Sunday, March 29, 2009

Letting Cooler Heads Prevail

Just stumbled across some details regarding the recent wave of violence related to drug cartel activity in Mexico. According to reports, five human heads were found in ice chests under a ficus tree in the central Mexican state of Jalisco.

The grisly find was the latest indication of how intent the drug cartels are in upping the ante in their fight for supremacy amidst the Mexican government's crackdown on organized crime.

Each head was found in a separate ice chest beside a road leading to the city of Guadalajara. The tops of the ice chests were inscribed with messages, among them, one that threatened further violence.

"Like these, I am going to finish everyone," says one. Another said, "I'm going after you, Goyo (idiot)". A third said, "Here we go, Goyo."

The victims' eyes were taped shut and the heads had been severed only a few hours before they were discovered. The victims -- all of them men -- were estimated at 30 to 45 years of age. Municipal police said one of the heads appeared to belong to someone well known in the community.

And while we're on the subject-- I have to say I agree with Hillary Clinton in her assessment of the U.S. culpability in all this. It is primarily our insatiable demand for illegal drugs that feeds this illegal activity, and the associated violence it inflicts on our neighbors. And according to most sources, 9 out of 10 weapons used in the Mexican drug wars come from the U.S.-- all the more reason we should implement a complete ban on handguns and all assault-style weapons.

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