The Observation Deck

40,000 Mexican Troops on US Mexican Border (clicky)

"It's almost like a military fight," Ahern said. "I don't think that generally the American public has any sense of the level of violence that occurs on the border."

....and it's good news! They're there to fight the drug cartels.

The headline and quote are pretty misleading and darn near troll-ish.

Brian Pedaci wrote:....and it's good news! They're there to fight the drug cartels.

The headline and quote are pretty misleading and darn near troll-ish.

Stephen Eisel wrote:40,000 Mexican Troops on US Mexican Border (clicky)

"It's almost like a military fight," Ahern said. "I don't think that generally the American public has any sense of the level of violence that occurs on the border."

I would agree that the American public does not know. It's mired down in a murky discussion of immigration rights and tolerance and jobs. Anything to do with "the border" becomes this glazed over exercise that means little in the specter of violent news coming from everywhere. But not all violence is created equal. This is about Billions of US$ in the underground economy of supply and demand. Could terrorists be mildly interested in not only a way to help cripple the U.S. through drug abuse AND using the profits to sponsor other more devious deeds? Seems like they might. Sure the cartels are ruthless, but now it's becoming paramilitary - and on our borders. Believe me if it were boats storming Miami beach (and God forbid South Beach where the rich and famous actors hang out), there would be more reaction. I agree the headline is designed to cause alarm (not sure about trollish), but come on, what will it take for America to realize that borders exist for a reason? Everywhere else in the world gets this. Even Europe. Yes, I understand this is happening on "their" side. But our liquid border is starting to become famous. Troubling and predictable.

.

It is good to see Mexico using its military to fight crime. But these are 40,000 troops they could be using to fight terrism on a global scale. There are Rumors that Bush will try to invade Iran before his term is over. Iran's primary crime is having a lot of oil.

What are the best drugs to smuggle? Technology may solve this problem. Within a generation or two pissed off grad students will probably be splicing drug-producing genes into innocuous plants all over town as a prank.

"Iran must be stopped. They are a threat to the neighborhood and a source of funding for Hamas and Hizbullah,"