IRS Openly Criminal - And We Should Be Worried!

Back in March of 2012, I wrote the following article on IRS abuse:

The IRS Wants Information From Tea Party Chapters?

Talk about overstepping your authority, this is an interesting twist of history.

It seems that the Sons of Liberty of 1765 are being resurrected all over again.

It was in Boston, Massachusetts, in early summer of 1765, when a group of Shopkeepers, Artisans got together to protest unfair laws and taxes placed upon them what they saw as a tyrannical government.

They called themselves The Loyal Nine. As the group grew, it came to be known as the Sons of Liberty. Frustration with the government was so bad that by the end of 1765, the Sons of Liberty existed in every American colony.

Knowing the ways of the world, they were not so naive to think that the government would not seek reprisals to their protests. Because of this, the Sons of Liberty met in secret out of fear of retribution from the government.

After the British government passed the Tea Act, American colonists viewed it as another example of "taxation without representation."

The American colonists were angry and helpless. They wanted to do something to let the British government know about the unhappiness that the Tea Act was causing.

As a way to protest the Tea Act, colonists in Philadelphia and New York turned the tea ships back to Britain. In Charleston the cargo was left to rot on the docks.

In Boston, the Royal Governor was stubborn and kept the ships in port - but the colonists dock workers would not allow them to unload. Cargoes of tea filled the Boston harbor, as the British ships weren't moving either way.

The Sons of Liberty discussed how best to get their message across to Great Britain, that the American colonies wanted more of a role in governing themselves.

The year was 1773 and Christmas was approaching. The American Colonists faced another year of unopposed and unrepresentative taxes. The Sons of Liberty decided to take action - it would later be called "The Boston Tea Party."

The Boston Tea Party was a symbolic act. It was meant to be an example of how far Americans were willing to go when they decide to speak out for their freedom.

But the Sons of Liberty were not fools, they knew that they must remain a secret organization. If not, then they'd be open to harsh reprisals and imprisonment from the British government.

Now fast forward to 2012.

Unlike the Sons of Liberty, Americans who joined in on the Tea Party rallies in 2009 never thought that they would be subject to reprisals and retribution from the United States government.

But now, now its happening!

Tea Party chapters around the nation are blasting the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) after the Federal agency sent them letters demanding information about their politics, contributors, and even family members.

In letters sent from IRS offices in Cincinnati earlier this month, chapters including the Waco, Texas, Tea Party and the Ohio Liberty Council were asked to provide a list of donors, identify volunteers, financial support for and relationships with political candidates and parties, and even printed copies of their Facebook pages.

The chapters that received requests were registering for nonprofit status as a 501(c)4 organizations. The classification mainly differs from 501(c)3 groups in that donors cannot deduct their contributions from their taxable income.

The tax code places fewer restrictions on 501(c)4 groups, allowing them to lobby in furtherance of their organizations' mission. They are also permitted to engage in political activity like endorsing candidates and donating money and time to specific campaigns, though it cannot be their primary activity.

Tea Party leaders said that they were particularly offended by demands that they name donors and volunteers, which is required by law, but were also asked to list any political ambitions of board members or their relatives.

Colleen Owens, spokeswoman for the Richmond, Virginia, Tea Party, claims that her chapter had a similar letter sent to them just two weeks before they were to hold a local convention in which they were asked to provide nearly 500 pages in documents.

They were required to return the requested documents two days before the start of the convention.

"Most of these groups are not wealthy and they've had their applications for 501(c)4 status since 2010," Owens said. "We only had two weeks to gather everything. The timing was suspicious."

"When determining whether an organization is eligible for tax-exempt status, including 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, all the facts and circumstances of that specific organization must be considered to determine whether it is eligible for tax-exempt status. To be tax-exempt as a social welfare organization, they must be primarily engaged in the promotion of social welfare. Career civil servants make all decisions on exemption applications in a fair, impartial manner and do so without regard to political party affiliation or ideology," said a spokesman for the IRS.

But if that's so, then why ask questions about the political ambitions of board members or their relatives? If this is just an innocent inquiry, then why demand information about their politics, contributors, and even family members?

If this is so routine, I can't help but wonder why would they ask for to provide a list of donors, identify volunteers, financial support for and relationships with political candidates and parties, and even printed copies of their Facebook pages?

Tom Zawistowski, of the Ohio Liberty Council, a Tea Party chapter, called the questions about the names of donors, volunteers and members' relatives as "intelligence gathering."

"This has nothing to do with tax status," Zawistowski said. “It has to do with political affiliation. The questions are too close to home."

I agree with Colleen Owens, who is the spokeswoman for the Richmond, Virginia, Tea Party, when she said, "It's very intimidating and people are scared."

-- end of March 12, 2012 article.

That was early last year, 2012. Now we find out that the IRS did not stop their criminal behavior. 

And yes, it is criminal behavior. It is against the law to do what they have done.

We now find out that the IRS probes and investigations went beyond just looking into a few Tea Party members, and actually targeted Conservative Groups.

Withing the last few days, the IRS has admits targeting the Tea Party.

An IRS campaign to apply additional surveillance on Conservative Groups went beyond targeting "Tea Party" and "patriot" groups to include those focused on government spending, the Constitution, and several other broad areas.

Can you imagine this for a moment? An arm of the United States Government uses its power to examine your finances because you are interested in the CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES!

Imagine that! If you showed an interest in the CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES - the IRS may have investigated you!

And yes, they make it sound so clinical and inert. They make it sound like its no big deal. But it is a big deal!

The IRS consciously created additional guidelines specially targeting a certain segment of our population. An arm of the Federal Government, the IRS actually targeted law abiding citizens who they saw as "political threats!"

The "additional guidelines" used by the agency were part of a timeline, obtained by Fox News, from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, which is looking into the controversial IRS practice.

IRS officials apologized Friday for the scrutiny, but new information suggests senior leaders were apprised of the effort as early as 2011 despite lying to the public by denying what they were doing.

Republican lawmakers have vowed to investigate and hold hearings, calling the revelations deeply troubling.

"The conclusion that the IRS came to is that they did have agents who were engaged in intimidation of political groups," Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers told "Fox News Sunday."

"I don't care if you're a conservative, a liberal, a Democrat or a Republican, this should send a chill up your spine. It needs to have a full investigation."

Surprisingly, a top Democrat -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus -- also said Monday that his committee would launch a "full investigation" into the matter.

"These actions by the IRS are an outrageous abuse of power and a breach of the public's trust. Targeting groups based on their political views is not only inappropriate but it is intolerable," the Montana Democrat said in a statement. "Americans expect the IRS to do its job without passion or prejudice. We need to get to the bottom of what happened here. ... The IRS will now be the ones put under additional scrutiny."

President Obama weighed in as well, saying at a press conference Monday that "if the reports are true, then that's outrageous and there's no place for it -- and they have to be held fully accountable."

The president doesn't have to be concerned with "IF" because the IRS alread said they did the crime!

And as for Obama saying he first found out about the practice on Friday? Can you imagine that?

The President of the United States just found out what was being reported over a year ago!

To think that we knew before him? That would be like saying that President Roosevelt only found out about the bombing of Pearl Harbor on the radio! Incredible!

Obama said that "if" agents behaved in a partisan fashion, "I've got no patience with it. I will not tolerate it."

That's all fine and dandy, but since there is no "if" about it, why didn't President Obama say whether he would fire and criminally charge those who did this.

He did not say that or if he is putting the Attorney General on this. He did not say anything other than more "political speak".  Just a bunch of meaningless blather!

 The IRS internal Inspector General timeline shows that an entire Unit in the IRS was specifically assigned to examine Tea Party and "patriot" groups dating back to early 2010.

Moreover, the IRS internal Inspector General timeline shows that list of criteria became drastically larger by June 2011.

By 2011, the IRS was targeting individuals and groups focused on government spending, government debt, taxes, and education on ways to "make America a better place to live."

It even flagged people and groups whose "file" included criticism of "how the country is being run."

That's right, they have a "file" on you if you belong to a Conservative Group or have looked into government spending, government debt, taxes, how to "make America a better place to live," or "how the country is being run."

By early 2012, the criteria were updated to include organizations involved in "limiting/expanding government," education on social economic reform, the 9/12 Project, and the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

That's right, this is where we have come under this administration. Citizens are being investigated because they had shown an interest in reading the CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES and THE BILL of RIGHTS!

Is this scary? You bet your ass its scary!

For me, I want whoever is in charge of this charged and tried and sent to prison!

Since the information that is coming out right now contradicts public statements by IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, who told Congressional investigators in March 2011 that specific groups were not being targeted, he should be charged with perjury.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins on Sunday also called the IRS activities chilling and said she was disappointed that President Obama had not condemned the actions.

"This is truly outrageous and it contributes to the profound distrust that the American people have in government," Collins told CNN's "State of the Union."

"It is absolutely chilling that the IRS was singling out Conservative Groups for extra review. And I think that it's very disappointing that the President hasn't personally condemned this."

At about the same time, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney released a statement saying: "If the inspector general finds that there were any rules broken or that conduct of government officials did not meet the standards required of them, the president expects that swift and appropriate steps will be taken to address any misconduct."

But this is not just a case of "misconduct" like someone getting something wrong on someone's paperwork, this is criminal to the extent that their are privacy issues at hand here. There are privacy laws that have been broken.

While the Federal Government has grown crazy with power lately, criminal conduct is criminal conduct and let's not try to make it less than it is.

Michigan Republican Rep. Dave Camp, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said Friday his committee will hold a hearing on the issue.

The IRS said Friday that it was sorry for what it called the "inappropriate" targeting of the conservative groups during the 2012 elections.

Lois G. Lerner, who heads the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt organizations, said the practice was initiated by low-level workers in Cincinnati and was not motivated by political bias. But on June 29, 2011, Lerner found out that such groups were being targeted, according to the Inspector General's report.

She was told at a meeting that groups with "Tea Party," "Patriot" or "9/12 Project" in their names were being flagged for additional and often burdensome scrutiny, the report states.

Can you imagine the nerve it takes to say that it "was not motivated by political bias" when it is blatantly obvious that that is exactly what it is - political targeting of the liberal opposition?

Why do people like Lerner think we are all fools? Of course it's Political Bias, they only TARGETED one group - Conservatives!

I am thankful that Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins does not accept such bullshit lies coming out of the IRS, either from Lerner or Shulman.

Senator Collins said she does not believe the activity was limited to "a couple of rogue IRS employees."

"After all," she added, "groups with `progressive' in their names were not targeted similarly."

And one last thing, its the idea of "targeting" citizens.

We should be worried, very very worried, when any agency, whether its IRS specifically targets Conservatives and Conservative Groups, or the USDA and EPA targets Ranchers and Farmers.

It is not in our best interest as a nation, a supposedly free country, to allow any agent or agency of the government - whether it be at the local, county, state or federal levels - to use their power and authority to target "law abiding" Americans for any reason.

If we allow this, America is done, we're finished, we can cash in our chips and close the lights.

If we allow the government, in any capacity, to "target" law abiding citizens, than everything that has been done to uphold our liberty and freedom, in all of the generations that have preceded us, would have been for nothing.

The threat to our freedom and liberty comes from abuse of power and authority. The IRS has shown themselves as guilty of doing both - abusing their power and authority while violating the law.


Story by Tom Correa

History of Mother's Day

Using sources on the Internet, I've found that the United States celebrates Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May since 1914.

In 1872, Julia Ward Howe called for women to join in support of disarmament and asked for June 2nd, 1872, to be established as a "Mother's Day for Peace".

Her 1870, "Appeal to womanhood throughout the world" is sometimes referred to as Mother's Day Proclamation. But Howe's day was not for honoring mothers but for organizing pacifist mothers against war.

In the 1880s and 1890s there were several further attempts to establish an American "Mother's Day", but these did not succeed beyond the local level.

The current holiday was started by Anna Jarvis in Grafton, West Virginia in 1908, when she honored her mother.

After that, Anna Jarvis wanted to accomplish her mother's dream of making a celebration for all mothers, although the idea did not take off until she enlisted the services of wealthy Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker, who celebrated it on May 8th, 1910 in Bethany Temple Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, PA of which he was the founder.

In a letter to the pastor, she said it was, "our first Mother's Day".

Various observances honoring mothers existed in America during the 1870s and the 1880s, but these never had resonance beyond the local level. Yet, Anna Jarvis kept promoting the holiday until President Woodrow Wilson made the day an official national holiday in 1914.

Anna Jarvis never mentioned Julia Ward Howe's attempts in the 1870s to establish a "Mother's Day for Peace", nor any connection to the Protestant school celebrations that included "Children's Day" among others.

Neither did she mention the traditional festival of Mothering Sunday, but always said that the creation was her's alone.  Imagine that!

The holiday eventually became so commercialized that many, including its founder Anna Jarvis, considered it a "Hallmark holiday" - one with an overwhelming commercial purpose.

Though I would think the commercialization of Mother's Day would mean more attention to mothers, as strange as it sounds, Anna Jarvis eventually ended up opposing the holiday she had helped to create.

In fact, she opposed it so much so, that when she died in 1948, its said that she died regretting what had become of "her holiday."

If it was a selfish act, so what! Mother's Day is one of America most beloved holidays for all of the right reasons.

Mostly, it gives us a chance to celebrate Mom officially!

Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.

In the United States, Mother's Day remains one of the biggest days for sales of flowers, greeting cards, and the like; Mother's Day is also the biggest holiday for long-distance telephone calls.

In fact, churchgoing is also popular on Mother's Day! Yielding the highest church attendance after Christmas Eve and Easter, many worshipers celebrate the day with carnations - colored if the mother is living and white if she has passed away.

Mother's Day complements Father's Day, a similar celebration honoring fathers.

The celebration of Mother's Day in the United States is not related to the many celebrations of mothers and motherhood that have occurred throughout the world. But, in most countries, Mother's Day is a recent observance derived from the holiday as it has evolved in the United States.

As adopted by other countries and cultures, the holiday has different meanings, is associated with different religious, historical, and legendary events, and is celebrated on different dates.

In some cases, countries already had existing celebrations honoring motherhood, and their celebrations then adopted several external characteristics from the American holiday, such as giving carnations and other presents to one's mother.

These days ex-Communists countries usually celebrate the Socialist "International Women's Day" instead of the more capitalist Mother's Day. Some ex-Communist countries, like Russia, still follow this custom.

But they also might simply celebrate both holidays, which is the custom in Ukraine.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the holiday is strongly associated with revering the Virgin Mary. In many Catholic homes, families have a special shrine devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In many Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a special prayer service is held in honor of the Theotokos Virgin Mary.

In Hindu tradition Mother's Day is called "Mata Tirtha Aunshi" or "Mother Pilgrimage fortnight", and is celebrated in countries with a Hindu population, especially in Nepal.

The holiday is observed on the new moon day in the month of Baisakh, i.e., April/May.

This celebration is based on Hindu religion and it pre-dates the creation of the Western-inspired holiday by at least a few centuries.

Now for the big surprise, believe it or not, Islamic countries who practice medieval Sharia Law also celebrate Mother's Day.

Yes its true! But while those countries celebrate Mother's Day on different days throughout the year, I can't help but wonder who is left to celebrate Mother's Day in Muslim nations since their children are so busy setting off bombs - either killing innocent people or themselves?

OLD WEST: Tips for Stagecoach Travelers

In the days of the Old West, the only mode of public transportation was the stagecoach. 

Stage stops dotted the Western plains like bus depots do today. And like independent bus companies of today, the stagecoach companies back then were independent.

And yes, some made it and some didn't. They came and went, flourished and died, starved out, sold out, and merged with others to grow larger and become stronger.

It is said that Wyatt Earp hit Tombstone with a desire to open a stage line but when he got there two rival companies already existed so he gave up on the idea.

Though on May 10, 1869, the famous "Golden Spike" was driven in Promontory Summit, Utah, and the track had been completed linking America's first transcontinental railroad, the stagecoach would endure until after the turn of the century. And yes, it was actually replaced by the automobile.

At the top of the heap after such a merger was Wells Fargo & Company Overland Stage, who established among many stage stops one in Silver City, Idaho, a mining district high in the Owyhee Mountains.

There, the Wells Fargo vault still stands next to the Idaho Hotel that was established during the boom of 1863.

Though journeys by stagecoach were long and tidious for the most part, made worse by the dust and hard road against your backsides, coach travel flourished.

Coaches were usually cramped and loaded down with heavy merchandise and luggage; passengers jammed in like sardines.

A given trip might find a veteran of the Civil War, a mason, a carpenter, a railroad carman, a drummer (traveling salesman), a banker, a Texas cattle rancher and a lady of refinement from one of the eastern states aboard.

Depending on whether the coach boasted a center bench inside, from 6 to 8 passengers might crowded into the interior, with perhaps two more riding topside with the driver. Togetherness prevailed, with each passenger squeezed into about 15 inches of seating space.


No, it was not unusual for as many as 8 to 12 people to be aboard at one time, some riding up front with the driver and even atop on the luggage. Passenger comfort took a poor second place to the economic necessity of maintaining schedules.

These crowded conditions required the establishment of company rules; a list of acceptable and unacceptable passenger behavior while aboard.

Stagecoach passengers were expected to observe a few rules of the road, most of them directed at gentlemen.

And yes, since proper stagecoach etiquette was a must, the following was posted in Silver City's Idaho Hotel stage depot:


WELLS FARGO RULES FOR RIDING THE STAGECOACH

Adherence to the Following Rules Will Insure a Pleasant Trip for All

1.Abstinence from liquor is requested, but if you must drink, share the bottle. To do otherwise makes you appear selfish and unneighborly.

2.If ladies are present, gentlemen are urged to forego smoking cigars and pipes as the odor of same is repugnant to the Gentle Sex. Chewing tobacco is permitted, but spit WITH the wind, not against it.

3.Gentlemen must refrain from the use of rough language in the presence of ladies and children.

4.Buffalo robes are provided for your comfort during cold weather. Hogging robes will not be tolerated and the offender will be made to ride with the driver.

5.Don't snore loudly while sleeping or use your fellow passenger's shoulder for a pillow; he or she may not understand and friction may result.

6.Firearms may be kept on your person for use in emergencies. Do not fire them for pleasure or shoot at wild animals as the sound riles the horses.

7.In the event of runaway horses, remain calm. Leaping from the coach in panic will leave you injured, at the mercy of the elements, hostile Indians and hungry wolves.

8.Forbidden topics of discussion are stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings.

9.Gents guilty of unchivalrous behavior toward lady passengers will be put off the stage. It's a long walk back. A word to the wise is sufficient.

- Wells Fargo & Company, late 1860s.

Of course the Omaha Herald published the below Tips for Stagecoach Travelers in 1877 :

STAGECOACH  ETIQUETTE

The best seat inside a stage is the one next to the driver. Even if you have a tendency to seasickness when riding backwards - you'll get over it and will get less jolts and jostling. Don't let "sly elph" trade you his mid-seat.

In cold weather, don't ride with tight-fitting shoes, or gloves.

When the driver asks you to get off and walk, do so without grumbling, he won't request it unless absolutely necessary.

If the team runs away - sit still and take your chances.

If you jump, nine out of ten times you will get hurt.

In very cold weather, abstain entirely from liquor when on the road, because you will freeze twice as quickly when under its influence.

Don't growl at the food received at the station - stage companies generally provide the best they can get.

Don't keep the stage waiting.

Don't smoke a strong pipe inside the coach.

Spit on the leeward side.

If you have anything to drink in a bottle, pass it around.

Procure your stimulants before starting, as "ranch" (stage depot) whisky is not "nectar."

Don't lean or lop over neighbors when sleeping.

Take small change to pay expenses.

Never shoot on the road, as the noise might frighten the horses.

Don't discuss politics or religion.

Don't point out where murders have been committed, especially if there are women passengers.

Don't lag at the wash basin.

Don't grease your hair, because travel is dusty.

Don't imagine for a moment that you are going on a picnic.

Expect annoyances, discomfort, and some hardships.

- Omaha Herald, 1877



Here's a copy of what the poster looked like:

Regarding Border Violence Spillover Into The U.S.

The report below was published May 09, 2013 in Fox News Latino.

It is a short but good read about what's taking place on the U.S./Mexican Border.

I believe that President Obama is very much aware of what's going on down there, because he'd have to be a fool to not know what's happening. Besides, if you and I can get the information then I'm sure he has gotten it as well.

The problem with securing the border goes to this point, he doesn't what it secured. Yes, I honestly don't think he cares.

We should be letting our Congress know that this needs to stop before it gets even more worse than it already is - if that's possible.

Border Violence Spillover to the U.S. Needs to Be Acknowledged

by Sylvia Longmire

One early morning in mid-January of 2013, Jesús Juárez opened the front door of his Brownsville, Texas home and saw a package.

It had the typical FedEx markings on it, and despite the fact that his daughter’s boyfriend didn’t see it on his way out the night before, Jesús brought the package inside and opened it.

Fortunately, only one of the four pipe bombs inside the package detonated, but just that single device blew out the front door and windows and severely burned him, his wife and their young daughter.

An investigation by the Brownsville Police Department began immediately, and was soon joined by the FBI.

Local authorities told the media that the perpetrators knew what they were doing because the pipe bombs required a certain level of technical sophistication to create.

However, they could only speculate on who might be interested in deliberately sending such a violent message to a quiet home in a nice south Texas neighborhood.

Heads can literally roll in the streets of El Paso or Nogales, and DHS or the local sheriff’s department can just say it’s business as usual for drug traffickers and chalk it up as a typical homicide. - Sylvia Longmire

This incident in Brownsville never made it into the national news, but local reporters in the busy drug smuggling corridors of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of south Texas continued to follow developments.

Mexican cartels and their minions have a large presence in this area, and the bombing reeked of a retaliation hit of some kind.

However, cartel members (or gang members they hire) in the U.S. tend to shoot their targets; no cartel-related bombing of any kind had ever occurred on U.S. soil, and some private intelligence firms and drug war observers were quick to dismiss the Brownsville case as a prank gone wrong or something involving local criminals.

Then in late April 2013, federal authorities unsealed the case and named Jesús Juárez in a multi-count indictment for marijuana trafficking, along with several other individuals who had been arrested by the DEA.

Jesús and company were accused of smuggling at least 1,000 pounds of marijuana through the RGV between September and December 2012, and the DEA is looking to recoup half a million dollars in drug profits from the group. Jesús received the pipe bomb just a few weeks after his reported smuggling stint.

There are still no suspects in custody, which poses several problems — first and foremost the fact that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and local law enforcement authorities can deny this was a bona fide case of border violence spillover.

While cartel-on-cartel violence is the hallmark of drug-related violence in Mexico —along with violence directed at the Mexican police and army — DHS doesn’t take this type of violence into account when trying to assess the existence of such spillover.

DHS officials have even stated in Congressional testimony that the agency doesn’t keep track of crime statistics involving cartel-on-cartel attacks in the U.S.

Some U.S. law enforcement agencies are finally starting to acknowledge that these incidents are happening in their territory.

In late October 2012, a Hidalgo County (also in south Texas) Sheriff’s deputy was shot three times by a gang member on the Gulf cartel payroll. Sheriff Lupe Treviño has traditionally been very hesitant to say spillover is a problem, but he had no qualms about telling the media after the shooting that this was the first authentic case of border violence spillover in his county.

These two examples beg the question: how bad do things need to get along our southwest border before DHS —or any other agency, for that matter— will acknowledge that spillover violence is happening?

The general message being sent is that no one seems to care as long as it’s just criminals getting killed or kidnapped in south Texas or Arizona.

But in these cases, an innocent five year-old was burned to within inches of her life, and an American police officer —one of many involved in recent confrontations with cartel members and their associates— could have died.

There’s no proof the bomb was sent by a drug trafficking organization, but all the existing evidence is definitely pointing in that direction.

There is no standardized definition of spillover violence, and this is part of the problem. Heads can literally roll in the streets of El Paso or Nogales, and DHS or the local sheriff’s department can just say it’s business as usual for drug traffickers and chalk it up as a typical homicide.

Sadly, this mentality prevents the development of any sort of strategy to prevent more incidents like the Brownsville bombing from happening again.

No U.S. agency should be waiting for Ciudad Juárez-style shootouts to happen in Tucson or narcoblockades to be set up in Laredo before stepping up and finally acknowledging the fundamental nature of cartel violence in Mexico has effective spilled over into the United States.


(Reprinted here in its entirety and unedited)