Gunmen attack TV station in northern Mexico

[Adsos Letter]

Source: Las Vegas Sun / AP

The Associated Press

Tue, Jan 6, 2009 (9:09 p.m.)

Gunmen have opened fire and tossed a grenade at a Mexican television station as it aired its nightly newscast, leaving behind a message warning the station about its coverage of drug gangs.

No injuries have been reported in the attack in the city of Monterrey.

Televisa Monterrey station director Francisco Cobo says the masked gunmen were in two pickup trucks and shot at the station Tuesday evening.

Cobo told the El Universal newspaper the assailants left a message outside the station that read: "Stop transmitting only about us, also transmit about the narco-officials. This is a warning."



Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jan/06/gunmen-attack-tv-station-in-northern-mexico/

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. And that past is prologue to our future

We have had some of the early warnings in border cities... in the US. The kind that I saw as a young medic when all this mess was starting in Northern Mexico

Past is prologue, and the war on drugs is an utter failure

Oh and Mexico is well on its way to failed state status... mark your calendar, you read it here first

[High Plains]

5. We are starting to see signs some border-area officials on our side understand.

Two weeks ago, the Arizona attorney general said in response to the violence that he would consider legalizing marijuana. Although that alone would do nothing to end the prohibition-related violence, it would be a start.

This week, the El Paso city council passed a resolution calling on the US federal government to consider drug legalization.

Sorry I don't have the links handy, but Google is our friend.

The Mexicans have been talking along similar lines since last fall.

More than 5,300 killed in 2008. That's higher than the number of US soldiers killed in all the Iraq war.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Fox tried, but they relented under pressure from our side

and this needs to be legalized NOW

[Pirate Smile]

2. Because Gaza, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, Iraq and Iran aren't enough (along with N. Korea).

We need to have the Mexico drug wars escalating and spinning from decapitations to assaults and intimidation of the press.

Uggghhhh.

[Sultana]

4. Couldn't have said it better myself

[Ian David]

3. "P.S. And bring back Boston Legal and Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip! This is your last warning!" n/t

[davidthegnome]

6. I think it's a bit more complicated than that

While I think it would be a good idea to make (some) drugs legal, overall, I don't think doing so would stop this violence. They have power, cash - and control, and they will not be satisfied until they have all of it. That's how it tends to be with the super rich/powerful. These Drug Lords can pay the average "official" a hell of a lot more than their government can. Much like the old prohibition here.

I suspect that what we may be seeing is an evolution in organized crime. The Christians (no offense to Christians) and their "noble experiment" (alcohol prohibition) created the American mafia. Countless Gangsters and Drug Lords have since created their own factions. The war on drugs serves no more purpose than the war on alcohol did. It's time for us all to realize it's a lost cause, yes... but don't think for a minute that these powerful thugs who've come to power and wealth through the drug trade are going to give it up.

In America we've romanticized the old drug mafia families and bosses. In reality, they are just what they seem to be. Cold, calculating, power hungry... and almost unstoppable.

They want it all, and it looks to me as if they'll get it. Who knows what will develop from this? Pretty damn scary to me.

[TheCML]

7. I was just told

How safe Monterrey was the other day. I would like to visit this summer, I guess you take risks wherever you go.

[a la izquierda]

8. Monterrey is fairly safe.

There's violence, random violence, in every city on the planet.

I've lived in Guadalajara on and off for two years. There's been an uptick in violence...but so long as you don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself, you should be fine.