Mexican troops cross border, briefly detain US Agent

[CaptainChewbacca]

Link

Mexican troops cross U.S. border, hold agent

Wed Aug 6, 2008 6:58pm EDT


(Reuters) - Mexican soldiers briefly held a U.S. Border Patrol agent at gunpoint in a remote stretch of the Arizona desert after they mistakenly strayed north across the border, authorities said on Wednesday.

Tucson sector Border Patrol spokesman Mike Scioli said four Mexican soldiers wearing desert camouflage and carrying weapons confronted the agent early on Sunday morning as he patrolled a border road in the Tohono O'Odham nation southwest of Tucson.

Scioli said the agent repeatedly identified himself in English and Spanish. After four minutes the soldiers lowered their weapons and crossed back in to Mexico on foot.

The stretch of desert is frequently crossed by human and drug smugglers from Mexico, and the border line in the area is not always clearly marked, Scioli said.

A spokesman for the U.S. State Department said the incursion had been brought to the attention of the Mexican government, and appeared to be accidental.

"Our understanding is that this encounter stemmed from a momentary misunderstanding as to the exact location of the U.S.-Mexican border," Gonzalo Gallegos said.

"We recognize that occasional incidents such as this can and do occur. But we take the misunderstanding seriously, as does the Government of Mexico."

Incursions by Mexican military personnel into the United States over the nearly 2,000-mile (3,200-km) southwest border are not uncommon. Scioli said 42 incidents had been reported since October 1 last year.

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; editing by Alan Elsner)

One 'mistake' I could understand, but 42 in under a year, in an era of GPS? How is this not an act of war or something?

[Jaevric]

I'd be interested in how often the reverse happens, and US troops enter Mexico "accidentally," before I made any comments. For that matter, I'm not sure that Mexico issues GPS systems to its troops at that level.

Besides, Mexico doesn't have anything we want, so I don't see any reason to declare war on them.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

Because the cost of conducting a military operation on Mexico of any scale, and transforming them into an overtly hostile nation right on our doorstep far outweighs the inconvenience of having to file the occasional complaint with the Mexican government about the occasional overzealousness of their border troops.

That would be the obvious first answer, I think.

[Solauren]

In some areas along the US - Mexico border, I can see not knowing where you are without a GPS as being a common occurance.

However, I think, if the US doens't do this that much, if at all, the US should start demanding that all Mexican military units deployed within say, 30 miles of the border, have GPS units.

Especially considering that most mexicans don't consider Texas and other territories originally captured from Mexico as US property.

I mean, 42 in a year sounds an awful lot like recon to me.

[Rogue 9]

In some areas along the US - Mexico border, I can see not knowing where you are without a GPS as being a common occurance.

However, I think, if the US doens't do this that much, if at all, the US should start demanding that all Mexican military units deployed within say, 30 miles of the border, have GPS units.

Especially considering that most mexicans don't consider Texas and other territories originally captured from Mexico as US property.

I mean, 42 in a year sounds an awful lot like recon to me.

The Mexican government is just not that crazy. They'd have to be completely out of their minds to intentionally conduct military recon with the intent of seizing U.S. territory.

[Coyote]

I may be wrong, but I have a feeling that the US doesn't mind the occassional Mexican Army raid if it means that some lowlife gets capped by an Army that is not answerable to the US population or Congress.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

I may be wrong, but I have a feeling that the US doesn't mind the occassional Mexican Army raid if it means that some lowlife gets capped by an Army that is not answerable to the US population or Congress.

Isn't there the problem of the Mexican army being actually under the pay of the drug cartels?

That aside, I don't think the Mexicans are that well equipped, even with regards to GPS.

[Big Phil]

In some areas along the US - Mexico border, I can see not knowing where you are without a GPS as being a common occurance.

However, I think, if the US doens't do this that much, if at all, the US should start demanding that all Mexican military units deployed within say, 30 miles of the border, have GPS units.

Especially considering that most mexicans don't consider Texas and other territories originally captured from Mexico as US property.

I mean, 42 in a year sounds an awful lot like recon to me.

Are you seriously suggesting that Mexico is planning to invade the United States? Did you play Fortress America while sniffing paint fumes or something?

[Darth Wong]

I mean, 42 in a year sounds an awful lot like recon to me.

Are you seriously suggesting that Mexico is planning to invade the United States? Did you play Fortress America while sniffing paint fumes or something?

Clearly, the Mexicans have uber-commandos who will sweep past America's defenses like Speedy Gonzalez running a checkpoint.

[ANGELUS]

In some areas along the US - Mexico border, I can see not knowing where you are without a GPS as being a common occurance.

However, I think, if the US doens't do this that much, if at all, the US should start demanding that all Mexican military units deployed within say, 30 miles of the border, have GPS units.

This would be a good idea, but I don't see it happenning any time soon. Mexican military budget is not nearly close to that of the US (yes, I know GPS is relatively cheap, but still...).

Especially considering that most mexicans don't consider Texas and other territories originally captured from Mexico as US property.

It is not that people here don't consider it part of the US, it is simply the feeling that it was "stolen". But of course it is considered part of the US.

I mean, 42 in a year sounds an awful lot like recon to me.

Trust me, the Mexican Army is not going to attempt to recover that territory. Don't loose your sleep over it.

[Pelranius]

I may be wrong, but I have a feeling that the US doesn't mind the occassional Mexican Army raid if it means that some lowlife gets capped by an Army that is not answerable to the US population or Congress.

Isn't there the problem of the Mexican army being actually under the pay of the drug cartels?

That aside, I don't think the Mexicans are that well equipped, even with regards to GPS.

Other portions of the Mexican army are also shooting at the drug cartels.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Especially considering that most mexicans don't consider Texas and other territories originally captured from Mexico as US property.

That's just not true at all. Have you ever even met someone from Mexico? Very few Mexicans give a shit about the War of 1848 anymore. They harbor no more grudges than we do towards, say, the British for burning down D.C. in the War of 1812. It's just a historical incident that people are aware of, not a damned vendetta.

[Solauren]

In regards to everyone saying 'Mexico would never invade the US'.

That's true. However, as someone mentioned, what about Mexican Drug Cartels.

'Lieutenant, we will give you $5000 US dollars if your unit gets lost and scouts out a new path for us into the US'

Recon doesn't have to be miltiary in purpose you know.

[CaptainChewbacca]

What would happen if some militaman or rancher got it in his head to start shooting at what he believed to be an invading/advancing occupying military force? Is it murder, or is he 'resisting' an enemy military force?

[Norseman]

I mean, 42 in a year sounds an awful lot like recon to me.

Are you seriously suggesting that Mexico is planning to invade the United States? Did you play Fortress America while sniffing paint fumes or something?

Clearly, the Mexicans have uber-commandos who will sweep past America's defenses like Speedy Gonzalez running a checkpoint.

No man! It's the Mexican banditor on horseback that will do it!

[FSTargetDrone]

Especially considering that most mexicans don't consider Texas and other territories originally captured from Mexico as US property.

Have you ever been to Mexico? And I mean a place that isn't a resort, like Cancún or Cozumel.

I have actually spent time in Mexico, I have family in Mexico and all they are interested in is going across the border to visit, shop or work. Now, they are fairly well off, but even when I was in Piedras Negras and Zaragoza (both of which are on or near the border of Texas) and saw some less affluent areas as I walked along the dusty streets, I noticed that people are more interested in living their lives than massing for incursions. Nobody cares about Texas. Sure, there are always going to be people who long to get former Mexican lands back, but I suspect they are in the minority.

Mexico isn't interested in expensive military conflicts with the US. It wants trade. It wants to make money.

I am white as a sheet, despite Mexican heritage on my father's side and stuck out in those places like a sore thumb. Yet no one I encountered, be it family or strangers, ever once said anything remotely approaching a desire to see lands returned. It isn't going to happen, anyone who bothers to think about it for more than 4 seconds knows it isn't going to happen, so no one cares.

[Darth Wong]

In regards to everyone saying 'Mexico would never invade the US'.

That's true. However, as someone mentioned, what about Mexican Drug Cartels.

'Lieutenant, we will give you $5000 US dollars if your unit gets lost and scouts out a new path for us into the US'

Recon doesn't have to be miltiary in purpose you know.

Oh for fuck's sake, if you're doing recon just to map out routes, you don't need an armed military party. You could probably just pay someone on the American side to help you anyway.

[Big Phil]

Especially considering that most mexicans don't consider Texas and other territories originally captured from Mexico as US property.

Have you ever been to Mexico? And I mean a place that isn't a resort, like Cancún or Cozumel.

I have actually spent time in Mexico, I have family in Mexico and all they are interested in is going across the border to visit, shop or work. Now, they are fairly well off, but even when I was in Piedras Negras and Zaragoza (both of which are on or near the border of Texas) and saw some less affluent areas as I walked along the dusty streets, I noticed that people are more interested in living their lives than massing for incursions. Nobody cares about Texas. Sure, there are always going to be people who long to get former Mexican lands back, but I suspect they are in the minority.

Mexico isn't interested in expensive military conflicts with the US. It wants trade. It wants to make money.

I am white as a sheet, despite Mexican heritage on my father's side and stuck out in those places like a sore thumb. Yet no one I encountered, be it family or strangers, ever once said anything remotely approaching a desire to see lands returned. It isn't going to happen, anyone who bothers to think about it for more than 4 seconds knows it isn't going to happen, so no one cares.

To be fair, the only people who do get up in arms about returning the southwest to Mexico are white, middle class, college kids, and the occasional La Raza militant idiot.

[FSTargetDrone]

To be fair, the only people who do get up in arms about returning the southwest to Mexico are white, middle class, college kids, and the occasional La Raza militant idiot.

There's probably more to worry about from Pro-Confederacy wankers re-seceding from the Union than Mexicans looking to liberate old holdings in Texas.

[SirNitram]

The paranoia quotient is hilarious. As for detaining the Border Agent... Checking for empathy... Nope! None of that here.

[Coyote]

Oh for fuck's sake, if you're doing recon just to map out routes, you don't need an armed military party. You could probably just pay someone on the American side to help you anyway.

Or "Google Earth".

[Pelranius]

Oh for fuck's sake, if you're doing recon just to map out routes, you don't need an armed military party. You could probably just pay someone on the American side to help you anyway.

Or "Google Earth".

Well, it's nice to always have some sort of human confirmation of the data. Google Earth is usually slightly out of date (after complaints made by the Chinese and Indian governments) and the weather can do funny things to the terrain.

[FedRebel]

The Mexican government is just not that crazy. They'd have to be completely out of their minds to intentionally conduct military recon with the intent of seizing U.S. territory.

Their predecessors in 1848 were crazy enough to refuse an American offer to end the war after the US Army secured the territory north of the Rio Grande, in exchange for the end of the war and the land we wanted we'd give Mexico money as reparations, but the refused even though their army was out of it's league. And the war ended with the stars and stripes fluttering over Mexico City.

Rgese present day incursions may be accidental, but these accidents shouldn't be happening and resolutions to them should be implemented ASAP, lest they be misconstrued.

Given that there are "minuteman" groups out there pissing to mark American territory, a shootout between the rednecks and 'lost' Mexican troops is only a matter of time.

Since the border watching rednecks tend to be unarmed though as more likely scenario would be 'lost' Mexican troops bumping into a US military patrol, that'd be fun.

It's 'accidents' like this that start wars

[Steve]

Clearly, the Mexicans have uber-commandos who will sweep past America's defenses like Speedy Gonzalez running a checkpoint.

*in a darkened room, a lone dark-robed and cloaked figure sits upon a chair. An aide comes up*

Messenger: My Lord, the Mexican Army has crossed the US border again and briefly detained a US Border Agent.

Dark Figure: Excellent. Everything is proceeding exactly as I have forseen.

*Messenger leaves. Man to the side opens his mouth*

Suicidal Voice of Reason: My Lord, this plan seems overly complex and silly.... UUURGK.

*Dark Figure makes fist. Suicidal Voice of Reason grabs his throat as if he's being strangled*

Dark Figure: I find your lack of faith disturbing. This will play out according to my designs.


(Yes, I'm trying to be funny and probably failing, can't help it.)

[Darth Ruinus]

Other portions of the Mexican army are also shooting at the drug cartels.

Around 25,000 troops have been mobilized in the Mexican Drug War. Also, seriously? Mexican recon groups into America? Simple misunderstandings causing a war between America and fucking Mexico? Mexico has its own damn wars with its drug cartels to start a war with America.