THREE CONGRESSIONAL CHAIRMAN BRING MESSAGE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 001020 E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2017 TAGS: PREL SNAR MX SUBJECT: THREE CONGRESSIONAL CHAIRMAN BRING MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO PRESIDENT CALDERON Classified By: CDA Leslie Bassett for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Rep. Silvestre Reyes, Chair of the House Permanent Subcommittee on Intelligence (HPSCI),joined by Rep. Ike Skelton, Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Howard Berman, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, visited Mexico March 26-27 to convey a message of support to President Felipe Calderon. During a cordial meeting with the President the three chairmen emphasized that the U.S. would support Mexico for the "long haul" in the effort against organized crime, offered to do what was possible to expedite Merida support, and expressed their personal appreciation for President Calderon's courage. The President responded by highlighting the urgent need for non-invasive inspection equipment to allow Mexico to conduct in-bound inspections to interdict assault weapons. "You can count on me," he told the chairmen, not just in the effort against drug cartels but also as a proponent within the region for free trade and rule of law. The chairmen also attended a small country team briefing and held a press conference before departing. In addition, Rep. Skelton laid a wreath at the monument to Mexico's child martyrs. Codel members did not clear this cable. End Summary. The Changing Attitude of the Cartels -------------- ¶2. (C) President Calderon opened substantive discussion by describing changes in cartel operations over the last ten years which led up to today's scenario in which they used assault weapons to defend territory which they needed both to access U.S. markets and to expand Mexican markets for drugs. Between 2000 and 2004 the Government of Mexico seized 3000 assault weapons. Once the U.S. ban on assault weapons was lifted in 2004 the numbers spiked dramatically, Calderon continued. Between 2007 and 2009, over 15000 such weapons have been seized, including missile launchers, AK-47s and Barret 50 calibres. The heavy weapons were used by criminal organizations to confront government entities, to intimidate local officials and law enforcement, and to wage battle against other cartels. Calderon argued for a reinstatement of the assault weapons ban. Meanwhile the government was working to keep the pressure on the cartels. Calderon said he was also working to reinforce the presence of the government throughout Mexico, especially in areas of vulnerability such as Ciudad Juarez. Since the government deployed 5000 troops to the city the murder rate had fallen 70 percent. Calderon noted that using the military was a short term solution so at the same time he was insisting that mayors and state governors meet their responsibility to provide order. Federal support is conditioned on locals vetting police, increasing recruitment and providing the necessary equipment and training. The Challenge of Corruption -------------- ¶3. (C) Calderon noted the challenge of corruption, recounting that the former head of security in Ciudad Juarez was under arrest in Texas for transporting a ton of marijuana. "In order to fight corruption you must sweep the stairs from top to bottom," Calderon continued. Already almost half of the highest level government officials had been vetted, Calderon reported, as part of "Operation Limpieza." His personal goal was to leave behind a clean, credible police, Attorney General's staff, army and navy. But he needed more support from local authorities and governors to do the same at their level -- some were more committed than others. ¶4. (C) Calderon briefly outlined his strategy to both confront crime and build Mexico's institutions. First, he said, was to improve technological capabilities by integrating criminal, police and judicial information in Plataforma Mexico. Second was to establish a national ballistics registry that would allow them to trace weapons used in criminal acts more efficiently. Third was legal reforms leading to oral trials under an accusatory system. And fourth was a more aggressive prevention strategy to rescue public spaces from traffickers, ensure schools were safe, and prevent and treat addiction more effectively. ¶5. (C) Asked about US military weapons and night vision equipment being used by cartels, Calderon said such instances, if they occurred were exceptions. However, the cartels were always looking to upgrade their equipment and sensationalize their tactics. There were reports, for example, that the cartels had plotted to take down his plane using grenade launchers, although in the end nothing had happened. Their use of torture and mutilation of bodies shows their decision to move to a higher profile in their effort against government entities. In a confrontation with police in Hidalgo criminals had thrown grenades, killing at least one officer. Calderon went on to say he believes the cartels have powerful links to the U.S. and could one day use the same kinds of aggressive techniques against U.S. law enforcement unless we are mutually successful. Merida Priorities -------------- ¶6. (C) Turning to Merida, Calderon said one thing Mexico needed was more access to information and intelligence developed by the United States. Thanks to equipment the U.S. had provided the government had managed to thwart a planned assassination of a key politician in one state. The cross-border nature not just of the illicit narcotics trade but of the criminals behind it meant the U.S. and Mexico had to work closely together. Calderon noted the murder of a U.S. Marshal in Ciudad Juarez, expressing his condolences and his commitment that there would be a full investigation into the matter. Calderon went on to say that another Merida priority for him was non-invasive inspection equipment which Mexico needed urgently to expand inbound inspections of travelers/cargo from the U.S. as well as to deploy along Mexico's southern border. Rep. Berman assured Calderon that the U.S. was committed to supporting him, and that Speaker Pelosi was very interested in seeing what Merida assistance could be accelerated. The Military-to-Military Relationship -------------- ¶7. (C) Chairman Skelton inquired about the military-to-military relationship and how that was evolving. Calderon replied that today the Mexican army was beginning to see the benefit of cooperating with the U.S. "I have the full support of the army to establish better cooperation with the U.S. army, " Calderon stated. He added that he had told the army to "do what it takes" with the U.S. army in order to beat back the cartels. Sustaining Public Support -------------- ¶8. (C) "We will not sentence future generations to more violence," Calderon continued, noting that of the 6500 murders last year, 65 percent were concentrated in three states (Chihuahua, Baja California and Sinaloa) and over 90 percent of the victims had some kind of tie to criminal activity. Asked if there was political momentum to go back to the old practice of looking the other way, Calderon replied, "There is a serious risk." Certain sectors in the past made informal agreements with criminals in exchange for a degree of security, and they are arguing for that again. But, Calderon continued, his commitment was to enforce the law. The Opportunity for the U.S. -------------- ¶9. (C) As the meeting ended, Rep. Berman asked about prospects for the Summit of the Americas. Calderon replied that President Obama has an opportunity to recover U.S. leadership in the region. His charisma, his positions, all resonated with Latin America very positively. It wouldn't be easy, as there were some "tough guys" in the neighborhood, Calderon pointed out. The Mexican leader said he finds himself "almost alone" in defending free markets, human rights and the rule of law. But just as Secretary Clinton offered a fresh message during her visit to Mexico, President Obama had the same opportunity to invigorate the dialogue with the entire region. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BASSETT