Posse Comitatus Revisited

Mar 10th, 2009 | By Michel Marizco | Category: Immigration, Politics

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THE BORDER REPORT

A few weeks ago, I speculated that the incoming Obama Administration was heavily interested in putting the military on the Mexican border.

Since then, there’s been a steady drumbeat of U.S. Army officials whispering to the press that putting the military on the border is precisely what the president wants to do.

This story from The Associated Press is one of the more glaring examples. If you notice, the source for the story is a military official, not a White House staffer. The story is nothing more than a plant, since there’s no way a U.S. military officer is going to tell a reporter what the institution’s plans are, not without orders from a higher-up. Clearly, the military wants us to know what it wants to do in Mexico.

Then there’s these remarks about Mexico by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen last month:

“They are a neighbor, a good friend and someone we need to figure out how to work with in ways we haven’t in the past … “

I think it’s fair to say that we’re not going to be seeing U.S. troops marching on Juárez or tanks rolling up into Badiraguato anytime soon. But I’m curious as to the level of involvement the Admiral and the Joint Chiefs would like to take.

Training? Dear God, spare us. The Fort Benning training in the late 1990s that spawned the Zetas didn’t work out so well.

Military intelligence? Perhaps, but I don’t think the Mexican military’s ever had trouble locating drug lords, the problem seem to be those mysterious getaways, moments before the soldiers arrive.

Firepower? I’ve been bouncing back and forth between Tijuana, Sonora, Sinaloa and Chihuahua for the better part of a decade and I’ve never seen the military mix it up with anybody. Other than the occasional skirmish, the military never seems to get into a direct gunbattle with the country’s narcos (settle down, settle down, Ramon Arellano doesn’t count, he was taken out with a lucky shot by a cop during a traffic stop. Don’t bring up Alfredo Beltrán either, he lived blocks away from the Culiacán military base since the turn of the century. Yes, there’s Cochi Loco, Manuel Uzeta, but when did he go down? Nearly twenty years ago?).

Then there’s border enforcement. This is the most likely role the U.S. military can play with regards to Mexico. In some ways, it’s also the most conflictive. Homeland Security’s top border jefes aren’t going to be too thrilled when they start having to acquiesce to the whims of the U.S. Army. That golden-haired child of Homeland Security, the Border Patrol, was never happy when the National Guard was put on the border in 2006 during Operation Jump Start and if the Joint Chiefs of Staff is talking about full-time soldiers being placed down here, they’re not going to serve in a “support” capacity the way the Guard was. They’ll be bringing with them every piece of infrastructure they own – including weapons.

Of course, if the Army and the Marines start serving as border guards, then the question of illegal immigration crops up. I cannot imagine the U.S. Marine Corps receiving orders to let illegal migrants through as long as they’re not carrying weapons or narcotics. This means that not only will we have federal agents chasing busboys through mesquite, we’ll also have the mightiest military in the world running after them.

Whatever the military’s plans are for Mexico, brace yourself, we’re in for a whole new adventure.

5 comments
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Ann March 10th, 2009 1:43 pm
The US has been trying hard to get in on the Mexican side of the border since everything came to a head in 2002 with all the hundreds of women found mutilated in the desert. At that time Mexico refused US help. We even lost some FBI who tried to represent the US interest in our own missing women whom we believe ended up on the other side, dead. Now, finally when even Mexico cannot pull the blindfold on others, we are going to get the help the US needs to give, with Mexicos ok. I do not think you can blame Fort Benning for the Mexican Elite Army going amuck and using there skills against there own government. Hindsight after all is 20/20. Personally I think things ARE starting to happen, will continue to happen and after a painful downfall will reverse. Its hard to see the sun from the mudpit, but it is there.
Jack March 11th, 2009 10:05 am
Michel writes: “Of course, if the Army and the Marines start serving as border guards, then the question of illegal immigration crops up. I cannot imagine the U.S. Marine Corps receiving orders to let illegal migrants through as long as they’re not carrying weapons or narcotics. This means that not only will we have federal agents chasing busboys through mesquite, we’ll also have the mightiest military in the world running after them.”

And likely shooting them. There are, of course, lots of xenophobes and haters that would love that. But those illegal migrants often include women and children. (I’ve met babies in mothers’ arms as young as 6 months.)

Lord forbid the military is posted here! One death of a child and we descend at once into the realm of of the worst kind of nations, like the Sudan.
Ann March 11th, 2009 11:46 am
Jack… maybe I am not understanding you. We are talking about women and children, and the fear of innocents being killed. But isnt that what the reality is now? My daughter in law and her 12 yr. old daughters best friend, both raped and knifed recently. Over 400 womens bodies in the desert. Children used for ransom demands. The children there are very unsafe now, we cant wait for what might be when the danger is unfolding as we disagree.
Sonorense March 11th, 2009 2:30 pm
Michel,

You write ” I’ve been bouncing back and forth between Tijuana, Sonora, Sinaloa and Chihuahua for the better part of a decade and I’ve never seen the military mix it up with anybody.”

For all the great stuff you write I think you are out of the loop on this one. I can give you lots of old and new examples, but lets focus on the new ones. For old ones just remember al JT.

http://www.france24.com/en/20090210-21-die-mexican-standoff-between-gunmen-military-0

http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/250906.chocan-en-michoacan-narcos-y-el-ejercito.html

http://seldonmatrix.com/?p=357

http://www.elmanana.com.mx/notas.asp?id=104345

and I could keep going and going…

Regarding firepower, on a head on combat Narcos are no match but these are not head on combats for the most part but ambushes.
Michel Marizco March 12th, 2009 11:35 am
Thanks Sonorense, that’s a really good catch.
I’ll stick to my point that I’ve never seen the military in action but you’re totally right, I’m not omniscient.