military vs law enforcement

why r we giving this to law enforcement officers? this is a military issue - the National Guard needs to blow the hell out of these idiots that think pushing this into our country is a good idea. u lock em up or deport them, they will keep coming back.

cops need to look for perps on the street and hand them over to the military unit in charge. troops from Iraq need to come secure our homeland here.

RE: March 2009 Editorial: Mexican Drug Wars

I'd guess we're giving this to LEOs because, well, drug dealers are criminals. Not an invading army. Further, it's kinda sorta the job of the Police to, well, you know. Arrest criminals. Not the job of the National Guard. Just sayin, is all.

One thing we need to do is educate ourselves on just how these drug dealers operate across the border. They are MUCH more vicious then the drug dealers we're used to dealing with. Over there, they think nothing of threatening, and carrying out threats, on politicians, judges, prosecutors, and cops. When a new politician is elected, the drug dealers will approach him and say, "Plata o Plomo". Silver or Lead. This tells the new politician he can either accept being on the dealer's payroll, or he will be executed. So far the number of politicians who picked plomo who have died is pretty high.

I think the documentary "Drug Wars:Silver or Lead" should be required watching at every Police Academy and inservice class in the country. We need to mentally prepare ourselves for some heavy crap.

NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT

sure...I believe in giving the PO-lice the job because these idiots are criminals - which is after all the job of the police (I'm gonna smack you for being funny (just kidding ;-)BUT......................................................................................

looking at the big picture, and maybe by chance this drug war is a stage for people associated with the taliban/heroine growers (one of our number one enemies that our soldiers are fighting overseas), we just may wanna involve the military. just a thought that these fleas may be carrying a deadly disease and r so willingly pushing into our territory under a guise. if that is the case, then our military would be better off handling this. they are better equiped and trained - and the police would still have to be involved because both parties need to swap info of what is going on at the beat level.

I guess to put it in a different form - what is the difference between a SCUD missile and a few hundred (possibly) thousand armed, guerilla drug soldiers coming into our country unauthorized killing in masses (and those with any kind of authority) to TAKE OVER an area of land? Sounds like deja vu in American history, but this time we are a bit too lax.

Just my opinion Wolfva, that's all.................

RE: March 2009 Editorial: Mexican Drug Wars

Well, the Taliban uses Mexican drug lords to distribute herroin into the US. And al Qaeda has used them to transport operatives and such as well. However, if we start listing criminal activity as purview of the military/National Guard, where do we stop? Should we place National Guardsmen in shopping malls next to deter shoplifting? Bottom line is our Law Enforcement agencies are trained to handle these types of matters. I'd hazard a guess that our National Guard aren't.

Military vs. Law Enforcement

Hmmmm.....

I really would have to consider that the military should be handling this issue not the police. The protection of our national borders does not fall under the jurisdiction of the police. Doesn't matter if it is a group of criminals called the taliban or drug lords. They have no legal right to come over our borders, intimidate/extort, and kill people to take over a certain area to let their illegal business flourish. This is a national security issue. Especially if the mexican drug cartels have connections to those that continue to chant for our demise as a nation.

The police can't respond to calls for service and keep these drug lords from crossing over into the United States. There aren't enough cops or money from municipal/county funds to fund this type of operation. The police can continue to maintain order in their jurisdiction as far as illegal drug activity, but they cannot keep drug lords from spilling into the U.S. with an army of guerillas that are quite violent in what they are doing. Not to mention, well armed and funded by illicit drug sales.

This is a special case. The military will have to intervene at the border - cops should be given INTEL on who to look for associated with the cartel drug lords in their jurisdiction. The government just may want to speak with Paco on who he knows and associates with. We don't want another 9/11.

The police need to keep an eye on what is out of place and continue to communicate with the Federal Government.

Last edited @ 4/15/2009 9:49 PM

"Is your number still 911?" - Ofc. Rachel T.

RE: March 2009 Editorial: Mexican Drug Wars

But then again, it's not the cops who get called for people crossing the border but instead the Border Patrol, a Federal Law Enforcement Agency created for the purpose of patrolling said border, which isn't in fact a Military construct. Remember, the military really isn't supposed to operate within our borders, but instead 'faces outward'.

As long as we're arresting illegal aliens (well, we should be anyways) and drug dealers then LEA's should be the ones doing the work. When the job changes to killing intruders, by all means switch to the Military.

RE: March 2009 Editorial: Mexican Drug Wars

Does anyone remember the name Esekiel Hernandez, Jr? He was the 18 year old citizen, killed on his own land, by US Marines patrolling the border. That is what happened last time we tried military on our southern border instead of law enforcement agencies.

USMC and border security

I remember that, but I can't agree that just one case such as this will be setting the precedence on what will happen if we place our soldiers (along with) law enforcement at the borders.

Mexico is using both soldiers and police. This is an all out war in Mexico. If it comes to the United States, all you police officers on the border are now targets of combat and will be pursued merciless without regard of who you are. Can your vest take a round from a high-powered rifle? How many of the officers there have such a vest? How many police officers are issued a high-power rifle in return to penetrate their vests? Sure Border Patrol can fend off some, but these are not illegal immigrants trying to make a better life. These are a group of people well-armed and financed wanting to take off any one's head standing in their way.

The best thing for the U.S. to do is keep it out of the U.S. entirely. Which you will need the military stationed at the borders....Border Patrol as the next line of defense, then the police on the bordering towns to catch any other turd wishing to bring that crap into our country.

Not to be a pain and argue, but I just don't believe in underestimating these people. They have their own surveillance and intelligence on what border patrol does. Planes flying over Mexico with in certain distance from the border can pick up a lot of information...and it's not for the U.S.

Alright...I said my peace. I understand ya'lls point. I just have to agree with the military argument. And true...law enforcement will have to also be involved - like a joint operation (JTTF).

"Is your number still 911?" - Ofc. Rachel T.

RE: March 2009 Editorial: Mexican Drug Wars

Rach, the one case was the example of what we can expect because of the difference in the philosophy of the military and the police. Police are trained to solve crimes and make arrests. They will defend themselves or others from attack, but they really do try to not hurt the bad guy when they arrest them. This is why we see six or eight cops "ganging up" on one suspect who resists. The cops are all trying to control without injuring the bad guy, who does not have the same restriction on him.

Conversely, the military is trained to respond to threats by eliminating the threat. They will use overwhelming force when they can to stop the threat. Their concern over the well being of the bad guy is very little if any.

Another philosophical difference between the two is in how they justify their actions. Military can take extreme actions based on a perceived threat. Cops must have suspicion to start with, probable cause to arrest, and their use of force must be objectively reasonable to others. This is how Hernandez got killed. He was perceived as a threat by the Marines, and they reacted according to their rules and training.

Now, you do make some good points. We cannot ever afford to underestimate any enemy, criminal or military. By the same token, we cannot afford to respond to media hype either. This is not any more of an all out war than Chicago saw during the Prohibition Era. A big part of the problem, then and now in Mexico, is the corrupt police fighting alongside the criminals. This, combined with the way newspapers report it makes it seem worse than it is.

Mexican Drug Wars

Mr. Big Brother :-)

I see what you mean, but I see this as a problem for the United States to even allow this to cross our borders because we have drug lords associated with terrorists, and as you mentioned which I had forgot about, corrupt police in Mexico. Have we ever been able to negotiate with terrorists or their affiliates?

The police shouldn't should have to deal with the drug war spilling over to the United States. It should not get that far.

If they annouce they are coming in, and send out that message to area Hispanic gangs to defend their drugs...God knows what we'll have to deal with.

Maybe...just maybe big brother...I think way too much about this stuff on the shitter. LOL.

You have a good point, I just think this case is going to be different. I don't see this being a very good situation if we stay too lax. That's all honey.

"Is your number still 911?" - Ofc. Rachel T.