An Encounter

The early part of the matter here is a confrontation between two different cartel groups in a residential area adjacent to the center of the town of Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas.   The firing is inefficient on both sides.   It continues for several minutes, until you will notice towards the end of the film the entry of Mexican Naval Infantry.   They take on both sides with effective fire, including a recoilless rifle, which is very devastating to motor vehicles and which can also fire a projectile which carries a small impact-explosive charge.   You will notice that upon arrival of the Naval Infantry, members of the opposition units either flee like rabbits or ......they didn't.     Later in the day, many of those who took flight were encountered near Reynosa where, once again, they were dealt with very severely. 

A Salute

Successful operation by 1,000 light infantry in Poza Rica, Vera Cruz.    It should be pointed out that when the soldiers conclude their operations in a given locale the people there normally exhort, beg, beseech, and whatever else to try to keep the military presence in their community.    This particular action was extended because certain prisoners were turned over to civilian prosecutors for "interrogation" and the Army stayed behind to guarantee security during the "questioning process".   The overall action was directed at "organized criminal elements"  who were collecting shake-down money from long-distance truck drivers and local bus-drivers....They were not so tough when encountering the Army.   Score:  criminal elements - 6 dead, 8 wounded, 12 detained and arrested   Army:  0 dead, 1 slightly wounded.    

Some Recommended Reading

    In that your humble writer is an arrogant cuss, it is difficult for him to take recommendations about what to do, what to eat, what to read, etc.    Also, as a card-carrying, right-wing retrograde, he tends to disregard anything found between the pages of the Texas Monthly magazine, notwithstanding the fact that it is a fine and glossy magazine that generally tries not to be too overly offensive while positioning itself in the ranks of the snobbish pinko elite intellectual class of Texas liberals. 

     One always has the lurking shadow of realization about anything good they might say about "us"  is only because "they" happen to be trapped in this next-door-to-the-Beverly-Hillbillies (Texas)  place, and "they'' might hads't well make the best of it.

      That said....one must give credit to the obvious.   It is a fine publication, makes money, guides a reader to good facts, and generally serves its calling well.   My Compadre, who can be found by scrolling down a ways on this blog, sitting around with friends and family on his patio....recommended an article in Texas Monthly's November, 2010 issue which deals with immigration from many, many points of view.   Most of the points of view are flawed, some are salient, all are given voice.

     My Compadre (the father-in-law of my daughter) and I share a  frightening number of agreements on a frightening number of issues.    We both read WSJ, watch FOX-News, and other such predictable things.   We both have lived and/or worked in Mexico for a major part of our lives.   We both have lived and/or worked in Texas either for a long, long time or since birth.  

       While I might be forced to admit, if required under oath, that I occasionally might read a few lines in the New York Times, he knows that my only contact with the Texas Monthly is reading a couple of articles every few years in Seaton Hospital in Austin where my daughter goes to meet the stork frequently....So, it was with a bit of trepidation that he urged my attention towards this particular issue and its treatment of matters concerning immigration.

         The series of articles-within-the-article are worth a full review and consideration.    My positions are irrevocable in certain parameters.

       For instance  (but not limited to):    There is no "right" to enter this country, or any other, without adhering to the rules of entry as established by the country being entered.   Religious leaders, pinko community organisers & activists, dumboes, bleeding hearts, and especially those communist, Soros-types who want to flood the United States with people whom they themselves think are not qualified or capable of ''Americanizing",  for the purpose of destroying America by loading up the producers with an avalanche of consumers.....  they can take a leap...

       But....all things considered....this article should be read and contemplated by all Texans.   It is depressing in a way...some of the right-brain way of thinking some folks have...but there are a lot of people out there who have a right-side of the brain.   We just have to work though that birth-defect.   My Compadre served me well in calling my attention to this article.  He and I probably have the same or very similar opinions of the article and its elements.   My time was well-spent with it and I recommend that you all find yourselves a copy of the November 2010 Texas Monthly and soak up "The Truth About Immigration" segment.

More later, and thanks for your time, comments, and patience.

The Old Gringo

    

Vignettes

    Yesterday when driving back up from our little hideaway there were more than the usual number of military checkpoints along the highways.   It was,  quite frankly, a bit comforting.    But little things impress a person during times when a body is on a continuous slow adrenaline drip.     At a point about mid-way between our place and the border, there is a major, permanent military checkpoint.   It is always manned and it is involved with northbound traffic.

      It was good to note that this particular day there was no long line....with a hundred trucks and busses in the right lane and 150 autos in the left lane slowly edging up to be examined or not, depending on the luck of the draw or upon other, more military, reasons.    Nope...to-day it was straight to the sergeant at the receiving box.   He directed me immediately to inspection and I complied, as usual.

      Two things occurred that might be missed perhaps, at other times.   For one, I had been passed just before arrival at this checkpoint by a convoy of heavy infantry, well-armed, well-outfitted, excellent equipment order, excellent discipline and appearance.    They passed me, but had entered the normal inspection at this stop.   A lieutenant had come over to the next-to-last pick-up and saluted briskly to the officer on the right door position.

      Looking closer, there were two teams checking paperwork, vehicle ID numbers, and scanning cyber-dogtags of the soldiers with hand held computer devices.   Each team was made up of a sergeant and two PFC types.  Each vehicle was scanned, each soldier in the convoy.....quickly, coldly, and courteously.  

       The lieutenant had stepped back from the pick-up of his interest.   The officer inside, I think he was a Lt. Col. type, got down from the pick-up, handed the lieutenant a batch of forms on a clipboard and then took off his cyber-dogtags while the lieutenant's helper scanned the documents and the colonel's tags.    The lieutenant signed his rubric to some of the papers, then did a walk-around along the 8 vehicle convoy, once again checking the serial numbers on the doors and other points.

      Upon returning, the lieutenant saluted the Lt. Col., who returned the salute.   Then, oddly, they stood briefly with the left hand on the right  shoulder each of the man in front....then backed off, crossed themselves, and saluted and then went about their business.     Officers and non-coms mounted up, the Lt. Col. barked something, the convoy pulled off to the north.  It dawned on me then  that this particular heavy infantry unit was "Going into harm's way". 

      [As an aside, I encountered this group an hour and a half later on the highway south of Reynosa where they were waiting on anyone who might be trying to escape from Army offensive actions taking place at that very moment in Matamoros to the east.   It is probable that later in the day they went into Reynosa and were involved in another successful encounter against "members of organized criminal activity" who actually were fleeing in disorder from Matamoros.]

     Anyway.....back to the first checkpoint.... I was awaiting the finishing touches of my old car's inspection, and it was apparent that the non-com had dallied for a bit long at the foot well of the left-rear,  passenger seat.   He asked me about "to what I dedicated myself" to which I replied that we had a little bed and breakfast place near Victoria.   I told him about the bird and butterfly attractions and the natural backdrops, and he seemed impressed.  It dawned on me that for almost a minute and a half he had been going through  an agenda/calendar where I keep my rain records and other climate data of note.    Each page has a very nice picture of some form of wildlife found in the State of Tamaulipas and he seemed to enjoy the calendar book immensely.   I would have offered it to him but for the fact that it has my weather records from the three tropical involvements and from a particularly cold Winter episode this year.

     I gave him one of our business cards and expressed my appreciation for his service.   Perhaps on my next pass through he will be there and we can give him another agenda or maybe one for the new year with the same kind of excellent photographic work. 

Once again, there will be more later, and your attention and time are most certainly appreciated.
El Gringo Viejo   

Desde Estacion de Santa Engracia

    Selene Diaz Castro.....dueña de la Chat de la Estacion de Santa Engracia

     This is a big deal!  There is finally a way to communicate via the blog from our home area.   The owner just established this service and has..of all things...five computers.....all very advanced....especially for me...so I can receive messages, reservations, and so forth only about 5 miles from your home away from home.
More later!
The Old Gringo

Questions Keep Coming In

The responses to my silly rant have been very positive.   The problem is that the effect of the policies forwarded by this administration would be, will be a disaster for this Republic as we know it.   There is little humour in that fact.

     There have been some questions concerning President Calderon's initiative to essentially "Nacionalizar" (nationalize) the local and State level police.   Without mincing words, I will tell you that, with few reservations, it is a policy that is needed.   The ill is far outweighed by the good.

      My inclination, as an old Confederate, is to maintain local control....if anything ....to the extreme.    Little good can come of ordering society from some distant castle, far removed from the plague or flood or blight or riot.   Those who know best are most frequently found nearby, was a favourite saying of my parents
.

      The problem in Mexico is that the local police in thousands and thousands of municipios (counties), small ciudades (cities), delegaciones (subdivisions of municipios) and even Zonas Metropolitanas (metropolitan zones) and estados (States) are frequently working in very weak command and control structures...They are also exposed to very strong temptations, due to the fact that they frequently earn between 350 and 750 dollars per month.    Even with a fairly generous secondary benefit schedule...medical, small retirement, the job frequently presents more to lose than to gain.

     One of the main threats for anyone out in the hinterland is the fabled offer of the organized crime group which offers the policeman or public official the choice of "Plomo o plata", (lead or silver).  And the other famous tactic of making veiled or direct threat against a family member can be equally effective.

      It has been demonstrated that, while not perfect, the Mexican Army, the Mexican Naval Infantry, and the newly constituted uniformed national civilian police have performed between well-enough and stunningly effectively.   The military part of this formula has really been remarkable.   Self-cleansing, self-improving, self-reliant, self-disciplined, and obedient to civilian authority are all accurate terms to described the military units, now numbering 160,000 under arms and at the "front".     This does not count the "on the water" Navy which has also professionalized by quantum measure in the past 10 years.     Other military personnel not actively engaged in combat or neo-combat situations now number in the range of around 230,000 more uniformed effectives.
       These folks are dedicated to combat and combat support, they know, use, and understand cyber-combat application as well as cyber-warfare.   They have good basic and advanced education.   The federal police units make in the neighbourhood of 16,000 dollars/year along with a benefit package of about the same amount at the low end....while the military receives somewhat less at the lower ranks, but still far from subsistence.

     It appears to this observer that the processes, legal and military and constabularial, seem to function better if the recruits are gathered up from the provinces, trained well, and deployed under a single chain/level of command.   When there is a problem or a corruption issue, it is immensely more easily detected.   It is also immensely more easily guarded against by the establishment of procedures, active and passive observation and monitoring, and the building of an esprit de corps that frequently replaces temptation and avarice.     Many observers said that the possibility of  such a development in Colombia was  "impossible"  or "ridiculous", or "preposterous"....but it turned out to be very possible.

     Perhaps tomorrow I will be able to comment about the economic situation in Mexico....perhaps some surprizing observations.

Thanks for your time and attention,
El Gringo Viejo