AP
Amid criticism of surveillance flights by U.S. drones over Mexico, a high-ranking U.S. military commander said Friday the United States is careful not to violate Mexican sovereignty as the two countries fight drug trafficking.
Adm. James Winnefeld, head of U.S. Northern Command, didn't specifically mention the drones, but he did refer to recent reports about "elements of U.S. support" for Mexico in the drug war.
Winnefeld wrote that the U.S. is eager to work with Mexico, but "the very first question we ask is whether or not it would infringe in any way on Mexico's sovereignty or rule of law. The answer, quite simply, must be 'no, it does not.'"
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been surreptitiously flying Predator drones into Mexico since 2009, but the practice didn't come to light until Wednesday. The border security agency's surveillance flights started before the occasional flights into Mexico by the U.S. Air Force's $38 million Global Hawk drone that began last month.
Some Mexican lawmakers were critical of the border agency flights, but Foreign Relations Secretary Patricia Espinosa said the drone flights do not violate Mexico's sovereignty because they are "controlled" by Mexico and are unarmed.
Mexico's National Security Council said U.S. unmanned aircraft have been sent over Mexico on surveillance missions when requested by the Mexican government. A U.S. official told The Associated Press in Mexico City that during each mission, a Mexican official is present at the U.S. command center where a drone is remotely piloted.
It wasn't immediately clear whether Northern Command has a role in the flights. But Winnefeld has said Northern Command must help stop the flow of drugs, weapons and money between the two nations.
Northern Command, based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is responsible for the military defense of U.S. soil and supporting civilian agencies in natural or human-caused disasters.
On a separate note, Mexico's top diplomat is defending her government's decision to allow U.S. drones to fly over Mexican territory, while acknowledging that her country has disagreements and "moments of tension" with its northern neighbor.
Foreign Relations Secretary Patricia Espinosa said the drone flights do not violate Mexico's sovereignty.
But she told Mexican senators Thursday the two countries "have disagreements, there are moments of tension."
The administration of President Felipe Calderon has expressed anger over comments by U.S. officials in leaked diplomatic cables criticizing the Mexican military and law enforcement agencies.
Mexico was also outraged by reports that U.S. agents allowed guns to be smuggled into Mexico as part of investigations.
_______________
Online:
http://www.northcom.mil/NNCBlog/2011/03/18/MexicoIsTheLeadInMexico.aspx
Friday, March 18, 2011
Home »
» Top commander says US respects Mexico sovereignty
Top commander says US respects Mexico sovereignty
Related Posts:
- Activist "Rubi's Mom" killed in Chihuahua CityBy Daniel Borunda El Paso Times A mother on a quest to find her daughter's killer was fatally shot last Thursday night in front of the state capitol i… Read More
- Mexican drug cartels find youths to be easy preyFaced with a poor education system and dismal job prospects, boys and girls as young as 11 are lured into acting as mules, peddlers, lookouts — even e… Read More
- Guatemala Declares a State of Siege in town taken over by Mexican drug gangGovernment Says Northern Province Has Become Overrun by Mexican Drug-Trafficking Organization.Soldiers patrolling the streets in Alta Verapaz north of… Read More
- Guatemalan Forces training for battle against Mexican Drug CartelsBy Lindsay Stewart & Jennifer Griffin Fox News 12/13/10 - About 150 miles north of Guatemala City, deep in the jungle, is a military base where… Read More
- Mexican prisoners in mass jail break near US borderMEXICO CITY - Nearly 150 inmates escaped Friday from a state prison in the northern Mexico border city of Nuevo Laredo, and authorities said the bre… Read More
5 comments:
Comments are moderated, refer to policy for more information.
Envía fotos, vídeos, notas, enlaces o información
Todo 100% Anónimo;
borderlandbeat@gmail.com
Won't be long before they start using these things on the american public, that is, to prevent crime of course. Of course.
ReplyDeleteThe question should be, does Mexico respect US sovereignty? Last I looked, we have over 12 million Mexicans living here :-)
ReplyDeleteI read today in the Mex newspaper where the Mexican senate is arguing this is against their constitution...These are the folks from the PRI complaining....You would think they'd be happy to have some help. From what I understand, Mexicans are controlling where they go...Sort of funny the whole thing with drones.
@March 18, 2011 6:28 PM
ReplyDeleteWhat makes you think for one second that they alreay aren't?
Are you that naive?
Apparently they are not happy with our help if they are taking the time in their courts to fight it!!!
ReplyDeletelol..what part of unarmed don't they understand. can someone please explain what "mexican sovereignty" is to the cartels...
ReplyDelete