen by most as not being entitled to the same rights as "regular" people. No one wants to be identified as a cultist. The government/media does the same marginalizing of citizens when they label them "gun nuts" and "survivalists", when they call small-government advocates "anti-government", etc... I'm pretty sure "gold bugs" will be added to the list at some point. And most people are too stupid to see how they're being manipulated into passive acceptance of the unacceptable. As long people have their bread and circuses, peace will prevail...

I'm seeing a trend of locals not so much fighting government, as doing an end-run around government and just doing what is needed without waiting for government approval. Look at the shrimpers laying boom when the BP contractors wouldn't. Look at the local cleanup efforts towns in Florida are trying to organize. Look at the states going ahead and building sandbars after getting tired of waiting for Washington to make a decision (and look at Washington trying to put a stop to it).

Since Katrina it has become obvious that central government is simply too big, too complex to respond to crises in a quick, efficient, effective way. I do not believe there will be an anti-government revolution in the streets. I think that more and more, people on the local and state levels will simply take matters into their own hands, making central government irrelevant.

The public sympathy factor is high for the Gulf, so the feds won't crack down too hard on their disobediance. Looks like Arizona may soon become ground zero for the experiment.

[don]

Re: Mexican Drug Cartels Now Control Swath of Arizon From Mexican Border North to Phoenix

The propaganda is ratcheting up. It is a slow process, but I swear the path looks clear: The U.S. will "bring democracy" to Mexico.

And Mexico's problems have nothing, I repeat, nothing, to do with either peak cheap oil or subsidized US corn and chickens. Nothing