Mexico's Drug War Adopts Al Qaeda Tactics

(CBS)  As America fights two wars overseas -- another one is raging, much closer to home.

Mexico's drug war is every bit as violent. On Friday alone, 43 people were indicted in San Diego for murder and kidnapping, including a Mexican government official.

And outside Monterrey, Mexico, 23 bodies were found Thursday at a dump site used by drug gangs.

As CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reports, the cartels have begun using the same ruthless tactics as al Qaeda.

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Responding to an emergency call of a policeman shot in downtown Juarez, an officer and a paramedic work frantically to save the man's life - when in a flash, a huge explosion occurs from a nearby car bomb.

Mexico's drug war takes a dramatic and frightening turn. For the first time, drug gangsters used a car bomb as a weapon. The wounded man was a decoy dressed in a uniform to lure police to the bomb. An officer, a paramedic and the decoy died in the blast.

Then, over the weekend, strange and ominous graffiti appeared warning the U.S. FBI to investigate corrupt Mexican officials, or expect another car bomb.

"The use of the car bomb clearly represents a tactical escalation … We've seen the first car bombing, there probably will be more,'' said Brian Jenkins with the Rand Corp, a think tank that studies government policy.

Mexico has been bleeding and crying since President Felipe Calderon declared war on drug cartels four years ago. He deployed 45,000 troops; but so far they're no match for ruthless drug gangsters who are flush with guns and money from $25 billion or more annual profits from selling drugs to the U.S.

Recently President Calderon blamed the U.S. for Mexico's troubles, writing in an editorial: "The origin of our violence problems begins with the fact that Mexico is located next to the country that has the highest levels of drug consumption in the world."

"The way they see it, they are fighting our war on drugs,'' said Jenkins, the Rand Corp. analyst.

Especially on the border, where there have been 140 drug slayings in Nogales, Mexico so far this year, more than all of last year.

"There's a lot of homicides in any hour, any day of the week," said Marco Flores Lopez, a crime reporter for TV Azteca Sonora.

Nowhere is bloodier than Juarez. This city just across from El Paso, Texas is more dangerous than Baghdad -- with more than 1,000 drug related slayings so far this year.

"The war that they are having is a tremendous, all-out war,'' says Juarez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz.

An all out war, that now with a recent car bombing, just took a deadly turn for the worse.

[topjim32]

It is almost too late to think that we can stop the Mexican cartels from invading the America. The cartels now control large portions of our national parks to grow pot since it's not cost effective to cross it. Americans must become more aware of this hugh problem. No one cares about our illegal drug use. We started two wars thousands of miles away for no reason or purpose. Here we have perhaps the largest problem our country has faced in our history yet no gives a damn.

[acvegas1958]

Go Arizona ?..I am 1000% behind ALL US states that follow Arizona new immigration law. We don?t want the United States overtaken by illegal persons south or north of the United States border and whom which many do not care about the USA and our customs or wish to learn the English language. And with many Mexicans believing that the USA was stolen from them hundreds of years ago. We USA legal citizens MUST do something to control our Out-Of-Control Borders. If the Mexican community in Mexico (or elsewhere) wish to enter the USA ?enter LEGALLY just as everyone else has to do ?that?s the LAW. If you do not like the law ?STAY in Mexico ?it?s just as simple as that. Don?t dictate to the United States on how we run and enforce our laws. The illegal Mexican people currently residing in the United States should turn their disputes toward the Mexican government on creating a better and stronger Mexican government so that they would not have to leave Mexico to come to the USA. It?s NOT Racism ?..It?s ILLEGALISM ?.meaning: on-going violation or neglect of the United States Federal Laws. Your problem is Mexico not the USA.

AJ
Black American
Las Vegas, NV

[mlsevereid]

Oh and Bill Whitaker!! You're awesome! Thank you for taking interest in showing the world what is happening. The world needs to know, and nobody wants to say it. Keep it up!

[mlsevereid]

I find it sad to see that the U.S. is doing so little to help this neighboring country's war on drugs. After all, the whole purpose is to get the drugs into the US and sell them.
Meanwhile, the Mexican population is suffering the consequences. So many people are getting killed. Maybe it's the lack of money that makes a lot of them fall into working for the drug lords. Once your in, you can't get out.
Being born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, I can tell you it is a sad site to see. That city so full of life, so much great business, especially with American Companies is dying slowly.
People aren't going out anymore... there is definitely a sentiment and war vibe all throughout.
How can this war end?
I don't see any solution but to have the United States involved. What are we doing in Afghanistan? There is so much to do here.

I understand Calderon is blaming the U-S for the war, and believe he is right.
But, I also can see the Mexican cultural upbringing of blaming someone else for our problems.

Something has too be done! I just think the American government is not seeing the reality of the Mexican Drug War, and what it could bring to the U-S once they are done taking over Mexico.

I have recently learned in Monterrey, they are invading schools and sending the kids home, saying there will be no more classes for them.

What's next? Somebody have a viable solution?

[yurizhi]

I support Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), and
The following comment is my opinion and my opinion only !

Any way you look at it Prohibition is a complete failure . War on drugs = more drugs and more C R I M E because these substances are illegal ! Consenting adults should not be told what form of recreational or pain relief drug they have access to as long as it is not a harm to others in society . Dui not acceptable , what you are smoking in your living room is no one else' business, that is not the Gov't or any other's job in a free society. Any reasonable Govt in a free society would simply regulate and tax if necessary to address the crisis, but again the present Govt in the US is neither reasonable or sane. Education is the answer not prohibition . Prohibition is un American at the core and only those involved in the racket stand to profit. We are hypocrites at face value to tell our kids , ' Just Say No to Drugs' unless you get them from the AMA, who don't exactly have an impressive track record in the drug or health dept. as may be evidenced with the high priced health for profit drugs, some unproven, that they are allowed to promote . As long as 'drugs' (natural and other substances) are illegal criminals will (by default) work harder to fill the demand. This is basic economics in a Capitalistic system . It is amazing that the supposedly most informed citizenry in the world remains oblivious to these basic facts and refuses to put an end to the money-changers' ( Congress) continued perpetuation of this foolishness. The LEAP organization clearly explains why the prohibition of drugs places an additional hazard on Law enforcement, who obviously, are interacting with the public on a 7/24 hr basis. It is a shame we do not have more respect for our men and women in uniform ! Legislators can be the professional 'no nothings' in their manicured environments and rake in the dough for Legislation /?/ supporting Co.s that are developing the latest most innovative technologies to protect us from ourselves( emphasis mine), while we the people and law enforcement must duke it out here on the streets and cities of the real world in real time. Synopsis , take all the money and resources we are throwing away on Prohibition and spend it on something useful and productive like Education and Peace.

[thy-only_king]

The U.S. needs to keep this from coming to America.

(CBS/AP) A Mexican law enforcement official who worked with U.S. authorities was charged with passing along classified information to drug traffickers and arranging the arrests of his drug boss' rivals, according to an indictment unsealed Friday.

[AttentionDeficit]

Welcome to prohibition

[thy-only_king]

Soon to be in a neighborhood near you .

(CNN) -- Authorities in the Mexican border state of Nuevo Leon are investigating after finding at least 38 bodies in nine hidden mass graves, the state's attorney general said.

Investigators believe some of the bodies had been dumped within the past 15 days, said Alejandro Garza y Garza, Nuevo Leon attorney general.

[thy-only_king]

The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.

[nehicks]

I must count myself as one of the fools, but even fools change and learn. I will not be voting for Obama, or pretty much any Democrat this fall. Your response was very well said.

[thy-only_king]

nehicks, a wise person learns from their mistakes.
From your comment I find you to be very wise.

[thy-only_king]

Today thousands of acres of wildlife preserve in Arizona were closed to Americans. Why? Mexican drug smugglers had taken it over to the point where law enforcement deemed it too dangerous for American civilians to use. Now, we are being invaded and our land occupied by a foreign invasion force. I know of no other American president that has stood by and watch America be invaded by a foreign country.

I hereby demand that Obama to be removed for office for the crime of treason against the United States of America.

[treshuebos]

I Agree. Makes one wonder if he would enforce the Monroe Doctrine...?

[run2jazz2]

Before moving, I lived in Tucson and saw pictures from a friend who knew a friend who was a Reporter in Nogales, Mexico. He sent him pictures of a recent gun battle between the drug cartel and policia.

The drug cartels nor policia have no interest in public safety as they are shooting each other regardless of who is there. Calderon is incompetent and the reason why you see the drug trade touching every aspect of life is because he is failing to provide opportunities to the poor.

Therefore, the poor since they have nothing to lose will become the drug mules for the cartels since drug money has no bearings on where it is spent. Sadly despite our efforts to reduce illegals from crossing our border unless we look at reducing demand on those who use ilegal drugs in this counrtry this will never end.