Does the Administration Know the Mexican Border is South?
Evidently the criminals crossing the border need directions as well
WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Obama on Tuesday vowed to invest the resources needed to address the threat posed by drug traffickers in Mexico.
We are going to continue to monitor the situation, and if the steps we have taken do not get the job done, then we will do more,” he told reporters Tuesday night
He praised the efforts of Mexican President Felipe Calderon to counter drug cartels, which “have gotten completely out of hand,” but said the United States must take further steps, such as ensuring that illegal guns and cash do not flow from north of the Rio Grande to the cartels in Mexico.
That’s what makes them so dangerous,” he said.
Obama’s remarks came hours after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that the United States is sending hundreds of federal agents and crime-fighting equipment to the border.
The renewed push for stronger law-enforcement presence along the border comes as the administration tries to help the Mexican government break up drug cartels blamed for killing some 6,500 people in Mexico last year, Napolitano said.
“Our role is to assist in this battle because we have our own security interests in its success,” Napolitano said at the White House.”
In an interview with CNN later Tuesday, she said, “It’s all about border safety and security and making sure that spillover violence does not erupt in our own country.”
The new federal plan, developed by the departments of Justice and Homeland Security, calls for doubling the number of border security task force teams and moving a significant number of other federal agents, equipment and resources to the border. It also involves greater intelligence sharing aimed at cracking down on the flow of money and weapons into Mexico that helps fuel the drug trade, senior administration officials said.
The plan commits $700 million to bolster Mexican law enforcement and crime prevention efforts. The funds will provide, among other things, five new helicopters to increase mobility for the Mexican army and air force as well as new surveillance aircraft for the Mexican navy.
The funds also will support enhanced communications technology for Mexican prosecutors, law enforcement and immigration officials.
The $700 million allocation, meant to assist what administration officials described as an “anti-smuggling effort,” will complement ongoing U.S. aid to Mexico under the Merida initiative: a three-year, $1.4 billion package aimed at helping Mexico fight the drug cartels with law enforcement training, military equipment and improved intelligence cooperation.
The money was allocated last year, but Tuesday’s announcement brought the first details of how some of that money will be spent.
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Face Fwd Comments:
They are also sending Hilary down to make sure that we are securing the border. I think we are sending the wrong Clinton. If we sent Bill at least the men would be preoccupied with hiding their daughters and perhaps that would slow down the drug flow coming into the U.S.
When I read the article, I thought I was reading about an entirely different situation than the one that has everyone in the US and especially the Border States worried about. Pardon me, but I don’t think the problem is what is being smuggled south. (US to Mexico) The problem is what is being sent north. That would be Drugs, Illegals, Violence, International Gangs and Kidnapping/Extortion at a level this country has never seen. Did you think that Phoenix has become the kidnapping capital of the US because the Girl Scouts have gotten violent? Jeez-o-peety! People, the problem is that we have large, complex, criminal organizations that are coming north with little or no fear of prosecution from our government.
To My Representatives and to the President I have the following questions:
Where is that wall that was going to be built. Isn’t this a shovel ready project?
What was the real reason behind ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) being told to stop going after illegal aliens?
Why was Janet Napolitano who was well known for support against weak borders, appointed Homeland Sec.?
What is the real reason for the United State propping up the Mexican Government? Are you afraid of a people’s revolt and a Chavez type government cropping up in Mexico?
It is more smoke and mirrors. The pattern is starting to get real familiar. Make plenty of noise, spend a little money, come up with a neat slogan and go on a television with a concerned look on the face and people will believe that something is being done. Once that mission is accomplished, the administration can go back to their original mission, which appears to be nationalizing industry, banks and now newspapers.
On second thought, perhaps Hillary should walk around Phoenix or perhaps El Paso by herself and have her tell us how safe she felt in the barrios. Maybe she could carry the reset button with her for protection. Hopefully, she knows how to spell reset in Spanish.
