America's Mexican Border Wars

[Tosh Plumlee]

Jan; To some degree this INTEL field report from Mexican Intel should be considered in reference to your question.
It would be wise to cross check the money flow from this cartel into "cut-out", companies here in the United States and then follow the money into the political assets of some of our elected officials. In doing that, I feel you will find your answer:

Summation:

Mexican INTEL Classified Report obtained by U.S. Military; ANBPENT- Task Force N-7, Ft Bliss, Texas. El Paso, Texas

"... MEXICO: POLITICS AND NARCO-CORRUPTION IN MICHOACAN

Summary
Mexican organized crime group La Familia was planning to interfere in the country's upcoming July 5 national legislative elections, according to a May 29 news report that cites sources in Mexican military intelligence and the federal attorney general's office (PGR). This case shows the deeply rooted nature of public corruption in Mexico, and the reach of the country's criminal organizations.

Analysis


The Mexican organized crime group La Familia had planned to interfere in the country's upcoming July 5 national legislative elections, Mexican media reported May 29, citing sources in Mexican military intelligence and the federal attorney general's office (PGR). La Familia's plan reportedly included financing candidates, coercing voters, and transporting voters to polling places in some of the largest cities in the state of Michoacan, including the state capital, Morelia, as well as Uruapan, Lazaro Cardenas, Patzcuaro, Apatzingan, and Zitacuaro.

The revelation comes just a few days after a joint operation between PGR and Mexican military forces that resulted in the arrest of more than 30 mayors, judges, and other public officials in Michoacan on charges of corruption and links to La Familia. In those cases -- the largest single roundup of public officials during the last few years of the country's cartel war -- the government charges that La Familia members have used their connections with corrupt public officials to secure a safe operating environment for drug trafficking, retail drug distribution, extortion, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.


That a criminal organization such as La Familia had a large number of Mexican public officials on its payroll is not surprising. Even so, this incident illuminates the deeply rooted and widespread nature of organized crime-related official corruption in Mexico.

The extent of organized crime in Mexico ensures that there is no shortage of corrupt officials countrywide. While President Felipe Calderon has pursued a number of anti-corruption initiatives over the last few years targeting such officials, the decision to launch this most recent operation in Michoacan certainly appears like a politically motivated attempt to remind voters ahead of the July 5 legislative elections that Calderon's National Action Party (PAN) remains tough on crime and corruption. So far, the plan seems to have worked: Although the Michoacan state governor and his left-wing opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) initially expressed outrage that the arrests took place without the governor's prior knowledge, the PRD leadership eventually backtracked. It clarified that the PRD does support the country's national counternarcotics strategy.

While La Familia is undeniably a powerful player in Michoacan state -- and maintains a considerable presence in the neighboring states of Jalisco, Guerrero, and Mexico -- STRATFOR does not see the group as significant national or international criminal power. Nonetheless, this case appears to shows that even smaller organized crime groups have not only the intent but the ability to corrupt public officials at the federal level. Considering La Familia is just one of many criminal groups in Mexico, it is not a stretch to assume that other groups -- such as the much larger Sinaloa and Gulf cartels, the Beltran Leyva organization and Los Zetas -- are pursuing even more robust plans to make the country's national elections work in their favor.

Indeed, this case provides a reminder of the deep-seated nature of corruption in Mexico: Two and half years after Calderon took office and began cracking down on drug trafficking organizations and corruption, the problems are nowhere near going away. And this case shows that corruption goes far beyond just the police, instead touched all kinds of government officials. Ultimately, fully resolving the problem will involve a long-term effort to address more fundamental issues, including the country's political culture. ...".

Also, If your really interested you might want to hear the interview found on the Meria Heller Show;
(not sure if this link will work.., please advise:

http://www.meria.net/wp-content/uploads/...050609.mp3