I'm sure that if the poor Mexicans had an open border and dual-citizenship with the USA, that this sort of violence would be a thing of the past...

By MARK WALSH, Associated Press Writer Mark Walsh, Associated Press Writer – Sat Mar 27, 4:29 am ET

MONTERREY, Mexico – The decapitated body of the police chief of a northern Mexico town and the body of his brother were found inside the chief's patrol truck Friday, authorities said. Hours earlier, gunmen killed a deputy police chief and his bodyguard in another part of Mexico's north.

The body of Heriberto Cerda, the police chief in Agualeguas, was found on the bed of a patrol pickup truck, which was left on a dirt road in the nearby town of General Trevino. His head was on his lap, said a spokesman for Nuevo Leon state prosecutors who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case.

The body of the chief's brother, Jesus Cerda, was found inside the truck, the official said. He didn't say how Jesus Cerda was killed.

Nuevo Leon state secretary general Javier Trevino told reporters that Cerda and his brother had been reported missing Thursday.

The windshield and driver's door of the patrol car had "C.D.G.," an acronym for the Gulf drug cartel, written in blood, photos showed.

The border state of Nuevo Leon, where Agualeguas and General Trevino are located, has seen an upsurge in violence that authorities say is the result of a turf battle between the Gulf cartel and the Zetas, the cartel's former hit men.

The slayings came a day after Mexican marines on patrol in the Nuevo Leon town of Cerralvo came under fire after ordering a convoy of gunmen traveling in six vehicles to stop. Six of the assailants were killed.

Nearly 18,000 people have died in drug-related violence since President Felipe Calderon launched an assault on cartels after taking office in December 2006.

In the northern state of Sonora, gunmen in a pickup truck fatally shot the deputy police chief and his bodyguard in the city of Nogales, which sits across the border from the Arizona city of the same name, authorities said Friday.

Sonora state police said gunmen opened fire on the victims with Kalashnikov rifles Thursday night.

Late Friday, gunmen opened fired on a hotel in downtown Ciudad Juarez where federal agents stay, killing one and wounding two, authorities said.

Enrique Torres, a spokesman for Chihuahua state police, said the assailants shot into the hotel's restaurant. Hours earlier, a state investigator was shot to death in a residential area, Torres said.

Ciudad Juarez, which is across the border from El Paso, Texas, is the most violent city in Mexico.

Then again, if we simply complete our border fencing, and send some of our military down there to help their Gov. help rid their country of these cartels. I do not think for one moment that opening our borders and granting dual citizenship would solve one thing. We already have policies on crossing our borders and becoming a legal citizen, they don't give a ****!! They all started their relationship with our country by Breaking The LAW. I will say I don't understand why our Gov. has not done more to help our neighbors to the south, considering we seem to have the time, money and energy to help other countries a world away! But not one whose border we share,makes no sense.

Most of what's going on makes no sense--I mean, we practically invaded Columbia over cartel-related drug issues in the 1980's

Big, we're definitely living in a time where absolutely nothing makes sense. And I'm afraid if more folks don't actively involved we will no longer recognize the very country we've made so great. Are there things that our country's done that I'm ashamed of...yes. But I think on the whole,there is no other nation that has done as much for so many others. Its much like marriage I suppose, you have to put up with the bad to truly enjoy the very good! We just seem to be in a time where the bad consistently outweigh the good. And Common sense is on a never ending vacation.

^(actively get involved)

well said.

'active involvement' can begin at many levels.

I know of at least one other person here (other than myself) who holds an elected position.

Though my 'spot' is 90% politically non-partisan, there have been 2-3 times during my tenure where common-sense played a role...lol

public office is easier than it sounds.

AMNESTY NOW!

^ that's been done.

I'm going to Guadalajara week after next on business. Guad is in the central part of Mexico and hasn't been subject to State Dept alerts that have affected the northern border cities. I've been there several times and have never felt endangered. Since I have to stay over a weekend, I'm thinking of having my wife fly down to join me. As much as I've travelled professionally, rarely have I ever had her accompany me or join me where I'm doing business. The colonial downtown area is cool, and there are tours to the town of Tequila, not far away, and Tlaquepaque has a lot of arts and crafts. I'm just hoping she doesn't get worried if I tell her to not wear her good jewelry down there. IMHO it's probably just a good precaution not to be too flashy when out and about down there.

My company does do business with contractors with factories in Monterrey though and I've been getting some requests to go to those plants. I'm gonna tell those folks, thanks but no thanks on that. Some folks here have expressed the sentiment that one must have something they deem worth dying for to really be alive? Well, a stinking job isn't one of those things.

Guadalajara

Crime & Safety Report

Americas - Mexico

February 23 2010

Overall Crime and Safety Situation

Guadalajara is the second largest city in Mexico and, following multiple drug cartel assassinations and grenade attacks targeting the local police, the security environment has not improved over the past year. Although none of the drug cartel violence has directly targeted American citizens, several gun battles involving the use of AK-47 automatic rifles and grenades have been waged within close proximity of areas frequented by Americans.

Guadalajara has issues of serious concern, such as a large drug trade, corruption of low ranking law enforcement officers and a slow rate of investigation, prosecution, and conviction once a complaint has been filed. Though U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara relies on Mexican government statistics to identify trends, it should be noted that crime is under reported and is believed to be a significant problem in Guadalajara.

http://guadalajara.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=114132 

^ Thanks for the post of that article. I hadn't seen it in my searches on the State Dept site. Looks like there's been some escalation of crime and violence in Guad in the last year or so. I'm still ok with going there, but not with the northern border towns. There's a pretty large American expat community down there too. Nonetheless, it's wise to exercise common sense precautions when down there.

Be safe!

^Your concern is appreciated. I was probably at worse risk when I was visiting mfg businesses in Compton at the heighth of the crack wars in the mid 80's. As long as you left before night fell you were ok.

don't put your family at any risk

My solution to these issues...

make Mexico our 51st state and clean up the bull****. No more illegal aliens, access to an abundant supply of natural resources, improve their quality of life and the benefits for both sides go on and on.

That would be inexpensive.

Big Chief, elected position, city council, mayor?

I am interested.

"..Open The Border.."

-----------------------

Up here, Taco Bell is already open until 3.

Wonder what its like in Neuevo Laredo these days..?? Almost didn't make it out of there one night about 20 years ago..

I always visit the tanning Salon and Sombrero store before heading to the border