US Closes Consulate After Mexico Border Gun Fights

[Flaneur]

Source: Associated Press

The Associated Press
Friday, February 26, 2010; 9:54 AM

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico -- The United States has temporarily closed its consular office in the Mexican border city of Reynosa, across from McAllen, Texas, after gunbattles with drug gangs rocked the area this week.

Four suspected cartel gunmen were killed Thursday outside the nearby city of Matamoros after they attacked an army patrol on a highway, Mexico's Defense Department reported.

The department also announced that a series of clashes on Tuesday farther west along the border killed six gunmen and one soldier. Ten soldiers and a police officer were wounded.

The U.S. consulate in Matamoros posted a message on its Web site advising U.S. citizens to be aware of the recent violence.

"The U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros has restricted the travel of American officials to Reynosa until further notice," read to the statement, dated Wednesday. "The Consulate General also has temporarily closed the Reynosa Consular Agency until further notice."



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/26/AR2010022602511.html

[Flaneur]

1. Probably a bit of an overreaction, but...

the prohibition-related violence in Mexico is quite intense, if localized.

Ten or 20 or 30 people are being killed everyday.

Human rights complaints against the Mexican military topped 1,900 last year.

The death toll since Calderon sent in the military against the narcos is over 17,000.

Compare with Afghanistan and Iraq.

[ixion]

2. Simple Solution: End the stupid drug 'war'

problem solved.

[Flaneur]

3. There was a conference making that point in Mexico City this week.

"Mexico Conference Calls for New Direction in Drug Policy, Says Prohibition Has Failed"
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/622/mexico_drug_conference_cuphid_prohibition_fail_winds_change

But:

"Legalization: US, Mexico Officials Just Say No"
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/622/US_Mexico_no_drug_legalization_says_kerlikowske