¿Incursiones militares?

Presuntos narcotraficantes, camuflados con ropas del Ejercito Mexicano, y agentes de Policía de Texas se enfrentaron este lunes en el río Bravo, cuando intentaban introducir droga a EE UU, informó Andrea Simmons, vocera del FBI en El Paso, Texas.

La funcionaria precisó que ante la sospecha de que tres camionetas tipo militar intentarán introducir droga, los agentes del Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Texas decidieron impedirles el paso y se produjo una persecución en la margen estadunidense del río Bravo.

Según la versión de Simmons, hombres vestidos con uniformes del Ejército Mexicano --o ropa de combate-- se encontraban del lado estadunidense a bordo de tres camionetas Humvee todoterreno, en las cuales presuntamente intentaban introducir la droga.

Según sospechas de las autoridades estadunidenses, los supuestos militares habrían participado como escoltas de los narcotraficantes que intentaban introducir marihuana a EE UU.

Simmons aclaró que el FBI no tuvo participación; y agregó que la solicitud de detalles debía dirigirse a la oficina de Inmigración y Aduanas.

Y nuevamente el ya famosos diario Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, de Ontario, California, informó que en el incidente se produjo un enfrentamiento entre los supuestos miembros de las fuerzas armadas mexicanas, presuntos contrabandistas de drogas y una treintena de agentes de seguridad estadunidenses. (El mismo periódico que el 15 de enero indicó que el Ejército Mexicano cruzó la frontera 216 veces en nueve años).

Indicó que vehículos militares Humvee arrastraban lo que parecían ser miles de kilos de marihuana a través de la frontera.

El vocero de la embajada mexicana, Rafael Laveaga, dijo que la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional realiza una investigación al respecto; y reveló que el destacamento militar que tiene que opera en la zona no cuenta con vehículos Humvee, como los que se mencionan que participaron en el enfrentamiento.

Por otro lado, en una conferencia de prensa, Rick Glancey, de la Coalición de Alguaciles de la Frontera de Texas, dijo que no pudo confirmar si los hombres armados eran soldados mexicanos, policías o narcotraficantes, y no quiso identificar las insignias vistas por sus agentes en los uniformes.

En tanto, el subjefe de policía del condado de Hudspeth, Mike Doyal, dijo que miembros del Ejército Mexicano emplazaron varias ametralladoras en el territorio estadounidense a más de 200 metros de la frontera, indicó con anterioridad el Daily Bulletin. “Nos han inculcado tanto no iniciar un incidente internacional con México que esto ocurre desde hace años”, afirmó Doyal. “Cuando te enfrentas con ametralladoras, ¿qué puedes hacer? ¿Quién es el primero que se atreve a apretar el gatillo? Ciertamente, no somos nosotros”.

El alguacil del condado de Hudspeth, Arvin West, cuyos agentes se vieron mezclados en un incidente similar el año pasado, dijo estar convencido de que las autoridades mexicanas saben quién participó en el suceso.

El gobierno mexicano rechazó que soldados de su país hayan participado en un enfrentamiento. A través de una declaración emitida por la cancillería, el gobierno señaló que las personas con uniformes militares podrían haber sido narcotraficantes que buscan dañar la imagen de las Fuerzas Armadas mexicanas y la cooperación que México y Estados Unidos tienen en la lucha contra el crimen organizado.

Reacciones en México

En la mañanera de hoy -poco antes de salir de gira a Chile y Honduras con el presidente- el vocero de los Pinos, Rubén Aguilar, señaló a pregunta expresa:

-José Luis Ruiz, de El Universal: ..conocer cómo va el asunto del incidente que se dio ayer en la frontera con… militares.

-Vocero: Sí, el Gobierno de la República reitera de manera contundente, como lo ha hecho ya la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores y también la Secretaría de la Defensa, que no se trata de militares mexicanos. (pero hasta mediodía de hoy no hay boletín sobre este tema en las páginas de Internet de la Sedena y tampoco de la cancillería, sólo lo declarado por el vocero en Washington DC).

También lo ha señalado así el FBI de los Estados Unidos, se sabe que son narcotraficantes utilizando uniformes militares, que incluso no son los uniformes militares regulares del Ejército de México.

Los Estados Unidos y México también están muy interesados en investigar cómo están operando las bandas del narcotráfico en esa zona de la frontera.Pero reitero de manera contundente, no se trata de efectivos del Ejército Mexicano, como lo reconoce también el propio Gobierno de los Estados Unidos.

En tanto el Procurador Cabeza de Vaca, aseguró que el incidente en la frontera, "son hechos que no son significativos, el país está en calma, el país sigue con sus actividades". El procurador aseguró que el repunte delictivo es el resultado de las detenciones y operativos exitosos del Gobierno federal en contra de la delincuencia organizada. Señaló que la institución ha investigado y ya existe una averiguación previa por este incidente.

Reacciones en EE UU

Y en EE UU, en su rueda de prensa, el portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Scott McClellan, aseguró que “evidentemente, hay preocupación sobre las informaciones de prensa... pero es un incidente que se encuentra bajo investigación”, en coordinación con las “autoridades federales, estatales y locales”.

En un sentido similar se pronunció el portavoz del Departamento de Estado, Sean McCormack, quien afirmó que “las informaciones son una fuente de preocupación y el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional va a examinar todas y cada una de ellas. Sé que esas informaciones les preocupan”. Sin embargo, McCormack subrayó que hasta el momento se trata sólo de “informaciones de prensa”.

La película continua.

Y por cierto, los dos periódicos de EE UU abordando puntualmente el tema; el ya famoso Daily Bulletin de Ontario, California; y The Washington Times, del reverendo Moon.

Estas son las notas de hoy:

México to officially investigate military border crossings, suspected drug smuggling aid

By Sara A. Carter, Staff WriterInland Valley Daily Bulletin
The Mexican government is investigating reports that Mexican soldiers aided drug smugglers across the Rio Grande, and it will not allow its soldiers within 3.2 miles of the U.S. border after an armed standoff in Texas on Monday.

Mexican officials deny any incursions by their army and instead blame drug cartels for masquerading as soldiers in order to destroy the country's foreign relations with the United States.

"It's just allegations," said Rafael Laveaga, spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C. "We don't deny criminal activity on the border, that would be foolish to do. Cartels are a global force right now. If there is any field where the U.S. and Mexico have been able to build relations, it is in combating crime. We have been able to build a confidence-based relationship with U.S."

Laveaga added that Mexican officials are conducting a full investigation into the incident and inspecting Mexican military bases near the U.S. border to see if any uniforms or equipment have been removed.

Mexican soldiers will not be allowed into the 3.2-mile alert zone unless they have proper authorization, said Juan Carlos Foncerrada Berumen, the Mexican consul general in El Paso, Texas.

The consul general also said Tuesday that the men who faced off with the Texas officers were not Mexican soldiers. He said Mexican military uniforms may have been used Monday to distort public opinion and damage relations between the two countries.

In response to Monday's incident, Texas Gov. Rick Perry joined two Southern California congressmen in calling for an investigation into whether Mexican soldiers are helping smugglers.

Reps. David Dreier, R-Glendora, and Duncan Hunter, R-San Diego, last week, called for Congress to look into incursions based on documents showing Mexican soldiers had crossed into the country 216 times over the past 10 years.

"We need to have these congressional hearings so all these can come to the forefront," Dreier said Tuesday. "So that this becomes the venue and we need this soon. All this needs to be rectified."

Dreier said he was "horrified" by the reports and that investigations need to start immediately, regardless of whether the men dressed in military uniforms are members of drug cartels or the Mexican military.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement Tuesday saying it was investigating Monday's standoff alongside state and local authorities.

The statement from spokeswoman Kristi Clemens also said that "experience has shown that criminal networks become increasingly emboldened when they feel squeezed by successful law enforcement strategies."

Monday's armed confrontation took place 90 miles east of El Paso between U.S. law enforcement -- including Hudspeth Couthy sheriffs deputies, a state trooper and Border Patrol agents -- and roughly 10 heavily armed men, some wearing what appeared to be Mexican military uniforms.

A more than 12-mile pursuit of three sport-utility vehicles ended at the Rio Grande where a military-style Humvee with Mexican soldiers in it was on the U.S. side of the border, according to officials with the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, an organization of the 16 sheriff's departments along the Texas/Mexico border.

The first SUV made it back to Mexico, but the second got stuck in the low river. Men in Mexican uniforms set that vehicle on fire. The third SUV, which was carrying more than 1,400 pounds of marijuana, was abandoned on the U.S. side with a flat tire.

Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez, a member of the coalition, said that U.S. law enforcement officers saw what appeared to be a Humvee with a mounted machine gun.

During a press conference Tuesday, officers said they saw men in Mexican Army uniforms dismantling what was left of the stranded vehicle, Gonzalez added.

"Even as our news conference was going on, the vehicle that was stuck in the bank was being dismantled by military people from Mexico," he said.
Gonzalez said he also received a call from Laredo, Texas, on Tuesday regarding snipers who were firing on Border Patrol agents from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

"If you don't live on the border you don't know what's going on on the border," said Gonzalez, who added that the Texas governor allocated $6 million last year to assist the coalition in border security. "The border is so open, anything and anyone can get through. We feel our federal government isn't protecting our border."

Congressman Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., called Tuesday on the federal government and southern border states to immediately deploy troops to the border in response to recent incidents.

"The Mexican military has made hundreds of incursions into the U.S. over the last few years, yet (Department of Homeland Security) Secretary (Michael) Chertoff continues to call them "accidents," said Tancredo, who is actively involved in immigration issues. "The systematic smuggling of contraband into the U.S. is no accident; it is a sanctioned activity used to grease the wheels of a corrupt military."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mexican drug run thwarted at border /By Jerry SeperTHE WASHINGTON TIMES, January 25, 2006
U.S. law-enforcement authorities confronted several men in Mexican military uniforms and a camouflaged Humvee with .50-caliber machine guns who had crossed into Texas with suspected drug smugglers 50 miles southeast of El Paso, forcing an armed standoff along the Rio Grande, says a Texas sheriff.

Hudspeth County, Texas, Sheriff Arvin West said the incident began at 2:19 p.m. Monday when his deputies -- working as part of an anti-drug smuggling enforcement initiative known as "Operation Linebacker" -- pursued three SUVs spotted driving north from a border area along the Rio Grande near Interstate 10.

Sheriff West said the pursuit, which began near Sierra Blanca, Texas, ended for one of the vehicles when it blew out a tire and the driver fled. He said deputies seized 1,400 pounds of marijuana from that vehicle.

As the southbound chase continued for the other two SUVs, he said the deputies and at least two Texas Department of Public Safety troopers who had joined in the pursuit encountered several men on the U.S. side of the border dressed in what he described as battle dress uniforms (BDUs). He said they "appeared to be soldiers, in a Humvee vehicle with what appeared to the officers as being .50-caliber machine guns."

Sheriff West said one of the vehicles made it into Mexico, but the other got stuck in the river, where a group of men in civilian clothes offloaded what appeared to be bundles of marijuana. He said the truck was then set ablaze by the "soldiers."

No shots were fired and no injuries were reported during what amounted to an armed standoff at the border.

T.J. Bonner, a veteran Border Patrol agent and president of the National Border Patrol Council, yesterday called the incident "just another example of what we have been saying all along: This is a serious problem and it's not going to go away.

"The U.S. government has got to put its foot down and take decisive action," said Mr. Bonner, whose union represents all 10,000 of the agency's non-supervisory personnel. "It would be nice if the Mexican government would address the problem, but it won't even admit there is one."

In November, the U.S. Border Patrol chased a dump truck full of marijuana in the same area when it also got stuck in the river seeking to return to Mexico. While Border Patrol agents sought to unload 3 tons of marijuana, the driver -- who had fled -- returned with a heavily armed group of men wearing Mexican military uniforms and carrying military-style weapons. The soldiers backed the agents away and bulldozed the truck back into Mexico.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff dismissed reports of possible Mexican military incursions into the United States as "overblown" and "scare tactics." He said those involved in the crossings may have been dressed in military uniforms, "but they are just criminals, they are not military but they are wearing camouflage so someone may assume they are military."

Mr. Chertoff also said a significant number of 216 confirmed incursions since 1996 were "innocent," noting that police and military units in Mexico pursuing criminals "may step across the border because they do not know exactly where the line is."

Law-enforcement officials yesterday noted that the Texas-Mexico border is clearly marked by the Rio Grande.

Yesterday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokeswoman Kristi M. Clemens said the Border Patrol was notified of possible narcotics smuggling by the sheriff's office involving suspects dressed in military-style uniforms and using military-style equipment. She said the incident is under investigation.

Ms. Clemens also said the Bush administration is discussing the matter with the government of Mexico and is asking for a thorough investigation and response.

Rafael Laveaga, spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington, yesterday said that country's Ministry of Defense has ordered an investigation of the incident, but "already has informed us they do not have the type of vehicles and heavy weapons described by the sheriff" in the area.

"We strongly deny that members of the Mexican military were involved," Mr. Laveaga said, adding that criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking "wear look-alike military uniforms and use look-alike military equipment to affect an image of the Mexican military."

Republican Reps. David Dreier, chairman of the House Rules Committee, and Duncan Hunter, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, have asked the House Judiciary Committee, the Department of Homeland Security, the House Homeland Security Committee and the House International Relations Committee to investigate suspected incursions by the Mexican military.

The two California congressmen, citing what they called the "critical importance of border and national security," also asked Mr. Chertoff to explain how these incidents occurred, to outline the department's current policies to address illegal crossings, and to explain its strategy for preventing similar acts in the future.

Sen. Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security, also has asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to "initiate an official investigation" and "open a dialogue with Mexico to prevent any future incursions.

"These incidents pose a significant threat to our national security, as I'm sure you agree," Mr. Kyl said.

A Mexican government commission yesterday said it will distribute at least 70,000 maps showing highways, rescue beacons and water tanks in the Arizona desert to curb the death toll among illegal border crossers.