| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Mexican drug lord says cartels invincible |
| 2010-04-05 |
| The right-hand man of Mexico's most notorious drug boss says the country's war on the trade is futile. Ismael "el Mayo" Zambada, the right-hand man of Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, said in an interview the illicit business would never be brought down because millions of people were involved. Zambada says the supply of drugs will continue even if cartel bosses are caught or killed. He blamed the government for surging drug violence and said president Felipe Calderon was being duped by his advisers into thinking he was making progress. "One day I will decide to turn myself in to the government so they can shoot me ... they will shoot me and euphoria will break out. But at the end of days we'll all know that nothing changed," Zambada told the investigative news magazine Proceso. "Millions of people are wrapped up in the narco problem. How can they be overcome? For all the bosses jailed, dead or extradited their replacements are already there." Mounting drug violence in Mexico has killed 19,500 people since Mr Calderon launched an army-led attempt to crush the cartels after taking power in 2006. Arturo Beltran Leyva, a former ally turned rival of the Sinaloa cartel, died in a hail of gunfire in December as Mexican marines surrounded him in a luxury apartment complex. Analysts at the time hailed his death as a blow against the cartels, but the past three months in Mexico have been the most violent of Mr Calderon's rule with around 2,800 drug murders, including a rash of killings of children. Proceso, an influential magazine with a strong history of covering the drug war, said Zambada contacted it directly in February to set up an interview because he was interested in meeting Julio Scherer, the magazine's founder. Zambada, 62, one of Mexico's most wanted drug lords, has never been arrested despite a $5 million reward offered in the United States. |
| Posted by:lotp |
| #22 Lex, when I first read your comment, I thought it said "fireball"; then I thought it said "firehell." Both work. :-( |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2010-04-05 23:24 |
| #21 I cannot tell when people are stoned or drunk. But I'm pretty sure most people are not like me in this. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-04-05 23:20 |
| #20 Re. Mexico, failing state alert. "A firebell in the night," as TJ said about another burning issue 200 years ago |
| Posted by: lex 2010-04-05 22:53 |
| #19 more than likely you have been at work before with ppl who where stoned and you didn't know it I dunno, it shows. There's a consistent percentage of Rantburgers who constantly post under the influence. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-04-05 22:14 |
| #18 I keep thinking at some point the baby boomers are gonna retire and start smoking up, It's already started from what I've been reading, rjschwarz. Those baby boomers always were quick off the mark. ;-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-04-05 21:59 |
| #17 Hey generic drugs are just as good as regular prescriptions! /sarc |
| Posted by: Thrurt Barnsmell7160 2010-04-05 18:46 |
| #16 because its kitchen tested mom approved. |
| Posted by: Thrurt Barnsmell7160 2010-04-05 18:45 |
| #15 Just say No to cheap drugs |
| Posted by: lex 2010-04-05 18:42 |
| #14 with tamer pot you will just use more just likewith lite beer what's the point? |
| Posted by: chris 2010-04-05 18:41 |
| #13 "you might blow up a few stray cattle and prairie dogs" 's OK, john - we'll make more.™ ;-p |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2010-04-05 18:10 |
| #12 Close the border and mine it. O.K. maybe not a good idea you might blow up a few stray cattle and prairie dogs. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-04-05 18:00 |
| #11 Phuck that. Close the border. Put illegal immigrants found in the U.S. on expedited trial and deport them with a tracking microchip in them set to explode if they ever try to re-enter the United States. Make Marijuana legal, but do selective hybrid breeding to make it "tamer" pot like lite beer. Allow only a certain amount per customer. Thats how it is done. |
| Posted by: Elmusotle the Obscure5778 2010-04-05 17:54 |
| #10 Best thing we could do is promote the druglords to get into the Casino business and tame them the way the mob in Vegas was tamed. Did you start a little samplin when you turned 65, rj? |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2010-04-05 17:49 |
| #9 I keep thinking at some point the baby boomers are gonna retire and start smoking up, and trying the drugs they were too smart to try when they were young, figuring now that they are old what difference does it make. When that happens there will be a push for legalizing even some crazy stuff (Perhaps with a 65 age limit or something). Either way the problem with the drug lords will probably get worse. Best thing we could do is promote the druglords to get into the Casino business and tame them the way the mob in Vegas was tamed. That way they could (a) promote peace for their own profits (b) get Yankees to cross the borders to use the drugs rather than bring the drugs into the USA. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2010-04-05 17:26 |
| #8 more than likely you have been at work before with ppl who where stoned and you didn't know it.The reason they don't want marijuana legalized is that would take alot of profits out of the big drug companies who make drugs such as anti depressants and benzos. |
| Posted by: chris 2010-04-05 15:52 |
| #7 I've been watching the show Weeds trying to make up a decision. I don't smoke, however, But IMHO think half of the enticement that is so captivating about weed is all the juvenile excitement of sneaking around in order to get it and of course the profit. Nothing kills a buzz like easy availibility; ie imagine if weed was in the supermarket aisle right next to the cheap box wine.Only outlaws can have it so it's glam. |
| Posted by: Richelieu 2010-04-05 15:10 |
| #6 Meth, cocaine, heroin are dangerous drugs. Legally prescribed pain drugs are also a problem and can be as addictive as the above drugs. These need to be controlled within the U.S. and at the borders. I am not a marijuana user so I don't have a pony in the race but it seems that the criminal element is involved in the marijuana business--much like prohibition and alcohol. It does not seem like marijuana is in a class with heroin, pills, cocaine, or meth. I think this subject may have appeared here before but what do Rantburgers think about the legalization and taxing of marijuana? This would get a lot of the crime out of it. However, I'm not certain I would want to work with someone who is stoned or be on the road with stoned drivers. Legalization a good or bad idea? |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-04-05 14:40 |
| #5 johnQC: they are starting too grow alot of heroin inmmexico since parts of the country have a prime growing climate for the poppy plant. Also crystalmeth is starting too take over the bulk of the shipped drugs into the US |
| Posted by: chris 2010-04-05 13:19 |
| #4 Is the bulk of what these cartels are shipping into the U.S. marijuana and cocaine? Any heroin? |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-04-05 10:26 |
| #3 No one is invincible. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-04-05 10:18 |
| #2 He seems to make some sound observations. |
| Posted by: Gaz 2010-04-05 08:22 |
| #1 Matriach to Patriach : Catholic To : Muslim : Will Turn For : Better ! Make For Infrastructure : Betterment : Cartel : Reforms : More : Reform : Country : Stable !1 |
| Posted by: Doobah Goohah Gooke 2010-04-05 05:16 |