Violence Rises Along U.S.-Mexico Border, Again

The crackdown of recent months along the U.S.-Mexico border, intended as public relations by our government, has returned back to normal:

Efforts to stop smuggling and illegal immigration have led to increased violence along the southern border of the United States as criminal organizations seek to continue their operations, Michael Chertoff, the secretary of Department of Homeland Security, said today.

Don't fooled by the White House line (regurgitated by the NY Times) that the violence is a result of the increased efforts by them to seal the border. The reality is that illegal trafficking along the Mexican border is out of control. The drugs gangs in Mexico are fighting among each to see who will control the surging trade into the United States. While we focus on the lesser threat of al Qaeda coming into the country, drugs are flooding into the United States:

He said some smuggling organizations had established observation posts on hill tops within the United States to spot law enforcement activities, including watching National Guard units deployed along the border. Some police units were reluctant to turn their lights on at night because of the observers and armed smugglers.