Americas News
Congressman calls Mexico a "drug cartel"
Nov 15, 2007, 2:03 GMT
Washington - Tom Tancredo, a Republican congressman and presidential candidate, said Wednesday that the United States cannot trust the Mexican government in combating narcotics and called the neighbouring country a 'drug cartel.'
'Mexico is a drug cartel,' Tancredo said. 'The degree of corruption inside the government and the military is so great that it's hard to see where the government ends and where the cartels begin.'
Tancredo spoke during the testimony of Assistant Secretary of State Tom Shannon, who was briefing Congress on a proposed 1.4- billion-dollar, three-year aid package to the Mexican government to step up efforts to halt the flow of marijuana and cocaine into the United States.
Congress has been lukewarm about the proposal and criticized the State Department for not adequately briefing lawmakers prior to reaching the deal with Mexico. The ranking member of the centre-right Republican Party on the House Foreign Affairs Committee quickly chastised Tancredo for his remarks.
'Saying that Mexico is a drug cartel is an insult to the Mexican people, the Mexican government and the cooperation between both countries,' Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said.
The Mexican government also took exception to Tancredo's comments.
'These are characterizations based on unfortunate cliches and stereotypes, which are far from reflecting reality of Mexico, and are as wrong as saying that all Americans consume drugs,' said Ricardo Alday, a spokesman for Mexico's embassy in Washington.
Tancredo, who represents a congressional district in Colorado, is considered a long-shot to with the Republican nomination.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
The last group of Mexican soilders, trained at the espense of the American taxpayer to fight the narco cartels, are now on the cartels payroll.
Some of our politicians can not face the truth,and would rather stick their heads in the sand.
QUOTE 'Saying that Mexico is a drug cartel is an insult to the Mexican people, the Mexican government and the cooperation between both countries,' Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said. END QUOTE
Your precursors from Soviet Union would be proud of your rhetoric, Comrade Ileana.
i do not want any of my tax dollar sent to Mexico-to support drug trafficking. we should be getting help from Mexico for all the damage their citizens are causing to this country.
The reason Tom Tancredo is a 'long shot' candidate for President is that he is a habitual truth teller. The fact is that Mexico is not a 'good neighbor' for the United State. It is at best the dysfunctional 'crack house' next door. And at worst a revanchist enemy that covets our land.
This is, I'm to say is a ' NO-BRAINER ' The Mexican government will not shut down the drug trade coming into the United States, because they have the best of both worlds --- they receive kick-backs from the cartel's, and OUT POLICTICANS are sending them B-Billions of tax dollars every year.
That is called ' THE MEXICAN DREAM ' in addition we are supporting all the citizens of Mexico that they can send up here ! If I were a Mexican,
I would be laughing my fool head off --- JUST LIKE THEY ARE DOING !
AH --- THOSE STUPID AMERICANS --- WE BREAK INTO THEIR COUNTRY, WE LIE--CHEAT and STEAL FROM THEM ----- AND ----- THEY PAY US TO DO IT ! ! ! ! !
CARAMBA --- I LOVE THOSE STUPID AMERICANS --- I NO HAVE TO WORK ------
I JUST TAKE and TAKE and TAKE and then TAKE MORE ---HA - HA - HA !
if you listen close that is what you will here coming from south of the border ----- dowm Mexico way ............... It makes me SICK !
I live in Colorado and love to hear Tom lam blast all the evil doers down south. I say TO Tom You wont win the election but the Patriots Border Alliance is holding elections soon to help stem the holes in our border. I Nominate Tom TANCREDO to Run for the job of saving our country. God Bless men of his caliber. The money we don't want to give the the Mexican Government could do all that is needed to close the border and stop drug trafficking. Remember if worms carried pistols birds wouldn't eat them.
Yeh, the Mexican Govt. hates him, as do the ACLU, SLPC, La Raza, MALDEF and other Communist and reconquista groups...but Tanc tells it like it IS!! And we love him for it!!
Tom Tancredo is exactly right. Mexico *is* a parasitic, corrupt drug cartel that continues to feed off the U.S. Tom does tell it the way it is, and his actions back up his words. In my opinion, he is the only statesman running for President. Meddling Mexico and its open borders invaders in the U.S. would fear his Presidency; the citizens would love it. Ask the Border Patrol agents on the front lines which candidate they prefer.
Right before I watched Tancredo on Glenn Beck yesterday, I received word there was yet another armed stand-off on the AZ/MX border. Mexican nationals were heavily shooting at our Border Patrol. A similiar incident happened a few weeks ago.
Living in a border state, I can attest to what Tancredo says. The problem is those living in states removed from the border have no clue to the reality and dire situation. If they did, states like Iowa, would be supporting the Tancredo campaign.
Crime and corruption on both sides of our southern border is alive and well. Americans are being snatched off the streets. Currently there are 60 missing in Laredo alone. This will be visiting a town near you if our border is not secured..well at this point it needs to be sealed.
Tom tells it like it is. He is not affiliated with big business or any special interest groups. For anyone that thinks it can't be that bad, I invite them to take a trip to the southern border for a dose of reality.
Mexico has proven time and again that they are not our allies but our enemies. Tancredo is just telling the truth. We should build the fence, and prison illegal aliens to two years in prison, like Mexico does to people who are illegal aliens in their country!
Mexico is one big drug cartel. Let us be honest. Whether what the congressman said is insensitive to some ears, whether it is not politically correct, the fact remains that the TRUTH, remember the truth, is independent of politics and corrupt human meddling. Anyone can see it.
I have a question?
Why is all the drug comming from Mexico to the US???
There is a very easy answer for that! without demand or a Market no Offer!!!!
BUT the USA citizens are the Nr. 1 Clients for the Drugs produce in Colombia and Mexico, so there is a BIG demand and a BIG Market in the USA then economicaly there has to be a BIG Offer!!!!
I will say that Mr. Tancredo or whatever, should first solve the problem of drug consume in the USA and then if he and the US congres can do this and the problem of drug cartels still remain then you can blame other people!!!!!
Who?I
This issue is much bigger than just the amount of drugs crossing our borders. It must also be noted the drug cartels systematically taking over cities as you see evidence of in CA., TX, NM and AZ.
WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo’s charge that Mexican drug cartels are buying up legitimate businesses in U.S. cities to launder money and using some of the proceeds to win local mayoral and city council seats for politicians who can shape the policies and personnel decisions of their police forces, has been backed up by a veteran gang investigator.
Richard Valdemar, a retired sergeant with the L.A. County sheriff’s department and a longtime member of a federal task force investigating gang activity, went beyond the charges made by Tancredo, the chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus who has led the fight to secure America’s southern border.
In fact, he cited first-hand experience in investigating attempts to take over seven cities in Los Angeles County - Southgate, Lynwood, Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Hawaiian Gardens and Huntington Park.
He also told WND in an exclusive interview that he has since become aware of similar efforts by Mexican drug cartels throughout the Southwest - in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.
The stunning disclosures substantiate claims made by Tancredo in his new book, “In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America’s Border and Security,” in which he exposes what he has learned from meetings with law enforcement authorities regarding a concerted effort by the Mexican mafia and drug cartels to extend its corruptive influence in urban areas dominated by illegal alien populations.
Tancredo says some of these small cities have become hostile and dangerous places for legitimate law enforcement officials. Valdemar agrees, saying the sophisticated technique being employed in the U.S. was “invented in Mexico.”
Valdemar, the grandson of legal Mexican immigrants and now a consultant to law enforcement agencies across the country on gang activity, explains how the operations work.
“In the typical scenario, a wealthy Mexican immigrant opens a business in a small town,” he says. “It could be a very nice Mexican restaurant. He’s well-dressed, speaks English, seemingly a real gentleman. He gets involved in the community. His business welcomes police officers with discounts. He makes friends with city officials and other businessmen. No one has any idea where his money comes from - the Mexican drug cartels.”
Valdemar says the agent of the cartels often sets up other businesses - including the sale of cheap used tires and used autos. These businesses are used almost exclusively as fronts for laundering money.
Then he begins targeting political power in the town. When election time rolls around, Valdemar says, he sponsors - directly or indirectly - a number of candidates for the city council with the express purpose of winning a majority of seats for his handpicked operatives. Some of the candidates are simply in place to level baseless accusations against incumbents, while others keep above the fray, positioning themselves for victory.
As soon as they take power, the new majority fires the city attorney and names a replacement. Often the second city official to go is the city manager. Both of these moves are designed to cover up the illicit activities that will follow.
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Mr. American DudeNov 15th, 2007 - 21:13:14
God I love Tom Tancredo. He has the balls to tell the truth.
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