Terrorists in Mexico: That's not my label, it's U.S. government's. FROM DALLAS MORNING VIEWS BLOG

Terrorists in Mexico: That's not my label, it's U.S. government's: "
William Wechsler, the deputy assistant defense secretary for counternarcotics and global threats, testified before a congressional committee Tuesday. This was the same day that Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan published a letter in The Dallas Morning News rejecting the label of 'terrorists' for Mexico's drug cartels and instead comparing them to businessmen engaging in 'hostile takeovers.'


Wechsler appears to disagree. He says the United States is cooperating directly with the Mexican military in 'counter-narcoterrorism missions.' It's important to note that he uses nearly identical language to Sarukhan in describing the motive of drug cartels to maximize their profits. But he suggests that they're terrorists:

'Transnational criminal organizations, or TCOs, are becoming increasingly networked as
they form relationships with each other and at times with insurgent or terrorist groups. These relationships range from tactical, episodic interactions at one end of the spectrum, to full narcoterrorism on the other. This 'threat networking' also undermines legitimate institutions in ways that create opportunities for other threats. TCOs are increasingly diversifying into other forms of criminal activity in order to spread risk and maximize potential profit. In some regions, for example, drug trafficking TCOs also engage in kidnapping, armed robbery, extortion, financial crime and other activities.'

Without specifically mentioning Mexico in his conclusion, Wechsler describes almost all the conditions that exist in Mexico today -- including terrorism:

'The transnational illicit drug trade is a multi-faceted national security concern for the United
States. The drug trade is a powerful corrosive force that weakens the rule of law in affected
countries, preventing governments from effectively addressing other transnational threats, such
as terrorism, insurgency, organized crime, weapons trafficking, money laundering, human
trafficking, and piracy. Many of the global and regional terrorists who threaten interests of the
United States finance their activities with the proceeds from narcotics trafficking. The inability
of many nations to police themselves effectively and to work with their neighbors to ensure
regional security represents a challenge to global security. Extremists and international criminal
networks frequently exploit local geographical, political, or social conditions to establish safe
havens from which they can operate with impunity.'

On May 20, 2003, Assistant DEA administrator Steven Casteel stated that the biggest common denominator of the plurality of organizations on the State Departments list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations is that they fund themselves through drug trafficking. All we're asking is that the State Department do with Mexico's drug cartels what it did with the major armed groups in Colombia: put them on the terrorists list.


Here's what Casteel said in congressional testimony -- like Sarukhan, comparing them to businessmen but also saying that they commit terrorism too:

'Criminals, by exploiting advances in technology, finance, communications, and transportation in pursuit of their illegal endeavors, have become criminal entrepreneurs. Perhaps the most alarming aspect of this 'entrepreneurial' style of crime is the intricate manner in which drugs and terrorism may be intermingled. Not only is the proliferation of illegal drugs perceived as a danger, but the proceeds from the sale of drugs provides a ready source for funding for other criminal activities, including terrorism.'

SOURCE