DRUG WAR SPILLS INTO BORDERLAND FROM MEXICO

LAS CRUCES-- It's now unanimous. There's no more political tip-toeing
regarding the unabated violence in Juarez having "officially" spilled
into El Paso.

For the first time a high-ranking politician, Texas state Sen. Eliot
Shapleigh, confirms the drug cartels have seeped over the Mexico
border and into the eastern side of El Paso and El Paso County.

Shapleigh said, for the first time, he's noted that his constituents
are afraid. " ... It appears that elements of gangs in Juarez who are
under pressure in Juarez are moving their operations to the Mission
Valley area (of El Paso County.) We have received numerous reports of
gang members living in the San Elizario, Socorro and Fabens
communities ..."

Meanwhile El Paso Mayor John Cook is on record advising Texas
residents not to travel into the war-ravaged, dying city of Juarez
unless it's "absolutely necessary."

We would add our voice to that advice and urge fellow New Mexicans -
especially many of our youth who believe in immortality - to avoid
Mexico like the plague. The risk simply isn't worth it.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn said Mexico's battle against the drug lords is
just as critical for the U.S. as the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan.

Since Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared war on the drug
cartels just more than two years ago, there have been an estimated
18,000 drug-related murders throughout the country. In Juarez alone
there have been more than 5,000 slayings since January 2008. Some
Advertisement Quantcast 10,000 federal troops have been deployed to
Juarez, but the killings have in fact escalated.

There has been tremendous reaction along the borderland since the war
began, but it took the rest of the nation until recently to take note
that Juarez is now the most dangerous city in the world.

The slaying of an El Paso couple last weekend, just feet from the U.S.
border near downtown, received world-wide attention. The wife was
connected to the U.S. Consulate in Juarez and her husband was employed
at El Paso County Jail. President Obama decried the killings.

If there's any good news its that now every politician, from local
officials to the president, has put in their proverbial two cents of
"official" concern.

But will it amount to anything? So far, words have don't nothing to
stop the violence - that is now officially spilling into El Paso.