Michelle Malkin » Smugglers recruiting another elite spec-ops unit

Smugglers recruiting another elite spec-ops unit

By see-dubya • April 28, 2008 03:39 PM

Though it’s a familiar story, I find this development pretty alarming:

Guatemala is investigating radio advertisements seeking elite ex-soldiers, who have been known to work for drug cartels, to smuggle goods into Mexico, officials said on Thursday.

The ads were broadcast in the lawless northern jungle region of Peten, home to a tough military training center for Kaibil soldiers, infamous during Guatemala’s civil war as a brutal guerilla-fighting, special forces unit.

I don’t know whether or not this part means they’re tough, but it’s gross:

…the red-bereted Kaibil fighters were made to eat raw dog guts as part of their training.

Anyway, Mexico is rightly alarmed at the militarized smuggling coming over its southern border and, as regular readers of this site know, are receiving extensive U.S. aid to secure their own southern border.

Meanwhile, over our southern border (and occasionally north of it), another gang of elite ex-military operatives is working as enforcers and assassins for smugglers. From that same Reuters article:

More recently, beheadings of policemen and drug rivals in Mexico have been blamed on ex-Guatemalan soldiers working with the Zetas, a renegade unit that broke from the Mexican army to serve as the Gulf cartel’s enforcement arm.

The Zetas have used brazen advertising along the northern U.S.-Mexico border to recruit foot soldiers, stringing banners from bridges over main roads in the towns of Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo offering well-paid jobs.

Yet we’re not in quite so big a hurry to build our own fence, and when the stopgap virtual fence flamed out, everyone just shrugged and said “Hey, whatcha gonna do?”

This despite an unavoidable series of stories about violence and corruption occurring just over the border we don’t enforce. For example, how aboutTijuana turning into Sadr City this weekend?

Why has this happened? The security situation has not improved since a great coalition got together to take down the shamnesty bill last summer. Granted, employer verification measures have caused some self-deportation, and the Feds are working harder to deport criminals, but there doesn’t seem to be any mandate to develop measures that will actually keep them out.

So: why has border security lost its momentum?

P.S. All seriousness aside, let me head off some confusion about elite counterterror forces.

Kaibil:

Cabal:

Know the difference!

___________________
If you’re interested in a good intro to the ongoing cartel wars in Mexico, here’s a good look from Stratfor. It’s about a year old, but I think the big picture’s still pretty accurate. Kaibil photo from here.

{Post by See-Dubya.}

Posted in: Homeland Security, Southern Border

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#303554

On April 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pm, emjem24 said:

I just wish Mexico was as eager to secure its Northern border with the US as it is with its Southern neighbors. It’s an interesting double standard that needs to be explored more by the MSM.

As to some of the rituals of the Kaibil fighters….. ewwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!
#303557

On April 28th, 2008 at 3:48 pm, Christian Soldier said:

WAIT-Calderon stated that Mexico has no borders!
#303558

On April 28th, 2008 at 3:50 pm, josetheguerilla said:

Tijuana turning into Sadr City, Los Angles is soon to follow.Sad.
#303559

On April 28th, 2008 at 3:51 pm, letget said:

We saw on the news here in S. TX that the gangs in Mexico just over the border are killing lots of people. I haven’t been to Mexico in years. They get more than enough money from us American’s without me buying china stuff there. I just hope those guys eating ‘raw dog guts’ get rabies and die a slow death.
L
#303565

On April 28th, 2008 at 3:56 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

Raw dog entrails? Sounds like a fraternity or secret society initiation or the basis for a reality TV program. What’s the big deal?
#303570

On April 28th, 2008 at 3:59 pm, Boomer said:

Scary stuff see-dubya I hope it doesn’t start to bubble over our wide-open Southern border, but doubt if anyone in our government will do much if it does.
#303581

On April 28th, 2008 at 4:09 pm, geb4000 said:

Obviously we need comprehensive immigration enforcement.
#303582

On April 28th, 2008 at 4:10 pm, John Ansell said:

What’s missing in this article?
#303589

On April 28th, 2008 at 4:14 pm, John Ansell said:

wait until they start voting in these radical groups
#303598

On April 28th, 2008 at 4:20 pm, John Ansell said:

Doing the Art American’s won’t do. And willing to kill over it.
#303610

On April 28th, 2008 at 4:31 pm, radio relay said:

I hear the Pope’s “elite” Swiss Guard is thinking about the offer….
#303612

On April 28th, 2008 at 4:33 pm, undrseige247 said:

…the red-bereted Kaibil fighters were made to eat raw dog guts as part of their training.

Nasty, Michael Myers did the same thing in Halloween.
#303639

On April 28th, 2008 at 4:55 pm, twoninerkilo said:

South American and Middle Eastern troops have always, been and will always be 3rd raters. Every time they try to go up against American or Northern Eroupean, or the Isrealy Defense Forces they get their heads handed to them.It’s probably just rumors that they eat dog guts. but if they do, it just shows their, (beating on their chests), stupidity.I doubt any real soldier would trust them watching their flanks.I sure as hell wouldn’t
#303699

On April 28th, 2008 at 5:41 pm, Barry F. said:

On April 28th, 2008 at 3:46 pm, emjem24 said:

I just wish Mexico was as eager to secure its Northern border with the US as it is with its Southern neighbors. It’s an interesting double standard that needs to be explored more by the MSM.

Perhaps if we started smuggling drugs across the border into their country, using ex-special ops recruits from here, Mexico would look to secure the border between us. Perhaps, even, they could solicit money from the U.S. government to do it, like the Merida Initiative now.
#303815

On April 28th, 2008 at 7:51 pm, John Ansell said:

F Mexico. Give back our Soldier and give him back now!!!

Hey McInsane, where’s Juan Hernandez and why is he not demanding Mexico to let our soldier go?
#303835

On April 28th, 2008 at 8:12 pm, Christian Soldier said:

# 15 JA – thank you for the “heads up”. This is the first I have read about our soldier.

I find it interesting that Mexico has no Ammedment 2. No wonder it’s so corrupt down there.
#303845

On April 28th, 2008 at 8:21 pm, John Ansell said:

Christian Soldier

Not a problem. This should be running 24/7 until they give him back.
#303846

On April 28th, 2008 at 8:25 pm, Alphonse said:

So: why has border security lost its momentum?

Business, WSJ, Jorge Bush, Republicans: greed trumps patriotism, national security, and rule of law.

Hispanics, Democrats, PC libs: PC and Hispanic votes trump patriotism, national security, and rule of law.

Easy to understand, but hard to see what can be done since corruption has such a hold on Washington.
#303848

On April 28th, 2008 at 8:27 pm, GaMidnightRider said:

A prime example why our borders need to be secure.