South Of The Border, Down Mexico Way.......

I have been watching with some interest the news coming out of Mexico. While I do not in the slightest way wish to demean the law enforcement officers who are putting their lives on the line in fighting the drug cartels (on both sides of the border) nor the importance of their efforts, I think that it is time that the media and politicians just need to step back and take a very deep breath before reporting anymore or even commenting on the subject.

I have no doubts that things are bad down there. Any time that weapons, poverty, corruption, and crime get together it is a volatile mix and it seems that narcotic dealers are particularly violent and ruthless in taking care of business. But to hear the talking heads on the tube, you would think that it is the end of the world down there.

Folks, we have been through this before. Mexico has always been a tough place, a place of violence and crime. In the early 1900's it was racked by civil war, military dictatorships and U.S. intervention. The U.S. captured and occupied the port of Veracruz in 1914 to cut off supplies to and destabilize the government of Victoriano Huerta. Then in 1916 units of the U.S. Army went into Mexico on a "punitive" expedition, after "Pancho" Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico killing 18 American citizens. Another factor in the decision to cross the border was the state government of Texas complaining about the lawlessness on the border. This intervention lasted for close to a year.

About this time, there also another ingredient that added to the troubles on the border. In 1919 America went dry as the results of national prohibition. This led to opportunities for people to make large amounts of illegal money by smuggling in alcohol for a very thirsty American population. Many a Contrabandista, with a tow sack full of bottles on his back and a pistol in his pocket crossed the border to tangle with the border patrol and local law enforcement officers on the American side. These were desperate men who would not hesitate to shoot if they were challenged. There were countless numbers of shoot outs between the Border Patrol and the Contrabandistas in the 1920's and early 1930's

So you see, history once more repeats it's self. Perhaps the weapons might be a bit better, the people a bit more ruthless, but again, we HAVE seen this kind of situation before. The world survived, the border wasn't converted into a mass grave yard or a D.M.Z. But here's a thought for you. Without the constant Greek chorus of the media, the situation might not be as bad as it is, or perhaps not as bad as WE think it is.

It does makes you think and wonder however.