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By Juan Arturo Salinas | UniRadioInforma
Thursday, February 7, 2013

TIJUANA. - The travel warnings issued by the United States against cities like Tijuana and Mexicali could remain in place even for a couple more years, warned the consul general of the US in this border region, Andrew Erickson.

"The alert in a way, is a window of opportunity for tourism, which is when the alert is removed, Tijuana will be ready for tourists to return," he said.

For the American diplomat, Tijuana has seen a sensitive change in the situation from the events of just a few years ago.

"The security situation has improved for now, although it is necessary that we continue to emphasize that we still have a warning for visitors to Mexico that has changed. the alert still exists for Tijuana and Baja California. We are keeping a positive outlook but the alert remains in force, "he said.

Actions such as the discovery of narco-tunnels, show that law enforcement is working, said the representative of Washington in our city.

"This again shows that the narco-tunnels do not work because the Mexican authorities are finding these narco-tunnels before they are even used. That is something completely positive for me," he said.




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I think he is exactly right to keep the pressure on Mexico for achieving and maintaining a reduced level of violence. He points out the progress being made, but the January homicide numbers in TJ weren't good. Lot's of infighting among narco cells and between each other. The Consul General mentioned both Baja investment and tourism which I believe is the fist time they have been combined together in the discussion of a travel advisory. It looks like he's going to stand firm and let TJ and Baja prove they are worthy of the US Department of State signaling an "all clear" for US Citizens visiting and investing. Mexico was probably hoping since he was new here he would cut them some slack, but apparently not quite yet. He gave them some strokes and praise- which goes a long way down here. I'm with him 100% on this.

Mexico Security Memo: A New Conflict in Jalisco State


Read more: Mexico Security Memo: A New Conflict in Jalisco State | Stratfor


Mexico Security Memo: A New Conflict in Jalisco State | Stratfor

Originally Posted by DENNIS

Mexico Security Memo: A New Conflict in Jalisco State | Stratfor

Mexico Security Memo: A New Conflict in Jalisco State



In the newest battlefront in violent Jalisco state, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion has begun fighting its former ally Los Coroneles, an ally of the Sinaloa Federation, along with Sinaloa's allies the Knights Templar and the Gulf cartel. The Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion has become one of the larger organized crime networks in Mexico, with its operations spreading into several Mexican states. During the latter half of 2011 and through 2012, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion dominated criminal enterprises in Jalisco, defending Sinaloa Federation interests against incursions by rivals. The split is a significant blow to the Sinaloa Federation.

Like Los Coroneles, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion emerged from a Sinaloa faction led by Ignacio "El Nacho" Coronel Villarreal. The conflict between the two successor organizations strongly suggests the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion is a fully independent criminal organization. The new fighting has affected multiple regions of Jalisco state, including the eastern portion around Lake Chapala, the western half including Guadalajara and along the state's border with -- and into -- Michoacan state. Further complicating Jalisco state's cartel landscape, Gulf cartel gunmen have become active there, probably upon request of their ally the Knights Templar. The Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion also has been engaged in multiple turf wars with the Knights Templar since at least February 2012.
Feb. 5, 2013

Jalisco state, specifically the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, has long been a strategic base of operations for Mexican organized crime, serving as a transportation hub for drug traffickers. Mexican cartels also use the mountainous and rural areas of the state for the production of illegal drugs. Guadalajara remains critical to Sinaloa Federation operations, meaning Sinaloa's new conflict with the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion will likely continue either directly or through Sinaloa proxies.

The new conflict between Los Coroneles and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion raises the question of what role Los Zetas -- who inevitably will be drawn in -- will play. Jalisco state began experiencing escalated levels of violence as early as 2011, when Los Zetas began making inroads at the expense of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion at the latter's inception. Activity attributed to Los Zetas in Jalisco has been limited during the first month of 2013. What strategy the organization will take in light of the influx of rivals thus remains unclear.

Los Zetas could align with Los Coroneles, the Knights Templar and the Gulf cartel, although so far Los Zetas have remained aligned to a lesser criminal organization known as La Resistencia, which derived from the former Milenio cartel. More beneficial for Los Zetas would be aligning with the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion in efforts to keep out the numerous other cartels seeking a foothold in Jalisco. An alignment with the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion in Jalisco state would be a substantial blow to the Sinaloa Federation, Gulf cartel and Knights Templar, the principal rivals to Los Zetas in their strongholds in northeastern Mexico. Nothing, however, suggests an alignment between the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion and Los Zetas is imminent, though it is a possibility.

Whether Los Zetas continue to assault other criminal organizations in Jalisco state independently or whether they align with one of the other groups in the state, violence will likely continue in Jalisco and in neighboring Michoacan. Although an alignment would eliminate a separate conflict from the region, it would probably not reduce violence in Jalisco state since conflict between the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion and the Knights Templar, Gulf cartel, Los Coroneles and Sinaloa Federation would likely replace it. Should Los Zetas remain separate and resume fighting in Jalisco, violence will likely escalate.

now we have the next round of whack-a-mole contestants. This isn't good and these players won't stay put for long. Very bad for Mexico. They need to solve this before Mexico becomes one of those countries where people grow up their whole lives and never know peace or security. Legalize the drugs and be done with it. Enough dead already fighting the inevitable imho..

Originally Posted by Woooosh

Enough dead already fighting the inevitable imho..

Never enough of the bad guys dead. Pray for more.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

Never enough of the bad guys dead. Pray for more.

I agree but hope that I have time to duck in case they are all shooting at each other in my direction.

Originally Posted by el rosario

I agree but hope that I have time to duck in case they are all shooting at each other in my direction.

They aren't marksmen, that's for sure. A few years ago there was a shooting a couple houses away on a Sunday afternoon. I was amazed at how fast people can jump over a seawall and dive for cover. They were running and checking themselves for bullet holes at the same time. Freaky. Luckily the only person shot was the intended victim.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

They aren't marksmen, that's for sure.

That's why they prefer automatic weapons. Those and shotguns will make a blind man a sharpshooter.

NY Cops shoot 9 people trying to kill bad guy