Drug reform crusader and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Sylvester Salcedo is back from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, scene of recent drug cartel violence, where he traveled to highlight “America’s 40-year drug war which has had a devastating effect at home and abroad.”
Sly dropped OIB a quick note with more to come, he says:
I’m back in CT tonight. The drive to/from, and visit to Nuevo Laredo (planned a 2-hour visit, and stayed for 4-plus) was insightful and very informative, details to follow. Interesting and bizarre experience to visit a democratic country next door to us (!) with cities and states having no local police force, only the Federal Army driving around town in random battle-ready patrols. It’s a full scale war, but we don’t hear much of a peep up here. Definitely tense, with fear and uncertainty hanging over that city/northern part of the country.”
For background click here.
Jimmy Carter was a naval officer too. Just thought you might want to know.
yahooy: Thank you. Yes, I know. Don’t forget JFK, LBJ, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush to name a few more. They too would have left their bayonets at home, like me, before crossing Bridge Number One at Laredo into Nuevo Laredo across the Rio Grande. It’s a Navy thing. Unless you’re Steve McQueen or Richard Crenna in “Sand Pebbles.” Gotta finish a couple of letters and I’ll be right back.
Touché on GHW Bush, Gerald Ford and JFK. Men of distinguished valor.
Army Infantry Officers are equipped with more formidable apparati.
“… with cities and states having no local police force, only the Federal Army driving around town …”
You went there for four hours and didn’t ask why the above was that way? I’ll tell you: The local police were the most corrupt in Latin America; when the local police drove around town, it was to pick up drugs or deliver them; kidnap and or kill people; collect extortion money and bribes.
“… It’s a full scale war, but we don’t hear much of a peep up here …”
You’ll never hear news about Mexico on OIB. Joel Speedy Gonzalez is the closest thing to Mexico you’ll hear here. It is a war and guess who the Federal Army is fighting–Drug Cartels. Let’s see if you get it yet! Local police forces corrupt to the core and working for drug cartels; Federal Forces ordered to arrest, disarm and kill if necessary drug cartel members. What would it be like if the Federal Government didn’t get involved?
Hey Salcedo, you forgot to tell us the Mexican Federal Forces provided you with some security.
*** Are they “still smoking” in Laredo? ***