Pictutres Of Europe Wax

agree: Something is rotten in the country

There are times when I seek simply evade the issues of security, or rather, lack thereof. Use information from other topics and distract the mind of the events that tired, overwhelmed and shut.

The football seemed a good choice. I entered and immediately looked MedioTiempo.com column Martín del Palacio, one of my favorite collaborators that medium. Martin works for the FIFA website and live abroad, but maintains a very acute perception of what happens within it in terms of local football, Mexican press, and others.

After reading your column I was more worried than I was before. I went looking for football for the "desenpance" and came across another aspect of the violent situation which we live.

The column is titled "Something is rotten in the country." Undoubtedly, very illustrative of the times.

talks about the controversy that lives absurd national team after the sanctions were announced players who participated in a celebration in the team hotel after the last friendly game in Monterrey.

"Something is rotten in Mexico," says the palace in his column. "Something that goes far beyond the football environment, but, as an extraordinary reflection of society that is, one can describe the vicissitudes of what happens to those selected."

Accuses

media that only seek to address the privacy of the players to sell newspapers regardless of the climate of tension that they generate.

The last three paragraphs of his column left me thinking:

I visceral anguish which includes Mexican society. Where what sells is gossip. Where people claim that Carlos Vela would be banned for life from Tri, "not to throw you win." Where football passions turn so it is better to close our eyes to what is happening around us. Where are conspiracy theories everywhere. Governed by the law of the jungle and there are no mechanisms to protect the citizenry. Where more than half of obese children and teachers continue to sell candy in the classroom. Where the left and right are unable to agree on anything and the country remains in the hands of traffickers. Where even the "bread and circuses" is full of repressed violence because that is what we breathe in the air.

When the Mexican Journalists speak of "bad example for children" by the attitudes of the players, I always want to laugh. In a country with the highest rates of domestic violence, obesity rates, lack of training of teachers, believe me there are many instances worse than some kids who went to party when it was over their work.

Football is a reflection of society. And what happened in these past weeks not only confirms that, even in our play areas are able to abstract from the situation that pervades the country. I hope things change in life, sports and anything that has to do with Mexico and in the future be able to differentiate what is truly important from what is not worth it.

unsettling polarization

With the treatment that is given to the "resold" gate "of the players, I still feel like the tension. We sell and consume. And that is that the polarization that exists in the country for some years has completely reached all spheres of society and have embraced.

This tension has led us to lose the capacity for dialogue and debate. Has led us not to see anything of value in those who think differently from us. Away from dialogue and debate, we prefer bother, give them against everything, and put all the obstacles that occur.

Today it is all white or all black. You're right or left. Or you lopezabrodorista or Calderon. Or you support the war against narco-plane or the Forsaken. There is no middle ground or shades. We have put the cart before the horse. First classify and then observe, when logic tells us should be reversed, in order to classify something, you should first watch to know what it is.

An example of this is given a twiteros that after the death of Germain Dehesa, his first reaction was that "He was a witty, high verbal ability, of that right more polished than illustrated, RIP" is, The first criterion is whether trial was Dehesa right or left. As a writer she was right, adding that "it was a reactionary in every sense of the word and an excellent writer second." Subsequently, it compares: "Carlos Montemayor was far more literary skill and not made such a fuss, probably because it was left. "

is clear. First classifies and then see. The mere fact that Dehesa outside left, would have changed its position on the issue.

And, for some sectors of society, everything is divided into right and left, and from there, it is considered any topic. Those who now say left criticize the army's presence on the streets because they feel right, forgetting that Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for example, was one of the first voices of the policy called for the support of the Army in public safety issues to request the presence in military prison La Palma (La Jornada, January 5, 2005).

And we were wrong all. We fought to the death to defend politicians not worth it, say one thing today and tomorrow they forget, in a conditioned amnesia in the heat of political interests and the struggle for power. And that's all. Some talk of austerity when their children use several thousand tennis pesos, and others have chosen to hide guilty for not paying political costs as Felipe Calderón has made in the case of the tragedy of ABC.

Suddenly tension prevails. And the violence is everywhere. There are verbal violence, political violence, about what to put or not in the classified section of a newspaper, and violence ... even in the football press.

is increasingly easy to take a violent approach without throwing a single strike.

And finally, those political factions that polarized the country, end up joining forces to try to gain power. That is the ultimate prize.

As citizens, it was time to put pressure on the entire political class and no longer polarize. Everyone will continue to defend their position, but the country is urging nuances, he urges and urges proposal analysis.

That should be the priority: to propose. Forget about the complaint and against continuing to reinforce ideas, develop projects and give them representation.

If we have not been able to do is serious symptom that we are wrong.

So, I agree with Martin del Palacio. Something is rotten in the country and, as in the orchard, rot spreads, more and more, to other social sectors.

Carolina Biological Laboratory 4

Halconeo: The Legal Void

Reynosa

A witness tells what happened from the moment the soldiers, who formed a convoy patrol, they realize that a van was following at a distance and its occupants , youth, spoke insistently radio.

On the behavior deduced that the soldiers were "hawks," ie, spies, organized crime, which is dedicated to follow the federal units and are reporting their every move to his bosses warning of any operational surprise.

The military arrested

, revise them and also reviewed the car without finding weapons or drugs. They knew perfectly well that young soldiers were "hawks" but do not bring weapons or drugs were not technically crime to pursue. They just learned the lesson, beating them, removing the money, he struck out the tires to the truck and sent on foot to their homes.

could not do anything the military to swallow their frustration, as the "halconeo" is not punishable under the Penal Code of Tamaulipas and, therefore, had no case to detain the youth and bring them to justice as there was no crime to pursue, although clearly, were serving criminals.

Another thing that had been illegally carrying a weapon or drug dose. So could have been brothers, allowing crime, but not espionage.

basic intelligence system of cartels

The "halconeo" is a very useful tool for organized crime cartels because it is one of its major systems in the intelligence gathering on the movements and intentions of the operations against them.

The hawks normally very young, even young children are placed at major intersections, gas stations, convenience stores and locations near the headquarters of the federal forces. It provides them with radios from which transmit their reports to the passage of any convoy which considerably weakens the operational efficiency of performing Federal Police, Navy or Army. They also tend to enter the profile of informal trade workers as sellers of piracy or food on the public highway, hidden in their activity, observe and report.

Another form of "halconeo" are people with car and radio, often taxi drivers, who are dedicated to following distance military vehicles stating their position.

Finally, the more severe the conducting elements of the municipal police are also vehicles and report by radio, but also come to military operations in apparent cooperation that, in fact, seeks to extract information. They even operate the sirens to the passage of federal criminal warn of the closeness military.

military and police clash between "hawks" in Nuevo León

The loophole

The "halconeo" considerably weakens the effectiveness of the armed forces in the streets, because it is extremely complicated to put together a surprise to many eye operation reporting every step.

is, therefore, incredible that states severely beaten by drug trafficking and Tamaulipas has not established even the "halconeo" in the state penal code.

can not understand that a person who spies on federal law enforcement forces, to support organized crime, not considered a criminal.

As in all federation, each entity has its own penal code. Other states like Nuevo Leon and they did and entities such as Colima and is on track to do so. Neither is in Tamaulipas rumors there is not one day think to do so.

in Nuevo Leon state governor himself, Rodrigo Medina, who last June ordered the bill to the State Congress of Nuevo León to amend the Criminal Code of the state and set up as a felony espionage carried out by "hawks" for organized crime.

De Eugenio Hernandez, governor of Tamaulipas, Tamaulipas or Congress, or its lights. Not a single mention of the issue so far this year.

The laws need to be updated so they can rule violations in the new emerging order in society. Today we live an era in which the drug has taken over public spaces and it is unacceptable that the organs of government show such inaction to enact laws to combat with all new, clearly illegal.

If the governor of Tamaulipas had taken the initiative to send a proposal to Congress to amend the Local Criminal Code of the entity and have more tools to fight crime, then I would believe something so much that he says he feels hurt by the State of the State. But his passivity and irresponsibility only confirm to us that live ungovernable entity.

The social factor

And not only must fight "halconeo" by the damage it does to military operations but, above all, due to the impact it has on the decomposition social.

A "hawk" is the lowest level in the pyramid of a cartel. Who gets to play that position makes dreaming big money, of growing up in crime, and if someone in your neighborhood. The "hawk" immediately starts talking to the lexicon of their own criminal group, and not ready, now is "good battery" or is "one hundred" and when he wants to impress the boss, they say it is "a million." Buy T-shirts and Ed Hardy hats imitation, the brighter, the better. Place the radio, its a tool in place of the belt where it is clearly visible, and when you use it, talk loud so everyone knows who works with the "skill" or "the company."

That, in a 17, 18 or 20 years, which is just beginning to glimpse their opportunities in life is usually an irreversible path. At some point, his bosses let him do a "pull" more demanding, and there will come a time of training in weapons. There are innumerable cases of young men who were captured as "hawks" and now serving the "stake" (assassins) within the cartels.

Therein lies the urgency of enacting the subject, but also operational damages for harm to society.

How legislated Nuevo León

The state of Nuevo León did by amending Article 192 of the Penal Code now reads:

A penalty from two to fifteen years imprisonment and a fine of two hundred to four hundred shares who stalk or monitor or perform any act aimed at obtaining information on the location, activities, or general operating tasks of public security, prosecution or punishment of the crime or the execution of sentences.

addition to the penalties provided for in the preceding paragraph, the penalty is one-third to one half more than the custodial sentence that product, which carries out the conduct described in this item using to do any public service vehicle carrying passengers or other to provide a similar service or whose exterior features are similar to the appearance of the vehicles for public transport passengers.

The penalties prescribed in this Article, shall be increased from one third to slightly more than the penalty that may be, and shall be in addition or removal from office and disqualification committee of three to ten years to occupy another, when the offense is committed by public servants or former public servants of the forces military, public security institutions or law enforcement.

is, in Nuevo Leon and just because of persistently follow a military convoy is the subject of crime. You do not have to resort to look for drugs or banned weapons the suspect in order to farm the offense, just follow up action to consider felony espionage.

It also provides for increased penalties for public servants, with the clear purpose of combating "halconeo" from the same police ranks.

The bill sent by Rodrigo Medina was approved unanimously by the Local Congress of Nuevo León in late June this year and tens count as "hawks" who have been awarded by the Army or the Federal Police to local justice agencies brothers, allowing responsibility.

is essential that the authorities of Tamaulipas promote this law to at least keep the forms in a way that is a little more believable.

Updated September 24, 2010

A reader kindly provided us with a document that is the bill to establish the "halconeo" in the Federal Penal Code recently sent to Congress.

The initiative was sent by Guillermo Cueva Sada Dipu the Green Party which proposes to integrate the Article 127 Bis to the Federal Penal Code, where they classify "halconeo." This article would be placed in Chapter II speaking of the crime of espionage.

The Federal Penal Code punishes only when a foreign spy sending information to a foreign nation for the purpose of a possible invasion of their territory or to alter the inner peace. It also punishes the Mexican, having in his possession documents or confidential information of a foreign government, the disclosure to another government, if that hurts the Mexican nation. And finally, punishes those who have knowledge of the activities of a spy and identity, do not let the authorities.

Those are the only 3 scenarios of espionage that the Federal Penal Code contemplates. The bill sent by Deputy Sada Cueva has intended to include as a new espionage scenario that takes place on public security forces.

The wording proposed by Rep. Sada Cueva is practically the same as was included in the Criminal Code of Nuevo Leon in Article 192 and were talking and above.

On September 7 the LXI Legislature of the Chamber of Deputies was the initiative of a decree "which adds a new Article 127a Federal Penal Code and amending Article 194 of the Federal Code of Criminal Procedure, by the Dip. Guillermo Cueva Sada, the PVEM. "

The initiative was referred to the Justice Committee to refine and then submit it for discussion and vote. That is, just is an initiative and, of course, is not yet in force. Be until the deputies voting in favor, and is published in the Official Journal of the Federation.

However, it is a very important step in combating the "halconeo."

Another reader stated that it is our privilege to fight states' halconeo "because organized crime and, therefore, federal jurisdiction. That is incorrect, because neither the Federal Organized Crime Act referred to "halconeo" as an offense covered by that law, nor the Federal Criminal Code, as we cited, describes a situation of "halconeo" or the chapter of espionage nor in the drug crimes.

The aim of the "halconeo" is criminalized in the Penal Codes of the states is that Just because you spy on a security force is a crime, regardless of whom works for the spy. That is, the crime of espionage is also tracking and monitoring to a municipal police patrol investigating a car theft, for example, and is also the crime of espionage on track and watch a military convoy on patrol making against drug trafficking.

The wording of the article is not about drug trafficking, car theft, kidnapping. Therefore, no matter the time of arrest if organized crime or not, just follow criminalizes public security forces. This has the purpose to make the arrest of the "hawks" and later they are applicable to ascertain whether conspiracy charges, drug crimes, or any other crime of organized crime.

Extreme Sensitivity To Cold Right After A Filing

The Narco Weapons: The Power of Fire

"There is an issue in which Mexico needs your cooperation. That is, stop the flow of high-powered weapons and other lethal weapons across the border. "

Felipe Calderon was speaking in Washington before the U.S. Congress on May 20 this year. Just finished his sentence and received a standing ovation by the U.S. Congress.

"I respect completely. Let me be very clear on this, "Calderon stressed. "I respect and admire totally the American Constitution. And I understand that the purpose of the Second Amendment is to ensure that all good American citizens the ability to defend themselves and their nation.

"But believe me," added the Mexican president. "Many of these weapons are ending up in the hands of honest Americans. Instead, thousands of these weapons are ending up in criminal hands. Just to give you an idea. In Mexico in the last three years, we have seized 75 000 pistols and high powered weapons, and over 80 percent of those who have been able to track, from the United States. "

The requirement that United States

And then, when Felipe Calderon launched a controversial thesis to ensure that the opening for widespread sale of assault weapons to civilians triggered the violence in Mexico.

"If you look carefully," he asserted, "may realize that violence in Mexico began to grow a couple of years before I took office in 2006. This coincides, at least, with the repeal of the Assault Weapons Ban in 2004. "

And immediately launched a petition to Congress, in a tone of demand, which was to raise controversy and divided opinion in the political leadership in Washington.

"I ask Congress to help us, with all respect, and understand how important this is for us and you apply the law to stop the supply of these weapons to criminals. And I would ask you consider the return of the Assault Weapons Ban. "

The request followed by a standing ovation from several seconds but, this time, only Democrats applauded. Republicans, out defenders of free trade in arms, sitting permanercieron.

Requirement legitimate but weak thesis.

The Congress demands greater control of U.S. arms flow, was legitimate because most of the weapons that come to Mexico come from the north country.

However, the thesis that the increase in violence in Mexico, which began in 2004 coincided with the repeal of assault weapons control in the United States was weak.

This was demonstrated by Diego Valle, statistical analyst in his blog studied the behavior of violence in Mexico by the numbers of homicides in the country and found no direct correlation, no conclusive evidence to substantiate the thesis of President Calderón .

Valley periodic review of homicide figures in the various entities or violent cities, and there is an ascending pattern of crime attributable to the U.S. arms law, rather, the figures are consistent with proper land disputes posters.

actually drug cartels have made and continue getting their arsenals on the weapons black market that has always existed in the world with or without arms control law for civilians in the United States.

The responsibility lies with the Mexican customs that have not been able to seal the fronera arms trafficking, and U.S. authorities have not acted effectively to stop the gangs who engage in black market weapons on their territory because, ultimately, the arms do not come alone to the border.

Crime: Military Firepower

The fact is that posters have been increasing their firepower, and their arsenals already have the most sophisticated weapons. Many of them are not available to civilians in normal armories.

shows what happened to November 7, 2008 in Reynosa, where the Mexican Army made a spectacular seizure of weapons, the quantity and firepower, is considered the most important in U.S. history .

The arsenal was so large that when it was presented to the media, there was a single camera in the same outlet that could get everything.

The powerful arsenal seized in Reynosa in 2008

More than 500 000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, 407 long and short guns, 287 grenades, a thousand chargers, 2 37 mm grenade launcher, 14 tubes of TNT, 9 boxes of explosive material., 67 bulletproof vests, a rocket launcher Law. Enough to arm a small army.

But beyond the amount was the firepower of the weapons presented what he did worry about the high military command.

In the arsenal seized rifles were 7 millimeters Barrett M107 50 caliber, 14 multiple launchers and machine guns P90 37 mm grenades. The most destructive weapons that can be found on the market.

The Barrett, for example, was used by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rifle is a high gain and power, comes to destroy targets up to 2 kilometers away and even at that range, able to drill a plate of steel 3 inches thick. Barrett is the .50 caliber, ammunition that measures 13.8 inches long, more than triple a bullet for "goat horn", which measured 3.87.

This rifle is a highly destructive weapon, it is not just for work but also reaches sniper to function as anti-aircraft as well placed shot from a helicopter transmission is sufficient to bring him down.

So sometimes, the special forces strategists make their reservations about attempting a raid by helicopter in an operation to capture a major drug lord, because normally, their stakes (personal security groups) carry more sophisticated weapons arsenal to protect the big bosses. Usually there Barretts to hand the assassins to repel a raid by helicopter from the military.

The Barrett has become a weapon of legend, not only for its functionality but the psychological impact of its destructive power on the enemy. The sound of the shot becomes unmistakable, a highly sound blasting and dry, with the subsequent economic and hiss of the projectile breaking the air at a great distance, has a devastating effect on those who hear it coming.

Each rifle has a market price of $ 9.345, according to the website of the factory.

Scene from the film "Hurt Locker" where a Barrett is used in Iraq by sniper work

The P90, meanwhile, also has a level of destructiveness as it is capable of firing 900 times per minute, a volume of fire than the "goat horn" and the AR-15, which are the most common assault rifles in organized crime. It is also a highly effective weapon in the middle distance, it is capable of providing precision firepower to 200 meters.

The P90 in action

In the arsenal were also seized multiple grenade launchers 2 (MGL). Each has charger store 6 37 mm grenades, and semiautomatic shooting 3 times per second, with a target range of 400 meters.

similar to MGL seized in demonstration

and the seizure must add tens of AK47 rifles "goat horn" and AR15 also were confiscated at that time.

well trained Criminal

The problem is that most of the sophisticated weapons in organized crime are held well-trained people who do know them to use.

The August 24, 2010 in Reynosa was heavy fighting between members of organized crime and the Mexican Army, which the Greens took the brunt.

A witness who witnessed the events spoke in an internet forum, the level of training that are the killers.

"Believe me when I tell them," says the witness. "I know that there is much pendejo nomas pa press serves the kick trigger and the gun turns pal sky, but the people I saw shooting, he knows it. Pure military tactic. Since the arrival of reinforcements to the way of retreat. These people know what it does. And Creek speak, but now it logs to the gauchos (soldiers). "

And we must not forget that the Zetas were founded by several soldiers who deserted from the Special Forces Airmobile Group of the Mexican Army, better known as the jinxes.

This group of military elite was trained to perform various operations such as precision parachute infiltration, sniper missions, ambush, rapid deployment in difficult terrain, assault operations and hostage rescue.

also conducted training with different units elite in the world. The jinxes were trained in training centers of the U.S. Special Forces as Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Benning in Georgia where they were trained in assault and sniper capabilities using the most sophisticated weapons, among which were the Barrett .50 and multiple grenade launcher (MGL), the same type of weapons that would then be seized in Reynosa criminal groups.

jinxes in the military parade to .50 Barrett rifle

were estimated over 30 jinxes who deserted the Mexican Army to establish "Los Zetas" in 1998. Although SEDENA has refused to disclose the names of the deserters, it is believed that the current head of the organization, Heriberto Lazcano was a jinx.

The day the powerful arsenal seized in Reynosa, there also was arrested Jaime González Durán, "The Hummer," one of the main leaders of the organization of "Los Zetas" who was also a deserter from the jinxes . Throughout the transfer of the place of detention at the airport, his assassins were attacking the military convoy trying to free their boss. Were barricaded with civilian cars kidnapped to try to prevent the transfer, but the military convoy was able to open step with the arrest and delivery to the aircraft managed to take him to Mexico City.

jinxes

Many founders of "Los Zetas" have died or, like the "Hummer," have been captured, however, Army desertions have not stopped and it is likely that more troops with special forces training have been linked to organized crime.

In November 2008, the Ministry of Defence revealed the number of Special Forces troops who had deserted from the military. Since the late 90s until 2008 when the information is disclosed, had dropped out 1559 items. There is no estimate many of these elements have been captured by organized crime, but it is a very large number of highly trained men in the handling of weapons in the civilian world, so surely have been tempting offers.

can say that those jinxes founders of "Los Zetas" left school. While operated as the armed wing of the Gulf Cartel trained members of the organization assault and ambush operations, interception of communications, sniper and all they had learned in the military. They also began to buy black market weapons last generation had learned to use.

So when the witness to that shooting in mid-August this year in Reynosa said that the gunmen used military tactic pure and do not know what is so wrong. They are elite fighters with high firepower and training the gunmen involved in sensitive operations of organized crime. A routine patrols sent, yes, inexperienced trainees just starting to gain experience in handling automatic weapons.

Therein lies the importance of the Mexican Army and Navy combat organized crime. Some say that the military should not act as police, but seeing the power weapons fire and with the criminals, only the military can meet them. That's why local police have been bent so easy to be virtually nonexistent.