☠ Mexico's Drug War ☠

[sodapopinski]

Originally Posted by Calender

Having lived the past two years in Tijuana, I can tell you that since the Sinaloa took over, TJ has been a much safer place for me (as a gringo) to live. This is a predominantly drug-fueled cartel (with a little human trafficking tacked on), and I have never had a moment of fear regarding kidnapping or extortion. While Monterrey went from a modern city to 3rd-world shithole in less than a year, TJ stayed TJ.

Odd.

Unless I'm mistaken, the uptick in violence during the last decade was because the Sinaloa cartel looked at the border towns, and wanted a piece of the action. So although I believe you when you say violence is currently down, the violence wouldn't have existed if the Sinaloa cartel had simply stayed away from Juarez. And unless the Sinaloa cartel becomes the one cartel to rule them all (and stays that way), there will inevitably be another cartel that springs up to fight the Sinaloas, and the circle of violence will just continue.

Glad things are better in Juarez, but they didn't have to get that bad in the first place.

I would like to know more about your experiences in Juarez, if you'd like to share. I enjoy reading experiences and opinions from those at a ground level.

[G0NZ0]

Originally Posted by MrJayDub

They still exist, they are just not nearly as powerful as they used to be.

No they do not the top leaders have been killed or incarcerated the group no longer exists just broken off factions remain.

[G0NZ0]

Originally Posted by sodapopinski

Jay is right. The AFO exists, but after the government took down its leaders, they have been significantly weakened and the Sinaloa Cartel has taken

No the remains of what was the AFO is not even recognized as such.

[sodapopinski]

^I don't mean to imply the AFO is some legit threat to the Sinaloa cartel (or as Christine Amanpour and ABC News says, the Sinaola cartel), because like you said, their leadership is gone. But remnants of the AFO still remain. It's highly probable (if not inevitable) that they'll be co-opted by another cartel, depending if they want to conform with the Sinaloa cartel or fight against them and switch to the Zetas.

Edit - I see you live in Cali so you might have your ear closer to the ground than me. I really haven't paid much attention to the AFO for years.

[MrJayDub]

Originally Posted by G0NZ0

No they do not the top leaders have been killed or incarcerated the group no longer exists just broken off factions remain.

AFO is the TJ cartel, and they do in fact still exist. Tjere are still AFO family members in the leadership of the TJ cartel. Sinaloa cartel has taken control of the area, but the TJ cartel is still there trying to stay realivant. They exist, they just lost all of their power and they are much smaller now.

[weich]

They got her in the end: Mexico's fearless woman mayor who survived two drug gang assassination attempts is beaten to death and dumped by the roadside
Maria Santos Gorrostieta had been stabbed, beaten and burned
She defied Mexico's powerful drug gangs, who twice tried to gun her down
She was kidnapped in broad daylight in front of her terrified daughter
The former mayor leaves behind three children

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-attempts.html

[sodapopinski]

Originally Posted by weich

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-attempts.html

Most people don't know the level of heroism it takes to be a public figure in Mexico, standing up to the drug cartel.

That woman was a hero. And there have been far too many like her, eternally silenced because they refuse to be corrupted. RIP.

[Denter]

That's awful about that woman.

[weich]

Originally Posted by sodapopinski

Most people don't know the level of heroism it takes to be a public figure in Mexico, standing up to the drug cartel.

That woman was a hero. And there have been far too many like her, eternally silenced because they refuse to be corrupted. RIP.

Courage, yes. I also feel like it's kind of naive and stupid. It isn't a matter of if you will be killed, but when, and now she's been killed, her first husband was killed, and her current husband is missing. She leaves behind three orphans as well.

The reality is no matter what she did she couldn't beat the cartels. IMO, she has sacrificed her life for no gain.

[sodapopinski]

Originally Posted by weich

Courage, yes. I also feel like it's kind of naive and stupid. It isn't a matter of if you will be killed, but when, and now she's been killed, her first husband was killed, and her current husband is missing. She leaves behind three orphans as well.

The reality is no matter what she did she couldn't beat the cartels. IMO, she has sacrificed her life for no gain.

I view it differently. I understand your point, especially about the loved ones she left behind, but in my view, it's going to take people like her, people of courage, bravery, and integrity to stand up and fight back. Otherwise, everyone will be silenced and the cartels will rule Mexico even more than corporations rule America.

I will reiterate that I believe it's time for Mexico to loosen their gun laws. Right now, it's the cartels and their high powered weapons against unarmed citizens.