[Cynus]

Obama lays out US-Mexico border strategy

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/pol ... out_1.html

The Obama administration today is laying out a sweeping plan to deal with the deteriorating security at the border with Mexico, which is being breached by drug cartel gangs bringing horrific violence to the United States.
...
Among the highlights of the plan, the administration says it will spend $700 million this year to work in collaboration with Mexico on law enforcement and courts. Also the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Treasury are increasing personnel and efforts directed at the Southwest border. And the White House it is renewing the commitment to reduce the demand for illegal drugs in the United States.

[wisconsin_cur]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/world/americas/30mexico.html?_r=1&hp

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'R')EYNOSA, Mexico — An army convoy on the hunt for traffickers rolled out of its base recently in this border town under the control of the Gulf Cartel — and an ominous voice crackled over a two-way radio frequency to announce just that. The voice, belonging to a cartel spy, then broadcast the soldiers’ route through the city, turn by turn, using the same military language as the soldiers.

Mexican Army soldiers on a night patrol in Reynosa. Drug cartels in Mexico bring in billions of dollars more than the government spends to defeat them.

“They’re following us,” Col. Juan José Gómez, who was monitoring the transmission from the front seat of an olive-green pickup truck, said with a shrug.

[wisconsin_cur]

Mexico: Corruption in the US part of the problem

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')n an exclusive interview with the BBC's John Simpson, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has warned that corruption among American officials may be making it harder to deal with drug-trafficking between Mexico and the US.

[Jotapay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', '[')url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7971335.stm]Mexico: Corruption in the US part of the problem[/url]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')n an exclusive interview with the BBC's John Simpson, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has warned that corruption among American officials may be making it harder to deal with drug-trafficking between Mexico and the US.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jotapay', 'F')ull-auto machine guns simply aren't available like that in the USA.

[eXpat]

Water cut off in Mexican capital
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')Mexico City officials have shut down a main pipeline providing fresh water to millions of residents because reserves have fallen to record low levels.

The closure, due to last 36 hours, will affect five million people, or a quarter of the city's population.

Unusually low rainfall last year and major leakage are blamed for leaving reservoirs less than half full.

Hundreds of water trucks have been deployed in the areas worst affected by the cuts.

The local government says it will carry out emergency repairs to the water supply network.

More than 50% of the water carried by the pipeline leaks out before it reaches its destination.

This is the third time the capital has faced such a drastic form of water rationing this year, the BBC's Stephen Gibbs in Mexico City reports.

[gnm]

Given the drought situation in southern CA and the recent rejection of water restrictions (wtf - where do they think they are going to magically get more water?!) They might be next for the unplanned shutdowns.

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE53803L20090409?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=22&sp=true

What a bunch of idiots. What arrogance. <whiny voice> "We don't want to reduce our water use so there's just going to be more"

Got news for ya CA, Ma natures gonna kick your ass.

-G

[eXpat]

Dry Taps in Mexico City: A Water Crisis Gets Worse
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he reek of unwashed toilets spilled into the street in the neighborhood of unpainted cinder block houses. Out on the main road, hundreds of residents banged plastic buckets and blocked the path of irate drivers while children scoured the surrounding area for government trucks. Finally, the impatient crowd launched into a high-pitched chant, repeating one word at fever pitch: "Water, Water, Water!"
About five million people, or a quarter of the population of Mexico City's urban sprawl, woke up Thursday with dry taps. The drought was caused by the biggest stoppage in the city's main reservoir system in recent years to ration its depleting supplies. Government officials hope this and four other stoppages will keep water flowing until the summer rainy season fills the basins back up. But they warn that the Mexican capital needs to seriously overhaul its water system to stop an unfathomable disaster in the future.

[Newfie]

I'm having a debate with my Wife over WHEN this mess will collapse and what to do about it. It seems I have not convinced her as much as I thought. What I need, perhaps, is something concrete that will wake her up to the threat. We live in center city Philadelphia and I'm worried about our ability to get out and go to our safe place. I wish I could convince her now.

So what about this idea. Is it not likely that Mexico will collapse before the US? Would that not be a good indicator of when to get out of Philadelphia? Or does anyone thing Mexico will linger on while we start to burn?

[Cynus]

Umm... swine flu.

[rangerone314]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jotapay', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', '[')url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7971335.stm]Mexico: Corruption in the US part of the problem[/url]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')n an exclusive interview with the BBC's John Simpson, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has warned that corruption among American officials may be making it harder to deal with drug-trafficking between Mexico and the US.

[rangerone314]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', 'D')oes it really matter if the grenades were bought on the streets or in the boardroom? The United States is the world's number one arms dealer by a large margin, and we are willing to profit from and to use what we make.

Somewhere along the way is a salesman pitching a congressman and a line worker justifying his job. All any one really needs to know is that the stuff fell off the back of a truck.

[OutOfGas]

When the oil revenue dries up TSHTF.

50 to 75 million Mexicans coming to the USA for President for life Obama's

food stamp and health care handouts.

Can't blame the Mexicans.

[OutOfGas]

The US gov. for not being serious in controlling the border.

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('OutOfGas', 'T')he US gov. for not being serious in controlling the border.