"DRUG WARS" PREMIERES TUESDAY AT PLAZA THEATRE

Gary "Rusty" Fleming is the author of a book on drug-trafficking titled
"Drug Wars: Narco-Warfare in the 21st Century," and creator of the
companion docudrama "Drug Wars: Silver or Lead" set to premiere Tuesday
(Dec. 15) at the Plaza Theatre.

It is evident from the book and film that Fleming wants to inform a
yet mostly uninformed American public about the escalating levels of
violence associated with warring drug cartels in Mexico.

Most people have a notion of what's going on from occasional headlines
in U.S. national newspapers, short sporadic newscasts on network
television, and even Hollywood movies like "No Country for Old Men."
Most of the ongoing coverage is done by local media.

Fleming suggests explanations for the void of information on a
national scale: news filtering (by the gatekeepers of information?),
diplomatic courtesy, or, maybe it's too scary for people to know.

"We're bringing the 'Drug Wars' to ground zero of the war on drugs as
the cartels just across the (Rio Grande) continue to terrorize the
citizens in the communities of Juarez and El Paso with their brutal
and public displays of violence," said Fleming, concerning why he
chose to launch his film tour in El Paso.

The book, which the cover describes as a "producer's journal," is a
good overview, but the film is the stronger and more substantive of
Fleming's two products. The docudrama includes many dramatic scenes
and riveting interviews.

He says he spent three years investigating the drug-trafficking scene
along the border, interviewing officials, law enforcement, victims and
others.

He "tells" the story of his venture in his voice, and it come across
as a long and fascinating conversation. In one chapter, he briefly
discusses a meeting he had with powerful a drug capo to ask him what
it's like to be a drug lord, but Fleming never discloses the man's
name. However, the alleged drug dealer managed to dispense some sage
advice: stay away from this lifestyle.

In the book, the author and Texas native makes several references to
the El Paso-Juarez smuggling corridor, such as the 2006 incident at
Neely's Crossing, and to the drug lords who allegedly are vying for
control of drug transportation in our region.

People in this region will recognize names like Arvin West, the
Hudspeth County sheriff who swears to this day Mexican soldiers were
helping drug dealers at the Rio Grande (Neely's Crossing, an assertion
U.S. and Mexican officials disputed.

As author, Fleming also provides overviews of the Tijuana and Gulf
cartels, and of the ongoing efforts by Mexican President Felipe
Calderon to reign in drug-trafficking organizations.

Fleming does a good job describing the horror that drug-violence has
imposed on Mexico and along the U.S.-Mexican border.

His work will serve as a wake-up call for people who know little to
nothing about the drug violence that has engulfed Mexico, particularly
along the U.S.-Mexican border, in places like Tijuana, Juarez and
Nuevo Laredo.

Fleming describes his book (BookSurge; $14.99) as a producer's
journal. The author is on tour with the docudrama by Renavatio
Productions ($19.95) . Both are available through the Web site
www.drugwarsthemovie.com.

Drug wars film

What: Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition presents "Drug Wars: Silver or
Lead," a Renavatio Productions docudrama.
Who: Filmmaker and author Gary "Rusty" Fleming will be available for
interviews.
When: 7 p.m., Tuesday (Dec. 15), one showing only.
Where: Plaza Theatre, Downtown El Paso.
Cost: $7 per person.
Information: David Fry (817) 925-4821.