Community | August 12, 2009 | 22 comments

Soldier accused of being hit man for Mexican drug cartel

source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/11/texas.soldier.arrested/index.html?eref=rss_world

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afitzgerald
From CNN: "...Pfc. Michael Jackson Apodaca, 18, was one of three men arrested Monday in connection with the shooting death of the mid-level drug cartel member who also worked as an informant for the United States, according to a complaint affidavit."

A worrisome story if it turns out to be true. Is it only a matter of time before the powerful cartels south of the border begin operating violently in the US?

UPDATE: @MilchMann points out rightly that plenty of drug cartels do operate violently within the US. To be clear, I'm referring to the severe uptick in violence that has plagued northern Mexico for the last year or so. To date we haven't seen much of that ongoing war migrate north.
  1. groups:
    Community,   Odd News,   News_Featured,   American Politics,   2 more
  2. tags:
    News,  Drug War,  Mexico,  News_Featured,  1 more
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22 comments // Soldier accused of being hit man for Mexican drug cartel

  • bree1221
    • 0
      bree1221  

    • WOW! Weird I use to know this guy him and the other guy that was in the "getaway car". We actually were close friends when I was in middle school I keep on playing the video were they arrest them over and over. Its just a shock seeing two good friends go to jail, but they deserve it none the less. Its weird seeing his picture on current.

    • 2 years ago
  • MilchMann
    • 0
      MilchMann  

    • If the violence becomes half of what it is in Juarez or the other handful of hot spots in Mexico I am willing to asses that it would not take long for martial law and a quarantine to be pronounced on what ever cities were experiencing the problems.

      That is not going to happen though. As proof I present history, our country set a very good president for this with the mobsters and mafias in the first three quarters of the previous century. Mexico has a very long struggle ahead of them, but if they keep in the fight they have the upper hand, just like the United States did when it first started its war against organized crime way back in the days of J. Edgar Hoover.

      So as the Mexican Military and police force gain more experience, training, equipment, and support from the United States Military... this war will dwindle to what our war is with the mafia. FARC's days are numbered as well, the United States Military is building up forces in Colombia to help and support Colombia's long lasting desire to reclaim their country from them... It is not surprising if you have not heard about this... Hugo Chavez is throwing a fit about it and purchasing a ton of tanks and other military equipment because he thinks we are going to invade Venezuela for some reason.

      http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090811/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_colombia_us
      http://current.com/items/90663435_chavez-to-buy-russian-tanks-over-u-s-troop-bui...

      The point is that FARC supplies most of the cocaine to the Mexican cartels, do you think that it is coincidence that this is happening soon after several visits from the upper echelon government officials of the the United States??? No, this is a very quite war, and the stratagem is immaculate... this will definitely not be spilling over heavily into US streets... it is not being haphazardly fought like what resulted in the assassination of Pablo Escobar.

    • 2 years ago
  • stevieuk
  • biggranny
    • 0
      biggranny  

    • this is just one more young man whom has been duped by the military as well as the cartel. i guess he really is all he can be

    • 2 years ago
  • Mikeysfake1
  • bailey78
  • unclecharlie
    • 0
      unclecharlie  
    • bailey78:

      I will agree. I lived in Brownsville for 5-6 months- went to Matamoros often, and I notice that Matamoros has NEVER been mentioned when they talk about border towns and drug running.

    • 2 years ago
  • MilchMann
    • 0
      MilchMann  

    • This story really is not all that old, but it should do as an example

      http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/mexican_cartels_and_fallout_phoenix

      This story of 'when will the violence come to America' crops up every few years, and it is silly, we invented the violence... or have we for gotten who Al Capone and the rest of the Whiskey runners and moonshiners were? The violence from drug cartels in the US, including assassinations has been happening for about 30-40 years now... and if you want to be honest about it, it did not start with the Mexicans, Italian mobs in New York and Chicago fighting over heroin is what started it... the mentality just kind of spread into cocaine trafficking and from there it was all over with.

    • 2 years ago
  • ebruce2
    • 0
      ebruce2  
    • MilchMann:

      Excellent points. Just more media spin is what we are seeing.

      Speaking of whiskey runners and moonshiners, how about those Kennedys? LOL Thats how they made their fortune.

    • 2 years ago
  • ebruce2
    • 0
      ebruce2  

    • Well, all that aside, this kid's days are definitely numbered at this point. The opposition can and will get to him just as easily now that's he's on the inside.

    • 2 years ago
  • MilchMann
    • 0
      MilchMann  
    • ebruce2:

      Not really, he is military, he will be in military prison until he is executed... which will probably not be long from now, the military is pretty efficient and expedient in matters such as this.

    • 2 years ago
  • afitzgerald
    • 0
      afitzgerald  

    • Fair enough @MilchMann - good points on the Nortenos, Sortenos and MS13. You're right - there are plenty of drug cartels operating north of the border. More what I was referring to was the incredible uptick in violence between specifically Mexico-based cartels in the last year plus.

    • 2 years ago
  • GodsnLiberals
    • 0
      GodsnLiberals  
    • afitzgerald:

      and the pot smokers who wants to legalize drugs would move this warfare from the streets and into the board room..turning them from criminals to exectives..

      would it change?? NO they would still peddle drugs..and taking a lesson from the tobacco industry..with marketing and research and development..they would make this simple weed into a killer weed..and what are you guys going to do?

      start another fucking 'lets save them from weed" foundation????????????????!!! have those brilliant tv commercials about the danger of weed..
      because once its legal and once that billions of dollars starts flowing in the hands of corrupt politicians..

      your precious weed...is no more..

      what is the price to be paid for the soul of our society..(something to thnk about)

    • 2 years ago
  • NeRo909
    • 0
      NeRo909  
    • afitzgerald:

      Actually GodsnLiberals I think your wrong entirely. The information to grow great & simple marijuana is out there easily & readily available. So there wouldnt be big corporations controlling the trade & sales. You cant monopoly this herb. The comment towards the killer weed well thats a lil far fetched, also what did your post have to do with the story?...

    • 2 years ago
  • MilchMann
    • 0
      MilchMann  

    • Before they do? So I guess all of the high profile assassinations of the last 25 years or so did not happen, we do not have kidnappings on a daily basis that are linked to cartels, there are no home invasions by people pretending to be police looking for drugs to steal... and best of all... the Norteños and Sortenos... MS13... they are all figments of the imagination.

      Good story man, bad spin... really all spin is bad, just stick to the facts... else you look like fox, just making stuff up.

    • 2 years ago
  • NeRo909
    • 0
      NeRo909  
    • MilchMann:

      First off.. Milchmann It's Surreno not sorteno.
      Second.. Norteno & Surreno is northern & southern california. People who Rep this are mexican AMERICAN. Not people from mexico.No cartel connection.
      MS-13 is popping up due to it starting in prison. Like most big mexican / mex-american gangs. not a cartel.

      The cartels have been operating violently on u.s soil for a long time. so theres no questioning if. Though there has been a uptake in violence in northern mexico, plaguing tourist areas, like Tijuana, Rosarito.
      We'll see where this leads.

    • 2 years ago
  • MilchMann
  • NeRo909
  • MilchMann
  • Mikeysfake1
  • cabinettags
    • 0
      cabinettags  
    • MilchMann:

      The military of the United States executed 160 soldiers and other members of the armed forces between 1942 and 1961 (these figures do not include German prisoners of war, war criminals and saboteurs executed by military authorities between 1942 and 1951). There have been no military executions since 1961 although the death penalty is still a possible punishment for several crimes under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Of these executions, 157 were carried out by the United States Army. The United States Air Force conducted the three remaining executions, one in 1950 and two in 1954. The U.S. Navy has not executed anyone since 1849. The United States Army had previously executed a total of 36 soldiers during the First World War, eleven of these executions taking place between 5 November 1917 and 20 June 1919 in France and 25 hangings being carried out in the continental United States over the same time period.

      Of the total, 106 were executed for murder (including 21 involving rape), 53 for rape and one for desertion (Eddie Slovik).[1]

    • 2 years ago
  • MilchMann
    • 0
      MilchMann  
    • MilchMann:

      There are eight people on death row at the castle right now... aka Fort Leavenworth. If he does not get the death penalty he will get life without possibility of parole, that was in acted in the late 90's and has been used as a substitute several times since.

    • 2 years ago
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