Mexico general says army not happy with law-enforcement role

[webfact]

Mexico general says army not happy with law-enforcement role 

 

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's top military officer said Thursday that the army is uncomfortable with the law-enforcement role it was given a decade ago when the government launched an offensive against drug cartels.

 

The defense secretary, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos, said the army's presence was supposed to be temporary while new police forces were built, but that hasn't happened.

 

Many local police in Mexico are corrupt, poorly trained or unreliable.

 

"We would love the police forces to do their job ... but they don't," Cienfuegos said.

 

"Ten years ago it was decided that the police should be rebuilt, and we still haven't seen that reconstruction," he said. "To sum it up, there are a large number of deaths that shouldn't be happening, there is a lack of commitment on the part of a lot of sectors. This isn't something that can be solved with bullets; it takes other measures and there hasn't been decisive action on budgets to make that happen."

 

The army has both been the target of attacks by criminals but also has been accused of killing unarmed suspected cartel gunmen.

 

Cienfuegos said at a year-end meeting that the army needs clearer rules to govern its work in supporting civilian law enforcement, like rules of engagement and the appropriate use of force. Congress has been considering legislation, but has not yet passed it.

 

"If you want us to go back to our bases, fine, I'll be the first to raise both my hands," Cienfuegos said. "We didn't ask to be here. We don't like it here. None of us here today went go to school to chase criminals."

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-12-09

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The defense secretary, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos, said the army's presence was supposed to be temporary while new police forces were built, but that hasn't happened.

Sounds familiar. 

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

This isn't something that can be solved with bullets; it takes other measures and there hasn't been decisive action on budgets to make that happen."

Ah yes bullets and budgets. Methinks the cheaper method is bullets. To governments of all stripes lets look at the cheaper method. 

[Junkyarddog]

The Army does not want to help with these matters.

The last time the mexican army was in a battle was at San Jacinto when Sam Houston took just seven minutes to win and capture General Santa Ana who had put on a privates uniform and was trying to run off through the bushes. And so Texas won her independence and became the Republic of Texas. That was some time ago. So if the Mexican military does not want to help with the drug problem was is it they want to do? Sit on their butts and drink tequila. Siesta?

[Mansell]

I was riding my Kawasaki down in Baja California four years ago. I saw the Mexican Marines going out at night to look for the drug dealers. I didn't envy them at all, an extremely dangerous job. They had complete body armor on with balaclavas and helmets. No identifying marks or ranks because the druggies would kill their families. Very heavily armed because the druggies all have the latest weapons. They had jeeps with heavy machine guns mounted. Check points on the main highway had sandbags and machine guns set up for all approaching traffic. This isn't what they were originally trained for in the Navy. These guys were not messing around as their lives were at stake.

[ksamuiguy]

Make Mexico a state.

Build the wall between Central America and Mexico.

 

[elgordo38]

On 12/9/2016 at 4:35 PM, Junkyarddog said:

The Army does not want to help with these matters.

The last time the mexican army was in a battle was at San Jacinto when Sam Houston took just seven minutes to win and capture General Santa Ana who had put on a privates uniform and was trying to run off through the bushes. And so Texas won her independence and became the Republic of Texas. That was some time ago. So if the Mexican military does not want to help with the drug problem was is it they want to do? Sit on their butts and drink tequila. Siesta?

Drugs into the US I guess you could call it payback. Santa Ana I believe died of old age in the US.