Border lawmakers fear drug-terrorism link
Members of Congress are raising the alarm that war-like conditions on the Mexican border could lead to Mexican drug cartels helping terrorists attack the U.S.
"The Under/Over on Tunnel Detection"
Security Debrief contributor Michael Braun, former DEA Chief of Operations, spoke with Tom Temin and Jane Norris of Federal News Radio to discuss the recent push for additional tunnel detection technology.
U.S. must step up "Merida Initiative" to Support Mexico's fight against drug cartels on the border
The “Merida Initiative,” as we know it, does not provide the level of funding necessary for Mexico to succeed in its battle against the cartels. If we don’t pay more into it now, we’re certain to pay far more for our mistake later.
The Administration's Mixed Signals on Immigration Policy
By federal government standards, there has been a veritable frenzy of activity related to immigration at the Department of Homeland Security. With three high-profile appointments in the last couple of weeks, the Administration has sent mixed signals about the direction it intends to take on immigration policy from a public perspective, as well as how it intends to manage the effort from an internal perspective. Oddly, the mainstream media has missed or ignored these developments.
Don't Turn a Blind Eye to Mexico
While President Obama is having lunch today with the political leadership of our closest neighbor and ally, Canada, the situation to our south has continued to deteriorate.
Trying to scan 100 percent of cargo is a bad idea — from a security perspecitve as well as economic perspective
The congressional mandate to scan 100 percent of all cargo coming into the United States has questionable security value and will assuredly disrupt the global supply chain process, further undermining American commerce, jobs and the economy at a time when the U.S. economy is already struggling.
We cannot turn our backs on Mexico's Fight with Drug Lords
Our Nation has spent over one-half trillion dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past five years—and rightfully so. However, our country plans on spending a mere $400 million dollars a year for the next few years to help Mexico take on the cartels and win back their country. Our Central American neighbors are losing the fight against these same syndicates as many of these thugs flee south to evade the pressure from Mexican security forces.
Mexico's drug war: Mistrust bedevils war on Mexican drug cartels
Security Debrief contributor Michael Braun, former chief of DEA operations, discusses the spiraling drug violence in Mexico, and how it is impacting American communities, with the LA Time’s Josh Meyer.
Amsterdam Rethinks Drug Legalization
Last week’s 75th Anniversary of the end of Prohibition and the repeal of the 18th Amendment provided an easy platform for the Legalization Lobby to make its case for ending drug prohibition. They argue that federal regulatory schemes outlawing drugs are not effective in combating dangerous use and actually exacerbate abuse and drug-related crimes. Such arguments are usually conveniently selective, leaving out the progress being made in battling drug addiction, not to mention the misery it inflicts. Another favorite is to cite lax drug laws in Europe, but those cities are actually reversing course due to the onslaught of drug-related crime.
Mexico's Successful National Security Policies
The violence in Mexico, as difficult as it may be to comprehend at this point, is a product of President Calderon’s successful national security policies, and the success of his security forces. The Mexican drug cartels were on the verge of becoming more powerful than the government itself. Mexico, if it aggressively and relentlessly presses the attack against the cartels, will ultimately experience a level of peace that Colombia is experiencing today.
