What is going on in TJ is unbelievable, terrible. These suburbs of TJ expats in San Diego are about 20 minutes south of where I live. Possibly some have made it has far north as Jamul, where I am, about 15 miles north of the border. Eastlake is more like 5 miles north of the border. A new toll road extends to the border, making this part of the county more accessible. What's going on just south of San Diego is appalling. Kidnapping children for ransom, and frequently killing or mutilating them is obviously bad enough. But one hears other equally horrible stories. Dreadful crimes against women and children where they are taken and trafficked into the sex industry. Killing children and adults so that there bodies can be used to transport drugs back into the US. You can't discount these things when the stories that make it into the papers are of 5000 (!) killed nationwide in the drug wars, and hundreds in TJ with decapitation and torture, and innocent victims, such as children, routine. I've never been much of a traveller to Mexico as are some of my colleagues, including the intrepid Professor Schwarzchild, are. But there is simply no way I would consider driving south of the border now, let alone taking my kids or wife there. I suppose if I won a trip direct to Cabo or something, I might do that. But otherwise, forget it.
This is a good resource site. Also listen here. Check out this map. Oh man. Check this out. The interactive map allows you to see where decapitated bodies were found, where bodies dropped into industrial drums of acid so they could dissolve (and left outside of a seafood restaurant? "A "narco-message" was also left. It warned, "This is what will happen to 'The Engineer' and the people who run with him'. We will make pozole out of you." " Alrighty then; there's a traditional Mexican dish I won't be enjoying any time soon), where minors or police were killed, and so on. Videos of crime scenes (not graphic that I have seen, but some of them might be.) Part of what is going on is that one cartel is trying to take over the actual retail trade in drugs on the TJ streets, itself apparently quite a large market. In all seriousness, KPBS and the TJ news station involved have really done a great job and an important public service with this website.
should we double-down on enforcement, or just legalize the drug trade?
Posted by: Ed | December 09, 2008 at 10:18 AM
The drug war along with gay marriage is one of those issues where I have to admit I'm stumped. Legalizing drugs would reduce crime and increase drug usage. Both are quite harmful. I guess it's another solution to try out in Oregon or wherever. Then consider what the recreational drug industry would look like, like Indian Casinos Inc on, well, drugs. Plenty of cash to throw at politicians. Or we could let the feds sell drugs to our barely legal kids. That would be swell. I don't know what to do.
Posted by: Tom Smith | December 09, 2008 at 11:02 AM