[Waitone]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20030118-9999_7m18border.html


Mexican troops stray over border


By Dwight Daniels
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

January 18, 2003

A detachment of Mexican soldiers wearing black ski masks and carrying automatic rifles was confronted by U.S. Border Patrol agents Thursday after the Mexicans strayed into U.S territory.

The Mexicans left the area without the encounter escalating into violence or a diplomatic furor after a soldier told the agents that his unit was part of a special drug-interdiction team, U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Ben Bauman said.

The Mexicans were first encountered about dusk Thursday near Tecate in an area known to be frequented by drug traffickers.

An agent had become suspicious of potential illegal activity when he spotted boot tracks some 30 feet into U.S. territory near a barbed-wire fence marking the border, Bauman said.

The agent followed the tracks until he spotted about a dozen uniformed men with rifles taking cover in a brushy area just across the border in Mexico.

When other agents arrived, the Americans confronted the Mexicans, who told the agents that the unit was part of a drug-interdiction team of the Mexican army, Bauman said.

Agents pointed out that the soldiers' footprints indicated they had been in the United States.

The Border Patrol agents reported what had occurred when they returned to headquarters.

Officials contacted Mexican authorities and confirmed that the soldiers encountered were indeed part of a special army unit, according to Bauman.

"The whole situation illustrates the potential for danger on the border," Bauman said.

[wingman]

that his unit was part of a special drug-interdiction team,"

How about "drug smuggling protection
team".:rolleyes:

[Gordon]

I'm all for militarizing border but since Mex army was forthcoming, I'll give these guys benefit of doubt that they were doing what they said they were.:scrutiny:

[Art Eatman]

Jumped the fence, went thirty feet in, looked around, went back. What's the Big Deal?

Heck, one time I came to realize I had driven a half-mile into Mexico without knowing it. Followed a jeep trail down through a salt-cedar thicket. Didn't know the Rio Grande was plumb dry in that reach of the river. (due south of Sierra Blanca, Texas; back in 1973) Turned around quick, went home!

:), Art

[para.2]

Art, the big deal is, <rant engaged> they were members of a foreign military, knowingly entering sovereign US territory. Unless you think they didn't notice that chain link fence they climbed, marking the border. That (incursion) is something the Pakistanis loudly protest, regarding US forces in active pursuit of AlQaeda/Taliban forces, so why do we just accept it when it comes from south of our border?
As regards your adventure into Old Mexico, You didn't cross any fences/markers, didyou? And what do you suppose would have happened to you if you had been intercepted by Federales, or similar, while there? I wonder if you would be here ,writing on this board, would still be in jail there, or would be in a hole in the desert somewhere. <rant off>

[Gordon]

Yeah Art, They would have thrown you in the Calaboose, taken your jeep and pistol whipped you with your guns. This "sensitivity" crap is a one way street! :cuss:

[Art Eatman]

This particular group (and I'm not talking about other groups, or the sins thereof) came in a very little distance and went back. That seems to me to be a bit different from being well past the border and acting in a hostile manner. I'm not saying these guys were in the right; I'm saying it's just no big deal.

Maybe it's an unknown to many, but quite a of our law-folks pretty much cross the border as they feel like it, if they think they can get away with it. Not particularly looking for trouble; just looking for sign, for tracks...

There is an old railroad grade from near El Paso to Columbus, NM. It's right along the border fence for quite a few miles. I once drove it, and stopped briefly "to check my rear tire". I saw tracks parallel to the fence on both sides. In numerous places there were trails across the border. No telling who made all this "sign"; our law, their law, smugglers...

For folks who live directly along the border, it's sort of a mythical creature. Kinfolks on both sides, hiking country on both sides. Lots of absolutely innocent cross-traffic, aside from smugglers. Heck, upriver from Presidio, there are Mexicans whose mailboxes are on this side of the river. Deliveries to local ranchers and others, twice a week.

:), Art

[wingman]

For folks who live directly along the border, it's sort of a mythical creature. Kinfolks on both sides, hiking country on both sides. Lots of absolutely innocent cross-traffic, aside from smugglers. Heck, upriver from Presidio, there are Mexicans whose mailboxes are on this side of the river. Deliveries to local ranchers and others, twice a week."


Art, as a long time resident of southtexas, border and central I love
this idea and time but thanks to the "new
world" it's gone. time to get tough.!!!

[fallingblock]

along the railroad grade which Art speaks of. When I worked for the BLM in the early eighties the folks on both sides used to wander back and forth...some for innocent purposes and some a bit suspect. I suppose with the changing times it may be time to toughen the border a bit:confused:

[4v50 Gary]

Read "I'm Frank Hamer." I think Hamer was told to work a stretch of land alone and he hooked up with his opposites on the Mexican side to fight the smugglers. We should have better cooperation.

[Art Eatman]

Gary, you're right. However, between Fox' "all your border are belong to us" policy, and drug-money corruption, there's no way it can be easy--if possible at all.

Mexico has a lot of good, honest people at all levels. Unfortunately, it also has too many corrupt people in high position, both politically and in their military. Even they, themselves often don't know who is which. How can we?

The waffling and wussying going on in the White House doesn't at all help matters.

Art