May 16, 2008
The War Inside America (John Feehery)
The New York Times had an interesting story on the front page today called “Immigration and Gang Violence Propel Crusade,” about the bubbling war between African-American gangs and Mexican gangs in Los Angeles. Apparently, members of the African-American community are asking the police to start checking on the immigration status of suspected Mexican gang members.
According to the Justice Department’s National Drug Intelligence Center report, “Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations control the transportation and wholesale distribution of most illicit drugs in every area of the country except the Northeast; their influence is increasing. Their established overland transportation routes and entrenched distribution networks enable them to supply primary and secondary drug markets throughout these regions. They have gained a greater share of the drug market by forcing African American street gangs out of midlevel drug distribution and relegating them to lower-level retail distribution.”
The fight for control of the drug trade in the United States is exacerbating tensions between African-Americans and Mexicans throughout the country. According to the Office of National Drug Control policy, many Mexican gang members are trying to blend into the local community of Mexican immigrants, from which they develop a marketing plan to distribute drugs. This is especially prevalent in the Midwest.
When Americans talk about their anger at illegal immigration, they are talking about this festering problem. It will behoove both John McCain and Barack Obama to focus on it during this upcoming campaign.
McCain needs to talk about it because he is still viewed with suspicion by those who hate illegal immigration. He has talked about sealing the borders first, and for many, that is a good start. But cracking down on these drug-dealing gangs is important for two reasons. First, they endanger the personal security of many Americans, more so than Osama bin Laden. Second, they deal the drugs that infect thousands of people in the heartland of America. The crystal meth epidemic has destroyed not just individual lives, but entire small towns. McCain needs to be proactive in protecting America from these purveyors of death.
For Obama, the challenge is finding a way to bring the African-American and Mexican communities together. The battle for supremacy in the drug trade has ramifications for the wider communities. When somebody from the Crips kills somebody from the Latin Kings, and vice versa, it creates even more distrust from those communities. Obama needs to take a bold stand against drug distribution by the criminal elements of both communities. So far, he has talked only about the audacity of hope. He needs to start talking about the failure of dope.
While Washington is focused on the war on terror, there is another war going on inside America. It is a war to control the drug distribution, and it is having a real impact on the American people. Police departments across the country are fighting this battle, but they are often out-gunned and out-manned. The next president should not neglect this war inside America.
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No one inside the beltway gives a damn. That would include the current three presidential candidates who are also Washington insiders.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — May 16, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Now you're talking John! You have spoken (or wrote) the truth. This is but one aspect of "God's children" having their way with the playground.
Comment by Igor R. — May 16, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
This war inside America, or any war, is about money. This posting touches on several aspects of the fight-gangs, drugs, illegal immigration, but misses the role of the underground economy that feeds these fights.
There is Mexican immigrants are not all in gangs, but there "underground" payments for picking crops or brick laying and landscaping are overlooked by most. The Mexican mafia-La eMe, "the M," has grown more and more powerful over the last decade. Mexican gangs like the Mongols have been pushed out of areas by the "M." not just African American gangs. More crime focus should be put on these "underground" activities, rather than the waste of money prosecutions of a hollywood wiretapper or a DC Madam. Yes, punish the wrong doers, but think of where our society really needs help. Our priorities are misplaced. Let's go after the big guys and bring them down.
Where are the Tom Deweys and Elliot Nesses?
Neither McCain nor Obama have said anything about crime.
Comment by Claire "No Pockets" Hoffman — May 16, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
Please don't exclude Hillary Clinton when discussing how each candidate will handle the immigration issue.
Barack still must accept responsibility for the caucus cheating that went on and further explain how it is acceptable to only count Florida and Michigan when and only when their votes won't mean anything.
Comment by Alessandro Machi — May 17, 2008 @ 12:45 am
I think this story misses the mark. There was another report that in Texas the border guards have been instructed to check for citizenship in the midst of handling natural disasters - seriously. Anybody with a reasonable amount of common sense understands how this would completely impede the lifesaving process, and potentially imprison innocents too. "There's a hurricane coming!" - "Run, but don't forget your ID/passport!"
Plus, if the candidates were going to focus on the drug problem in the US, Osama does indeed have something to do with it - well at least his hiding place does… While the US essentially ignores Afghanistan, they have cultivated the most profitable and widely successful heroin business in recent history!
I'd also agree with Claire a tiny bit, increased drug trafficking is almost always due to poor economy. Bad economy = increased crime rates.
Comment by Heather — May 17, 2008 @ 1:19 am
Claire, Obama can't talk about crime because he is in the victim protection business, and his "victims" are anyone who doesn't follow the standard American or exceptional American path to success.
As for McCain, once you start excusing the illegal invaders because they are "God's children" why shouldn't that excuse apply to murderers and rapists? He does talk about evicting "God's children" who've sinned beyond their original border-crossing sin, but this deal about excusing some violations of the law because farmers in Arizona and Iowa need the law violated kinda leaves one with a guilty conscience if one chooses to go after other crimes.
Comment by Igor R. — May 17, 2008 @ 1:30 am
I have no knowledge of the gangs and mafia control that Claire does,
but believe the underground economy is the key to breaking their influence on the wars inside America.
Everyone needs a social security card (and Number) to work. Make them tamper proof and a quick scan by any employer would determine their eligibility to work.
c
Comment by J.F. Sebastian — May 18, 2008 @ 2:57 am
John;
You are forgetting the Former Pres. and his boys that brought in the drugs in the first place. You surely remember BCCI and the Bush family association with it in the 80s? If not here is a link;
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3333.htm
and here;
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/April2004/Fitrakis0417.htm
Now most of this can be found on teh web and why you didn't list the information shows me how dishonest you are John.
Comment by Mike Coleman — May 19, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Whomever is running this site. I have posted numerous post with links to articles to refute comments made by other poster and the posts are not coming up. I didn't profanity but I linked to other articles, what gives?
Comment by Mike Coleman — May 19, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
Some of the other aspects of illegal immigration are every bit as bad as the gang problems. McCain, are you paying attention?
http://projectusa.org/2008/05/18/biggest-immig-raid-ever-much-worse-than-you-think/
Comment by Igor R. — May 19, 2008 @ 5:59 pm