No, our guys did not engage the drug runners in a highly one-sided soccer game. Actually, police officers from various local, state, and federal agencies pursued a pickup to the Rio Grande near Abram, Texas. By the time officers relocated the vehicle, the occupants were out and were paddling across the river toward Mexico, apparently to retrieve Marijuana and transport it back across the river, to the pickup so that it could be taken to points North.
As Border Patrol agents stood around the pickup, several (six) shots were fired FROM THE MEXICAN BANK OF THE RIO GRANDE. Bear in mind that no US lawmen could cross the river to pursue the drug runners, and there were no Mexican policemen to apprehend the criminals on THAT side. So, really, it was not necessary to fire at the US officers. Well, the US officers, now numbering, well, several, opened fire with assault rifles, shotguns, and handguns, and between all of them fired approximately 394 rounds into the crowd across the way. Needless to say, further gunfire from that side did not occur. Some wounded people turned up at Mexican clinics, apparently two DOA. The Mexican police, finally arriving on the scene, confiscated several bales of marijuana and dispatched a couple of rubber boats to the bottom of the Rio Grande, some inches lower than the top of the Rio Grande.
Now, you may ask, is THIS blogger upset with the much one-sided response of our troopers firing over three hundred rounds into the midst of the doper gang that had only fired SIX shots at the policemen? Not all. In fact, I believe that this type of response will discourage the criminals from violating international law by firing across the border into the United States of Texas, I mean of America. I believe that, since the US government has not seen fit to SECURE OUR BORDER, then it is only natural that policemen (who are not trained to be, and should not be expected to be, soldiers) should take extraordinary means and tactics to let it be known that they will not be shot down by the Mexican thugs like those criminals are doing to their own policemen and soldiers.
The only disturbing aspect of this affair is that it appears that Mexican authorities are wanting the United States to discipline the various officers involved in this incident. By the way, two Texas game wardens were assaulted in the darkness just prior to the gunfire by two or more Mexicans throwing large rocks. No, not gravel, but rocks weighing a pound or more. The game wardens were treated at a hospital for their injuries. The Mexican government cannot control its border, and cannot even control its interior. But they want the United States to chastise American officers for defending our border and attempting to thwart smugglers. Does anyone see something wrong with this picture? Mexico is losing (or has lost) its "War On Drugs." The War On Drugs has become in reality a war for the very survival of that nation. Shame on our own government for refusing to call it what it is, a Mexican civil war, and for not taking action to stop the war from crossing the Rio Bravo. Shame on our government for refusing to bring military forces to bear on the invasion that is still happening on our borders. Shame on our government for leaving civilian police agencies to stand as our only defense when our borders are being over-run and our officers are facing well-armed, well-funded criminals, and occasional confrontations with the Mexican police or armed forces.
No, I am not upset with our policemen. I am glad they are alive at the end of the shift. Two Mexican citizens died, others were seriously injured, and that is a shame. Yet they all made the decision to attempt to ILLEGALLY cross the border to ILLEGALLY transport ILLEGAL drugs and whatever else into this nation. I commend our police, at all levels, for having the courage and the character to stand and do their job, and even take on a military function, to defend our borders when the "Government" has taken precious little action at all to accomplish the same purpose.
Now, our Government IS doing "something." I hear rumours that two more "drone" aircraft MAY be sent to the southern border (patrolling from Texas to California!) and also, as you recall, Ms. Napolitano wants to fund drug treatment programs on the US side. She reasons with less customers, there will be less reason to smuggle dope into the United States. Of course, the money will be sent to border towns. Does she really think the majority of drugs are STOPPING at the border? Well, for me, I prefer the action that our armed forces, I mean our local, state, and federal police are forced to take in the absence of any direct response from DC. No, the shootout will not stop all drug smuggling and illegal border crossing, but now there are at least TWO Mexican criminals who will no longer be taking part in those activities.
No comments:
Post a Comment