Is The Los Zetas Story True?

IS THE 'ZETA ATTACK' STORY TRUE?
IT WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE IF THE BORDER WERE SECURE

Although a published report quoting official police and government officials refutes what became a viral story Saturday, an unusual lack of television coverage of the alleged takeover of ranches near Laredo, Texas, by Zeta gunmen raises questions.

The head of the Texas Nationalist Movement said Sunday that whether the reports are true or not, the very fact that so much credence was given to them would never have been an issue if the U.S.-Mexico border were secure.

Several organizations reported Saturday that two ranches near Laredo had been overrun by members of the Mexican drug gang Los, either following or during a night-long gunbattle with the Mexican Army in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, took over two ranches in the Las Minas Industrial Park area northwest of Laredo, near Mines Rd. and Minerales Annex Rd about 10 miles NW of I-35.

That story was refuted later in the day by reporter Nick Georgiou in the Laredo Morning Times newspaper. Georgiou's piece quoted sources within the Laredo Police Department, Border Patrol and FBI as saying they "knew nothing" about any such takeover. To date, however, no photos or video footage has emerged refuting the original report published by the blogger Digger's Realm.

Another enterprising independent news source, reporter Jim Kelley of the Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen.com, said he had heard from Laredo City Councilman Hector Garcia flatly denying the report and indicating that it appeared to stem from a disagreement between two ranchers. Kelley reports he has also been unable to get a direct connection with anyone in law enforcement, however.

TNM President Daniel Miller said that whether the story is eventually proven true or false, it would never have become a story if the federal government were doing its job of protecting the border – and that since Washington won't, it is incumbent upon Texas Gov. Rick Perry to use the Texas Military Forces to protect Texans.

"Mexico is in a state of chaos, and it is irresponsible of the federal government not to have the border policed by the military in these times," Miller said, "aside from the fact that it's Washington's Constitutional duty to secure the border. The Obama Administration refuses to obey the Constitution; therefore, it is up to Gov. Perry to defend the citizens of Texas by using the Texas Military Forces – our official state militia – to close the border until Mexico gets control. We don't need to ask the federal government to mobilize our own militia."

The Laredo story was first reported on the blogsite Diggers Realm, quoting a leader of the San Diego Minutemen identified as Jeff Scwilk as saying he had been informed by Laredo police that a standoff was underway between federal Border Patrol and other agents and the Zetas. Other bloggers quickly took up the story, but none quoted any sources within law enforcement by name.

An Associated Press story from the region indicated that an overnight gunbattle combat on the Mexican side of the border had alarmed some Laredo residents, and quoted Laredo Police spokesman Joe Baeza as saying, "It's hard for people to understand who don't live here. They're not Vikings, they're not going to invade us, it doesn't work that way."

Miller said the big worry among Texans is that, even if this report is proven false, the next one may not be.

"These criminals are intent on carving out their own little kingdom, and they have already proven they have no respect for existing national borders and even less for the value of human life," Miller said. "It confounds me why the mainstream media continues to downplay the atrocities the Zetas and other gangs have committed in Mexico and the fact that their trademark violence is beginning to make itself known in cities like Dallas, San Antonio and Houston.

"These thugs have heavy weapons, rocket launchers, grenades – even if the Border Patrol had the manpower, they're not equipped or trained for open combat," he added. "This demands a military solution, and if Washington won't provide it, it's up to Texans to defend ourselves."

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