Nada que ver
Mar 10th, 2010 | By Michel Marizco | Category: General News, Politics
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THE BORDER REPORT
Update: I don’t know why it’s so easy for me to forget that the U.S. engages in the same inanities as Mexico. See below.
Having a conversation with an old friend last night, he made the point that with its level of political and social abuses, you would think Mexico would be a more powerful country. It’s a bit Machiavellian but I think he’s correct. Instead, the country acts like a 1980s banana republic.
According to El Universal, in a 7-4 vote this morning, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled that the National Human Rights Commission does not have the right to access to case files prepared by the Federal Attorney General’s Office. The rights commission was formed in 1990 in response to allegations of human rights abuses throughout the country. It was supposed to inspire a new confidence in the law enforcement arm of the Mexican government. So much for that idea. Mind you, the commission has had very little effect in actually preventing abuses, but, for example, last year, the commission released a damning report on the Mexican Army’s torture of suspects, kidnappings and levantones, and a spreading fear that it was losing control throughout cities like Cd. Juárez. The report was initially blocked because the U.S. State Department didn’t want to acknowledge its existence in the days before Sec. Hillary Clinton was scheduled to congratulate Mexico on its efforts against drug trafficking. In that particular case, the report’s political nature alone made people step back (including Clinton). In this case, it was the publishing that was important.
Citing national security concerns, the court agreed with the PGR (Procuraduría General de la República) ruled that the commission cant’ have access to open investigative case files. The PGR’s argument was that open case files must remain protected to ensure an investigation’s integrity. That’s fine but the human rights commission used to have access to the files and insofar as I’ve ever seen (and I’ve asked them for access to certain investigative files), they never released them.
This ruling is the equivalent of an internal affairs division not having access to law enforcement’s cases.
Or, in the vernacular of this Web site’s theme, “business as usual.”
Then, in case anyone thinks the U.S. is any better, there’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to the Associated Press, an ICE agent was charged in the coverup of a double killing while he worked as a New Orleans police officer during Hurricane Katrina.
Jeffrey Lehmann was a New Orleans cop when his cohorts, straight out of a James Ellroy novel, falsified statements and planted a gun on the victims to make their shooting look justified. Two people died and another four were injured.
Somewhere between the ensuing investigation and now, Lehmann left the police force and became an ICE agent here in Arizona. I’m trying to find out where, Tucson, Cochise County, Phoenix or Yuma.
Did ICE not think it prudent to ask his former employer what kind of employee he was? Did some bureaucrat in Phoenix just sign off on his application and hire him on or did he know someone and decided it was a fine time to leave New Orleans?
Lehmann was charged yesterday in court. We’ll soon find out.
I guess those are the operational methods utilized by most governments, when crossing politics with real lives at stake… while the general public just has to sit there and take whatever comes to them… Like pawns in a game…
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lol
A country too corrupt even for it’s own good.
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Anywhere there’s players…there’s pawns.
Usually more pawns then players. By factor of ?
Don’t pretend to know the Machiavellian machinations of anywhere.
However..isn’t the point of Machiavellian politics, to pull strings, of willing puppets, without the puppets knowing, much if anything about the aims and goals of the Puppet-master(s)?
To consider Mexico acting like a Banana Republic of the 1980′s, in my opinion only considers part of a total picture. Many Mexicans express a sense of cultural pride, that they are engaged, ‘look-after’ the ierests of ‘Mexico’ (on a domestic, rancho, pueblo, nacional etc. level.
Many such interests are ‘internal’, personal and direct. while looking after, ‘business’.
Cmpared to the international influence/involvement that they perceive, other nations, like the U.S.A. have had, over the economic/political/social involvement over other countries/cultures, not their own.
Although, the involvement of Mexican drug cartels, over the past few years, in West Africa, to the European drug market, seems to suggest a shift towards, what might be considered more intentional, ‘involvement’
or meddling with those countries, internally politics/power structure.
Modern ideas about human rights, in most of these situations, more or less seem to fly out the window, in the more immediate need for business to succeed, in a more traditional dog eat dog value/reality system.
Caudillos, cacique. Old dogs.
Drug lords, current government officials. New dogs.
But what do I know about such matters?
A hard bite from La Perra, a few years back, leading to a continued interest, not to be bitten again. Hence, hanging out here.
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There is two things I always say, “the more things change, the more they stay the same,” and no honor among thieves.” Corruption is a way of life in Mexico. But who are any of us to judge? I mean, Mexico, despite having the second largest population of bilionares behind the U.S., is a very poor country. Its people are proud, and hard workers. There isn’t any real middle class. Can I blame a guy for taking some hush money to feed his family? Or growing some weed? Here is a sad reality, I only hope that things get back to business and some type of peace is established. The senselessness of the last few years, is totally insane. Even if the Mexican Government could change all the heads of state and all the cops and military along the frontera, all they would be doing is bringing in a new band of thieves. It’s gonna flow whether we like it or not, accepting it is easier than fighting it. I know my critics are gonna hate this comment, but it is reality. Sorry?
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agree rabbit, but society nor the government can acknowledge that its accepted. thus the circus must go on.
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Michel, are you kidding me? You really think the government corruption in the U.S. is even in the same ballpark as Mexico? You have an entire section on this website devoted to journalists killed for doing their job. Doing their job in Mexico. And killed in Mexico. Am I safe to assume that there are no updates on those dozens of journalist’ murders (arrests, convictions, etc)?
I believe Don Bolles was the last investigative reporter assassinated in Arizona for working on an organized crime story……………… In 1976.
You’ve also had at least one piece about a Mexican labor organizer who was killed recently in Mexico (and some of his family), and by all indications it was a government sponsored hit. What do you think would have happened to Cesar Chavez if he had organized his union in Mexico?
The Mexican Supreme Court ruling is indicative of systematic corruption that is acceptable at all levels of government in Mexico. Dirty American ICE Agents compare to that?
When journalists are killed for doing their job, there is no freedom of the press. When labor union leaders are killed for organizing workers, there is no freedom of assembly. In my opinion, that puts Mexico a few rungs below the U.S. in the freedom ladder.
And for once, I agree with most of what Rabbit said.
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Damn it I feel very tempted to smack Tantos back into reality again, but I feel I would be too abusive. Oh never mind.
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Tantos what did happen to Cesar Chavez btw? And let’s not forget about Hoffa…corruption in America is within the elite politicians and corporations. Corruption in Mexico all you need is 200 pesos, Mexican corruption doesn’t descriminate jaja….
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Not 100% ,but think ice agent works in phoenix. Saw story on news, makes me wanta puke.Lot of federal
investigations pointed at sherriff joe and and county attormey andy thomas right now .
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corruption? what the hell is that?… http://www.poresto.net/ver_nota.php?zona=yucatan&idSeccion=15&idTitulo=8149
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Don Bolles? Dude, get up to date. Corruption is the flavor of the world today. Oil, diamonds, corn. Narcotics, it’s all the same shit. Oil and narcotics just happen to be the biggest. And that’s where the most corruption is. By the way, I was in prison with Max Dunlop who had been convicted for ordering the hit on bolles. That was a conveluted mess. Nice try, though. (Not)
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I’m not picking on Tantos, but I will say that I think the above article hit too many realities. The senseless killings that have gone on in Mexico, reporters or otherwise, is insanity that needs to end. Order is what I am waiting to see.
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Hot Damn rabbit!! You wrote three whole entries without saying “failed drug policy”.
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Well, you know, sometimes I get tired of listening to my own voice. Lol!
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Yeah, I’m completely wrong. Thanks for straightening me out, guys. Mexico is on par with the U.S, but any and all problems they have are strictly due to the U.S. “failed drug policy.” BTW, more reporters were kidnapped in Reynosa (links below):
“At least 3 Mexican journalists have been officially confirmed as killed so far in 2010, and 12 reporters were killed in Mexico during 2009. The governmental National Human Rights Commission said that a total of 60 journalists have been killed since 2000.”
http://www.impunidad.com/
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/62629
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OK, Rabbit, get me up to date. How many investigative reporters have been killed in the U.S. since Don Bolles? How many U.S. labor union organizers have been taken out since Hoffa?
Is it a reach to think that MAYBE the complete absence of collective bargaining power and lack of freedom of the press has a negative effect on the standard of living in Mexico? It’s a complete stretch of reality????
Rolf, Ronald Reagan was a union-busting sonofabitch. But if he had been the governor of Sonora instead of California, he would have approved a hit squad to take Cesar Chavez and his family out.
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How many of those dead reporter’s were taking money they shouldn’t have benn taking though…
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You cannot compare the 2 US and Mexico. In the US they have realized that you dont need to kill anyone just discredit them. They are starting to catch on in mexico. All the narco mantas pointing the finger and various political people implicating them in the drug trade. In the US you dont need to kill the reporter just put a positive spin on the story or burry it. But like i said mexico is catching on (Jabali making Chapo look like a saint).
Anyone that does not belive that their is corruption in the US is blind or dumb. I am not talking pasive stuff I am talking in your face large drug cases getting tossed at the highest levels. I do have a couple of examples but would prefer to not cast light on them.
The reason that mexicans still kill reporters is because mexicans still read newspapers. We would rather watch CNN minute by minute coverage for 6 months of 1 American girl being lost in Aruba. Over a 30 second clip of hundreds of women killed in the Juarez area.
We prefer to follow stories of Britney Spears to try and figure out what she has shaven this week her head or her muff. Instead of watching a story of the beheadings in Michoacan.
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I feel disgusted everytime I turn on the news. The bull shit that they feed us and we are content with it. The only thing that I watch for now adays is the weather report and they are wrong most of the time. If you can speak the language, you should watch news from mexico and I dont mean telemundo. I mean real news broadcasted from mexico. They make constant references to the cartels and regularly name people. We have large crime organizations operating in the US from all over the world. When was the last time you saw some good investigative reporting in the mainstream media on any crime sindicate operating in the US. I am not talking vague reference to the mexican cartels. I am talking real stories implicating real people. The only time you hear a name mentioned is when someone has been indited. I know someone is going to say well if you wrecklessly name people you can get sewed for defamation. Well mexicans dont file lawsuits.
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@Tantos
I didn’t say I didn’t agree with you. I am just saying that the Bolles case is old as hell. I say on a regular basis that what’s going on in Mexico is senselessness. I will say that you brought up a lot of very interesting points. Definately not picking on your point of view, it’s interesting.
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@ Vincent Hana
You probably are close to the reality. Who is geting payed off? Who stepped on their own dick? What realy happened to Kiki Camerena? Was he a good cop? Or a dirty cop that got served justice Mexico style? Corruption goes a long way, who says it’s just the cops or government. But again, who are any of us to judge how a man feeds his family.
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@ Rofl
There is no way you are paying off an AFI agent with 200 pesos. More like 10 to 30 grand. They have evolved. They don’t want a few bucks. They want your whole wallet and car, and whatever else they can take.
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im watching the true story of kiling pablo on history channel for the 5th time….it’s a great documentary…..
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Speaking of Pablo…….. Is anyone hear old enough to remember los “PEPES” “Personas Encotra de Pablo Escobar”
If I recall correctly, after Pablo declared was on the Governement of Columbia los pepes were formed. Originally they said they were columbian citizens tired of the murders and kidnapping. Later it was determined that the Pepes were founded and financed by rival drug cartels. Basically Pablo was fighting the Columbian Gov, the DEA, and All the Columbian Cartels that wanted peace.
Is it me or does history repeat itself over and over.
“La Nueva Federacion” = los pepes
Nueva Federacion is the modern day pepes. Rival cartels have joined together for 1 goal Iliminate the “Z” Lascano may wind up like Pablo by years end.
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@tupadre
thats exactly what i was thinking as i watch the documentary……los pepes= nueva federacion…..the thing is the zetas have been decapitated twice: osiel & arturo…..now i’m not saying that these were the sole leaders but they were the primary financers…yet the zetas are like roaches they manage to survive no matter what the circumstances……they adapt to situations….los zetas are a bigger problem than just some young punks with ak’s…..como dijo el rabbit most scumbags in mexico call themselves a zeta….they wear the patch with honor….if the original federacion no pudo con los zetas i really dont think this new federacion will make a difference….
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Probably right, Amigo.
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Law abiding citizen: Can you give the title of the documentary? I’d like to check it out onNetflix.
(I have no television anymore. Banned the rotten stuff from hearth, home, and mind.)
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