Reyes issues statement regarding relative's kidnapping
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/27/2008 01:03:50 PM MDT
In a statement his office issued today, U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, downplayed his role in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's investigation into the kidnapping of a relative in Juárez.
"Congressman Reyes was informed of the incident by his staff after law enforcement had been notified. While the Congressman was kept apprised of the situation, he had no other role," according to a news release by Vince Perez, Reyes' spokesman. "Any suggestion that Congressman Reyes somehow influenced the actions of law enforcement is false."
"As always, the Congressman is appreciative of the efforts by law enforcement officers, on both sides of the border, which led to the victim's safe return."
The statement also said that Reyes is certain the kidnapping victim was not targeted because of her relationship to a U.S. congressman.
Also today, the Washington Times newspaper published a story about the kidnapping, which quotes former El Paso DEA administrator Sandalio "Sandy" Gonzalez. Read the article here.
On Thursday, Reyes said the Office of the Inspector General was investigating how an ICE memo with details about the June 19 kidnapping of Erika Posselt was leaked to the news media. He did not indicate who requested the OIG investigation.
The memo states that an aide to Reyes contacted ICE after he was advised of the kidnapping. ICE officials would not comment on the kidnapping investigation.
"Silvestre Reyes is wrong and sounds like a prepotent when he states there is an ongoing OIG investigation to determine who leaked the ICE 'memo'," said retired ICE official Miguel Contreras, who disagreed with the congressman's view that the memo compromised an ongoing investigation.
Posselt, a Mexican citizen and a relative of Reyes' wife, was released unharmed June 22 after a family member paid a $32,000 ransom.
Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.
Showing posts with label US House. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US House. Show all posts
June 27, 2008
U.S. helps ransom Reyes' kin
U.S. helps ransom Reyes' kin
Relative of congressman's wife whisked out of Mexico
Ben Conery (Contact) and Jerry Seper
Friday, June 27, 2008
U.S. law enforcement authorities helped facilitate a $32,000 ransom payment in Mexico for a relative of a U.S. congressman who was kidnapped last week by gunmen in Ciudad Juarez, a border city with rampant drug smuggling, gunfights and corruption.
Erika Posselt, a Mexican national described only as "a relative of the wife" of Rep. Silvestre Reyes, Texas Democrat and powerful chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, was abducted June 19 from an auto glass store she owns in Juarez.
Held for three days, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents - at Mr. Reyes' request - helped arrange her safe return.
Saying they would kill Mrs. Posselt if a $500,000 ransom wasn't paid, the kidnappers negotiated with Mrs. Posselt's brother in Juarez and agreed to release her for $32,000 - in U.S. and Mexican currency. According to a confidential ICE memo, Mrs. Posselt was heard yelling in the background on one phone call between her brother and her captors.
The family raised the money, according to the memo. On June 21, two men on a motorcycle collected the ransom money at a Juarez street corner but sped off and eluded investigators who had staked out the drop site.
Mrs. Posselt was released several hours later, and Mexican authorities quickly transferred her to their American counterparts, who rushed her to El Paso, Texas, for "security reasons," according to the ICE memo.
No arrests have been made.
U.S. policy prohibits federal agencies from negotiating with kidnappers in ransom demands for U.S. citizens. It is not clear how the policy pertains to the involvement of U.S. agencies in the kidnapping of noncitizens such as Mr. Reyes' relative. But some law enforcement authorities on Thursday said the Mexican case could have set a dangerous precedent.
Sandalio "Sandy" Gonzalez, a retired U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration senior executive service supervisor who headed all of DEA's operations in West Texas and New Mexico, said it was natural to reach out to help a relative, but U.S. authorities lacked jurisdiction in the case.
"The question to ask is whether ICE would have gotten involved if it had been a U.S. citizen or someone not related to a member of Congress," he said. "The answer, of course, would be no."
Michael Cutler, a retired U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service senior agent, called the involvement of Mr. Reyes' office "questionable." Noting that Mr. Reyes is a retired Border Patrol sector chief, he said federal agents always have been admonished to "never use your badge to accomplish a personal goal."
Washington layer Joseph DiGenova, former U.S. attorney in the District, said cross-border law enforcement operations are generally coordinated by the U.S. Attorney General's office. He called the Reyes case a "bizarre use of U.S. law enforcement resources.
"There is absolutely no fundamental basis for U.S. law enforcement to be involved but for the request of the congressman," he said. "Not only is it highly unusual, but it raises serious questions."
GETTY IMAGES POSITION OF POWER: Rep. Silvestre Reyes asked U.S. agents to help arrange the safe return of his wife's relative in Mexico, according to a confidential memo.
Mr. DiGenova said the only reason ICE became involved is because Mr. Reyes is "the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee."
Mrs. Posselt was released three days after an aide to Mr. Reyes, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a former U.S. Border Patrol sector chief in El Paso, sought help from the ICE assistant attache in Ciudad Juarez.
The agency responded by pledging the "full assistance" of its El Paso field office and coordinating a meeting with the Chihuahua state police in El Paso "to recover the kidnapped victim."
Mr. Reyes' office had no comment Thursday when asked about the matter. ICE officials also declined to comment and said the investigation is continuing.
According to the memo, ICE agents ultimately enlisted the help of Mexican state and federal law enforcement officials in Mrs. Posselt's return, but limited their role to providing their Mexican counterparts with what the memo described as "technical and logistical assistance."
One of the first officials ICE contacted "to coordinate efforts to recover Ms. Posselt" was Patricia Gonzalez, the attorney general in Chihuahua, the state where Juarez is located. That contact was followed by meetings in El Paso between ICE officials and Chihuahua state police.
The ICE memo, sent to Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers, who heads ICE, said the agency's technical operations division in Washington was contacted to help coordinate support.
After her release, Mrs. Posselt was interviewed at the ICE field office in El Paso by ICE agents and Mexican prosecutors, the memo said, and "Mexican officials are pursuing leads relating to the possible location where Mrs. Posselt was held."
Juarez has been overrun by violence as powerful drug cartels battle federal and state law enforcement officials, and one another, for control of lucrative smuggling corridors into the United States. Hundreds of killings have been reported since 2006.
Over the past 15 years, more than 400 women have been killed in Juarez, their bodies dumped into ditches or vacant lots, and more than 4,000 have been reported missing. Few of the cases have been solved, and family members of the other victims don't think their killers will be brought to justice.
The memo also noted that a $56,000 ransom for a separate kidnapping was being delivered while the money was taken to the drop spot for Mrs. Posselt's release.
Relative of congressman's wife whisked out of Mexico
Ben Conery (Contact) and Jerry Seper
Friday, June 27, 2008
U.S. law enforcement authorities helped facilitate a $32,000 ransom payment in Mexico for a relative of a U.S. congressman who was kidnapped last week by gunmen in Ciudad Juarez, a border city with rampant drug smuggling, gunfights and corruption.
Erika Posselt, a Mexican national described only as "a relative of the wife" of Rep. Silvestre Reyes, Texas Democrat and powerful chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, was abducted June 19 from an auto glass store she owns in Juarez.
Held for three days, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents - at Mr. Reyes' request - helped arrange her safe return.
Saying they would kill Mrs. Posselt if a $500,000 ransom wasn't paid, the kidnappers negotiated with Mrs. Posselt's brother in Juarez and agreed to release her for $32,000 - in U.S. and Mexican currency. According to a confidential ICE memo, Mrs. Posselt was heard yelling in the background on one phone call between her brother and her captors.
The family raised the money, according to the memo. On June 21, two men on a motorcycle collected the ransom money at a Juarez street corner but sped off and eluded investigators who had staked out the drop site.
Mrs. Posselt was released several hours later, and Mexican authorities quickly transferred her to their American counterparts, who rushed her to El Paso, Texas, for "security reasons," according to the ICE memo.
No arrests have been made.
U.S. policy prohibits federal agencies from negotiating with kidnappers in ransom demands for U.S. citizens. It is not clear how the policy pertains to the involvement of U.S. agencies in the kidnapping of noncitizens such as Mr. Reyes' relative. But some law enforcement authorities on Thursday said the Mexican case could have set a dangerous precedent.
Sandalio "Sandy" Gonzalez, a retired U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration senior executive service supervisor who headed all of DEA's operations in West Texas and New Mexico, said it was natural to reach out to help a relative, but U.S. authorities lacked jurisdiction in the case.
"The question to ask is whether ICE would have gotten involved if it had been a U.S. citizen or someone not related to a member of Congress," he said. "The answer, of course, would be no."
Michael Cutler, a retired U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service senior agent, called the involvement of Mr. Reyes' office "questionable." Noting that Mr. Reyes is a retired Border Patrol sector chief, he said federal agents always have been admonished to "never use your badge to accomplish a personal goal."
Washington layer Joseph DiGenova, former U.S. attorney in the District, said cross-border law enforcement operations are generally coordinated by the U.S. Attorney General's office. He called the Reyes case a "bizarre use of U.S. law enforcement resources.
"There is absolutely no fundamental basis for U.S. law enforcement to be involved but for the request of the congressman," he said. "Not only is it highly unusual, but it raises serious questions."
GETTY IMAGES POSITION OF POWER: Rep. Silvestre Reyes asked U.S. agents to help arrange the safe return of his wife's relative in Mexico, according to a confidential memo.
Mr. DiGenova said the only reason ICE became involved is because Mr. Reyes is "the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee."
Mrs. Posselt was released three days after an aide to Mr. Reyes, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a former U.S. Border Patrol sector chief in El Paso, sought help from the ICE assistant attache in Ciudad Juarez.
The agency responded by pledging the "full assistance" of its El Paso field office and coordinating a meeting with the Chihuahua state police in El Paso "to recover the kidnapped victim."
Mr. Reyes' office had no comment Thursday when asked about the matter. ICE officials also declined to comment and said the investigation is continuing.
According to the memo, ICE agents ultimately enlisted the help of Mexican state and federal law enforcement officials in Mrs. Posselt's return, but limited their role to providing their Mexican counterparts with what the memo described as "technical and logistical assistance."
One of the first officials ICE contacted "to coordinate efforts to recover Ms. Posselt" was Patricia Gonzalez, the attorney general in Chihuahua, the state where Juarez is located. That contact was followed by meetings in El Paso between ICE officials and Chihuahua state police.
The ICE memo, sent to Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers, who heads ICE, said the agency's technical operations division in Washington was contacted to help coordinate support.
After her release, Mrs. Posselt was interviewed at the ICE field office in El Paso by ICE agents and Mexican prosecutors, the memo said, and "Mexican officials are pursuing leads relating to the possible location where Mrs. Posselt was held."
Juarez has been overrun by violence as powerful drug cartels battle federal and state law enforcement officials, and one another, for control of lucrative smuggling corridors into the United States. Hundreds of killings have been reported since 2006.
Over the past 15 years, more than 400 women have been killed in Juarez, their bodies dumped into ditches or vacant lots, and more than 4,000 have been reported missing. Few of the cases have been solved, and family members of the other victims don't think their killers will be brought to justice.
The memo also noted that a $56,000 ransom for a separate kidnapping was being delivered while the money was taken to the drop spot for Mrs. Posselt's release.
June 26, 2008
Reyes sought U.S. help for kidnapped relative
Reyes sought U.S. help for kidnapped relative
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/26/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
A plea for help from U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes' office led to a massive international effort to rescue a relative of his who was kidnapped in Juárez, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo.
June 19, an aide to Reyes, D-Texas, contacted the Immigration and Customs Enforcement assistant attache in Mexico to report that a Mexican citizen related to Reyes had been kidnapped, the memo obtained by the El Paso Times and posted on a Web site states.
The effort to rescue the businesswoman, identified as Erika Posselt, included contacting officials in Washington, D.C, the FBI, the Chihuahua State Attorney General's office and Mexican federal authorities.
Reyes declined to comment on the memo or the case.
According to the memo, "a group of armed men kidnapped (Reyes' relative) from the ACCRIPARTS, an auto glass store she owns in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
"Additionally, agents learned that the kidnappers had called (her) brother and demanded a ransom of $500,000 (pesos) in exchange for her safe return. The kidnappers stated that (she) would be killed if he (the brother) contacted law enforcement authorities."
The memo addressed to ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers in Washington and dated June 23 said Reyes' relative owned the auto glass store in Juárez.
Phil Jordan, former director of the El Paso Intelligence Center, said the ICE document also was posted on the Internet by www.narconews.com.
The memo stated that "On June 19, 2008, the Assistant Attache in Juárez was contacted by a Congressional Aide (CA) for Congressman Silvestre Reyes ... (the aide) advised that (the victim), a Mexican national and relative of Congressman Reyes' wife, had been kidnapped in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
"Subsequently, the ICE Assistant Attache (in) Juárez requested and received the full assistance of the ICE SAC (special agent in charge) El Paso office, and coordinated a meeting in El Paso, TX with the Chihuahua State Police to recover the kidnapped victim."
A spokesman for Myers at ICE headquarters in Washington could not be reached for comment.
Former ICE official Miguel Contreras said, "it's a conflict of interest for Congressman Reyes to try to influence the case. He is in a position to affect the funding and others matters involving ICE. Also, if someone at ICE is going to be investigated, the congressman will be biased in favor of ICE."
Jordan said that in his 30 years of law enforcement, he had never seen a member of Congress get involved in helping to investigate a crime against a Mexican citizen in Mexico.
"I'm glad nothing happened to the lady and that it all worked out," Jordan said. "But if you, as a U.S. congressman, will do this for a Mexican citizen, then you'd better be prepared to do it for American citizens who are kidnapped in Mexico. "
Leticia Zamarripa, ICE spokeswoman in El Paso, said the federal law enforcement agency was continuing its investigation and had no comment regarding the memo or the case.
"It is not unusual for ICE to collaborate with Mexican authorities on a variety of cases, such as human smugglings, arms trafficking, fugitive child predators, without regard to nationality," Zamarripa said.
Several years ago, the FBI office in El Paso looked into the disappearance of at least 30 U.S. citizens in Mexico. The cases culminated in the 1999 U.S.-Mexico "mass graves" investigation in Juárez that led to nine bodies buried at four ranches.
Back then, FBI officials said they justified the investigation in Mexico because of the possibility they might find missing U.S. citizens.
According to the recent ICE memo, Posselt was released a couple of days after her kidnappers received a $32,000 ransom. She and another kidnapping victim who paid $56,000 for his release were dropped off in a public location. It was not known if the amounts were in dollars or pesos.
After her release, Posselt refused medical treatment and was allowed to cross the U.S. border "for security reasons," the memo stated.
Wednesday, Juárez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz announced that a special Mexican federal anti-kidnapping team had been sent to Juárez to investigate the recent wave of kidnappings aimed at business people.
In May, unknown persons posted a video on YouTube.com warning business people in Juárez that they would become the next targets in the ongoing violence that has claimed more than 500 lives since January.
Narcosphere, an online Web site that specializes in reporting on drug trafficking, first reported the kidnapping earlier this week.
Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/26/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
A plea for help from U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes' office led to a massive international effort to rescue a relative of his who was kidnapped in Juárez, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo.
June 19, an aide to Reyes, D-Texas, contacted the Immigration and Customs Enforcement assistant attache in Mexico to report that a Mexican citizen related to Reyes had been kidnapped, the memo obtained by the El Paso Times and posted on a Web site states.
The effort to rescue the businesswoman, identified as Erika Posselt, included contacting officials in Washington, D.C, the FBI, the Chihuahua State Attorney General's office and Mexican federal authorities.
Reyes declined to comment on the memo or the case.
According to the memo, "a group of armed men kidnapped (Reyes' relative) from the ACCRIPARTS, an auto glass store she owns in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
"Additionally, agents learned that the kidnappers had called (her) brother and demanded a ransom of $500,000 (pesos) in exchange for her safe return. The kidnappers stated that (she) would be killed if he (the brother) contacted law enforcement authorities."
The memo addressed to ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers in Washington and dated June 23 said Reyes' relative owned the auto glass store in Juárez.
Phil Jordan, former director of the El Paso Intelligence Center, said the ICE document also was posted on the Internet by www.narconews.com.
The memo stated that "On June 19, 2008, the Assistant Attache in Juárez was contacted by a Congressional Aide (CA) for Congressman Silvestre Reyes ... (the aide) advised that (the victim), a Mexican national and relative of Congressman Reyes' wife, had been kidnapped in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
"Subsequently, the ICE Assistant Attache (in) Juárez requested and received the full assistance of the ICE SAC (special agent in charge) El Paso office, and coordinated a meeting in El Paso, TX with the Chihuahua State Police to recover the kidnapped victim."
A spokesman for Myers at ICE headquarters in Washington could not be reached for comment.
Former ICE official Miguel Contreras said, "it's a conflict of interest for Congressman Reyes to try to influence the case. He is in a position to affect the funding and others matters involving ICE. Also, if someone at ICE is going to be investigated, the congressman will be biased in favor of ICE."
Jordan said that in his 30 years of law enforcement, he had never seen a member of Congress get involved in helping to investigate a crime against a Mexican citizen in Mexico.
"I'm glad nothing happened to the lady and that it all worked out," Jordan said. "But if you, as a U.S. congressman, will do this for a Mexican citizen, then you'd better be prepared to do it for American citizens who are kidnapped in Mexico. "
Leticia Zamarripa, ICE spokeswoman in El Paso, said the federal law enforcement agency was continuing its investigation and had no comment regarding the memo or the case.
"It is not unusual for ICE to collaborate with Mexican authorities on a variety of cases, such as human smugglings, arms trafficking, fugitive child predators, without regard to nationality," Zamarripa said.
Several years ago, the FBI office in El Paso looked into the disappearance of at least 30 U.S. citizens in Mexico. The cases culminated in the 1999 U.S.-Mexico "mass graves" investigation in Juárez that led to nine bodies buried at four ranches.
Back then, FBI officials said they justified the investigation in Mexico because of the possibility they might find missing U.S. citizens.
According to the recent ICE memo, Posselt was released a couple of days after her kidnappers received a $32,000 ransom. She and another kidnapping victim who paid $56,000 for his release were dropped off in a public location. It was not known if the amounts were in dollars or pesos.
After her release, Posselt refused medical treatment and was allowed to cross the U.S. border "for security reasons," the memo stated.
Wednesday, Juárez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz announced that a special Mexican federal anti-kidnapping team had been sent to Juárez to investigate the recent wave of kidnappings aimed at business people.
In May, unknown persons posted a video on YouTube.com warning business people in Juárez that they would become the next targets in the ongoing violence that has claimed more than 500 lives since January.
Narcosphere, an online Web site that specializes in reporting on drug trafficking, first reported the kidnapping earlier this week.
Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.
June 25, 2008
Kidnapped, released relative of U.S. Rep. Reyes was Mexican citizen, memo states
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 01:45:10 PM MDT
An aide of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, contacted the Immigration and Customs Enforcement assistant attache in Mexico to report that a Mexican citizen who is related to Reyes had been kidnapped, according to an internal ICE memo.
The document dated June 23 addressed to ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers in Washington, D.C., identifies Reyes' relative as the owner of an auto glass store in Juárez.
The memo states that "a group of armed men kidnapped (the relative) from the ACCRIPARTS, an auto glass store she owns in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
"Additionally, agents learned that the kidnappers had called (the relative's) brother and demanded a ransom of $500,000 in exchange for her safe return. The kidnappers stated that (she) would be killed if he contacted law enforcement authorities."
Leticia Zamarripa, ICE spokeswoman in El Paso, said the federal law enforcement agency was continuing its investigation and had no comment regarding the memo or anything else related to the case.
Narcosphere, an online outlet that specializes in reporting on drug-trafficking, first reported on the kidnapping earlier this week. To read Narcosphere's latest story, titled, Juarez kidnapping case opens Pandora's box for Congressman Silvestre Reyes, click here.
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 01:45:10 PM MDT
An aide of U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, contacted the Immigration and Customs Enforcement assistant attache in Mexico to report that a Mexican citizen who is related to Reyes had been kidnapped, according to an internal ICE memo.
The document dated June 23 addressed to ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers in Washington, D.C., identifies Reyes' relative as the owner of an auto glass store in Juárez.
The memo states that "a group of armed men kidnapped (the relative) from the ACCRIPARTS, an auto glass store she owns in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
"Additionally, agents learned that the kidnappers had called (the relative's) brother and demanded a ransom of $500,000 in exchange for her safe return. The kidnappers stated that (she) would be killed if he contacted law enforcement authorities."
Leticia Zamarripa, ICE spokeswoman in El Paso, said the federal law enforcement agency was continuing its investigation and had no comment regarding the memo or anything else related to the case.
Narcosphere, an online outlet that specializes in reporting on drug-trafficking, first reported on the kidnapping earlier this week. To read Narcosphere's latest story, titled, Juarez kidnapping case opens Pandora's box for Congressman Silvestre Reyes, click here.
Reyes relative kidnapped; U.S. helps secure release
By Daniel Borunda and Ramon Bracamontes / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
A woman who reportedly is a relative of Congressman Silvestre Reyes was kidnapped in Juárez, then released with the help of U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Reyes, D-Texas, declined to comment. The kidnapping was first reported on the Narcosphere Web site, which attributed the report and knowledge of the victim's relationship to Reyes to a DEA official in El Paso.
Though the Web site reported the kidnapped person was Reyes' sister-in-law, another federal agency and other officials are saying that some of the facts in the online report might be wrong, including the connection to Reyes.
Relatives of Reyes told Channel 9-KTSM (cable Channel 10) off camera that they were told not to comment.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement was the lead U.S. agency in the incident, but the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration were also involved. However, neither agency would release any details, including when the incident took place.
"I have nothing to say about that," DEA spokesman Matthew Taylor, who was quoted in the Narco News report, said.
ICE released only the following statement: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with several other federal law enforcement agencies, recently worked cooperatively to assist Mexican law enforcement authorities to help secure the release of
a victim who was kidnapped in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
"Although the victim was returned to her family, this investigation is ongoing. Therefore, no further information is releasable at this time," the statement read.
Kidnappings in Juárez generally target Mexican citizens, and spokeswomen for the FBI and ICE would not disclose whether the kidnapped woman was a citizen of the U.S. or Mexico.
FBI spokeswoman Special Agent Andrea Simmons did say the bureau had received no reports of U.S. citizens kidnapped in Juárez.
The FBI and ICE have worked with Mexican authorities in the past regarding kidnappings on the border.
The incident comes as kidnappings have become more common in Juárez possibly due to drug trafficking gangs snatching victims targeted for death or marks held for ransom to raise funds for the ongoing war for control of the region's smuggling corridor.
Fears of kidnappings, extortion and violence that has claimed nearly 500 lives this year have caused some Juarenses to move to El Paso and even seek asylum in the United States.
The killings have continued daily. Monday, an unidentified man's dismembered body was found in Rancho Anapra, state police said. The head, arms and legs were found in separate backpacks about 50 meters away from the torso, which was wrapped in a blanket. At least four deaths occurred Tuesday.
A group of about 300 owners of junk yards, mechanic shops, used-car lots and other auto-related businesses have closed down because of kidnappings and robberies, the Norte de Ciudad Juárez newspaper reported Tuesday.
Last week, four members of the union of yonkeros (junk yard owners) were kidnapped and released after paying thousands of dollars, the Norte reported.
Crime news was not all bad. Juárez police said Tuesday that home burglaries dropped by 60 percent in the first five months of the year compared with 2007.
Silvio Gonzalez, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Consulate in Juárez, said there were no figures available on how U.S. citizens have been kidnapped or killed in Juárez but that U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico in the past. Authorities said that families of victims linked to the drug trade may be reluctant to report kidnappings.
A current U.S. State Department travel alert for Mexico mentions that dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped or murdered in Tijuana in 2007.
Asked whether Juárez was safe to visit, Gonzalez responded, "That's a very personal decision."
Gonzalez said potential visitors can make their own choice after viewing the Mexico travel alert, which is available at the Web site travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html
"You have thousands of people crossing the border every day and they do so for various purposes. Shopping, business," Gonzalez said.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.
Ramon Bracamontes may be reached at rbracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6142.
Read past stories on the violence in Juarez at www.elpasotimes.com/juarez.
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT
A woman who reportedly is a relative of Congressman Silvestre Reyes was kidnapped in Juárez, then released with the help of U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Reyes, D-Texas, declined to comment. The kidnapping was first reported on the Narcosphere Web site, which attributed the report and knowledge of the victim's relationship to Reyes to a DEA official in El Paso.
Though the Web site reported the kidnapped person was Reyes' sister-in-law, another federal agency and other officials are saying that some of the facts in the online report might be wrong, including the connection to Reyes.
Relatives of Reyes told Channel 9-KTSM (cable Channel 10) off camera that they were told not to comment.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement was the lead U.S. agency in the incident, but the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration were also involved. However, neither agency would release any details, including when the incident took place.
"I have nothing to say about that," DEA spokesman Matthew Taylor, who was quoted in the Narco News report, said.
ICE released only the following statement: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with several other federal law enforcement agencies, recently worked cooperatively to assist Mexican law enforcement authorities to help secure the release of
a victim who was kidnapped in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
"Although the victim was returned to her family, this investigation is ongoing. Therefore, no further information is releasable at this time," the statement read.
Kidnappings in Juárez generally target Mexican citizens, and spokeswomen for the FBI and ICE would not disclose whether the kidnapped woman was a citizen of the U.S. or Mexico.
FBI spokeswoman Special Agent Andrea Simmons did say the bureau had received no reports of U.S. citizens kidnapped in Juárez.
The FBI and ICE have worked with Mexican authorities in the past regarding kidnappings on the border.
The incident comes as kidnappings have become more common in Juárez possibly due to drug trafficking gangs snatching victims targeted for death or marks held for ransom to raise funds for the ongoing war for control of the region's smuggling corridor.
Fears of kidnappings, extortion and violence that has claimed nearly 500 lives this year have caused some Juarenses to move to El Paso and even seek asylum in the United States.
The killings have continued daily. Monday, an unidentified man's dismembered body was found in Rancho Anapra, state police said. The head, arms and legs were found in separate backpacks about 50 meters away from the torso, which was wrapped in a blanket. At least four deaths occurred Tuesday.
A group of about 300 owners of junk yards, mechanic shops, used-car lots and other auto-related businesses have closed down because of kidnappings and robberies, the Norte de Ciudad Juárez newspaper reported Tuesday.
Last week, four members of the union of yonkeros (junk yard owners) were kidnapped and released after paying thousands of dollars, the Norte reported.
Crime news was not all bad. Juárez police said Tuesday that home burglaries dropped by 60 percent in the first five months of the year compared with 2007.
Silvio Gonzalez, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Consulate in Juárez, said there were no figures available on how U.S. citizens have been kidnapped or killed in Juárez but that U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico in the past. Authorities said that families of victims linked to the drug trade may be reluctant to report kidnappings.
A current U.S. State Department travel alert for Mexico mentions that dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped or murdered in Tijuana in 2007.
Asked whether Juárez was safe to visit, Gonzalez responded, "That's a very personal decision."
Gonzalez said potential visitors can make their own choice after viewing the Mexico travel alert, which is available at the Web site travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html
"You have thousands of people crossing the border every day and they do so for various purposes. Shopping, business," Gonzalez said.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.
Ramon Bracamontes may be reached at rbracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6142.
Read past stories on the violence in Juarez at www.elpasotimes.com/juarez.
June 19, 2008
Congressman backs Maze escapee's bail bid
Congressman backs Maze escapee's bail bid
[Published: Thursday 19, June 2008 - 11:56]
By Jim Dee
A leader of the House Homeland Security Committee in the US Congress has become the first American politician to back Maze escapee Pol Brennan's request for bail from the Texas prison where he's been held since January 27.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph New York Congressman Peter King said: " My experience dealing with (Irish) republicans is that they don't jump bail in this country. They honour their commitments."
King, who's been the top-ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Committee since yielding its chairmanship to a Democrat in 2007, added: " So, based on my experience, and also the republican movement's commitment to the peace process, I think he should get bail."
Brennan was detained at a US immigration checkpoint in Texas, 100 miles from the Mexican border, while en route to visit friends.
He was initially held over an expired US-issued work permit. However, when a computer background check revealed his role in the mass IRA jailbreak of 38 prisoners from the Maze in September 1983, he was taken to Port Isabel Detention Center in Los Fresnos, Texas, where he remains.
US authorities have known about Brennan's whereabouts since the FBI arrested him in Berkley, California in 1993.
Although Britain dropped its seven-year drive to have Brennan extradited in 2000, Department of Homeland Security prosecutors now want him deported because he entered the US using a phony name months after the escape.
In April, Texas immigration judge Howard Achtsam rejected Brennan's bail petition because he deemed the Ballymurphy native a flight risk, and a danger to society, due to a misdemeanor 2006 assault conviction.
Brennan's lawyer has appealed the bail denial, arguing that Brennan's strict observance of bail terms when twice freed from US custody in the 1990s during pending British extradition moves, proves that he isn't a flight risk.
After four months in solitary confinement, Brennan was recently moved back into a dormitory-style lockup with 60 other prisoners , where he has access to several hours of outdoor daily exercise.
Meanwhile, Paul Lynch, a Labour Party Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in Australia's New South Wales assembly, has written to the US consulate general in Sydney, Judith Fergin, to express concern over Brennan's continued detention, which he called "at best, absurd."
Lynch told the Belfast Telegraph that he also can't understand why Brennan is being denied bail.
"At an earlier time, Pol Brennan was allowed bail and reported back to face the tribunal," Lynch said "That having been the case in the past — given that the Good Friday Agreement has since occurred — it seems utterly bizarre that he wouldn't be allowed bail now."
Brennan's next court date is on August 12, when immigration Judge Howard Achtsam will consider whether or not to grant Brennan a green card, based on his 19-year marriage to his American wife, Joanna Olz.
A favourable ruling by Achtsam, who has a track record of overwhelming ruling against immigrant asylum petitions, would mean that Brennan would then receive permanent residency in the US.
[Published: Thursday 19, June 2008 - 11:56]
By Jim Dee
A leader of the House Homeland Security Committee in the US Congress has become the first American politician to back Maze escapee Pol Brennan's request for bail from the Texas prison where he's been held since January 27.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph New York Congressman Peter King said: " My experience dealing with (Irish) republicans is that they don't jump bail in this country. They honour their commitments."
King, who's been the top-ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Committee since yielding its chairmanship to a Democrat in 2007, added: " So, based on my experience, and also the republican movement's commitment to the peace process, I think he should get bail."
Brennan was detained at a US immigration checkpoint in Texas, 100 miles from the Mexican border, while en route to visit friends.
He was initially held over an expired US-issued work permit. However, when a computer background check revealed his role in the mass IRA jailbreak of 38 prisoners from the Maze in September 1983, he was taken to Port Isabel Detention Center in Los Fresnos, Texas, where he remains.
US authorities have known about Brennan's whereabouts since the FBI arrested him in Berkley, California in 1993.
Although Britain dropped its seven-year drive to have Brennan extradited in 2000, Department of Homeland Security prosecutors now want him deported because he entered the US using a phony name months after the escape.
In April, Texas immigration judge Howard Achtsam rejected Brennan's bail petition because he deemed the Ballymurphy native a flight risk, and a danger to society, due to a misdemeanor 2006 assault conviction.
Brennan's lawyer has appealed the bail denial, arguing that Brennan's strict observance of bail terms when twice freed from US custody in the 1990s during pending British extradition moves, proves that he isn't a flight risk.
After four months in solitary confinement, Brennan was recently moved back into a dormitory-style lockup with 60 other prisoners , where he has access to several hours of outdoor daily exercise.
Meanwhile, Paul Lynch, a Labour Party Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in Australia's New South Wales assembly, has written to the US consulate general in Sydney, Judith Fergin, to express concern over Brennan's continued detention, which he called "at best, absurd."
Lynch told the Belfast Telegraph that he also can't understand why Brennan is being denied bail.
"At an earlier time, Pol Brennan was allowed bail and reported back to face the tribunal," Lynch said "That having been the case in the past — given that the Good Friday Agreement has since occurred — it seems utterly bizarre that he wouldn't be allowed bail now."
Brennan's next court date is on August 12, when immigration Judge Howard Achtsam will consider whether or not to grant Brennan a green card, based on his 19-year marriage to his American wife, Joanna Olz.
A favourable ruling by Achtsam, who has a track record of overwhelming ruling against immigrant asylum petitions, would mean that Brennan would then receive permanent residency in the US.
June 18, 2008
US Congressional Hispanics pledge to help Obama win
Congressional Hispanics pledge to help Obama win
WASHINGTON (AP) — Most of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have shifted their support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama and are vowing to help Democrats win the Latino vote.
Obama met with the caucus Tuesday evening in what attendees said was a cordial meeting and the first time many had met or had any significant discussion with Obama. Only one of the four female Hispanic caucus members attended.
Hispanic voters heavily favored Clinton over Obama during the Democratic primary season.
"I told him I worked my heart out against you and I'm ready to work for you now," Rep. Henry Cuellar, an avid Clinton backer, said after the meeting.
Hispanics are considered a key constituency in this year's elections. President Bush captured about 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2004.
But Democrats believe they can top that because of Hispanic voters' frustrations over the war in Iraq, the economic downturn and what some consider anti-immigration rhetoric and policies of the Bush administration.
A recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll showed Obama with 62% support from Hispanics polled to McCain's 28%. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus represents about 9.8 million Hispanics, about 21% of the 45.5 million in the country, the caucus said.
During the meeting, Obama agreed that Clinton "hustled" more for the Hispanic vote, said Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.
"He acknowledged that he had heard the criticism that his campaign in the primary had not done sufficient or extensive outreach to the Hispanic community," Reyes said. Obama acknowledged his campaign didn't do a good job and he wanted to change that, Reyes said.
Obama told them he is working on a national Hispanic outreach strategy, Reyes said.
Reyes also said Ortiz urged Obama to visit Texas even though the state is not a battleground state in the fall election. Ortiz, who wasn't available to comment after the meeting, said Obama appearances could help Hispanic candidates such as Rick Norieg, who is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
Hessy Fernandez, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman, said the meeting wouldn't change much among Hispanic voters.
"It's going to take a lot more for Senator Obama to appeal to Hispanics, more than a meeting," Fernandez said. She said presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, an Arizona senator, has a longtime relationship with Latinos, and cited his 70% share of the Latino vote in his Senate re-election bid.
Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-Texas, said Latinos will look deeply at the issues and what truly affects their every day lives.
"When you look at his record and what he's saying about health care, the school system and individual responsibility of parents, what is the right thing to do for this country, I just can't see they would have a difficult choice in seeing Barack Obama is the individual" to vote for, said Gonzalez, the only Texas Hispanic caucus member who has backed Obama from the beginning. The rest have since joined on.
"We were so strongly for Hillary Clinton and understood her proposals and when you compare those to Barack Obama, then how can you vote for McCain?" he said.
There are 21 members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. It is open to all parties, but all of its members are Democrats.
Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., an early Obama backer, was the only Latina who attended the meeting.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-18-obama-hispanic-caucus_N.htm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Most of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have shifted their support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama and are vowing to help Democrats win the Latino vote.
Obama met with the caucus Tuesday evening in what attendees said was a cordial meeting and the first time many had met or had any significant discussion with Obama. Only one of the four female Hispanic caucus members attended.
Hispanic voters heavily favored Clinton over Obama during the Democratic primary season.
"I told him I worked my heart out against you and I'm ready to work for you now," Rep. Henry Cuellar, an avid Clinton backer, said after the meeting.
Hispanics are considered a key constituency in this year's elections. President Bush captured about 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2004.
But Democrats believe they can top that because of Hispanic voters' frustrations over the war in Iraq, the economic downturn and what some consider anti-immigration rhetoric and policies of the Bush administration.
A recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll showed Obama with 62% support from Hispanics polled to McCain's 28%. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus represents about 9.8 million Hispanics, about 21% of the 45.5 million in the country, the caucus said.
During the meeting, Obama agreed that Clinton "hustled" more for the Hispanic vote, said Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.
"He acknowledged that he had heard the criticism that his campaign in the primary had not done sufficient or extensive outreach to the Hispanic community," Reyes said. Obama acknowledged his campaign didn't do a good job and he wanted to change that, Reyes said.
Obama told them he is working on a national Hispanic outreach strategy, Reyes said.
Reyes also said Ortiz urged Obama to visit Texas even though the state is not a battleground state in the fall election. Ortiz, who wasn't available to comment after the meeting, said Obama appearances could help Hispanic candidates such as Rick Norieg, who is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
Hessy Fernandez, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman, said the meeting wouldn't change much among Hispanic voters.
"It's going to take a lot more for Senator Obama to appeal to Hispanics, more than a meeting," Fernandez said. She said presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, an Arizona senator, has a longtime relationship with Latinos, and cited his 70% share of the Latino vote in his Senate re-election bid.
Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-Texas, said Latinos will look deeply at the issues and what truly affects their every day lives.
"When you look at his record and what he's saying about health care, the school system and individual responsibility of parents, what is the right thing to do for this country, I just can't see they would have a difficult choice in seeing Barack Obama is the individual" to vote for, said Gonzalez, the only Texas Hispanic caucus member who has backed Obama from the beginning. The rest have since joined on.
"We were so strongly for Hillary Clinton and understood her proposals and when you compare those to Barack Obama, then how can you vote for McCain?" he said.
There are 21 members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. It is open to all parties, but all of its members are Democrats.
Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., an early Obama backer, was the only Latina who attended the meeting.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-18-obama-hispanic-caucus_N.htm
June 13, 2008
Poe votes against drug-fighting plan
Poe votes against drug-fighting plan
Congressman Ted Poe voted against H.R. 6028, the Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008, according to a release issued by his press secretary.
Poe urged defeat of the $1.4 billion drug-fighting plan for Mexico and Central America because it ignores the needs of law enforcement fighting crime along the US border. The bill passed the US House by a vote of 311-106.
“I fully support the fight to end the violence along the US-Mexico border,” said Poe. “However, I just returned from Cameron County along the Texas Mexico border and let me assure you the violence is not just south of the border. Our border sheriffs have to beg, borrow and confiscate just to have enough to get by.”
Poe has been an outspoken critic of this legislation citing the needs of local law enforcement in the fight to secure our borders. Congressman Poe supports the efforts of the Merida Initiative to fight drug-related crime, but has been a strong advocate for supporting law enforcement efforts on both sides of the US-Mexico border by reallocating half of the funding to US law enforcement agencies along the border.
“I have been from one end of the Texas border to the other and I understand the gravity of the situation and the domestic consequences of the warring cartels in Mexico,” said Poe. “It is imperative that we address the situation in Mexico, but it is irresponsible to do so while ignoring the fact that our side of the border is already infested with drug related crime and in desperate need of funding.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, there have been more than 250 incursions by suspected Mexican military units into the US in the last 10 years. In addition, kidnappings on both sides of the border and assassinations of Mexican law enforcement continue to rise at an alarming pace.
“Our border sheriffs are out-gunned and out-manned by the cartels’ hired guns, many of which were trained in the US,” said Poe. “Past agreements with Mexico to fight drug trafficking in their country have proven disastrous. Many members of the notorious ‘Zetas’ were Mexican military trained in our own country. Mexican officials originally supported the $1.4 billion gift, but then refused to take it if it was subject to US oversight. If that’s not a red flag, I don’t know what is.”
http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19770200&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=635439&rfi=6
Congressman Ted Poe voted against H.R. 6028, the Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008, according to a release issued by his press secretary.
Poe urged defeat of the $1.4 billion drug-fighting plan for Mexico and Central America because it ignores the needs of law enforcement fighting crime along the US border. The bill passed the US House by a vote of 311-106.
“I fully support the fight to end the violence along the US-Mexico border,” said Poe. “However, I just returned from Cameron County along the Texas Mexico border and let me assure you the violence is not just south of the border. Our border sheriffs have to beg, borrow and confiscate just to have enough to get by.”
Poe has been an outspoken critic of this legislation citing the needs of local law enforcement in the fight to secure our borders. Congressman Poe supports the efforts of the Merida Initiative to fight drug-related crime, but has been a strong advocate for supporting law enforcement efforts on both sides of the US-Mexico border by reallocating half of the funding to US law enforcement agencies along the border.
“I have been from one end of the Texas border to the other and I understand the gravity of the situation and the domestic consequences of the warring cartels in Mexico,” said Poe. “It is imperative that we address the situation in Mexico, but it is irresponsible to do so while ignoring the fact that our side of the border is already infested with drug related crime and in desperate need of funding.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, there have been more than 250 incursions by suspected Mexican military units into the US in the last 10 years. In addition, kidnappings on both sides of the border and assassinations of Mexican law enforcement continue to rise at an alarming pace.
“Our border sheriffs are out-gunned and out-manned by the cartels’ hired guns, many of which were trained in the US,” said Poe. “Past agreements with Mexico to fight drug trafficking in their country have proven disastrous. Many members of the notorious ‘Zetas’ were Mexican military trained in our own country. Mexican officials originally supported the $1.4 billion gift, but then refused to take it if it was subject to US oversight. If that’s not a red flag, I don’t know what is.”
http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19770200&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=635439&rfi=6
June 11, 2008
Ron Paul's 'Mini-Convention'
Ron Paul's 'Mini-Convention'
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
This is a rush transcript from "Your World with Neil Cavuto," June 10, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: Well, the Republican National Convention just got some competition, not from the Democrats, but from another Republican — Ron Paul just announcing he's holding a convention of his own. It will be the same day and in the same city as the RNC Convention.
Presidential candidate Ron Paul joins me now.
What are you — what are you up to, Congressman?
REP. RON PAUL (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I don't know whether we'll call it a convention. We're certainly going to have a meeting.
• Video: Watch Neil's interview with Ron Paul
But we're sort of following up on what happened early in the presidential primary races. As you recall, early on, I was excluded from a forum out in Iowa. It happened to be a tax group. And I have no idea why I was singled out and excluded. But we went and had a rally next door. We didn't crash the party. We didn't try to cause any problems. We just went next door. And our rally was a lot bigger than the presidential forum was.
RelatedColumn Archive
Ron Paul's 'Mini-Convention'Gov. Ed Rendell on Clinton, ObamaExclusive Interview With Texas Oil Giant Boone PickensSen. Lieberman, Warner on Climate BillDid Dan Seals Buy Votes With Cheap Gas?Full-page Cavuto's Interview Archive
Video
Watch Neil's Interview Show Info
Airs Weekdays at 4 p.m. ET
Neil Cavuto's Bio E-mail the Show: cavuto@foxnews.com Common Sense Archive Interview Archive So, at the national convention, we believe, since we won't have very much of a role to play there, that we will see what kind of numbers that we have, where Republicans could come together to remind the party of its promises for limited government.
That's the roots of the Republican Party, and I still think there are still a lot of Republicans that believe that government ought to be small and balanced budgets and free markets and all these principles that, for so long now, we have been neglecting.
CAVUTO: Now, how much of this is your anger at the way you were treated?
PAUL: Oh, I don't think — I don't look like an angry person. I'm not an angry person, because I deal in philosophy. It's a challenge in philosophy. I am determined, but it's all philosophic. It's all philosophic.
And I think that we've lost our way. Our party is weak. We're losing our numbers. We're losing the election. And I think it's because we've lost our way.
I mean, we've changed our foreign policy. We essentially act like Democrats. So, no, I'm not driven in any way by anger, as much as frustration out of the fact that I think the Republican Party doesn't even live up to its platform. If you look at what I stand for and how I vote, I really am pretty darn close to the Republican platform and what they profess they believe in.
CAVUTO: So, philosophically, the argument is, you're going to be hurting John McCain doing this. Do you care?
PAUL: Yes, but we're not going to hurt our philosophy. I mean, we're going to be asking them to reconsider their positions on taxes, on the environment, on immigration, and all these positions that the party has drifted from.
And, certainly, I have always challenged the foreign policy of the last several years. I'm still defending George Bush's foreign policy of the year 2000, where he wanted a humble foreign policy and no nation- building and no policing the world.
So, all I'm asking is for people, the Republicans and conservatives, to look at what we are saying and ask our party to come back to its roots.
CAVUTO: Well, Congressman, you're closer to these guys than I am, but I don't think they're going to do that. And, so, they're going to nominate a candidate who is diametrically opposed to you on a lot of these issues.
What are you going to do?
PAUL: But they're secondary to the people. I mean, when you deal in ideas and philosophy, you appeal to the people. And when the attitude of the people changes, the governments will be forced to. Whether we can be successful at the convention and have them change their platform, you're exactly right. It might not occur that quickly.
But, if our movement is for real, which I believe it is, this is going to continue. And the precinct organizations will continue. And, as time goes on, we will have an influence on the Republican Party. Otherwise...
(CROSSTALK)
CAVUTO: Would you run — would you run, Congressman, as a third- party candidate — I guess now, with Barr in the race, a fourth-party candidate?
PAUL: No, I have never planned to do that, never intended to do that. And the democratic process in this country is very biased against that. So, no, I still think...
CAVUTO: Well, I don't know, Congressman. I got a lot of e-mail. We've been, you know, promoting that you're going to be on our show. You're — you're very good for ratings, Congressman.
And, not kidding, but a lot of the people say, "Tell him we want him to run. We want him to run."
(LAUGHTER)
CAVUTO: What do you say?
PAUL: Well, I think that's encouraging, and it's flattering, but I also know that it's hard to get on ballots. If I had not run in the Republican primary, you wouldn't be talking to me today, most likely, and I wouldn't have ever gotten into the debates.
So, there's a lot of exclusion of the third parties.
Bob Barr, I'm hopeful, will do a better job as a third-party candidate than average, but he's going to have a tough time.
CAVUTO: But your basic premise — and the reason why you don't like what the Democrats are saying, why you don't like what the Republicans are saying, leaving foreign policy out for the time being — it's just that the role of government, they're both bigger on bigger government, right?
PAUL: Sure. Sure, bigger spending. They compromise down here. And everybody is supposed to compromise. But, you know, the Democrats want to spend on one area and the Republicans on another area.
So, when they come up with a bill, like this week on the supplemental, they will come up, they will raise military spending and all the foreign aid expenditures. At the same time, they're going to raise domestic spending. So, that's the compromise.
The compromise has to be, we have to cut back, balance the budget, strengthen the dollar, stop the inflation, and get back to a market economy.
Otherwise, you know, all we're going to have is trying to survive from the breaking up and the — of these bubbles. And now we're suffering through the housing bubble collapse.
(CROSSTALK)
CAVUTO: So, I assume with these collapses and, real quickly, on the oil companies, you would not be for windfall profits taxes, as Democrats were shot down today, or federal bailout programs of any sort, right?
PAUL: Absolutely not.
CAVUTO: OK.
PAUL: And, hopefully that's one area where we may influence John McCain, is to be a little bit better on taxes.
CAVUTO: OK.
PAUL: But, in the past, he hasn't been that good on taxes.
CAVUTO: Alrighty.
Congressman, always a pleasure having you. Thank you for joining us again.
PAUL: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
CAVUTO: Ron Paul, who could cause a dustup this summer. We shall see.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
Content and Programming Copyright 2008 Fox News Network, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Transcription Copyright 2008 Voxant, Inc. (www.voxant.com), which takes sole responsibility for the accuracy of the transcription. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No license is granted to the user of this material except for the user's personal or internal use and, in such case, only one copy may be printed, nor shall user use any material for commercial purposes or in any fashion that may infringe upon Fox News Network, Inc.'s and Voxant Inc.'s copyrights or other proprietary rights or interests in the material. This is not a legal transcript for purposes of litigation.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365671,00.html
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
This is a rush transcript from "Your World with Neil Cavuto," June 10, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: Well, the Republican National Convention just got some competition, not from the Democrats, but from another Republican — Ron Paul just announcing he's holding a convention of his own. It will be the same day and in the same city as the RNC Convention.
Presidential candidate Ron Paul joins me now.
What are you — what are you up to, Congressman?
REP. RON PAUL (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I don't know whether we'll call it a convention. We're certainly going to have a meeting.
• Video: Watch Neil's interview with Ron Paul
But we're sort of following up on what happened early in the presidential primary races. As you recall, early on, I was excluded from a forum out in Iowa. It happened to be a tax group. And I have no idea why I was singled out and excluded. But we went and had a rally next door. We didn't crash the party. We didn't try to cause any problems. We just went next door. And our rally was a lot bigger than the presidential forum was.
RelatedColumn Archive
Ron Paul's 'Mini-Convention'Gov. Ed Rendell on Clinton, ObamaExclusive Interview With Texas Oil Giant Boone PickensSen. Lieberman, Warner on Climate BillDid Dan Seals Buy Votes With Cheap Gas?Full-page Cavuto's Interview Archive
Video
Watch Neil's Interview Show Info
Airs Weekdays at 4 p.m. ET
Neil Cavuto's Bio E-mail the Show: cavuto@foxnews.com Common Sense Archive Interview Archive So, at the national convention, we believe, since we won't have very much of a role to play there, that we will see what kind of numbers that we have, where Republicans could come together to remind the party of its promises for limited government.
That's the roots of the Republican Party, and I still think there are still a lot of Republicans that believe that government ought to be small and balanced budgets and free markets and all these principles that, for so long now, we have been neglecting.
CAVUTO: Now, how much of this is your anger at the way you were treated?
PAUL: Oh, I don't think — I don't look like an angry person. I'm not an angry person, because I deal in philosophy. It's a challenge in philosophy. I am determined, but it's all philosophic. It's all philosophic.
And I think that we've lost our way. Our party is weak. We're losing our numbers. We're losing the election. And I think it's because we've lost our way.
I mean, we've changed our foreign policy. We essentially act like Democrats. So, no, I'm not driven in any way by anger, as much as frustration out of the fact that I think the Republican Party doesn't even live up to its platform. If you look at what I stand for and how I vote, I really am pretty darn close to the Republican platform and what they profess they believe in.
CAVUTO: So, philosophically, the argument is, you're going to be hurting John McCain doing this. Do you care?
PAUL: Yes, but we're not going to hurt our philosophy. I mean, we're going to be asking them to reconsider their positions on taxes, on the environment, on immigration, and all these positions that the party has drifted from.
And, certainly, I have always challenged the foreign policy of the last several years. I'm still defending George Bush's foreign policy of the year 2000, where he wanted a humble foreign policy and no nation- building and no policing the world.
So, all I'm asking is for people, the Republicans and conservatives, to look at what we are saying and ask our party to come back to its roots.
CAVUTO: Well, Congressman, you're closer to these guys than I am, but I don't think they're going to do that. And, so, they're going to nominate a candidate who is diametrically opposed to you on a lot of these issues.
What are you going to do?
PAUL: But they're secondary to the people. I mean, when you deal in ideas and philosophy, you appeal to the people. And when the attitude of the people changes, the governments will be forced to. Whether we can be successful at the convention and have them change their platform, you're exactly right. It might not occur that quickly.
But, if our movement is for real, which I believe it is, this is going to continue. And the precinct organizations will continue. And, as time goes on, we will have an influence on the Republican Party. Otherwise...
(CROSSTALK)
CAVUTO: Would you run — would you run, Congressman, as a third- party candidate — I guess now, with Barr in the race, a fourth-party candidate?
PAUL: No, I have never planned to do that, never intended to do that. And the democratic process in this country is very biased against that. So, no, I still think...
CAVUTO: Well, I don't know, Congressman. I got a lot of e-mail. We've been, you know, promoting that you're going to be on our show. You're — you're very good for ratings, Congressman.
And, not kidding, but a lot of the people say, "Tell him we want him to run. We want him to run."
(LAUGHTER)
CAVUTO: What do you say?
PAUL: Well, I think that's encouraging, and it's flattering, but I also know that it's hard to get on ballots. If I had not run in the Republican primary, you wouldn't be talking to me today, most likely, and I wouldn't have ever gotten into the debates.
So, there's a lot of exclusion of the third parties.
Bob Barr, I'm hopeful, will do a better job as a third-party candidate than average, but he's going to have a tough time.
CAVUTO: But your basic premise — and the reason why you don't like what the Democrats are saying, why you don't like what the Republicans are saying, leaving foreign policy out for the time being — it's just that the role of government, they're both bigger on bigger government, right?
PAUL: Sure. Sure, bigger spending. They compromise down here. And everybody is supposed to compromise. But, you know, the Democrats want to spend on one area and the Republicans on another area.
So, when they come up with a bill, like this week on the supplemental, they will come up, they will raise military spending and all the foreign aid expenditures. At the same time, they're going to raise domestic spending. So, that's the compromise.
The compromise has to be, we have to cut back, balance the budget, strengthen the dollar, stop the inflation, and get back to a market economy.
Otherwise, you know, all we're going to have is trying to survive from the breaking up and the — of these bubbles. And now we're suffering through the housing bubble collapse.
(CROSSTALK)
CAVUTO: So, I assume with these collapses and, real quickly, on the oil companies, you would not be for windfall profits taxes, as Democrats were shot down today, or federal bailout programs of any sort, right?
PAUL: Absolutely not.
CAVUTO: OK.
PAUL: And, hopefully that's one area where we may influence John McCain, is to be a little bit better on taxes.
CAVUTO: OK.
PAUL: But, in the past, he hasn't been that good on taxes.
CAVUTO: Alrighty.
Congressman, always a pleasure having you. Thank you for joining us again.
PAUL: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
CAVUTO: Ron Paul, who could cause a dustup this summer. We shall see.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
Content and Programming Copyright 2008 Fox News Network, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Transcription Copyright 2008 Voxant, Inc. (www.voxant.com), which takes sole responsibility for the accuracy of the transcription. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No license is granted to the user of this material except for the user's personal or internal use and, in such case, only one copy may be printed, nor shall user use any material for commercial purposes or in any fashion that may infringe upon Fox News Network, Inc.'s and Voxant Inc.'s copyrights or other proprietary rights or interests in the material. This is not a legal transcript for purposes of litigation.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365671,00.html
June 10, 2008
Foreign Drug-Trafficking Bill Passes in House
Foreign Drug-Trafficking Bill Passes in House
June 10, 2008
The House on Wednesday passed a three-year, $1.6 billion plan to fight drug trafficking from Mexico and Central America.
The funding would be used to train and equip security forces, strengthen the rule of law and judicial systems, and boost a U.S. program to prevent guns from traveling illegally into Mexico.
The bill, which passed 311-106, largely reflects a plan developed by President Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderón known as the Merida Initiative, for the Mexican city where the leaders unveiled it in 2007.
The bill would authorize $595 million for fiscal 2008, $645 million for fiscal 2009 and $350 million for fiscal 2010.
The Senate supplemental would provide $450 million for fiscal 2008; the House version would include $461.5 million. The administration had requested $550 million.
Members cited Mexico’s increasingly violent drug war, which has taken some 6,000 lives in the last two years, including recent assassinations of two top police officials.
“Mexico is burning,” said Rep. Brian P. Bilbray , R-Calif., who represents an area north of San Diego. “We are not taking on a war on drugs down at the border, we are taking on the battle against narcoterrorism.”
The bill would authorize $1.1 billion for Mexico, $405 million for Central America and $73.5 million for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives programs that target the smuggling of guns into Mexico from the United States.
Several Texas Republicans said the bill should have included programs to address illegal immigration and the drug trade on the domestic side.
“It is inexcusable, it is intolerable to send one dime to the Mexican government when they can afford to pay for this equipment themselves,” said John Culberson , R-Texas. “But more importantly, our southern border is not secure.”
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=cqmidday-000002893713
June 10, 2008
The House on Wednesday passed a three-year, $1.6 billion plan to fight drug trafficking from Mexico and Central America.
The funding would be used to train and equip security forces, strengthen the rule of law and judicial systems, and boost a U.S. program to prevent guns from traveling illegally into Mexico.
The bill, which passed 311-106, largely reflects a plan developed by President Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderón known as the Merida Initiative, for the Mexican city where the leaders unveiled it in 2007.
The bill would authorize $595 million for fiscal 2008, $645 million for fiscal 2009 and $350 million for fiscal 2010.
The Senate supplemental would provide $450 million for fiscal 2008; the House version would include $461.5 million. The administration had requested $550 million.
Members cited Mexico’s increasingly violent drug war, which has taken some 6,000 lives in the last two years, including recent assassinations of two top police officials.
“Mexico is burning,” said Rep. Brian P. Bilbray , R-Calif., who represents an area north of San Diego. “We are not taking on a war on drugs down at the border, we are taking on the battle against narcoterrorism.”
The bill would authorize $1.1 billion for Mexico, $405 million for Central America and $73.5 million for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives programs that target the smuggling of guns into Mexico from the United States.
Several Texas Republicans said the bill should have included programs to address illegal immigration and the drug trade on the domestic side.
“It is inexcusable, it is intolerable to send one dime to the Mexican government when they can afford to pay for this equipment themselves,” said John Culberson , R-Texas. “But more importantly, our southern border is not secure.”
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=cqmidday-000002893713
Plano Rep. Sam Johnson: Social Security should verify workers
Plano Rep. Sam Johnson: Social Security should verify workers
04:51 PM CDT on Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The agency responsible for anti-terrorism and national security shouldn't be keeping track of American workers, a Texas congressman told a House panel Tuesday.
Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Plano, urged members of a House Judiciary subcommittee to make the Social Security Administration, rather than the Homeland Security Department, in charge of checking whether employers are hiring illegal immigrants. He also promoted using an existing state new-hire system rather than the E-Verify system Homeland Security prefers.
"An agency responsible for tracking terrorists and securing our borders should not be keeping tabs on when and where U.S. citizens work," Johnson said. "Yet the Department of Homeland Security is building databases and maintaining data on the work history of American citizens and American employers."
Johnson's comments come just a few days after President Bush signed an executive order requiring anyone who does business with the federal government to use an electronic system to verify that their employees are not illegal immigrants.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff designated E-Verify, a Web-based system, as the one the contractors should use.
Under a bill Johnson and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., have introduced, the Social Security Administration would verify legal status of U.S. citizen employees and DHS would be responsible for investigating legal residents and other non-citizens working in the U.S.
Johnson said the Social Security Administration should lead the work "because it is their fundamental job to track earnings and because the vast majority of those who work in this country are American citizens and should not be tracked by DHS."
Johnson is the ranking Republican on the the House Ways and Means Committee's Social Security subcommittee.
Johnson said rather than spending money to expand E-Verify, employers could transmit the information through existing state new-hire systems to the Social Security Administration. Ninety percent of employers already use those systems, compared to 1 percent enrolled in E-Verify.
His bill also provides avenues to dispute decisions on work eligibility.
"As a pilot program, E-Verify has been very worthwhile in highlighting the challenges to creating a one-size-fits-all system for the many hiring situations in the U.S. economy," said Sue Meisinger, president and CEO of the Society of Human Resource Management. The coalition represents hundreds of thousands of employers.
Johnson said his bill would be accompanied by funding to help Social Security Administration clean up its databases and handle the new workload.
Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., argued the government shouldn't switch systems midstream. He urged sticking with E-Verify.
"It's a proven system that's been in place quite some time .... Why spend millions and millions of dollars to recreate something that's been working?" Shuler said. Shuler has filed a bill requiring all employers to use the E-Verify system, phasing in its use over four years.
About 17.8 million Social Security Administration files have errors, 12.7 million of which involve U.S. citizens, said Timothy Sparapani, senior legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union.
The Social Security Administration's inspector general has found that the agency's database has a 4 percent error rate.
A report commissioned by Homeland Security Department found 0.1 percent of native-born citizens and 10 percent of naturalized citizens have incorrect information in their DHS files that could flag them as illegal immigrant workers, Sparapani said.
The ACLU opposes any verification system, saying all proposals are inadequate to protect American workers' privacy and their right to work.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/061008dnmetjohnsonimmig.1bdbdbe9.html
04:51 PM CDT on Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The agency responsible for anti-terrorism and national security shouldn't be keeping track of American workers, a Texas congressman told a House panel Tuesday.
Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Plano, urged members of a House Judiciary subcommittee to make the Social Security Administration, rather than the Homeland Security Department, in charge of checking whether employers are hiring illegal immigrants. He also promoted using an existing state new-hire system rather than the E-Verify system Homeland Security prefers.
"An agency responsible for tracking terrorists and securing our borders should not be keeping tabs on when and where U.S. citizens work," Johnson said. "Yet the Department of Homeland Security is building databases and maintaining data on the work history of American citizens and American employers."
Johnson's comments come just a few days after President Bush signed an executive order requiring anyone who does business with the federal government to use an electronic system to verify that their employees are not illegal immigrants.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff designated E-Verify, a Web-based system, as the one the contractors should use.
Under a bill Johnson and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., have introduced, the Social Security Administration would verify legal status of U.S. citizen employees and DHS would be responsible for investigating legal residents and other non-citizens working in the U.S.
Johnson said the Social Security Administration should lead the work "because it is their fundamental job to track earnings and because the vast majority of those who work in this country are American citizens and should not be tracked by DHS."
Johnson is the ranking Republican on the the House Ways and Means Committee's Social Security subcommittee.
Johnson said rather than spending money to expand E-Verify, employers could transmit the information through existing state new-hire systems to the Social Security Administration. Ninety percent of employers already use those systems, compared to 1 percent enrolled in E-Verify.
His bill also provides avenues to dispute decisions on work eligibility.
"As a pilot program, E-Verify has been very worthwhile in highlighting the challenges to creating a one-size-fits-all system for the many hiring situations in the U.S. economy," said Sue Meisinger, president and CEO of the Society of Human Resource Management. The coalition represents hundreds of thousands of employers.
Johnson said his bill would be accompanied by funding to help Social Security Administration clean up its databases and handle the new workload.
Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., argued the government shouldn't switch systems midstream. He urged sticking with E-Verify.
"It's a proven system that's been in place quite some time .... Why spend millions and millions of dollars to recreate something that's been working?" Shuler said. Shuler has filed a bill requiring all employers to use the E-Verify system, phasing in its use over four years.
About 17.8 million Social Security Administration files have errors, 12.7 million of which involve U.S. citizens, said Timothy Sparapani, senior legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union.
The Social Security Administration's inspector general has found that the agency's database has a 4 percent error rate.
A report commissioned by Homeland Security Department found 0.1 percent of native-born citizens and 10 percent of naturalized citizens have incorrect information in their DHS files that could flag them as illegal immigrant workers, Sparapani said.
The ACLU opposes any verification system, saying all proposals are inadequate to protect American workers' privacy and their right to work.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/061008dnmetjohnsonimmig.1bdbdbe9.html
June 9, 2008
Merida Initiative U.S. lawmakers try to save Mexican drug fight plan
U.S. lawmakers try to save Mexican drug fight plan
Sun Jun 8, 2008 5:55pm EDT
By Gabriela Lopez
MONTERREY, Mexico, June 8 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers offered on Sunday to ease conditions tied to a $1.4 billion drug-fighting plan for Mexico and Central America after the Mexican government called it a threat to sovereignty.
Mexico has rejected the so-called Merida Initiative proposed by President George W. Bush because of demands by the U.S. Congress that the aid -- which includes helicopters and encrypted communication devices -- be subject to monitoring.
U.S. lawmakers also want to include human rights oversight in the three-year package, which Mexico says is unacceptable. Mexico is also upset by plans to reduce the dollar amount of aid from the original proposal.
But at a meeting of U.S. and Mexican lawmakers in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey on Sunday, both sides agreed to try to save the drug plan and soften the conditions. One way to do this could be to turn them into recommendations.
"We are going to fix the current wording in the proposal," U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, told reporters in Spanish. "Yes, we're going to change it," he replied when asked if U.S. lawmakers would drop the conditions.
The U.S. Senate wants the plan, which does not involve cash, to ensure Mexican soldiers accused of crimes be tried in civilian courts. It also wants Mexican federal officials to take on state and local anti-drug roles, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy says.
The government of Mexican President Felipe Calderon says it rejects any conditions because Mexico is undergoing its own police and judicial reform and its army is waging a deadly war with heavily armed drug gangs.
More than 1,400 people have been killed in drug violence so far this year across Mexico in cartel turf wars, a faster pace than in 2007, when around 2,500 people died over the year.
"There is a good disposition (on the part of U.S. lawmakers) to modify the language in such a way that it is accepted on this side," said Sen. Rosario Green, a former Mexican foreign minister.
The Merida Initiative would originally have offered Mexico $500 million during the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, and $50 million to Central America. But now U.S. lawmakers want to cut Mexico's share to as low as $350 million and offer up to $100 million to Central America, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
INITIATIVE 'VITAL'
A senior U.S. anti-drug official urged the U.S. Congress to pass the Merida Initiative because of the scale of the narcotics war. "The Merida Initiative is vital," the official told Reuters in an interview. "The hold-ups in Congress are not good. It could be seen we're letting Mexico down."
The official, who declined to be named, predicts drug violence in Mexico will continue its surge because a powerful coalition of drug gangs led by Mexico's most-wanted man, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, is collapsing.
Internal conflicts, greed and pressure by Mexico's military are causing a split among gangs from the Pacific state of Sinaloa, with each group seeking new alliances to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States.
"The Sinaloa cartel is weakened, divided ... . There are internal disputes, rivalries, betrayals," the official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters in an interview. "You're going to see more violence."
"It is getting worse because police are engaging, because cartels want to create fear and because of attacks between rivals. It's going to get worse before it gets better." (Additional reporting by Robin Emmott in Mexico City; Editing by Eric Walsh)
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN08472126
Sun Jun 8, 2008 5:55pm EDT
By Gabriela Lopez
MONTERREY, Mexico, June 8 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers offered on Sunday to ease conditions tied to a $1.4 billion drug-fighting plan for Mexico and Central America after the Mexican government called it a threat to sovereignty.
Mexico has rejected the so-called Merida Initiative proposed by President George W. Bush because of demands by the U.S. Congress that the aid -- which includes helicopters and encrypted communication devices -- be subject to monitoring.
U.S. lawmakers also want to include human rights oversight in the three-year package, which Mexico says is unacceptable. Mexico is also upset by plans to reduce the dollar amount of aid from the original proposal.
But at a meeting of U.S. and Mexican lawmakers in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey on Sunday, both sides agreed to try to save the drug plan and soften the conditions. One way to do this could be to turn them into recommendations.
"We are going to fix the current wording in the proposal," U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, told reporters in Spanish. "Yes, we're going to change it," he replied when asked if U.S. lawmakers would drop the conditions.
The U.S. Senate wants the plan, which does not involve cash, to ensure Mexican soldiers accused of crimes be tried in civilian courts. It also wants Mexican federal officials to take on state and local anti-drug roles, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy says.
The government of Mexican President Felipe Calderon says it rejects any conditions because Mexico is undergoing its own police and judicial reform and its army is waging a deadly war with heavily armed drug gangs.
More than 1,400 people have been killed in drug violence so far this year across Mexico in cartel turf wars, a faster pace than in 2007, when around 2,500 people died over the year.
"There is a good disposition (on the part of U.S. lawmakers) to modify the language in such a way that it is accepted on this side," said Sen. Rosario Green, a former Mexican foreign minister.
The Merida Initiative would originally have offered Mexico $500 million during the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, and $50 million to Central America. But now U.S. lawmakers want to cut Mexico's share to as low as $350 million and offer up to $100 million to Central America, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
INITIATIVE 'VITAL'
A senior U.S. anti-drug official urged the U.S. Congress to pass the Merida Initiative because of the scale of the narcotics war. "The Merida Initiative is vital," the official told Reuters in an interview. "The hold-ups in Congress are not good. It could be seen we're letting Mexico down."
The official, who declined to be named, predicts drug violence in Mexico will continue its surge because a powerful coalition of drug gangs led by Mexico's most-wanted man, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, is collapsing.
Internal conflicts, greed and pressure by Mexico's military are causing a split among gangs from the Pacific state of Sinaloa, with each group seeking new alliances to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States.
"The Sinaloa cartel is weakened, divided ... . There are internal disputes, rivalries, betrayals," the official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters in an interview. "You're going to see more violence."
"It is getting worse because police are engaging, because cartels want to create fear and because of attacks between rivals. It's going to get worse before it gets better." (Additional reporting by Robin Emmott in Mexico City; Editing by Eric Walsh)
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN08472126
May 22, 2008
Merida Initiative Continues to Move Forward
Press Releases 08
Merida Initiative Continues to Move Forward
Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Mexico City, May 22, 2008 - “Today the U.S. Senate passed a supplemental budget bill that includes funding of the Merida Initiative. This is another step forward for this important program to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Mexico to fight the drug trade and organized crime that impact both our nations. However, it is still not final action.
“It is important to point out that, due to differences in the versions of the bill passed by the House and the Senate, we expect the legislative process to continue over the next several weeks before a finalized bill is sent to the President. During this process, the contents of the bill could change significantly.
“The inclusion of funding of the Merida Initiative in both the House and Senate’s bills signals Congressional support for this important measure to enhance ongoing U.S. programs for cooperating and coordinating with the Mexican government. President Bush’s support for the initiative has been unwavering. He strongly believes we must support our neighbor in the fight against organized criminal organizations that threaten citizens in both our countries.
“The version of the bill approved today by the Senate differs significantly from the version passed by the House last week, particularly as it relates to domestic spending and funding of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Due to these disparities, the House must now either vote on the Senate’s bill, or a conference committee must convene to work out new language.
“Once both legislative chambers have agreed upon a bill, it will be presented to the President for approval. I am confident that the Merida Initiative will be enacted in due course, enabling Mexico and the U.S. to build upon our already successful security cooperation and share in the fight against narcotrafficking. I again urge U.S. legislators to pass this important program.”
http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/releases/ep080522MI_forward.html
Merida Initiative Continues to Move Forward
Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Mexico City, May 22, 2008 - “Today the U.S. Senate passed a supplemental budget bill that includes funding of the Merida Initiative. This is another step forward for this important program to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Mexico to fight the drug trade and organized crime that impact both our nations. However, it is still not final action.
“It is important to point out that, due to differences in the versions of the bill passed by the House and the Senate, we expect the legislative process to continue over the next several weeks before a finalized bill is sent to the President. During this process, the contents of the bill could change significantly.
“The inclusion of funding of the Merida Initiative in both the House and Senate’s bills signals Congressional support for this important measure to enhance ongoing U.S. programs for cooperating and coordinating with the Mexican government. President Bush’s support for the initiative has been unwavering. He strongly believes we must support our neighbor in the fight against organized criminal organizations that threaten citizens in both our countries.
“The version of the bill approved today by the Senate differs significantly from the version passed by the House last week, particularly as it relates to domestic spending and funding of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Due to these disparities, the House must now either vote on the Senate’s bill, or a conference committee must convene to work out new language.
“Once both legislative chambers have agreed upon a bill, it will be presented to the President for approval. I am confident that the Merida Initiative will be enacted in due course, enabling Mexico and the U.S. to build upon our already successful security cooperation and share in the fight against narcotrafficking. I again urge U.S. legislators to pass this important program.”
http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/releases/ep080522MI_forward.html
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