The Brownsville Herald - Senator Compares Drug Cartels to a Small Army

News Article

The Brownsville Herald - Senator Compares Drug Cartels to a Small Army

By Laura B. Martinez

Two of Mexico's largest drug cartels continue to grow in numbers to the extent that combined they are the size of a "small army," a U.S. senator said.

A report from the U.S. Department of Defense indicates that they have 100,000 foot soldiers, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said on Thursday.

Cornyn made the statement during a conference call with reporters, in which he talked about the ongoing drug-related violence along the United States-Mexico border.

"This is literally the size of a small army and of course this is threatening to spread beyond our nation's southern border and potentially jeopardizes our own national security," Cornyn said.

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Ciudad Juarez across the border from Texas in the drug war since January 2008.

Cornyn earlier this week sent a letter to President Barack Obama expressing his concerns about the drug-related violence and invited Obama to visit the Texas-Mexico border to see the situation first hand.

As of Thursday, Cornyn had not received a response from Obama's office, he said, but added that he recognizes that Obama is currently busy dealing with the economic crisis.

Cornyn said Texans living along the border are familiar with the ongoing violence and threats, but there are others in the U.S. who are not.

"We have elected officials in Washington, D.C., who have never been to the border and perhaps all they know about it is what they've seen in movies or depicted in novels. They need a reality check," Cornyn said.

Securing the border is also necessary to ensure that trade routes between Mexico and the United States remain open, the senator said.

Mexico is not solely responsible for the ongoing fighting, he said, since the demand for the illegal drugs comes from the United States.

Late last month Cornyn visited the Laredo area where he received a security briefing with U.S. and Mexican officials on the drug-related violence.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) showed him a "bullet proof vest" worn by agents that showed the outcome of some of the weapons being used by the drug cartels.

"The fact that the cartels are now using such high-powered weapons that they can penetrate even the bullet proof vests worn by law enforcement" is of concern, Cornyn said. "I'm going to make sure it (drug-related violence) gets the appropriate attention by the federal government."

Cornyn added that the U.S. needs to continue its support of Mexican President Felipe Calderon's efforts to take down the drug cartels.

Last week, Texas Gov. Rick Perry asked Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to send resources and some 1,000 troops to the Texas border as violence continues to mount in northern Mexico.

Cameron County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said he has not received information as to whether Perry plans to deploy troops in Cameron County.

This week, Mexico deployed about 7,500 extra troops and federal police to Ciudad Juarez where the police chief bowed to crime gang demands and resigned.

Last month, the U.S. Department of State renewed a travel advisory to Mexico warning Americans about the escalating violence.

Although the advisory does not recommend Americans stay away from Mexico, it encourages them to stay away from places where prostitution and drug dealing occur.

The State Department also issued an advisory to young people on Spring Break warning them to "exercise commonsense precautions such as visiting only the well-traveled business and tourism areas of border towns during daylight and early-evening hours."

Source