The anticipated “reconquista” of the US southern border with Mexico has begun as more than 8,000 mounted horsemen rode for the border from Hidalgo Coahuila led by the governors of the States of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Tamaulipas.
The irrational fears and pronostication of the right wing extremists are becoming a reality. They are at our borders en masse!
Guess that got your attention. In reality, the annual recorrida began this weekend as the Governors of the three border states along with more than 8,000 riders made the tek on horseback from points in the three states. This marks the beginning of the 2008 Northern States Governors Conference.
The subject of the conference this year is ecology and the reforestation and reintroduction of fauna and flora to the land along the border, cleaning and maintaining the landscape and new drainage projects along the Rio Bravo.
Among the issues on the agenda for the 2008 conference are
- In Agricultural Development: prepare a proposal for border states to deal with the Strategic Plan to Reduce the Risk of importing livestock From Mexico, infected with TB.
- Giving continuity to programs to control ticks and manage resources for modernization, productivity and competitiveness of the agriculture sector
- In the area of Energy, approved the decision to embark on energy reforms and seek to participate in the debate as producers and consumers of oil and its derivatives. In other words, Energy Conservation.
- In Education, it was announced the efforts strengthen programs in English and School Safety; exchanging plans and curricula, and the signing of an agreement on coordination in the fields of education and health.
- In Health: strengthen the fight against dengue and tuberculosis; create a regional committee to reduce maternal death and sign an agreement for the cross-check of the Social Protection System in Health
An ambitious agenda but doable as the governors of these three border states have always been able to work together for the most part.
And the “reconquista”? Forget about it. That only exists in the minds of a few lunatics north of the border.
But what a grand sight it was to see 8000 mounted riders all at once.
On my days off this week, I needed to get away and relax and not having but a couple of days, headed to Monterrey Nuevo Leon.
It’s a good destination, a world class city that can hold it’s own against any similar city in North America.
It’s good to have friends there, especially those in the travel industry. I don’t recognize the name of the American company I represented, but because of them, I was able to obtain a suite in a 5 star hotel in Monterrey’s Galeria section that normally is $2400 pesos per night and paid only $921.00 pesos. I could get used to this. Smoozing with the movers and shakers of Monterrey business. (Mil gracias carina)
After dinner at Atlantico Oyster Bar and Grill, located on the side of a hill in the Colonia San Jananimo, outside on the patio with an incredible view of Monterrey and its suburbs, took a drive downtown to the Gran Plaza and the new Paseo Santa Lucia riverwalk. A good way to unwind and temporarily set aside the pressures of work.
Total cost of this little adventure? About $150.00 all inclusive of hotel, food and fuel. What did you do with your days off?
I went to Monterrey on the toll road at a cost of $170 pesos for a car and returned on the free road, or “libre” since I was in no hurry. As usual, I had my camera at the ready.
As was reported by other sources, trying to make it sound derogatory towards the Mexican trucking industry, their turnaround cycle appears to be 12 years. Nothing wrong with that. With the proper care and maintenance, these trucks can go 1.5 million miles or more before they begin to show their age.
But it seems like the cycling of the equipment is happening now. Dealers all over Mexico have new units on the ready line for delivery to carriers in Mexico. Freightliner Columbia’s, and Kenworth Kenmex T-660 seem to be the truck of choice again. Aerodynamics are in, the square boxy look of years past is gone.
So once again, here is photographic proof that debunks the critics and know nothings ideas about what a Mexican truck really is. And to be honest, their opinions no longer matter. Nothing I do or say will change their minds. But the minds that are being changed are those of the general public who have absolutely no idea about the issue. And here is where we shine. While others are presenting opinions without facts, Mexico Trucker continues to debunk those misrepresentations with photographic, first person proof
A new batch of troops arrived in Nuevo Laredo this weekend to supplement the soldiers already assigned to border security.
Although the authorities did not reveal the exact number of agents and soldiers who arrived, , military sources commented this week that between the 26 and the 29 of February, 2600 additional troops would be added to the states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon
According to a report of the Secretariat of the National defense (Sedena), the military will be distributed immediately to the municipalities of Nuevo Laredo, Miguel Aleman, Mier, Diaz Ordaz, Reynosa, Bravo River, Matamoros and the coasts of the Bagdad Beach, in the Gulf of Mexico, to carry out tasks of patrolling, monitoring and interdiction duties.
Yesterday, around the noon, two C-130 Hercules aircraft coming from Sonora, landed in the International Quetzatcóatl International Airport in Nuevo Laredo, with elements of the Special Forces, Fast Intervention, Artillery, Cavalry and Armor.
Included were 150 members of the Aero Movilf Fuerzas Especiales. (GAFES).
“The additional manpower will reinforce with the troopse that we have in this border city, monitoring the Police, within the city, roads coming in and out of the cityas well as the International bridges”, informed Military commanders of the Nuevo Laredo garrison.
Editor Note: A thought occurred to me reading this article. Growing up in Little Rock, close to Little Rock AFB, serving in the Air Force in the 70′s, and knowing several C-130 pilots and crewmen, it takes a high level of skill to fly one of the babies; If Mexican’s can fly the C-130 or any other aircraft for that matter, then why can they not drive and operate commercial vehicles properly and safely? Ehhhhh?
Loading ...
Readers Reponses