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By Anonymous — Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
The 2010-2011 Ventura County Grand Jury is pleased to announce the public release of a report entitled: Election Process SUMMARY The Grand Jury found the electoral process to be complex and lacking in safeguards which would ensure only citizens are allowed to vote. The Grand Jury found minor problems in the setup of the precincts and in the delivery of ballots to the receiving stations during the November 2010 election. VBM ballots received too late to be processed and verified on or before Election Day are counted post election day. The Grand Jury recommends a campaign to encourage VBM voters to mail their votes in time to be verified and counted on or before Election Day. This will result in a quicker and more accurate tally. A training class for all precinct workers should be mandatory. The Grand Jury found attendees to be inattentive to instruction and, therefore, recommends a more interactive presentation. Training should include the California Elections Code as it applies to precinct workers. Errors in vote counting in the November 2010 election caused many to lose confidence in the Registrar of Voters (ROV). These errors would not have occurred with only one type of ballot to count. This loss of confidence was unfortunate because the Grand Jury watched much of the ROV staff as they worked to verify the outcome with complete transparency. Each staff member seemed committed to excellence in assuring that every qualified vote was counted. The fact that they discovered and disclosed the errors and were able to correct them should give voters confidence in the process. The Grand Jury recommends that the ROV and the BOS investigate the feasibility and economics of countywide VBM as the only voting system. The VBM process includes verification of signatures between the ballots and the registration roles. Voting at precincts does not include this signature verification nor is any identification required at the precincts. Countywide VBM will also result in considerable financial savings. In response to the complications in the November 2010 election, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors (BOS) suggested a complete audit of results before certifying future elections. The Grand Jury agrees with this suggestion. Go to the Grand Jury website to review the entire report: http://grandjury.countyofventura.org |
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By George Runner — Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Board of Equalization Member Senator George Runner today issued the following statement in response to a majority-vote budget proposal by legislative Democrats: “Make no mistake, this Democrat budget isn’t about solving California’s fiscal problems—it’s only goal is to ensure lawmakers keep their paychecks flowing. “When voters last fall granted Democrats their wish of majority-vote budgets, they demanded lawmakers forfeit their pay if those budgets are not approved on-time. But it was never the voters’ intention for lawmakers to approve a sham budget simply to keep their paychecks coming. “What’s worse is that to protect their own pay, Democrats are poised to sacrifice the paychecks of thousands of California small businesses known as affiliates. Up to 25,000 of these Internet entrepreneurs will lose their affiliate status if Democrats approve a so-called ‘Amazon tax.’ According to the Board of Equalization’s analysis, ‘termination of affiliate programs would have an adverse impact on state employment’ and ‘lead to lower revenues.’ “The dumbest idea of all is the Democrats’ plan to sell state buildings for one-time revenue. If lawmakers want real one-time dollars, they should consider my proposals to raise billions in revenue by (1) granting an interest and penalty holiday to spur collection of delinquent tax payments and (2) selling-off aging debts owed the state.” Elected in November 2010, George Runner represents more than nine million Californians as a member of the State Board of Equalization. For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Written By Bill Gertz China's government is refusing to assist Senate investigators probing Chinese firms that are selling counterfeit parts that have been found in high-tech U.S. weapons systems, the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Tuesday. Committee Chairman Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat, and Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, told reporters that a panel investigation revealed that U.S. defense contractors and government agencies traced the sources of most fake defense parts to Shenzhen, in Guangdong province near Hong Kong. China has rejected... http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/14/senators-want-china-assi... |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Father’s Day is coming up and I am looking for nominations for the first California Senate Recognition of Fathers – a special acknowledgement for the special role model in a child’s life. Fathers play a vital role in the healthy development of their children. It is important to recognize their tireless involvement and devotion. With many families having both parents working outside the home, fathers are taking a more active role in their children’s lives. Ideal candidates will be extraordinary fathers who volunteer for a community organization(s), coach a child’s sports team or are otherwise dedicated to making their communities a better place for their children. Anyone wanting to nominate an exceptional father should go my website at www.senate.ca.gov/runner to fill out a nomination form. For more information, please contact my office at 916-651-4017 or email me at sharonrunner@gmail.com. All nominations must be received by Monday, June 20. An outstanding father from each region of the 17th Senate District will be selected based on the nomination statement. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
The British military intervention in Libya is unsustainable, the head of the Navy has said.
Written By James Kirkup Adml Sir Mark Stanhope said the campaign would have been more effective without the Government's defence cuts. The aircraft carrier and the Harrier jump-jets scrapped under last year's strategic defence review would have made the mission more effective, faster and cheaper, he said. Sir Mark warned that the Navy would not be able to sustain its operations in Libya for another three months without making cuts elsewhere. The First Sea Lord's comments will stir the debate over defence cuts that have left Britain without a working aircraft carrier and forced the Royal Navy's Harrier jump jets to be mothballed. Highlighting military anger over... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/857... |
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By George Runner — Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
One-Time Reprieve Would Boost State Coffers and Help Job Creators
Board of Equalization Member Senator George Runner today called upon the Governor and Legislature to enact a six month interest and penalty holiday to help struggling small business owners and other taxpayers who have fallen behind on tax payments during the recent economic downturn. "Our job is to collect taxes not penalties and interest," said Runner. "Too often heavy penalties and punitive interest charges actually make it more difficult for struggling taxpayers to catch up on late payments. If we want more jobs we need to help California's job creators get back on their feet." California tax agencies have the power to assess significant penalties, as well as interest charges that far outpace the rate of inflation. For instance, the Board of Equalization can impose multiple 10% penalties and interest charges that in recent years have ranged from 6% to 12%. Although the Board is authorized to waive penalties, interest charges cannot be waived under existing law. Runner believes a tax penalty holiday would result in a surge of revenues that could help balance the state's budget without raising taxes. "Instead of increasing taxes or cutting vital programs, we ought to learn from the experience of other states where these programs have successfully raised millions of dollars," said Runner. "A tax interest and penalty holiday would be a win-win for both California's job creators and state coffers." Last year the State of Illinois quickly raised $717 million in just five weeks on its tax amnesty program. Officials had expected the program to yield only $250 million. A Louisiana program last year generated $478 million in a two month period, far exceeding its $150 million revenue projection. When Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal first announced the program in February 2009, he estimated the state had only $297 million in outstanding collections since its last reprieve in 2001. Similar programs have also been recently implemented in other states, including Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington. By eliminating interest and penalties for all delinquent taxpayers, Runner's proposal is bolder than the programs in other states. Given the large number of delinquent California taxpayers, Runner expects returns could be significantly greater. In a letter to the Governor and legislative leaders, Runner writes: "In California up to $10 billion of delinquent accounts could be offered this relief. Based on the results of past programs and those in other states, an interest and penalty holiday could potentially generate several billion dollars of accelerated revenues for state and local government plus the payment of dollars we might otherwise never collect.” Runner has also urged state leaders to consider selling-off older debts owed the state, including billions in written-off accounts no longer actively pursued by state collectors. He believes his two proposals complement each other: a debt sale would consist of older debts, whereas an interest and penalty holiday would focus primarily on helping taxpayers who have fallen behind more recently on their tax payments. Elected in November 2010, George Runner represents more than nine million Californians as a member of the State Board of Equalization. For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner. FULL TEXT OF RUNNER LETTER Dear Governor and Legislative Leaders: I am writing to urge you to include in your budget an interest and penalty holiday for delinquent taxpayers. The severe economic downturn of recent years has proven difficult for many California taxpayers, including thousands of small business owners who are struggling to stay in business. As a result, many have fallen behind and now face steep penalties and interest charges that make it even more difficult for them to catch up. Accordingly, it seems timely to consider ways to help these taxpayers get back on their feet. It has been many years since California offered a reprieve for delinquent taxpayers. In recent years other states have successfully implemented programs to spur catch-up payments. The revenue generated by many of these programs, including those in Illinois, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania, has greatly exceeded expectations. In California up to $10 billion of delinquent accounts could be offered this relief. Based on the results of past programs and those in other states, an interest and penalty holiday could potentially generate several billion dollars of accelerated revenues for state and local government plus the payment of dollars we might otherwise never collect. Rather than impose higher taxes on the people of California, it makes much more sense to incentivize payment of the billions of tax dollars already owed state and local government. Thank you for your consideration. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, GEORGE RUNNER |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Assembly Member Jeff Gorell’s District Director Ernie Villegas reacted to the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, stating “Jeff’s record as an independent problem-solver and fiscal reformer has great appeal with the district’s new voters. In addition, Jeff’s background as a Naval Reserve Officer makes him a natural to represent the high number of active, reserve and retired military personnel in the newly added communities of the district.” Villegas added, “He will be proud to represent the only State Assembly district that is wholly contained within Ventura County.” The new district maintains Jeff’s strong political base in Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Moorpark. The new lines add the eastern portion of Oxnard and the coastal areas south of Port Hueneme, including the naval base at Point Mugu. Jeff’s existing communities in North Ventura and Los Angeles counties will be shifted to neighboring Assembly Districts. “Jeff supported the creation of an Independent Commission to take the job of redistricting out of the hands of politicians and put citizens in charge of drawing political districts,” declared Villegas. “He appreciates the demographic challenges Commission members have labored under to create districts that meet both the statutory requirements, and give proper concern for communities of interest.” Last year, Gorell achieved broad-based voter support across the political spectrum, earning a landslide 58% win over a well-known opponent in the November election. A third generation naval officer, Assembly Member Jeff Gorell was called back to active duty by the U.S. Navy on March 18th for deployment to Afghanistan. He currently holds the rank of Lt. Commander with the Navy (Reserve) as an intelligence officer and has previously served a tour of duty in Afghanistan shortly after the events of 9/11. The new district now includes the Ventura County Naval base at Point Mugu where Gorell reported for duty before being deployed by the Navy to Afghanistan. A Google Maps overlay of the lines for the district can be viewed at: http://goo.gl/jUolQ |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Continuing the series of “Card Table Office Hours” during Assemblyman Jeff Gorell’s military deployment to Afghanistan with the Navy, district staff will be joined by local elected leaders to meet with constituents and discuss their concerns. The next public event will be on Friday, June 24th in Castaic in front of the “It’s A Grind” coffeehouse from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Joining district director Ernie Villegas and field representative Adam Haverstock will be Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Trustee for the William S. Hart School District, and Bruce Fortine, Trustee for the College of the Canyons. Please come by and meet with them in person on Friday, June 24th in front of: It’s A Grind Coffee 29641 The Old Road Castaic, CA 91384 “It’s A Grind” is located in the Ralph’s Shopping Center near the Hasley Canyon Exit off of the I-5 Freeway in Castaic. For complete directions you can visit Google Maps at: http://goo.gl/maps/T1ia Jeff has already held card table office hours in Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and Simi Valley prior to his military deployment, and his office will be continuing these meetings throughout the 37th assembly district during his absence. For additional information, please call Jeff's district office at (805) 230-9167. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING / BUDGET WORKSHOP AGENDA 1. Call to Order: 6:30 P.M. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call: Council Members Brooks, Conaway, Sipes, Walker and Mayor Washburn. 4. Approval of Agenda 5. Presentations and Announcements 6. Public Comments 7. Consent Calendar 8. Public Hearing 9. Department Reports – City Council Engineering A. Review of Annual Storm Drain Maintenance Assessment District Report, Declaring Intent to Levy Assessments and Setting a Public Hearing. Recommendation: 1.) Adopt City Council Resolution No. 11-3301: Declaring the intent to levy the annual assessment for Fiscal Year 2011-12 for the Fillmore Storm Drain Maintenance Assessment Districts No. 1, 1A, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7; 2.) Set a Public Hearing for June 28, 2011 at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting to receive public comments regarding the Fillmore Storm Drain Maintenance Assessment Report and the levy of assessments. B. Initiation of CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Written by Jeff Cox When adding in all of the money owed to cover future liabilities in entitlement programs the US is actually in worse financial shape than Greece and other debt-laden European countries, Pimco's Bill Gross told CNBC Monday. Much of the public focus is on the nation's public debt, which is $14.3 trillion. But that doesn't include money guaranteed for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, which comes to close to $50 trillion, according to government figures. The government also... http://www.cnbc.com/id/43378973 |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Written By ROBERT BURNS BRUSSELS – America's military alliance with Europe — the cornerstone of U.S. security policy for six decades — faces a "dim, if not dismal" future, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday in a blunt valedictory address. In his final policy speech as Pentagon chief, Gates questioned the viability of NATO, saying its members' penny-pinching and lack of political will could hasten the end of U.S. support. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed in 1949 as a U.S.-led bulwark against Soviet aggression, but in the post-Cold War era it has struggled to find a purpose. "Future U.S. political leaders... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110610/ap_on_re_eu/eu_gates_nato_doomed_5 |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
By Tim Johnson MEXICO CITY — Mexico's rival crime gangs are in an arms race, and the latest sign of that are the homemade "Mad Max" type heavily armored vehicles they deploy to withstand fierce clashes with each other. The army found two more "narco tanks" over the weekend in Ciudad Camargo in Tamaulipas state along the border with Texas. In earlier discoveries in April and... http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/06/06/115327/mexican-drug-gangs-building... |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
They are the gruesome images that are testament to the trouble that has hit one Mexican city which has become a flashpoint for the war on drugs. Two young men, cut down in the prime of their life, were left hanging from a pedestrian bridge as warring drugs cartels continue to fight in Monterrey One of the men was was missing a foot and had been stripped down to just his underwear while the other's clothes were splattered with blood... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394823/Mexican-war-drugs-reache... |
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By Anonymous — Monday, June 6th, 2011
CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2011 5:30 P.M. AGENDA 1. Call to Order: 5:30 P.M. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call: Councilmembers Brooks, Conaway, Sipes, Walker and Mayor Washburn. 4. Public Comments 5. Closed Session A. Liability Claims. Claimant: [Lori Nunez; Alice Villagomez]. Agency Claimed Against: City of Fillmore. B. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (subdivision (a) of C. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (subdivision (a) of Section 54956.9). Name of case: City of Industry v. City of Fillmore; Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Three, Case No. B219485. 6. Adjournment: City Council adjourns to its Regular Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 250 Central Avenue. Agenda Posted: June 3, 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------- CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING / BUDGET WORKSHOP AGENDA 1. Call to Order: 6:30 P.M. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call: Council Members Brooks, Conaway, Sipes, Walker and Mayor Washburn. 4. Approval of Agenda 5. Presentations and Announcements 6. Public Comments 7. Consent Calendar Recommendation for Items A. through C. is to Approve. A. Warrant List for June 7, 2011. 8. Public Hearing 9. Department Reports – City Council Fire Department A. Approve Revision to Item U. of the Concessionaire Agreement with the Equestrian Center and Direct Staff on Implementation. Recommendation: 1.) Approve revision to Item U. of the Concessionaire Agreement which deletes need for local groups to submit written requests to the City each November for use of the animal pens at the Equestrian Center; 2.) Direct City staff on any other issues regarding implementation of this process. 10. BUDGET WORKSHOP City Manager’s Office A. Presentation of FY 2012 Recommended Budget and Organizational 11. Department Reports – City Council (Continued) Community Development A. Conduct Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 11-829: General Plan Amendment 11-01, Amending the 2005 Land Use Element of the City’s General Plan. Recommendation: 1.) Adopt City Council Ordinance No. 11-829: Approving General Plan Amendment 11-01. City Attorney B. Conduct Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance No. 11-828: First Amendment to Heritage Valley Parks Development Agreement between the City, Hearthstone Multi-Asset Entity C, L.P., Heritage Valley Parks – Fillmore, L.P., and Open Space Land Preserve Foundation; and Adopt Settlement Agreement between the City, Hearthstone Multi-Asset Entity C, L.P. Heritage Valley Parks – Fillmore, L.P., and Open Space Land Preserve Foundation. Recommendation: 1.) Adopt City Council Ordinance No. 11-828; 2.) Adopt Settlement Agreement between the City, Hearthstone Multi-Asset Entity C, L.P. Heritage Valley Parks – Fillmore, L.P., and Open Space Land Preserve Foundation. City Manager’s Office C. Request City Council Review Issue of Equestrian Center Concessionaire and Direct Staff on Next Steps for Equestrian Center and Bids for New Concessionaire. Recommendation: 1.) Staff recommends the City Council determine the next steps for the concessionaire agreement for the Equestrian Center and direct staff on implementation. 12. Department Reports – Joint City Council and Redevelopment Agency 13. Committee, Commission, and Board Reports 14. City Council Reports, Recommendations, and Comments A. City Councilmember Travel Requests/Brief Reports B. Any Councilmember May Propose Items for Placement on Future Agenda C. Council Referrals/Brief Comments 15. City Manager A. Follow-Up on Requests from the Public/City Council B. Announcements and Upcoming Issues 16. Closed Session A. Conference with Labor Negotiators: [Government Code Section 54957.6] Agency Designated Representatives: City Manager Yvonne Quiring, Finance Director Glenda Jay, Linda Pappas Diaz, Jack Hoffman, Hoffman & Associates; and City of Fillmore Unrepresented Employees: Public Works Director, Finance Director, Fire Chief, Deputy City Manager, Community Development Director, Accounting Supervisor, Deputy City Clerk, Assistant Planner, Assistant to the Finance Director, Building Official, City Engineer, Community Services Supervisor, Confidential Accounting Technician, Disaster Coordinator, Fire Captain, Human Resources Officer and Public Works Supervisor. B. Conference with Labor Negotiators: [Government Code Section 54957.6] Agency Designated Representatives: City Manager Yvonne Quiring, Finance Director Glenda Jay, Linda Pappas Diaz, Jack Hoffman, Hoffman & Associates; Employee Organization: Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 501. 17. Adjournment: City Council adjourns to a Regular City Council Meeting / Budget Workshop scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 250 Central Avenue. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Upcoming Meetings and Related Agenda Items (Info Only) June 14, 2011 Agenda Posted: June 3, 2011, 5:00 p.m. |
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By Anonymous — Monday, June 6th, 2011
Ventura, CA - The Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA) received a State Homeland Security sub-grant for $66,821 to develop a business disaster recovery program for the county. VCEDA is taking a lead role in bringing together business, government and local resources to develop a program and plan to improve businesses' ability to prepare, respond and recover from disasters. "No one likes to think about a disaster taking place in our area, but we have to," says Bill Buratto, VCEDA president and CEO. "Government can only do so much. The sooner businesses get back on their feet after a disaster, the sooner the economy and our area will recover." VCEDA's "Ventura County Ready Business Campaign" will develop programs to engage and educate the Ventura County business community about disaster preparedness. Planning includes preparation for natural disasters as well as made-made disasters including terrorist attacks. The campaign will also identify and recruit business leaders to train and serve at the Ventura County Emergency Operation Center. Another part of the campaign will be to compile a database and create a website with private sector emergency and response resources available for businesses. VCEDA has already established the Ventura County Ready Business Advisory Council, made up of local business leaders, to help execute the plan. The council will be working with the Ventura County Emergency Planning Council (EPC), an advisory body whose mission is to lead a unified effort in improving disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery countywide. "All Ventura County businesses need to be ready when disaster strikes," says Buratto. "By doing so, you're not only taking steps to help your own business recover, but the county as well." VCEDA's business sub-grant is part of a larger general grant approved for the County of Ventura. About VCEDA |
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By Anonymous — Monday, June 6th, 2011
Sacramento, CA – California ReLeaf announced today that funding is available to community-based groups throughout California for urban forestry projects. The program is funded through a contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Eligible applicants include incorporated nonprofit organizations and unincorporated community-based groups, with a financial sponsor, located in California. Individual funding requests range from $1,000 to $7,500. Applicants may submit only one proposal. Grants are for the costs associated with carrying out a tree care or education/outreach project. “ReLeaf is proud to be an integral part of building community through urban forestry in California,” said Executive Director Joe Liszewski. “Since 1992, we have invested more than $2.8 million in urban forestry efforts geared towards greening our Golden State.” California ReLeaf’s mission is to empower grassroots efforts and build strategic partnerships that preserve, protect, and enhance California’s urban and community forests. Working statewide, we promote alliances among community-based groups, individuals, industry, and government agencies, encouraging each to contribute to the livability of our cities and the protection of our environment by planting and caring for trees. Proposals must be postmarked by July 15th, 2011. Grant recipients will have until February 17th, 2012 to complete their project. The guidelines and application are available online at www.californiareleaf.org. For questions, or to request a hard copy, please contact California ReLeaf’s grants program manager at cmills@californiareleaf.org, or call (916) 497-0035. |
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By Anonymous — Monday, June 6th, 2011
Santa Barbara, CA – California State Senator Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) is pleased to announce the new location of his Santa Barbara district office. “It is my utmost priority to be open and accessible to all of my constituents. This location will help me and my staff better serve the residents of Santa Barbara.” Senator Strickland’s new Santa Barbara district office location: 225 E. Carrillo Street “It is an honor serving in the California State Senate; thank you for your support as we transition to our new location,” Senator Strickland added. Tony Strickland represents California Senate District 19, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. |
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By Anonymous — Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
Mexican Drug War 2011 Update By Scott Stewart On the afternoon of May 27, a convoy transporting a large number of heavily armed gunmen was ambushed on Mexican Highway 15 near Ruiz, Nayarit state, on Mexico’s Pacific coast. When authorities responded they found 28 dead gunmen and another four wounded, one of whom would later die, bringing the death toll to 29. This is a significant number of dead for one incident, even in Mexico. According to Nayarit state Attorney General Oscar Herrera Lopez, the gunmen ambushed were members of Los Zetas, a Mexican drug cartel. Herrera noted that most of the victims were from Mexico’s Gulf coast, but there were also some Guatemalans mixed into the group, including one of the wounded survivors. While Los Zetas are predominately based on the Gulf coast, they have been working to provide armed support to allied groups, such as the Cartel Pacifico Sur (CPS), a faction of the former Beltran Leyva Organization that is currently battling the Sinaloa Federation and other cartels for control of the lucrative smuggling routes along the Pacific coast. In much the same way, Sinaloa is working with the Gulf cartel to go after Los Zetas in Mexico’s northeast while protecting and expanding its home turf. If the victims in the Ruiz ambush were Zetas, then the Sinaloa Federation was likely the organization that planned and executed this very successful ambush. (click here to enlarge image) Photos from the scene show that the purported Zeta convoy consisted of several pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles (two of which were armored). The front right wheel on one of the armored vehicles, a Ford Expedition, had been completely blown off. With no evidence of a crater in the road indicating that the damage had been caused by a mine or improvised explosive device (IED), it would appear that the vehicle was struck and disabled by a well-placed shot from something like a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) or M72 LAW rocket, both of which have been seen in cartel arsenals. Photos also show at least one heavy-duty cattle-style truck with an open cargo compartment that appears to have been used as a troop transport. Many of the victims died in the vehicles they were traveling in, including a large group in the back of the cattle truck, indicating that they did not have time to react and dismount before being killed. Unlike many other incidents we have examined, such as the ambush by CPS and Los Zetas against a Sinaloa Federation convoy on July 1, 2010, near Tubutama, Sonora state, the vehicles involved in this incident did not appear to bear any markings identifying them as belonging to any one cartel. In the Tubutama incident, the vehicles were all marked with large, highly visible “X”s on the front, back and side windows to denote that they were Sinaloa vehicles. Most of the victims were wearing matching uniforms (what appear to be the current U.S. Marine Corps camouflage pattern) and black boots. Many also wore matching black ballistic vests and what appear to be U.S.-style Kevlar helmets painted black. From the photos, it appears that the victims were carrying a variety of AR-15-variant rifles. Despite the thousands of spent shell casings recovered from the scene, authorities reportedly found only six rifles and one pistol. This would seem to indicate that the ambush team swept the site and grabbed most of the weapons that may have been carried by the victims. Guns may not have been the only things grabbed. A convoy of this size could have been dispatched by Los Zetas and CPS on a military raid into hostile Sinaloa territory, but there is also a possibility that the gunmen were guarding a significant shipment of CPS narcotics passing through hostile territory. If that was the case, the reason for the ambush may have been not only to kill the gunmen but also to steal a large shipment, which would hurt the CPS and could be resold by Sinaloa at a substantial profit. Whether the objective of the ambush was simply to trap and kill a Zeta military team conducting a raid or to steal a high-value load of narcotics, a look at this incident from a protective intelligence point of view provides many lessons for security professionals operating in Mexico and elsewhere. Lesson One: Size Isn’t Everything In an environment where drug cartels can mass dozens of gunmen and arm them with powerful weapons like machine guns, .50-caliber sniper rifles, grenades and RPGs, there is no such thing as a force that is too big to be ambushed. And that is not even accounting for ambushes involving explosives. As evidenced by events in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, even convoys of heavily armored military vehicles can be ambushed using large IEDs and smaller, sophisticated explosive devices like explosively formed projectiles. There are people in both the private and public sectors who cling to the erroneous assumption that the mere presence of armed bodyguards provides absolute security. But this is simply not true, and such a misconception often proves deadly. Indeed, there are very few protective details in all of Mexico that employ more than two dozen agents for a motorcade movement — most are smaller and less well-equipped than the Zeta force that was destroyed May 27. Most protective details do not wear heavy raid vests and Kevlar helmets. This means that government and private-sector protective details in Mexico cannot depend on their size alone to protect them from attack — especially if the attackers are given free rein to conduct surveillance and plan their ambush. In an environment where the threat is so acute, security managers must rely on more than just big men carrying guns. The real counter to such a threat is a protective detail that practices a heightened state of situational awareness and employs a robust surveillance-detection/countersurveillance program coupled with careful route and schedule analysis. Indeed, many people — including police and executive protection personnel — either lack or fail to employ good observation skills. These skills are every bit as important as marksmanship (if not more) but are rarely taught or put into practice. Additionally, even if a protection agent observes something unusual, in many cases there is no system in place to record these observations and no efficient way to communicate them or to compare them to the observations of others. There is often no process to investigate such observations in attempt to determine if they are indicators of something sinister. In order to provide effective security in such a high-threat environment, routes and traveling times must be varied, surveillance must be looked for and those conducting surveillance must not be afforded the opportunity to operate at will. In many cases it is also far more prudent to maintain a low profile and fade into the background rather than utilize a high-profile protective detail that screams “I have money.” Suspicious events must be catalogued and investigated. Emphasis must also be placed on attack recognition and driver training to provide every possibility of spotting a pending attack and avoiding it before it can be successfully launched. Proper training also includes immediate action drills in the event of an attack and practicing what to do in the event of an ambush. Action is always faster than reaction. And even a highly skilled protection team can be defeated if the attacker gains the tactical element of surprise — especially if coupled with overwhelming firepower. If assailants are able to freely conduct surveillance and plan an attack, they can look for and exploit vulnerabilities, and this leads us to lesson two. Lesson Two: Armored Vehicles Are Vulnerable If assailants are given the opportunity to thoroughly assess the protective security program, they will plan ways to defeat the security measures in place, such as the use of an armored vehicle. If they choose to attack a heavy target like the Los Zetas convoy, they will do so with adequate resources to overcome those security measures. If there are protective agents, the attackers will plan to neutralize them first. If there is an armored vehicle, they will find ways to defeat the armor — something easily accomplished with the RPGs, LAW rockets and .50-caliber weapons found in the arsenals of Mexican cartels. The photographs and video of the armored Ford Excursion that was disabled by having its front right wheel blown off in the Ruiz ambush remind us of this. Even the run-flat tires installed on many armored vehicles will not do much good if the entire wheel has been blown off by an anti-tank weapon. Armored vehicles are designed to protect occupants from an initial attack and to give them a chance to escape from the attack zone. It is important to remember that even the heaviest armored vehicles on the market do not provide a mobile safe-haven in which one can merely sit at the attack site and wait out an attack. If assailants know their target is using an armored vehicle, they will bring sufficient firepower to bear to achieve their goals. This means that if the driver freezes or allows his vehicle to somehow get trapped and does not “get off the X,” as the attack site is known in the protection business, the assailants can essentially do whatever they please. It is also important to recognize that high-profile armored vehicles are valued by the cartels, and the types of vehicles usually armored generally tend to be the types of vehicles the cartels target for theft. This means that the vehicle you are riding in can make you a target for criminals. While armored vehicles are valuable additions to the security toolbox, their utility is greatly reduced if they are not being operated by a properly trained driver. Good tactical driving skills, heightened situational awareness and attack recognition are the elements that permit a driver to get the vehicle off the X and to safety. Lesson Three: Protect Your Schedule The fact that Los Zetas felt comfortable running that large a convoy in broad daylight demonstrates that they might have taken some precautionary measures, such as deploying scouts ahead of the convoy to spot checkpoints being maintained by Mexican authorities or a competing cartel. It is highly likely that they consulted with their compromised Mexican government sources in the area to make sure that they had the latest intelligence about the deployment of government forces along the route. But the route of the Zeta convoy must have been betrayed in some way. This could have been due to a pattern they had established and maintained for such convoys, or perhaps even a human source inside the CPS, Los Zetas or Mexican government. There was also an unconfirmed media report that Los Zetas may have had a base camp near the area where the ambush occurred. If that is true, and if the Sinaloa Federation learned the location of the camp, they could have planned the ambush accordingly — just as criminals can use the known location of a target’s home or office to plan an attack. If an assailant has a protectee’s schedule, it not only helps in planning an attack but it also greatly reduces the need of the assailant to conduct surveillance — and potentially expose himself to detection. For security managers, this is a reminder not only that routes and times must be varied but that schedules must be carefully protected from compromise. While the Ruiz ambush involved cartel-on-cartel violence, security managers in the private and public sectors would be well-served to heed the lessons outlined above to help protect their personnel who find themselves in the middle of Mexico’s cartel war. Give us your thoughts For Publication Not For Publication Reader Comments Reprinting or republication of this report on websites is authorized by prominently displaying the following sentence at the beginning or end of the report, including the hyperlink to STRATFOR: "This report is republished with permission of STRATFOR" |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, June 1st, 2011
Government salaries put under scrutiny
More than 77,000 federal government employees throughout the country — including computer operators, more than 5,000 air traffic controllers, 22 librarians and one interior designer — earned more than the governors of the states in which they work. The findings, from a... http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/31/77000-feds-paid-more-tha... |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, May 31st, 2011
Sacramento, CA. - Senate Bill 443, authored by Sen. Strickland (R-Simi Valley) passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously. “The passing of this bill through committee is a fitting Memorial Day tribute to the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Sen. Strickland said. “By supporting this monument my colleagues and I are showing our appreciation for soldiers from all branches of the military.” “We are now one step closer to getting this memorial built and allowing Orcutt to fly the flag as a demonstration of patriotism and freedom,” Sen. Strickland added. “With the Holiday on Monday it allows us to properly reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day and what this monument really stands for: a tribute to the veterans who were proud to wear the uniform and who fought to defend our Nation’s freedom.” “The flag is the most patriotic symbol our country shares and to fly it proudly is the most patriotic act one can demonstrate. When future generations see it they will know the sacrifices these brave men and women made.” SB 443 would authorize the Old Town Orcutt Revitalization Association (OTORA) to plan, construct, and maintain a veterans’ memorial in a park-and-ride lot located in Orcutt, California. The memorial will contain a 60-foot American flag surrounded by five pillars, representing each branch of the U.S. military. No state money will be used to build or maintain the memorial. Sen. Strickland is available to the media for an interview or comments. Tony Strickland represents California Senate District 19, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. |