Mexico says 8 killed in attack on prison convoy

[ben_jenne]

Source: AzCentral.com

MEXICO CITY - In the latest of a series of brazen, drug-related attacks, gunmen ambushed a prisoner transfer convoy in western Mexico, killing eight officers in a failed attempt to free a high-level cartel member, police said Sunday.

At least 20 assailants fired in three separate gun barrages Saturday on the dwindling column of vehicles as it raced between an airport and prison in the Pacific coast state of Nayarit, police said.

Police called it a well-planned attack intended to free Jeronimo Gamez, cousin of Arturo Beltran Leyva, the reputed leader of one of Mexico's most powerful cartels. Gamez was arrested in Mexico City in January and was being moved to a prison in Nayarit's capital city, Tepic.

Police officials said the fallen officers "fulfilled their duty with professionalism, commitment and dedication."

The attack came three days after a bold assault on an army patrol in the nearby state of Guerrero, where 15 assailants and one soldier died, and just a day after officials reported 12 people dead across the state of Michoacan, including three who were beheaded.



Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/04/19/20090419mexicoattack.html

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Wow, talk about a quagmire. And most of the South American leaders are imploring Obama for more resources to combat the drug trade.

[bemildred]

1. How is this different, fundamentally, from Pakistan or Afghanistan?

The only difference is that we could end it in a stroke by legalizing drugs. Yes, I mean all drugs. You don't want black markets, you have to allow legal markets. I'm always amazed (not really) at how all the free-market bozos clam up when this subject arises.

[ben_jenne]

2. One big difference

Is that this is happening less than a few hours drive from where I live, and it's spilling into Phoenix all the time.

As to legalizing drugs, lots of luck with that, just ain't politically viable and I think you know it. Besides, the criminals will always find something to deal in, right now it's drugs and humans. But a funny thing is starting to happen. Since the big tax increase, if you know where to look, cigarettes from south of the border are starting to become more available here in Arizona.

[bemildred]

3. That is a difference, a geographical one.

I know no such thing. Drugs laws change all the time. You make my case with the cigarettes. If you want to attack black markets, you have to allow legal markets, at a price that makes bootlegging not worth the trouble. The alternative is the police state apparatus which we now have, and the rise of well-funded black marketers and drug gangs. People who blather on about the magic of the market ought to think further about the consequences of that dogma.