Juarez' Mayor: Running the Most Dangerous City in the Americas

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Jose Reyes Ferriz, mayor of the Mexican border city of Juarez, presides over what may be the western hemisphere's most dangerous town, certainly the hardest hit by Mexico's drug-war terror. Since the start of last year, Juarez has seen almost 2,000 drug-related murders. Reyes this month requested thousands of federal army soldiers to rein in the violence, which has subsided for the moment — giving him a chance to rebuild Juarez's corrupt police force. He talked with TIME's Tim Padgett this week about his police reform, drug-cartel death threats against him and comparisons of Juarez to Baghdad.

TIME: Why have the cartels issued death threats against you?

REYES: Organized crime here had infiltrated our police so deeply, and it was clear they didn't want a clean-up of the force. But it had to be done, and no other Mexican city has done such a widespread clean-up. And that caused the threats. Four weeks ago on a Sunday came the first public threat against me; but it was something we knew had been brewing for a while so I wasn't completely surprised or upset. I knew the consequences of the decisions I'd made.

The violence is a consequence of the Mexican political class's utter neglect of law enforcement, especially when the country was ruled by your party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Will that finally change now?

That's a key issue. As a country we really underestimated the value of police and looked down on police. That forced the issues we have now, particularly in Juarez. Our police department barely grew the past 15 years: we should have a force of 4,000 officers, but we have only 1,600. We knew about police corruption but as a society did nothing to force the clean-up of our department. Now it's become extremely difficult to do. It cost the lives of 50 people in city government last year, including two police directors.

Right now, with the military on your streets, things seem safer. But the soldiers can only stay so long. Can you really build a new, larger, reliable police force before they leave?

Yes, we can. About half [of the old force] are now out; most didn't pass the new "confidence exam." Our agreement with the federal government is that we'll have 3,000 new officers in place by the end of the year. So we're starting a huge recruitment effort. They'll have to have high school diplomas — we're hoping about 500 will be college graduates. They're going to be some of the best paid in the country and eligible for subsidized housing for the first time.

Are Washington and Mexico City focusing enough attention and resources under the anti-drug Merida Initiative toward local police reform?

The U.S. needs to assure that enough money is put toward making the police forces along the border sufficiently robust — precisely so they'll be the first line of defense for the U.S., just as it's equally important that U.S. border police be better able to stop the flow of illegal weapons into Mexico. The U.S. also needs to be able to share more information with Mexico — like intelligence about [u.S.-based] gangs like Barrio Azteca, whose members are used by the Mexican drug cartels to commit so much of the violence here.

Do you feel the Obama Administration, which this week announced plans to bring more federal agents to the border in large part for those purposes, is doing more than previous U.S. administrations to help your efforts?

Oh yeah. The previous Administration clearly felt that the problems with Mexico could be solved by building a big wall between the two countries to keep the problems here out of the U.S. That is clearly wrong, and President Obama recognizes that. His efforts are directed at the proper solutions for Mexico's problems — which at the end of the day become problems for the U.S. If we don't attack those problems now, the violence will escalate and go into the U.S. And [Mexican] President [Felipe] Calderon, of course, has been very involved in the effort to find solutions to Juarez's problems. (See pictures of the "Great Wall of America.")

What was this city like before the soldiers arrived?

People didn't want to go outside. Most people stayed at home; most parents didn't want their kids to go to parties. Our city normally has vibrant night life, and that all but stopped for most of the past year.

How do you feel about the comparisons between Juarez and Baghdad?

Well, it was a situation where the numbers were there. The situation was there. We tried to keep information flowing to remind people that of the 1,600 [killed last year] only 30 were innocent civilians. More recently, as we've put pressure on the police, we're seeing what we call "opportunistic" crimes like kidnapping and extortion.

There have been reports that you and your family live part of each week now across the border in El Paso, that U.S. law enforcement has helped screen your bodyguards.

I now have six bodyguards who carry assault weapons instead of guns. But I live in Juarez, I work in Juarez, I sleep in Juarez. [The reports] were fueled by El Paso Mayor John Cook, a good friend of mine, who said when the threats started that if the [Juarez] mayor wants to come to El Paso we'll provide security for him. I told him I didn't need it.

Despite its current troubles, Juarez has a history of leading change in Mexico. The Mexican Revolution and maquiladora assembly plants began here; Juarez was the first city to elect an opposition mayor during the PRI's rule. Will it be the first to create a model police force?

I think that is what's happening. We, of course, didn't choose these circumstances that are forcing us to do it.

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1888111,00.html

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

[tglea 0]

Maybe your response wouldn't be so comical if you had to send your loved one to that city for a visa!!!!

[웃 910]

Maybe your response wouldn't be so comical if you had to send your loved one to that city for a visa!!!!

"We tried to keep information flowing to remind people that of the 1,600 [killed last year] only 30 were innocent civilians."

My wife lived in Juarez from June of 2008 until the end of December 2008. She never had an issue. She rode the city busses to and fro, went shopping, went to school, went out, and never encountered a problem. I visited her for 2 weeks in August 2008, and everyday we walked to the mall, we went to the park and went on jogs, we went to the flea market, rode the city busses, walked to Wallmart every few days, walked up and down busy streets; I didn't notice anything unusual. We did see a parked army truck with approximately 15 soldiers with machine guns at the same spot on the same corner every single day. But that was it. I live near Detroit and Detroit is a much scarier city than Juarez. Only a very select few number of people in Juarez are involved with the drug cartels, and they are ruthless, but only against each other.

30/1600 = 0.018% so it is pretty much a fact that the drug cartel violence going on is strictly between major drug players.

Edited March 27, 2009 by Confucian

[peejay 327]

Maybe your response wouldn't be so comical if you had to send your loved one to that city for a visa!!!!

"We tried to keep information flowing to remind people that of the 1,600 [killed last year] only 30 were innocent civilians."

My wife lived in Juarez from June of 2008 until the end of December 2008. She never had an issue. She rode the city busses to and fro, went shopping, went to school, went out, and never encountered a problem. I visited her for 2 weeks in August 2008, and everyday we walked to the mall, we went to the park and went on jogs, we went to the flea market, rode the city busses, walked to Wallmart every few days, walked up and down busy streets; I didn't notice anything unusual. We did see a parked army truck with approximately 15 soldiers with machine guns at the same spot on the same corner every single day. But that was it. I live near Detroit and Detroit is a much scarier city than Juarez. Only a very select few number of people in Juarez are involved with the drug cartels, and they are ruthless, but only against each other.

30/1600 = 0.018% so it is pretty much a fact that the drug cartel violence going on is strictly between major drug players.

Oh, I get what you are saying. Kind of like the US Mafia. If you aren't in the line of fire you have nothing to worry about?

Sure, OK. But once the government is undermined to the point of collapse, what then? At some point everyone (including the USA) has a horse in the race. What goes on in Mexico needs to stay in Mexico. I don't do dope, hire illegal aliens, or traffic in guns...and I want no blowback in my town because those that do.

What is going on in Mexico is not benign.

[HAL 9000 96]

Maybe your response wouldn't be so comical if you had to send your loved one to that city for a visa!!!!

"We tried to keep information flowing to remind people that of the 1,600 [killed last year] only 30 were innocent civilians."

My wife lived in Juarez from June of 2008 until the end of December 2008. She never had an issue. She rode the city busses to and fro, went shopping, went to school, went out, and never encountered a problem. I visited her for 2 weeks in August 2008, and everyday we walked to the mall, we went to the park and went on jogs, we went to the flea market, rode the city busses, walked to Wallmart every few days, walked up and down busy streets; I didn't notice anything unusual. We did see a parked army truck with approximately 15 soldiers with machine guns at the same spot on the same corner every single day. But that was it. I live near Detroit and Detroit is a much scarier city than Juarez. Only a very select few number of people in Juarez are involved with the drug cartels, and they are ruthless, but only against each other.

30/1600 = 0.018% so it is pretty much a fact that the drug cartel violence going on is strictly between major drug players.

Oh, I get what you are saying. Kind of like the US Mafia. If you aren't in the line of fire you have nothing to worry about?

Sure, OK. But once the government is undermined to the point of collapse, what then? At some point everyone (including the USA) has a horse in the race. What goes on in Mexico needs to stay in Mexico. I don't do dope, hire illegal aliens, or traffic in guns...and I want no blowback in my town because those that do.

What is going on in Mexico is not benign.

Actually, I'll take Dennis Blair's assessment over yours. Published yesterday, jeez.

US Intelligence Chief: Mexico Will Not Become 'Failed State'

By Gary Thomas

Washington

26 March 2009

The top U.S. intelligence officer says Mexico remains stable, despite the recent surge in violence spawned by the illegal drug trade.

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Dennis Blair, also dismisses North Korea's claim that its upcoming space launch is for peaceful purposes.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dennis Blair downplayed the notion that drug violence has brought Mexico to the brink of collapse. Rather, Blair says the escalating violence is a testament to the Mexican government's efforts to pressure the illegal drug cartels.

"Mexico is in no danger of becoming a failed state. [Let me] repeat that. Mexico is in no danger of becoming a failed state. The violence we see now is the result of Mexico taking action against the drug cartels. So it is in fact the result of positive moves, which the Mexican government has taken to break the baneful influence that many of these cartels have had on many aspects of Mexican government and Mexican life," Blair said.

The Obama administration has dispatched some 500 additional federal agents to the U.S.-Mexico border to stop the violence from spilling over into the United States.

Blair, a retired U.S. Navy admiral who has been in his job about two months, covered a wide range of topics during a lengthy session with reporters at DNI headquarters just outside Washington.

Blair said North Korea is using its upcoming space launch as a cover for its intercontinental ballistic missile program.

"I think that North Korea is attempting to demonstrate an ICBM [i.e., intercontinental ballistic missile] capability through a space launch. And that's what they're up to - trying to use the rationale of a legitimate space launch for a missile, which is in its foundation a military missile," he said.

Blair said that there are still massive food shortages in North Korea and that the government hoards much of it for the ruling elite. But, he added, do not look for the government there to collapse anytime soon.

"I don't think that the lack of food is a threat to that regime. The authoritarian techniques of the Kim [Jong Il] dynasty are pretty effective in using both rewards and fear to maintain personal control," Blair said.

The Obama administration is engaged in a review of Afghan and Pakistan strategy. The director of national intelligence, who is a key participant in the review, would not comment directly on a new strategy for the region. But, when asked about the prospect of negotiating with the Taliban, Blair indicated that some local Taliban elements might be approachable.

"There are Taliban and there are Taliban. I think that some of them have fairly local issues, which have to be handled locally. Some of them have pretty aggressive hardcore ideas, which are unlikely to ever be compatible with American interests. I think what the intelligence side of this is to understand with a degree of granularity [i.e., detail] the motivations and factions within that broad group that goes under 'Taliban' and deal with them in a way that advances our interests," Blair said

The Obama administration is expected to unveil its strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday.

[peejay 327]

Maybe your response wouldn't be so comical if you had to send your loved one to that city for a visa!!!!

"We tried to keep information flowing to remind people that of the 1,600 [killed last year] only 30 were innocent civilians."

My wife lived in Juarez from June of 2008 until the end of December 2008. She never had an issue. She rode the city busses to and fro, went shopping, went to school, went out, and never encountered a problem. I visited her for 2 weeks in August 2008, and everyday we walked to the mall, we went to the park and went on jogs, we went to the flea market, rode the city busses, walked to Wallmart every few days, walked up and down busy streets; I didn't notice anything unusual. We did see a parked army truck with approximately 15 soldiers with machine guns at the same spot on the same corner every single day. But that was it. I live near Detroit and Detroit is a much scarier city than Juarez. Only a very select few number of people in Juarez are involved with the drug cartels, and they are ruthless, but only against each other.

30/1600 = 0.018% so it is pretty much a fact that the drug cartel violence going on is strictly between major drug players.

Oh, I get what you are saying. Kind of like the US Mafia. If you aren't in the line of fire you have nothing to worry about?

Sure, OK. But once the government is undermined to the point of collapse, what then? At some point everyone (including the USA) has a horse in the race. What goes on in Mexico needs to stay in Mexico. I don't do dope, hire illegal aliens, or traffic in guns...and I want no blowback in my town because those that do.

What is going on in Mexico is not benign.

Actually, I'll take Dennis Blair's assessment over yours. Published yesterday, jeez.

US Intelligence Chief: Mexico Will Not Become 'Failed State'

It won't become a failed state because it already is one.

[HAL 9000 96]

Maybe your response wouldn't be so comical if you had to send your loved one to that city for a visa!!!!

"We tried to keep information flowing to remind people that of the 1,600 [killed last year] only 30 were innocent civilians."

My wife lived in Juarez from June of 2008 until the end of December 2008. She never had an issue. She rode the city busses to and fro, went shopping, went to school, went out, and never encountered a problem. I visited her for 2 weeks in August 2008, and everyday we walked to the mall, we went to the park and went on jogs, we went to the flea market, rode the city busses, walked to Wallmart every few days, walked up and down busy streets; I didn't notice anything unusual. We did see a parked army truck with approximately 15 soldiers with machine guns at the same spot on the same corner every single day. But that was it. I live near Detroit and Detroit is a much scarier city than Juarez. Only a very select few number of people in Juarez are involved with the drug cartels, and they are ruthless, but only against each other.

30/1600 = 0.018% so it is pretty much a fact that the drug cartel violence going on is strictly between major drug players.

Oh, I get what you are saying. Kind of like the US Mafia. If you aren't in the line of fire you have nothing to worry about?

Sure, OK. But once the government is undermined to the point of collapse, what then? At some point everyone (including the USA) has a horse in the race. What goes on in Mexico needs to stay in Mexico. I don't do dope, hire illegal aliens, or traffic in guns...and I want no blowback in my town because those that do.

What is going on in Mexico is not benign.

Actually, I'll take Dennis Blair's assessment over yours. Published yesterday, jeez.

US Intelligence Chief: Mexico Will Not Become 'Failed State'

It won't become a failed state because it already is one.

According to your hysterics, so is the USA.

[peejay 327]

Maybe your response wouldn't be so comical if you had to send your loved one to that city for a visa!!!!

"We tried to keep information flowing to remind people that of the 1,600 [killed last year] only 30 were innocent civilians."

My wife lived in Juarez from June of 2008 until the end of December 2008. She never had an issue. She rode the city busses to and fro, went shopping, went to school, went out, and never encountered a problem. I visited her for 2 weeks in August 2008, and everyday we walked to the mall, we went to the park and went on jogs, we went to the flea market, rode the city busses, walked to Wallmart every few days, walked up and down busy streets; I didn't notice anything unusual. We did see a parked army truck with approximately 15 soldiers with machine guns at the same spot on the same corner every single day. But that was it. I live near Detroit and Detroit is a much scarier city than Juarez. Only a very select few number of people in Juarez are involved with the drug cartels, and they are ruthless, but only against each other.

30/1600 = 0.018% so it is pretty much a fact that the drug cartel violence going on is strictly between major drug players.

Oh, I get what you are saying. Kind of like the US Mafia. If you aren't in the line of fire you have nothing to worry about?

Sure, OK. But once the government is undermined to the point of collapse, what then? At some point everyone (including the USA) has a horse in the race. What goes on in Mexico needs to stay in Mexico. I don't do dope, hire illegal aliens, or traffic in guns...and I want no blowback in my town because those that do.

What is going on in Mexico is not benign.

Actually, I'll take Dennis Blair's assessment over yours. Published yesterday, jeez.

US Intelligence Chief: Mexico Will Not Become 'Failed State'

It won't become a failed state because it already is one.

According to your hysterics, so is the USA.

No, but it is well on its way. You are what you eat. "Nuff said.

[HAL 9000 96]

Maybe your response wouldn't be so comical if you had to send your loved one to that city for a visa!!!!

"We tried to keep information flowing to remind people that of the 1,600 [killed last year] only 30 were innocent civilians."

My wife lived in Juarez from June of 2008 until the end of December 2008. She never had an issue. She rode the city busses to and fro, went shopping, went to school, went out, and never encountered a problem. I visited her for 2 weeks in August 2008, and everyday we walked to the mall, we went to the park and went on jogs, we went to the flea market, rode the city busses, walked to Wallmart every few days, walked up and down busy streets; I didn't notice anything unusual. We did see a parked army truck with approximately 15 soldiers with machine guns at the same spot on the same corner every single day. But that was it. I live near Detroit and Detroit is a much scarier city than Juarez. Only a very select few number of people in Juarez are involved with the drug cartels, and they are ruthless, but only against each other.

30/1600 = 0.018% so it is pretty much a fact that the drug cartel violence going on is strictly between major drug players.

Oh, I get what you are saying. Kind of like the US Mafia. If you aren't in the line of fire you have nothing to worry about?

Sure, OK. But once the government is undermined to the point of collapse, what then? At some point everyone (including the USA) has a horse in the race. What goes on in Mexico needs to stay in Mexico. I don't do dope, hire illegal aliens, or traffic in guns...and I want no blowback in my town because those that do.

What is going on in Mexico is not benign.

Actually, I'll take Dennis Blair's assessment over yours. Published yesterday, jeez.

US Intelligence Chief: Mexico Will Not Become 'Failed State'

It won't become a failed state because it already is one.

According to your hysterics, so is the USA.

No, but it is well on its way. You are what you eat. "Nuff said.

Yeah, you sure are.