Ripe for terror

"Spring break required? Go to Florida, the Carolina's, Texas or Arizona. Going out of country, especially to Mexico, is a risk which can turn a Spring vacation into the Nightmare from Elm Street in a hurry."

Been to Cabo lately? Puerto Vallarta? Mazatlan? Cancun? Ready to go back? I would think twice if I were you. Alright Mr. Bird! In your usual fashion, you are just trying to be a Debby Downer, or a Dr. Rain Cloud! Like to spoil everyone's fun, right?

Not really. People who know me, will tell you nobody likes a good time more than I. Plus - I love to travel. Even to Mexico. We were just in Cabo two years ago. But things are changing rapidly in Mexico. They are changing from bad to worse. Mexico is becoming a lawless nation state, controlled in large part, by drug lords. And some of the drug lords have connections with some very, very bad people. Terrorism bad people. 

In the past few weeks, there have been two terror attacks in Cozumel. Two bombs planted on two different ferry's. One blew (nobody hurt, thank God), and the other one found before it blew. Whatever is going on down there, rattled our consular in Playa del Carmen so much, the Consular has been closed. Now for my take on what is going on.  

Mexico is like Afghanistan in the 1980's. The Russians found out how hard it was to gain a foothold in a country ruled by drugs (heroin). Mexico today, is ruled by drug lords. The cartels. Please don't hate on me for saying this, but it is true. Forget illegal immigration - if ever there was a time to "build a wall", it is now. Drugs, terror, crime, MS-13, you name it. It is all coming over the southern border faster than snow melt in the Rockies coming down the steams and rivers.

Experts have said for years that our kids in schools are the "softest" targets for evil doers. Amen to that! But people going to worship, people shopping, and people traveling are ALMOST as soft. And the tens of thousands of Americans who travel to Mexico every year are exposed soft targets. And as much as I hope I am wrong on this, sooner rather than later, there will be a wake up call from south of the border.

If Mexico really wants to be a part of NAFTA, part of the civilized western world, it needs to clean house. If it does not, tourism will dry up completely. We want a strong southern partner. One who can show its citizens the better way exists in Mexico as much as the United States. One who eschews drugs and the dirty profits they accrue. Until then, we need to watch them as a developing terror state. Drugs, money, and all the evil they bring.

Spring break required? Go to Florida, the Carolina's, Texas or Arizona. Going out of country, especially to Mexico, is a risk which can turn a Spring vacation into the Nightmare from Elm Street in a hurry.

If this scares you a bit, spring break at home - no matter where home may be.