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Narcos hit BUSES!
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!

PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Even places which people deem safe are not:

Lake Chapala

During the mid-morning hours of 29 November, an American citizen living in the Lake Chapala area of Jalisco was murdered outside his home during an apparent robbery attempt. Lake Chapala, a popular retirement community located 30 miles south of Guadalajara, is home to approximately 18,000 American citizens.

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/embassy-messages.html
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!

PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:31 pm    Post subject: Pay Heed to Warnings! Reply with quote

Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens from U.S. Embassy Mexico City� Veracruz OCTOBER 11 2011

In recent months, the state of Veracruz has seen an increase in violence among rival criminal organizations. In response, the Government of Mexico has sent additional military and federal police to the state and recently announced the start of an operation called �Veracruz Seguro� that will be carried out by Federal and State security forces and focus on combating organized crime.



Based on the increased activity, the U.S. Embassy advises all American citizens to exercise caution and remain vigilant when traveling in the State of Veracruz. Due to the unpredictable and fluid nature of organized crime-related violence, keep in mind that serious crime can occur at any place and at any time without warning. American citizens are reminded to be conscious of their surroundings, maintain a high level of self-awareness, and report any suspicious activity immediately to Mexican authorities.

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_emergency_messages/emergency-message-for-u.s.-citizens-from-u.s.-embassy-mexico-city-veracruz

The US Embassy warned US citizens about the increase in narco violence well before the attack which left 3 Americans dead.
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!

PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 2:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

More info about the bus attacks:

Early in the morning of December 22, several vehicles, including three ordinary passenger buses, were attacked with gunfire in northern Veracruz state, resulting in several deaths. One of these buses was traveling on Highway 105 between the municipalities of Panuco and Tempoal.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City reminds American citizens to exercise caution and remain vigilant when traveling in the State of Veracruz. American citizens residing in, visiting, or traveling through the northern portion of Veracruz that borders Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi should maintain a heightened sense of alert. Americans in this area should monitor local news and information to stay informed about situations that could affect their security. The Embassy also reminds American citizens to avoid intercity road travel at night.

http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/eacs_emergency_messages/bus-attacks-in-northern-veracruz.html
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Tretyakovskii



Joined: 14 Aug 2009
Posts: 462
Location: Cancun, Mexico

PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 7:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've always shrugged off State Dept warnings which, so far as I'm aware, only relate to foreign countries and their problems with violence and crime. If they were issuing warnings for the territory of the U.S. they would be busy indeed, with such things as-

"Citizens are warned of deteriorating security conditions associated with the holiday season. Those traveling in north Texas in particular are warned to be vigilent and avoid anyone seen in costumes resembling those of Santa Claus or his helpers. In a small village near the Dallas metroplex six people were gunned down in their home, Saturday, by a man posing as Santa Claus. Such incidents can be expected to continue until inroads are made on level of violence that prevails in the country at this time. In the meantime, remain alert."
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!

PostPosted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tretyakovskii wrote:
I've always shrugged off State Dept warnings which, so far as I'm aware, only relate to foreign countries and their problems with violence and crime. If they were issuing warnings for the territory of the U.S. they would be busy indeed, with such things as-

"Citizens are warned of deteriorating security conditions associated with the holiday season. Those traveling in north Texas in particular are warned to be vigilent and avoid anyone seen in costumes resembling those of Santa Claus or his helpers. In a small village near the Dallas metroplex six people were gunned down in their home, Saturday, by a man posing as Santa Claus. Such incidents can be expected to continue until inroads are made on level of violence that prevails in the country at this time. In the meantime, remain alert."


Why compare apples to oranges?

A incident of domestic violence (horrific though it was) does not even begin to compare with the drug war violence in Mexico on a daily basis. With over 50,000 dead and 10,000 listed as "missing" (dead-no bodies found as in the vats of acid and mass graves being used by the narcoinsurgentes) the death toll in Mexico is on par with a country engaged in all-out civil war.
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Tretyakovskii



Joined: 14 Aug 2009
Posts: 462
Location: Cancun, Mexico

PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 12:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, start looking at the total number of people murdered each year in the U.S., and the numbers can easily compete with the numbers you gave for Mexico.

Here's the official, U.S. Government figure for 2007- 18,361 dead; add just a few years of that and you can easily get to Mexico's numbers, such as those you mentioned.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm

We're so used to killings in the U.S. that we hardly ever stop to think about what it adds up to, over time. It's far worse than the average annual of deaths suffered by U.S. troops during the ten years of the Vietnam War.

You really don't have to leave the country, to get killed.
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!

PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 12:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tretyakovskii wrote:
Well, start looking at the total number of people murdered each year in the U.S., and the numbers can easily compete with the numbers you gave for Mexico.

Here's the official, U.S. Government figure for 2007- 18,361 dead; add just a few years of that and you can easily get to Mexico's numbers, such as those you mentioned.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm

We're so used to killings in the U.S. that we hardly ever stop to think about what it adds up to, over time. It's far worse than the average annual of deaths suffered by U.S. troops during the ten years of the Vietnam War.

You really don't have to leave the country, to get killed.


The US population is over 3 times that of Mexico.

And the drug war death toll is just that, it does not include all the other murders committed in Mexico.

The intentional homicide rates per 100,000 inhabitants for 2010 (latest year I could find statistics) are as follows:

Mexico: 18 per 100,000 inhabitants

USA: 4.8 per 100,000 inhabitants

So, as the stats bear out (and in fact, Mexico is not counting all the people who are listed as missing but are in fact dead from the drug WAR, Mexico�s murder rate is even higher than the published one) Mexico has a MURDER rate MORE than THREE times higher than in the USA. So you are far more likely to be killed in Mexico than in the USA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

From this website the estimated homicide rate in Mexico for 2010 was 23 which is 4.8 times HIGHER than the homicide rate in the USA.

http://blog.diegovalle.net/2011/12/homicides-in-mexico-2010.html

As anybody can see from the extensive graphs, charts and info, there are in fact MANY major Mexican cities with a murder rate near or greater than 50 per 100,000 including: Nuevo Laredo, Cuernavaca, Durango, Acapulco, Tijuana, Mazatlan and Chihuahua with a horrific murder rate of well over 100 muders per 100,000 and Cd. Juarez is the MOST dangerous city in the WORLD with a rate of 275 per 100,000.

In the USA even the worst criminals aren�t hanging bodies from overpases and throwing severed heads into nightclubs. Or chucking grenades into public celebrations. Soldiers don�t shoot to kill at families in their cars too afraid to stop at a checkpoint for fear those "soldiers" might very well be narcoinsurgentes. Journalists are not being killed in the US for simply reporting. The fear in Mexico is real. The drug war is real. The raging gun battles in broad daylight in major Mexican cities are real. The fact is the Mexican govt has failed to stop crime, narcoinsurgents run rampant and most Mexicans live in fear.
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EFLeducator



Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tretyakovskii wrote:
"Citizens are warned of deteriorating security conditions associated with the holiday season. Those traveling in north Texas in particular are warned to be vigilent and avoid anyone seen in costumes resembling those of Santa Claus or his helpers.


Wow. Comparing a guy who may have killed his family because he lost his home and filed for bankruptcy to an all out drug war in Mexico is....nevermind. Rolling Eyes

I drove from Plano, Texas to Louisville, Kentucky for Thanksgiving in a rental. It was a 13 hour drive. I would not even consider taking that kind of a road trip in Mexico in a rental car because of the drug war.
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EFLeducator



Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 2:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Prof.Gringo wrote:
In the USA even the worst criminals aren�t hanging bodies from overpases and throwing severed heads into nightclubs. Or chucking grenades into public celebrations. Soldiers don�t shoot to kill at families in their cars too afraid to stop at a checkpoint for fear those "soldiers" might very well be narcoinsurgentes. Journalists are not being killed in the US for simply reporting. The fear in Mexico is real. The drug war is real. The raging gun battles in broad daylight in major Mexican cities are real.


Sad facts about my beautiful Mexico..but true. When I drove from Texas to Kentucky for Thanksgiving last month, there were no checkpoints on the highway nor grenades being thrown into public celebrations. May that day hasten when the PRI regains control of Mexico in 2012.
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EFLeducator



Joined: 16 Dec 2011
Posts: 595
Location: NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 2:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tretyakovskii wrote:
We're so used to killings in the U.S.


Yeah but NOT because of a drug war.

Not because of gangs taking people off of buses and no one ever hearing from them again.

Not from hand grenades being thrown into growds in public celebrations.
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Guy Courchesne



Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City

PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tretyakovskii wrote:
I've always shrugged off State Dept warnings which, so far as I'm aware, only relate to foreign countries and their problems with violence and crime. If they were issuing warnings for the territory of the U.S. they would be busy indeed, with such things as-

"Citizens are warned of deteriorating security conditions associated with the holiday season. Those traveling in north Texas in particular are warned to be vigilent and avoid anyone seen in costumes resembling those of Santa Claus or his helpers. In a small village near the Dallas metroplex six people were gunned down in their home, Saturday, by a man posing as Santa Claus. Such incidents can be expected to continue until inroads are made on level of violence that prevails in the country at this time. In the meantime, remain alert."


Other countries put up warnings for travel to the US as the State department does for their citizens...standard fare really. Nothing so specific as the terrible incident you put up though.

Canada warns about street crime and riots in hotel and entertainment districts in the US and in major US cities, and in particular in Florida where many Canadians go. Passport theft is highlighted as a big concern. I guess there's a big demand in the US for Canadian passports.

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=308000

The UK focuses more on the threat of random terror attacks in the US. For regular street crime, they offer this generic advice:

Quote:
Do not leave your door open at any time.
Avoid wearing expensive jewellery and carrying valuable items in run down areas.
Do not sleep in your car by the roadside or in rest areas.
Avoid leaving items on display in cars.
Try to stay on main roads and use well-lit car parks.
If hit from behind while driving, indicate to the other driver to follow you to a public place and call 911 for Police help.


http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/united-states

And I'm sure the Canadians and Americans say the same thing about the UK. I've never had trouble in the US. For embassy warnings anywhere you nod, take note, then move on.


Last edited by Guy Courchesne on Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:23 am; edited 2 times in total
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Guy Courchesne



Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City

PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

EFLeducator wrote:
Tretyakovskii wrote:
We're so used to killings in the U.S.


Yeah but NOT because of a drug war.



Why else then?
Quote:

I drove from Plano, Texas to Louisville, Kentucky for Thanksgiving in a rental.


If you were a UK or Canadian citizen, then you'd have been taking a big risk if you followed embassy advice. You're lucky you weren't killed or worse.
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Prof.Gringo



Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!

PostPosted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

EFLeducator wrote:
Tretyakovskii wrote:
We're so used to killings in the U.S.


Yeah but NOT because of a drug war.

Not because of gangs taking people off of buses and no one ever hearing from them again.

Not from hand grenades being thrown into growds in public celebrations.


All very true.

Where I grew up, the gangs have really gone away in many areas and calm has returned to the streets.

Looks like the drug war is just getting started in Mexico... Let�s see what 2012 has in store Question
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