http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/12/cartel.teens/index.html
Before any throws up their arms about OPSEC or "What does this have to do with CAP?". Keep in mind, there are CAP members who can be directly effected by this. And nothing I am typing is a secret.
As someone who follows law enforcement issues and intelligence issues closely, this is something CAP needs to be concerned with. Not that we are equipped to deal with it, but we still need to be aware. We have all read articles about Squadrons flying CD Missions, wearing flight suits with "Counter Narcotics Flight Crew" Patches, etc. Supporting Law Enforcement etc. Keep in mind that the "kid" asking you about your plane while you are "deployed" on assignments may have a $100 bill waiting for him after you tell him all about CAP. No, Im not referring to the kid at an airshow. Those who are involved in the missions I am referring to know exactly what I mean. Could you imagine the operational hit CAP would take if just one CAP crew was targeted?
When we participate in aspects of CAP, keep in mind who else knows we are there. Perform rigorous pre flights if you are in a place where people may be directly concerned about that "little red white and blue plane". Keep your mouths closed when you are out of town, or checking into a motel or hanging out at a restaurant talking about your days exploits.
As some on this site can attest to, some of these cartels have intelligence networks that could put the US to shame. As a cop, I have been in a situation where a local restaurant waitress was paid by a local gang to listen to our conversations at Denny's, the local cop watering hole. Honeslty, we were STUPID to be discussing the information that we were discussing. We got comfortable, and at 2am, we thought we were the only ones in the building. We found out after some information got out. And we traced it back to her. Her ex was a cop, and she knew how to befriend us.
There are many gangs, hitmen, etc. working directly for Mexican drug cartels on the US side. Mexican Cartels "contract" with local US based gangs to carry out missions in the US. This stuff is heating up on the border, far worse than the media is portraying. These gangs are routinely being caught with and using RPG's and heavy automatic weapons. And they are being used by people who know how to use them. The history of many of the Cartels "muscle" is that they are former Mexican Special Forces, trained by the US, who became mercenaries for the drug lords.
One of the biggest dis-services in our CD program, I think, is that there is no training provided on intelligence aspects of what we do. No intelligence briefings prior to flights really, especially on the types of flights carried out by our wings in the southwest. Getting LE to brief you may be a losing battle with some, and others will. For those of you involved, you need to do your own research and get your own self briefings. These flights are not so you can go build x-country time or work on your Form 91 sign offs. These people mean business. The Mexican police have called in the Army because they are outgunned and the US has declared Los Zetas and other cartels a direct threat to National Security.
And I can assure you they know who we are. Some of you want to play, you may unknowingly get your chance. Its not a matter of if, its when.
I'm an intel weenie. What I'm about to say is taken from open source stuff (news):
There's a huge infiltration of irregular combatants within the US. Los Zetas, MS13 (and all its variants), and others are here and collecting information on their opposition: police, state troopers, NG, active forces, Border Patrol, and whatever else might get in their way. If we are noticed in support of these agencies, we will be targeted like the rest. Trust me, they WILL notice.
FP is correct. Their HUMINT apparatus is impressive. They don't play by any rules, they just do it. They will use both whitting and unwhitting sources along with, perhaps, people within your own units. BTW, not everyone who will be cooperating with this folks will have a Spanish surname. They will buy cooperation or they will force it.
They are incredibly well armed - they will make any police department back away while they make their escape. They have the arms to not only ambush vehicles but also shoot down aircraft. Keep your mouths shut and your eyes open. Only say what you have to and when it's necessary.
A real eye-opener... I recently participated in a mission - details (for obvious reasons) will not be divulged here - and every bit of what FP mentioned is absolutely true. They're not afraid to collect intel and they're getting as good as the KGB.
Well said and well done Robert.
We need to move you to NHQ.
I'm not a CN person... that being said, none of this should be news to any informed participant, no matter one's specialty or geographic location.
Forewarned is forearmed.
Some additional open-source intel:
Rolling Stone Magazine: The Making of a Narco State (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/26435119/the_making_of_a_narco_state).
We actually had a briefing on this from region HLS guy @ NER conference back in October; it's frightening to think we're being targeted, but better we know and take some precautions.
ANother way the current situation is like CAP's WWII days -- we need to learn security practices, especially keeping our mouth shut about operational details around those who don't need to know.
A subtle reminder that should be posted at every squadron:
A poster I created... in any language, the enemy is listening!
(I don't speak Arabic or Russian, so those translations may be FUBARed. It was machine-translated using Micro$haft Turd. ;D)
The logo is the famous 'Terrorist Buster' logo (https://www.cia.gov/news-information/cia-the-war-on-terrorism/dci-counterterrorist-center-terrorist-buster-logo.html)of the DCI Counterterrorist Center:
Quote from: AlphaSigOU on March 15, 2009, 11:21:00 AM
A subtle reminder that should be posted at every squadron:
A poster I created... in any language, the enemy is listening!
(I don't speak Arabic or Russian, so those translations may be FUBARed. It was machine-translated using Micro$haft Turd. ;D)
The logo is the famous 'Terrorist Buster' logo (https://www.cia.gov/news-information/cia-the-war-on-terrorism/dci-counterterrorist-center-terrorist-buster-logo.html)of the DCI Counterterrorist Center:
Your Russian translation is probably right as far as an online translator could do it. Literally, it's closer to, "An enemy is listening", like, a single Russian out there is listening. I would guess that "the enemy" would indicate more than one, so if you wanted a more accurate translation, you would want to type into the translator, "enemies are listening."
If the forums and your computer can recognize the Russian alphabet, you'll get "противники слушают", which is the plural version of what you're saying.