Author: Dan Sommer
Source: articleage.com

Mexico the country of Salsa, Tortillas and Corruption;
I first arrived in Mexico City in February 2002 as an instructor for the WFB – the World Federation of Bodyguards. A Mexican security service had contracted Anders Sorenson, the Norwegian WFB instructor and I, to set-up a training program for BG’s in Mexico.
I came through customs and the weapons search, shaking my head at the Mexican officials who only spoke Spanish, making my visa interview a complete waste of time.
That was one of my first lessons about Mexico; almost all Mexicans dream of going to the US to live however, the vast majority speaks nothing but Mexican Spanish. This lack of English knowledge goes all the way from the basic uneducated labour worker to the university-educated attorney at law!
The Assassination:
On my second day in Mexico, I witnessed a Mexican Assassination complete with a “Hollywood-Movie” car chase. Sitting in our chauffeur driven vehicle, I was enjoying the sights in the city of Morelia, Michoacan, when I suddenly heard the well-known sounds of automatic rifle fire. A few seconds later a Bronco jeep, riddled with bullet holes sped past us. The jeep rammed into a vehicle right in front of us and stopped momentarily. The front seat passenger was hanging half out of the shattered side window, half his head gone with brain mass showing, in the rear a woman slumped covered in blood. Then the driver regained his senses and sped off down the street ramming other cars as he fled.
The sounds of automatic fire bursts came again but much louder and nearer. Seconds later a black jeep sped by, with two shooters hanging out the windows firing automatic bursts from AR-15’s. By now, from the rear seat, I was yelling at our chauffeur to give chase and try to ram the second vehicle; however, the chauffeur were paralyzed with shock and did not react, until Anders slapped him back to reality.
When we finally gave chase we just glimpsed the assassins jeep, take a right turn at an intersection 30 metres away. Our chauffeur was whining about it being to dangerous to get close to the assassins, however he managed to give a speedy chase. As we turned right at the intersection we witnessed 10-15 heavily, armed Police officers surround the assassins jeep.
The driver of the Bronco jeep were slumped dead over the steering wheel, he had done all he could to evade the attack site and escape the assassins. Realizing the assassins would not relent, the driver had driven with the horn flaring into the no-parking zone, surrounding the heavily guarded high-security police detention centre, where he knew help were immediately at hand.
The assassination turned out to be a drug cartel hit, the dead man in the front were a cartel leader, the woman in the rear was his wife and the driver was his personal bodyguard. The three assassins were arrested and charged with three counts of murder; they all pled guilty and subsequently each received a 12-year prison sentence, with parole after 8 years.
My real surprise about the assassination was the fact that the assassins continued their attack after the target had evaded the attack-site.
This contradicts all “normal” modus operandi for professional assassins, as giving chase across town exposes the whole assassin team to witnesses and law enforcement. Months earlier, I would have argued that this type of “spray and pray” car chase could only happen in a Hollywood movie.
When I discussed this matter with the CEO of the local TV-Azteca, he told me the reason for the continued attack, was that the assassins had more fear of botching the hit, than being arrested by the police. They knew that their Cartel leader would not accept failure and that he would reward their loyalty and commitment. They received the best legal defence money could buy, bribes to the attorney and judges, grease to the prison guards etc. Eight years in prison was simply not such a bad deal for the assassins! This is a similar situation to what is happening in Russia, where standard CP preventive methods, just will not protect your ass either.
The assassination proved to be a blessing in disguise, at least to Anders and I, who suddenly were the two most “wanted” persons in Morelia city. We had requests and questions about training, coming in from police VIP protection teams and security managers for the filthy rich. The WFB could not have arrived in town on a better day.
Being the flavor of the month:
Everyone in protection and his dog wanted to see what we had to offer in the training field. Everyone was very interested but also very sceptical about our training, the Mexicans are wary off gringos with the solutions to all their problems. Very candidly, they told us that they had “enough” experience with no-good American (US) templates for everything. Our schedule was quickly filled with meetings followed by training contracts.
In the next months we provided training seminars and courses to corporate VIP protection units and various police departments in the states of Michoacan and San Luis Potosi. The Police departments we provided training to included state SWAT teams and Ministerial Hostage Rescue Teams. These courses were hosted by the State Police Academies and we even held a seminar for the Army during Army Day.
Kidnapping Industry:
Mexico has more than its fair share of drug related crime, robberies, kidnaps and assassinations. In 2002 Mexico became the number 1 country for kidnappings, taking the lead over even Columbia, a position Mexico held until toppled by China in 2004. There are currently about 4000 kidnappings a year in Mexico. A report published in 2002 by the Mexican Ministry of Justice, found that former or serving Police Officers were involved in the planning or cover up of 80% of all kidnappings.
Training the Police:
One of the interesting facts about Mexico is the enormous amount of Police Officers pr capita. Even in a medium size state such as SLP there are more than 3000 State Police Officers. Add that on top of a heavy presence of City, Federal and Ministerial Police Officers. For a “European” the shear amount of Police Officers and independent departments are staggering and the jurisdictions are often over lapping and confusing. There are almost zero communication between the different departments and Petty rivalries are commonplace, between departments of the State Police and the Federal and Ministerial Police.
During a course for the Ministerial Police HRT, we had to stop early because the course was held at the State Police Academy, which were shared by State and the Ministerial Police. However the State Academy chief were annoyed with the Ministerial Police and decided suddenly that they could not use the firing range as it was officially under supervision of the State Police etc.
This is one thing foreigners need to bear in mind in Mexico, politics are part of everything and corruption is not a dirty word. Every “chief” were looking for “what’s in it for me” and if you could provide him with something he wanted, there were ends to what you could do. Firearms are a very delicate matter in Mexico, only the Police and Army has the right to bear arms. Bodyguards are not officially allowed to bear arms, but if you know the right “chiefs” the law means nothing.
However that does not prevent other Police departments from having a say about you carrying arms. During our third course in Mexico, we were training a Corporate VIP Protection unit of the Industrial Police. The Industrial Police were simply a “name” for a unit sponsored by the wealthy in a certain state; they would hire their Bodyguards and then have them “hired” on paper by the Industrial Police. This way the Corporate VIP protection units could legally carry arms. The Bodyguards would thus receive a salary from the Industrial Police and a substantial cash bonus by the corporation they were working for.
Weapons or rather a lack of weapons:
Another interesting problem in Mexico is the acquirement of weapons as the only “body” who have the legal right to import arms and ammunition is the Army. Even the Police Departments have to purchase or lease their weapons and ammunition through the Army. This unfortunately means that the prizes for legal weapons and ammunition are absolutely outrageous. The Army uses its monopoly to fund its own weapons and ammunition purchases and needs, thus the Army have “free” weapons and ammunition due to the tax they levy on the Police.
One result of this is that you can now see Soldiers brandishing new MP-5s used for guard duty, while the local Police SWAT team are still relying on UZIs and Beretta M-12s. It also results in an outrageously low amount of ammunition allowed for training Police Officers in the use of firearms. The majority of Police Officers fire less than 20 bullets a year and in one state, I witnessed the weapons training and the following weapons certification of Police Cadets, after having fired only 12 bullets from a revolver! More than two thirds of the Cadets did not hit their target with more than 2 bullets out of 12, from a 10 meter distance! After this I was “scared” when around armed Police Cadets, I jokingly told the local Chief of Police, to please not attempt to rescue me should I be kidnapped.
Among the interesting aspects of Mexican “Bodyguarding” we found that the vast majority preferred to stick their gun in the back of the pants, gangster style. And avidly claimed that this was the safest and easiest method of carrying a handgun, however during training courses the guns would be dropping all over the place. The main reason for this is that the Bodyguards are not assigned a firearm, but usually pass it between when changing shifts, thus they are to “cheap” to buy their own holster. We made it “clear” that this was unacceptable and students only made the mistake of “tugging” their gun in once!
Bodyguarding the Mexican style:
Another interesting aspect of Mexican “Bodyguarding” is the fact that many VIPs prefer (demands) to drive their own vehicle, thus the Bodyguards are merely following in a back up vehicle. There were daily stories of smart ass VIPs (usually the sons of the wealthy) simply out-driving the Bodyguards, the sons were of course driving Ferrari’s or other sport cars. One Fortune 500 VIP we trained for preferred to drive himself around in a two seat Mercedes Cabriolet, which of course made protecting him hell for the BGs.
Those readers who have access to the first issue of Protection News, can see a picture of the WFB adapting its Embus and Debus training to accommodate the VIP driving his own car. We also found that most wealthy VIPs had a huge luxury bus, which they used for cross state travelling inside Mexico. Due to this we had to improvise and adapt Embus and Debus drills to accommodate this and teach linear assault on busses, during the Counter Assault Team training.
A True Life Experience:
Mexico was a breath of fresh air to me as a European CPO, everything were different from working in Europe and the threat level were far higher and by experience we learned that the BGs can not rely of the Police. The vast majority of BGs and Police Officers I met and trained with (several hundreds) were all highly motivated and good guys, who really wanted to learn. They were all sick with the way things were in Mexico and especially the corruption, but there were little they could do about it. Mexico is truly a land of opportunity for the European BG training provider, as long as you accept the rules of business; “corruption” and status quo. If you want to earn money in Mexico, simply go there on vacation and drop in for a visit, by the VIP security managers and local Police Chiefs and soon you will find yourself immersed in the Mexican BG business.
One night when I was having a drink with a local Police Chief, I complained about the obvious drug trafficking. The chief looked at me and said; when I started this job I got a mail package, within it were two packages, one contained $10.000 the other a bullet! When I asked what he did about it, he quietly said; well I am still here…
Dan Sommer is the author of the SD Agent, a Surveillance Detection Manual, he has been part of the process of designing, implementing and training a SD team for a European Embassy. His 17 years security career started in 1986 and he has active experience from military, security, close protection, counter assault team and surveillance detection operations. Since 1994 the author has been writing training material’s for security companies and police departments. He has been instructing courses world-wide for security officers, bodyguards, police officers, counter assault teams and surveillance detection units. Dan currently acts as the International Director of the World Federation of Bodyguards and has a private business as a Security & Protection Consultant. His work can be viewed at his website http://www.DanSommer.Biz

Author: Douglas Bower
Source: download

When trying to write an “op-ed” piece, one has precious little space in which to attack an issue—600-1000 words. Mostly, one is able to take one point (or two at the most) and deal with it. In my story on San Miguel de Allende, I was trying to make the point there is a significant portion of the expat community that has turned to the dark side.
Not all have.
The dark-side expats are those who have yielded to the temptation, because of their lot in life and consequent heavily endowed stock portfolios, to change San Miguel de Allende into something more suitable to their American Tastes. They are those who listened to the slick ads, the used car salesman’s tactics that try to sell San Miguel de Allende to those with the money to buy it. These “second generation” SMA expats have done it. They bought the town.
However, there are different expats in San Miguel that I need to acknowledge. These are expats who have not taken the path to the dark side. These are the expats who “get it.” What they get is that when you are invited into someone else’s home, you do not set about changing that person’s home to conform to your image of a home—one with your tastes.
They are those that fully get that they are guests in someone else’s home. They understand they are here because of Mexico’s graciousness and no matter how different it is, they haven’t the right to make it “more suitable to American Tastes.” They understand Mexico is what it is and if they do not like it, they can leave and go where American Tastes reign—back in America.
I think there is a third wave of expats flooding into SMA. They are much like the first ones who came decades ago. They are much like the first-generation expats who despair over the second-generation expats and what they’ve made in SMA. I think the third-wave expats get that a horror has been brought upon SMA that needs excising. I doubt seriously there is any going back. Sad.
I think I am so possessed with this because what happened to SMA is beginning to happen here in Guanajuato where I live. The gringos are flooding into the city, they are buying up everything, and they do not speak a word of Spanish.
I want to make two points here:
1) Without the linguistic skills, there will never, ever be any assimilation into the culture. Impossible.
2) I have had e-mails, as well as face-to-face talks, with gringos who say these very words,
“We do not like what we see here in houses, so we are going to build a house more suitable to American Tastes.”
Is this not the path to the dark side?
It gets worse.
I get lots of e-mail from readers who read my column and books. One came from a retiring professor in the Midwest who told me of his desire to semi-retire to Guanajuato. He contacted the University of Guanajuato to inquire about possibly teaching a class or two. When the university official informed him of his need to be proficient in Spanish, he was thrown for a loop. (I am not at all surprised.)
Then he asked me about the “AMERICAN SECTOR” in Guanajuato. He wanted to know because he and his wife DID NOT want to live in a Mexican neighborhood.
As I wrote in our second book, Guanajuato, Mexico:
“This was absolutely repugnant to me. I took his question as an invitation to tell him about the uniqueness of Guanajuato. I was not so nice and was quite direct about what I thought of American Sectors. I never heard from him again.”
What the first-generation and the third-wave expats are doing in SMA is the right way to expatriate. What the second-generation has done, buying up the town and the city government with well-placed “incentives” to conform it more to American Tastes, is NOT the way to do it.
They haven’t the right!
If what you want is something that tastes American then why not stay in America?
Let me sum it up with a passage from our first book, The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico:
“Gold Coast was a term used to describe an area of New York’s Long Island where residents built colonial-era villages and monolithic estates. It was an area where a lifestyle of exclusivity prevailed. The riffraff and rabble were kept out so as not to taint the lives of the wealthy.
“It is an area of old money, old families, old social graces, and old ideas about who should be allowed to vote, not to mention who should be allowed to own land. The Gold Coast is not a pastoral Jeffersonian democracy.”
The huge estates that they built were essentially gated communities. It wasn’t enough to have massive acreages of land on which to build mansions in the French or Italian style–the likes of which the common man (peasants) had never seen. These rich people walled in the land, erected fortress-like walls complete with iron gates and gatehouses, and hired live-in gatekeepers to keep out the riffraff.
Am I on the wrong track here? Is not the reason for having these fortresses, gates, and gatekeepers to keep the rabble (the peasants) from bothering the Lords of the Manor? If, for the sake of argument, I am correct in my assumption, then who are the Lords of the Manor behind the gates and walls and who are the riffraff in these gated communities in Mexico?
I have seen these gated communities in San Miguel de Allende and Puerto Vallarta. The houses are ultra expensive and make me wonder how a middle-class Mexican family could ever begin to afford to buy one. This, of course, leads me to assume that these homes and communities are meant for only a certain class of people. They are for the rich Mexican (of which there are very few) and the gloriously rich American and Canadian expatriates.
On Sundays, there is a half-hour infomercial on our local television station that advertises these homes. The narrator used the words “exclusive” and “exclusivity” in every other sentence. They constantly highlight the same amenities which these gated communities have in common with Long Island’s Gold Coast estates. They have walls surrounding the community, security guards and cameras, and 24/7 gatekeepers who are always at the ready to keep out the “undesirables.”
Again I ask, just who are these “undesirables?”
Of the Long Island Gold Coast architecture, DeMille says:
“But the architects and their American clients of this period were not looking into the future, or even trying to create the present, they were looking back over their shoulders into a European past that had flowered and died even before the first block of granite arrived on this site. What these people were trying to create or recreate in the New World is beyond me.”
I just wonder in which direction the builders of and homebuyers in these gringo-gated communities have been looking. Have they been looking at the future, the present, or looking over their shoulders into an American past? I also wonder what these people are trying to create or recreate on Mexico’s Gold Coast and in other regions in this country that has graciously allowed them to live here as guests. It is beyond me.
“I can’t put myself in their minds or hearts, but I can sympathize with their struggle for an identity, with their puzzlement, which has troubled Americans from the very beginning–who are we, where do we fit, where are we going?”
Though I don’t understand it, perhaps I too can sympathize with the identity struggle behind the erecting of these gated communities and the isolation from the Mexican people they create. The Mexican people genuinely don’t understand why these gringos come to Mexico and refuse to socialize or interact with them in any way. We’ve had Mexicans ask us:
“Why won’t these Americans learn Spanish?”
“Why won’t these Americans associate with us? What is wrong with us?”
One cannot learn the language while hiding behind the walls of a fortress and refusing to interact with the Mexican population. The Mexicans are genuinely hurt by this attitude of isolation. They’ve told us so.
“The whole silly Gold Coast was a sham, an American anomaly, in a country that was an anomaly to the rest of the world.”
Sadly, I think the Gringo Land expats display the same sham to the locals in the cities where the gringo enclaves exist. The relationship between the locals and their gringo guests is flimsy, at best. ”
OUR NEW BOOK
Guanajuato, M้xico–New Book offers survival tips in the Land of Frogs
Guanajuato, M้xico – According to the 2000 Statistical Yearbook of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, published by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service, an estimated 300,000 Americans would expatriate to other countries each year between 2000 and 2005. Some estimates predict the number will continue to increase each year after 2005. Americans are leaving the country in droves, most of whom settle in Mexico. The authors of The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico have written a new book targeting a specific area of Mexico where Americans are moving as expatriates, study abroad students, or retirees. This new book is titled, GUANAJUATO, MษXICO: Your Expat, Study Abroad, and Vacation Survival Manual in the Land of Frogs.
http://mexicanliving.access.to/
E-BOOKS
http://my.lulu.com/mexicanliving
TRAVEL WRITER E-BOOK
http://www.zyworld.com/theolog/PlainTruth/Home.htm

Author: Rosa Carvajal
Source: ezinearticles.com

Playa Chac Mool is located 10 km in the Hotel Zone. The word Chac Mool is the name given to the Mayan sculpture of a Mayan god reclined with knees bended and a pot over his belly. I’m not sure why this beach is called Chac Mool, but if I had to guess I’d say it’s because the beauty of this place is such that it could’ve only been created by a mythical figure.

This beach is well-known for the stunning vibrant colors of its waters. Although at first the water seems shallow do not let your guard down. In fact, one can walk up to 14 meters in the shallow waters when you are suddenly and unexpectedly faced with a huge rocky drop off. It is important to verify the tide conditions because at times it can get rough and the currents strong. This beach, nevertheless, provides an excellent area for water sports such as sail-boating, water skiing, and para-sailing.

Playa Chac Mool is situated right in front of the Hotel Sierra and Hyatt Cancun Caribe, which are two prestigious hotels. While enjoying an afternoon stroll at this particular location, I couldn’t help but admire the wonderful shadow that is casted on the beach due to the immenseness of the hotels. I can’t complain, for it so happens that I hadn’t brought my umbrella and the shadow therefore was a perfect shield from the warm sun.

However, despite the hotels, there is a considerable wide strip of beach. Which, depending on your preference, you can enjoy alone during the off-season, or enjoy it with plenty of company during the peak season.

See this site in virtual 3D at http://www.patawalk.com.

Rosa Carvajal
http://www.patawalk.com

Author: Jim Scherrer
Source: articlesbase.com

By Jim Scherrer Let’s start out by assuming that you’re a pretty savvy investor; your 401k, IRA, or personal investments have kept up with the S&P 500 average during the past ten years and you’ve lost only about 35% of your life’s savings! Did you realize that the Mexican Exchange Traded Fund (EWW) which represents the Mexican stock market, even though it was annihilated during the current recession along with all other markets throughout the world (but is recovering rapidly), has advanced by 200% during the same time frame? In other word, $100 invested in the S&P 500 in 1999 would now be worth $65, whereas if it were invested in the Mexican EWW fund it would now be worth $200. Please refer to the ten year