Question: Did the President and Attorney General read their own threat assessments before they publicly attacked and demeaned the Governor of Arizona for having the fortitude to deal with the issue of illegal immigration in her state, which is more than I can say for them?
This web site reveals the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Drug Threat Assessment for 2010 that seems to answer this question-You decide:
U.S. Southwest Border Smuggling and Violence–Posted on Justice.gov-On February 2010:
http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs38/38661/swb.htm
These are pertinent excerpts from this threat assessment:
“Most illicit drugs available in the United States and thousands of illegal immigrants are smuggled into the United States across the nearly 2,000-mile Southwest Border, including through the Tohono O’odham Reservation (see text box). Conversely, a significant amount of illegal firearms and weapons as well as bulk currency are smuggled from the Southwest Border region into Mexico. Intensified counterdrug operations, in addition to intracartel and intercartel warfare and plaza competition, have resulted in unprecedented violence in northern Mexico and the potential for increasing violence in the United States.
Counterdrug operations on both sides of the Southwest Border have intensified in recent years, resulting in increased pressure on Mexican DTOs.
Several recent, large counterdrug initiatives in the United States and Mexico have been implemented to directly disrupt Mexican cartel operations. For example, in March 2008, the GOM initiated Operation Chihuahua in response to increased drug-related violence between the Juárez and Sinaloa Cartels over drug smuggling plazas in the Mexican border state of Chihuahua. Since then, more than 7,500 soldiers and 2,000 federal agents have been deployed to cities within the state, including Asunción, Buenaventura, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua City, Ciudad Juárez, Janos, Ojinaga, Nuevo Casas Grandes, and Palomas. Operation Chihuahua most likely resulted in seizures of drug shipments before they reached the U.S.-Mexico border, although official seizure statistics are not available. Similarly, the DEA-led Operation Xcellerator, which targeted the U.S. operations of the Sinaloa Cartel, concluded in November 2009 and resulted in 781 arrests and the seizure of more than 12,000 kilograms of cocaine, 17,000 pounds of marijuana, 1,200 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.3 million MDMA tablets, $61 million in U.S. currency, four aircraft, and three maritime vessels.
Mexican DTOs rely on overland transportation methods to smuggle drugs into the United States but also use alternative methods.
In addition to customary land smuggling practices, Mexican DTOs use alternative means to move contraband north across the border. These means include the construction and use of cross-border tunnels and subterranean passageways (see text box), and some increased use of low-flying small or ultralight aircraft, which most often are used to smuggle marijuana. For example, in the Yuma, Arizona, area, at least eight ultralight aircraft have been spotted since October 2008, after only sporadic reporting of such incidents along the entire border area in previous years. Additionally, in mid-November 2009, at least three suspected ultralight incursions were reported in New Mexico—two in Luna County and one in Hidalgo County.
Of some concern to law enforcement officials is the potential for using drug smuggling routes to move terrorists or transport weapons of mass destruction into the United States. However, there have been no incidents of this type documented, and according to federal law enforcement officials, the involvement of Mexican DTOs in this type of activity is very unlikely.
Mexican DTOs use Southwest Border gangs to enforce and secure smuggling operations in Mexico and, to a lesser extent, the United States, particularly in California and Texas border areas.
Mexican DTOs employ gang members who collect unpaid debts by using threats, extortion, and intimidation and who murder rival traffickers or noncompliant members in Mexico and, to a far lesser extent, the United States. Mexican DTOs also use gang members to enforce control of drug trafficking routes from Mexico into the United States. Mexican DTOs have reportedly increased their efforts to recruit gang members along the Southwest Border. Gang members who are U.S. citizens are a particularly valuable asset to Mexican DTOs because they can normally cross the U.S.-Mexico border with less law enforcement scrutiny and therefore are less likely to have illicit drug loads interdicted.
Competition among rival Mexican drug cartels for control of several prominent smuggling plazas has caused a significant rise in the level of violence in Mexico and a potential rise in the United States.
In 2009, between 6,500 and 8,000 individuals (according to unofficial estimates) were murdered in Mexico as cartels battled for control over smuggling corridors and responded to increased pressure from the GOM. This high number of cartel-related murders reflects a steep increase over previous years. The most violent conflict is concentrated in, but not limited to, the Juárez Plaza. The Joaquín Guzmán-Loera Organization is challenging the Juárez Cartel for control of drug trafficking in the Juárez Plaza. Actions on the part of the Joaquín Guzmán-Loera organization and efforts by the Juárez Cartel to exercise greater control over the Juárez Plaza have resulted in increased violence between the two cartels.
Although much of the violence attributed to conflicts over control of smuggling routes has been confined to Mexico, some has occurred in the United States. Violence in the United States (see text box) has been limited primarily to attacks against alien smuggling organization (ASO) members and their families—some of whom have sought refuge from the violence in Mexico by moving to U.S. border communities such as Phoenix. For example, in recent years, kidnappings in Phoenix have numbered in the hundreds, with 260 in 2007, 299 in 2008, and 267 in 2009. Often, the U.S. kidnapping victims have some connection to alien smuggling or local drug trafficking activities, although some are innocent family members or relatives of alien smugglers or drug traffickers. Kidnappings related to alien smuggling often occur because smugglers demand more money for their services. Kidnappings related to drug trafficking usually occur only as a direct result of localized drug trafficking activities. For example, an individual or individuals may be kidnapped because of a lost drug load or failure to pay a drug debt. The number of U.S. kidnapping incidents is most likely underreported because many victims’ families are unwilling to report the crime for fear that the victim will be killed, the kidnappers will retaliate against the family, or law enforcement will discover the family’s drug trafficking activities or illegal alien status.
Adding to the violence are assaults against U.S. law enforcement officers assigned to posts along the Southwest Border. While most of these assaults are related to alien smuggling activities, it is likely that some of the incidents are perpetrated by individuals involved in drug smuggling.
Assaults against U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents increased 46 percent from 752 incidents in FY2006 to 1,097 incidents in FY2008. Contributing most to this increase were rocking10 assaults, which rose 77 percent from 435 incidents in FY2006 to 769 incidents in FY2008.
However, some assaults against USBP agents in California have been deadly, including the January 2008 murder of a USBP officer who was struck and killed by the automobile of a fleeing drug suspect in Imperial County and the fatal shooting of a USBP officer investigating suspicious activity in Campo in July 2009.
Weapons smuggled from the Southwest Border region to Mexico have contributed to the escalating violence in Mexico.
Thousands of weapons are smuggled from the United States to Mexico every year, according to the ATF. It is unclear how many of these weapons are smuggled into Mexico by DTOs or how many ultimately come into the possession of DTOs. Nevertheless, some percentage of this weapons smuggling is orchestrated by DTOs. The U.S. weapons that these DTOs acquire originate in cities in Arizona, California, and Texas. Mexican DTO-linked enforcement groups and gang members purchase firearms and ammunition from Federally Licensed Firearms Dealers at gun stores, gun shows, and pawn shops and from unlicensed dealers at gun shows, often using straw purchasers11 to insulate themselves from the transactions. The firearms and ammunition are then smuggled from the United States to Mexico on behalf of Mexican DTOs.
The Southwest Border is a principal entry point into the United States for illegal aliens.
The Southwest Border region is the principal entry point for undocumented aliens smuggled from Mexico, Central America, and South America by ASOs. These ASOs often pay fees to Mexican DTOs for the right to operate along specific routes in certain border areas.
Of particular concern is the smuggling of criminal aliens and gang members who pose public safety threats to communities throughout the border region and the country. These individuals include hundreds of undocumented aliens from special-interest countries, primarily China, but also Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan, and members from transnational gangs such as Barrio Azteca, Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13), transnational Sureños (including 18th Street, Florencia, and Los Wonders), who also illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border annually.
Available reporting indicates that some ASOs specialize in smuggling special-interest aliens into the United States. Of those undocumented aliens from special-interest countries that have been interdicted, none have been documented to be known or suspected terrorists. Moreover, according to law enforcement and intelligence reporting, DTOs have demonstrated no interest in engaging in terrorist smuggling from Mexico into the United States.”
Note: This article and video relate to this issue-You Decide:
Holder hasn’t read Arizona law he criticized–Posted on The Washington Times-By Stephen Dinan-On May 13, 2010:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/13/holder-hasnt-read-ariz-law-he-criticized/
Eric Holder on Arizona Law: “I have not read it yet”–Posted on YouTube.com-By MacSlavo-On May 13, 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rH1FEcbi4A
Note: The following articles and/or blog posts relate to and support above assessment report, article and/or blog post and video-You Decide:
Bacteriological Attack on the U.S.!-Posted on TeaParty.org-By Katie Baker-On February 13, 2012:
Video: Abdullah Al-Nafisi – A biological attack on USA!-Posted on YouTube.com-By AFPhilosophy-On December 29, 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsKEZ6QC2pQ&feature=player_embedded
INSURGENCY IN AMERICA?-Posted on The Blaze-By Buck Sexton-On February 7, 2012:
One Mexican State Bordering The US Was Deadlier Than All of Afghanistan Last Year!-Posted on CNSNews.com-By Edwin Mora-On January 18, 2012:
Iranian Plot Sparks Measure to Bolster Counterterrorism Efforts in Western Hemisphere!-Posted on Act for America!-By Jennifer Scholtes, CQ Staff-On October 17, 2011:
http://www.actforamerica.org/index.php/learn/email-archives/2455-iran-and-the-drug-cartels
Hezbollah Gaining Strength in Latin America!-Posted on ShutKing.BlogPost.com-On July 17, 2011:
http://shutking.blogspot.com/2011/07/hezbollah-gaining-strength-in-latin.html
Video: Hezbollah Foothold Growing on Mexican Border!-Posted on ExposeObama.com-On July 20, 2011:
Video: AZ Sheriff: ‘Designate Mexican Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations’!-Posted on CNSNews.com-On June 30, 2011:
Video: Hezbollah On the Border!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0VuDfZoMYA
PBS In Tandem With The State Department Smears Shelbyville To Advance Al Hijra (Muslim Immigration)!-Posted on Atlas Shrugs-On May 22, 2011:
Former Intelligence Agent: Terror Group Hezbollah Has Infiltrated Our Southern Border!–Posted on The Blaze-By Jonathon M. Seidl-On May 6, 2011:
EXCLUSIVE: DHS Can’t Account for 10 Libyan Men It Caught and Released Inside U.S.!-Posted on CNSNews.com-By Penny Starr-On April 22, 2011:
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/dhs-can-t-account-10-libyan-men-it-caugh
Note: The above assessment and article and/or blog post and video relate to and/or support my following blog posts-You Decide:
Middle Eastern illegals find easy entrance into U.S. from Mexico!
Backsliding On National Security: The Immigration Connection!
ICE Agents Vote ‘No Confidence’ in Leaders!
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/ice-agents-vote-‘no-confidence’-in-leaders/
ICE chief says feds might not ‘process’ illegals arrested in Arizona!
How the “Illegal Immigration” issue affects our everyday lives!
Is “Illegal Immigration” Illegal?
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/is-“illegal-immigration”-illegal/
Did ATF provide weapons to Mexican drug cartels that were subsequently used to kill one of our own?
What was the true intent of Operation Closed Campus?
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/what-was-the-true-intent-of-operation-closed-campus/
Threat of the Mexican drug cartel, illegal border-crossers and“sanctuary cities”!
Obama’s Arizona Immigration Law Hypocritical Lie!
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/obama’s-arizona-immigration-law-hypocritical-lie/
Arizona-Style Rebellions Over Immigration Spread!
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/arizona-style-rebellions-over-immigration-spread/
Obama is fomenting a race war?
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/obama-is-fomenting-a-race-war/
Liberal web site publishing harsh racial rhetoric!
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/11/09/liberal-web-site-publishing-harsh-racial-rhetoric/
Is President Obama inciting riots across the US?
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/is-president-obama-inciting-riots-across-the-us/
American Flag Clothing Sparks New Protest!
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/american-flag-clothing-sparks-new-protest/
Godfather of The Islamic Revolution!
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/godfather-of-the-islamic-revolution/
New World Order By Executive Order!
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/new-world-order-by-executive-order/
Is it important to understand the Marxist assault on the foundations of our system?
Nearly 80 percent don’t trust the government!
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/nearly-80-percent-don’t-trust-the-government/
Where Is America Today?
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/05/26/where-is-america-today-2/
The Russian View of What Has Been Happening In America!
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/the-russian-view-of-what-has-been-happening-in-america-2/
Were We Forewarned About What to Expect If President Obama Got Elected?
Washington Times Calls for Obama’s Impeachment!
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/08/31/washington-times-calls-for-obama’s-impeachment/
Extensive Research Into Senator Obama’s Background Completed on November 3, 2008:
A Nation Adrift Theme and Disclaimer:
https://weroinnm.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/disclaimer/
“Food For Thought”
“God Bless & Keep Our USA Safe”
Semper Fi!
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