ID:249280
Date:2010-02-18 00:07:00
10MEXICO111

VZCZCXRO6219
OO RUEHRS
DE RUEHME #0111/01 0490007
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 180007Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0504
INFO ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USNORTHCOM PETERSON AFB CO IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MEXICO 000111 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
WHA DAS JACOBSON, DIRECTOR LEE. 
NSC FOR RESTREPO AND O'REILLY. 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/17 
TAGS: PINR, PREL, PGOV, MX 
SUBJECT: DHS SECRETARY NAPOLITANO'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CALDERON, 
FEBRUARY 17 
 
REF: 09 MEXICO 3573; 10 TIJUANA 35; 10 MEXICO 518 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Gustavo Delgado, Minister Counselor, DOS, POL; REASON: 
1.4(B), (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Secretary for Homeland Security Janet Napolitano 
met with President Felipe Calderon on February 17 for over an 
hour-long discussion that ranged in topic from aviation security 
issues to counternarcotics cooperation.  The bulk of the discussion 
focused on the GOM's plans for Ciudad Juarez and the need for U.S. 
assistance in trying to combat organized crime and lower violence 
in the city.  There is a new opportunity in Juarez to mobilize 
civil society to make progress in dealing with the city's security 
woes.  President Calderon underscored that every measure be taken 
to re-establish authority in Juarez and reclaim public spaces, and 
engage communities to combat violence.  He thanked the U.S. for its 
support on developing the Juarez plan and asked for continued 
engagement to share intelligence and operational advice.  End 
Summary. 
 
 
 
2. (C) The discussion opened with aviation security issues. 
Secretary Napolitano conveyed her appreciation for Mexico's 
coordination of a regional conference on aviation security, and 
said that the Christmas day events in Detroit must be used to 
increase global standards.  Once terrorists enter international air 
networks, they can move anywhere.  Thus, we must build the capacity 
of all countries.  The International Civil Aviation Organization 
(ICAO) must help build capacity and raise standards, particularly 
in the weakest nations.  President Calderon said that there is no 
alternative but to push for global cooperation and to increase 
Latin America's capacity.  Iran, he noted, is focusing on places 
like Venezuela to establish operations.  Bolivia and Ecuador are 
also vulnerable.  Calderon is also concerned that organized 
criminal groups may try to establish contacts with terrorists.  He 
cited the nexus between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia 
(FARC) and organized crime in Colombia as an example.  Secretary 
Napolitano responded that, although we have not seen evidence to 
this effect, the potential is there, and this is all the more 
reason to share information on passengers and screening technology, 
as well as assist countries in their efforts to upgrade.  Calderon 
also noted that the Mexican Army (SEDENA) and Air Force are looking 
for three dimensional radars to better detect illicit air traffic. 
 
 
 
 
3. (C) Most of the rest of the discussion focused on the status of 
Mexico's counternarcotics fight, the way ahead in Ciudad Juarez, 
and how the United States can support these efforts.  In response 
to Secretary Napolitano's question on the status of Mexico's battle 
against the cartels, Calderon noted that Mexico in the past several 
months has seen positive results, including the December takedown 
of Arturo Beltran Leyva in Cuernavaca (ref a) and the January 
arrest of Diego Teodoro Garcia Simental ("El Teo") in Tijuana (ref 
b).  He said that Mexico's capacity for joint interagency 
operations is improving, but that there are still some problems 
with execution.  Calderon highlighted the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) in 
particular as more aptly handling intelligence, but also said that 
the Public Security Secretariat's (SSP) Federal Police and SEDENA 
are making progress.  The President said that with U.S. support, 
Mexican security services are obtaining more effective access to 
counternarcotics targets. 
 
 
 
4. (C) Calderon focused attention on the violence problem in Ciudad 
Juarez.  He said that  Mexico finds itself in a critical moment 
following the January 31 Salvarcar massacre of fifteen youths (ref 
c).  This is an opportunity, he continued, to mobilize civil 
society and for the GOM to respond to public pressure that 
something be done in the city.  Mexico needs the right USG 
counterparts, and Calderon asked whether the El Paso Intelligence 
Center (EPIC) might fill that role.  Secretary Napolitano responded 
that EPIC can help to identify the right organized crime targets, 
but that Mexico must move beyond military deployments and establish 
a police capacity in Ciudad Juarez capable of policing every block 
and street.  Social services and rule of law must also be extended 
 
MEXICO 00000111  002 OF 003 
 
 
throughout the city.  Secretary Napolitano promised that the USG 
will assist in any way we can.  Ciudad Juarez's struggles with 
violence have become emblematic of the challenge confronting Mexico 
and the menace of organized crime. 
 
 
 
5. (C) President Calderon embarked on a discussion of the 
historical and societal factors that led to Ciudad Juarez's record 
levels of violence - up to 40 percent of Mexico's capital crime 
occurs in Juarez or Chihuahua.  Among these key factors, Calderon 
said Juarez's position as a primary border crossing and rapid 
growth have contributed to the crime quandary.  The societal fabric 
is weak.  Tens of thousands of families moved to Juarez from all 
over Mexico.  Many of these new families were headed by single 
mothers with unsupervised children who turned to drug consumption 
and crime rather than school.  Juarez's transition from a city on a 
critical trafficking route to also being a main consumption center 
has contributed to the growth in other crimes, including extortion 
and kidnapping.  Additionally, Calderon observed that up until 
about three years ago, the Juarez cartel controlled the city.  More 
recently, the Sinaloa cartel has moved in to try to claim the 
territory, which has pitted the two organizations against each 
other and caused them to recruit gangs to fight their battles.  A 
comprehensive solution to the violence problem is complex, Calderon 
said, and has to address the city's social ills, economic 
development, health services, and the corrupt police and court 
system.  The President exhorted that Mexico and the United States 
work together. 
 
 
 
6. (C) Secretary Napolitano said that Ciudad Juarez's proximity to 
the United States has drawn U.S. attention to the violence problem 
and underscored the need to establish the rule of law and a real 
civilian police presence.  As the United States learned with New 
York and Los Angeles, a visible police presence assigned to 
specific areas is key, and people must be arrested for even minor 
offenses to get criminals off the streets.  Calderon noted that 
Ciudad Juarez - with assistance - is in the process of renewing the 
municipal police, and indicated that he favors the "Bratton 
approach" to the city (Note: New York Transit Police Chief William 
Bratton in the early 1990s applied a "zero tolerance" anti-crime 
strategy based on the "Broken Windows" theory, which proposes that 
attention to and a reduction in low-level crime will also help 
prevent major crime).  Calderon said the government must establish 
real enforcement of the law and a sense of authority in Juarez. 
The government cannot, as some advocate, make concessions on more 
minor crimes, like illegal vehicles, to focus only on the major 
issues. 
 
 
 
7. (C) Calderon said Operation Joint Chihuahua only temporarily 
reduced crime after the new troop and Federal Police deployment in 
March 2009, but then crime exploded as kids fought each other on 
the street to control the drug trade.  Now, the GOM is making 
important policy decisions.  It has augmented the Federal Police in 
Juarez and has given the SSP primary responsibility for security in 
the city.  The President underscored the continued need for an Army 
presence, but noted that its role has shifted to mostly patrolling 
the outskirts.  Mexico needs to focus on building civilian 
institutions, as well as developing a more robust intelligence 
capacity.    The GOM is launching a program to reclaim public 
spaces like parks and soccer fields. 
 
 
 
8. (C) Secretary Napolitano and Ambassador Pascual reviewed the 
strong U.S. commitment to provide support.  Representatives from 
EPIC have been going daily to the Federal Police command and 
control center to assess mechanisms to transmit operational 
intelligence.  A comprehensive planning session in El Paso the week 
of February 22 will test every aspect of the GOM plan.  The U.S. 
will produce a complementary plan to provide support, including 
ties to U.S. law enforcement agencies across the border.  We will 
also look at secure communications, training and vetting for 
municipal police, building prosecutable cases, and planning support 
 
MEXICO 00000111  003 OF 003 
 
 
for a comprehensive GOM socioeconomic revitalization program. 
 
 
 
9. (C) The discussion then focused on Mexico's southern border. 
President Calderon said the USG can help as Mexico intensifies its 
Southern Border Strategy.  Secretary Napolitano noted that the 
Guatemalan border's dense vegetation and terrain make patrolling 
difficult and asked whether there are areas to the north in which 
Mexico can create a choke point for inspections.  Calderon 
indicated that this, indeed, is how they are working, and Secretary 
of Government Fernando Gomez Mont said that checkpoints are being 
used at Mexico's more narrow isthmus.  USG and GOM officials noted 
the entrance of Somalis, Eritreans, and even Iranians through the 
southern border.  Calderon underscored that the use of technology - 
including non-intrusive inspections of vehicles and radars - are 
necessary for border control.  He does not want to continually 
employ the Army and other forces in such pursuits in fear that they 
will be corrupted.  Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Relations, 
Patricia Espinosa, said that Guatemala is open to regional security 
cooperation, but the Guatemalan government itself acknowledged that 
its team is fragile.  Calderon suggested that vetting and 
checkpoints in Guatemala would be a start, and indicated his 
concern about criminals smuggling people from Guatemala to the 
northern border.  These smugglers extort migrants with relatives in 
the United States, and kill those who do not. 
 
 
 
10. (C) The meeting concluded with a final discussion of Juarez and 
cooperation on the capture of high-value counternarcotics targets. 
Calderon asked for advice on police professionalization, and help 
with all aspects of Juarez's municipal police apparatus.  Secretary 
Napolitano said that Juarez can still be economically competitive. 
Its border location is a huge and unique asset.  But security is a 
major factor affecting investment.  The federal and municipal 
police must become effective first responders to public safety 
concerns.  Both the U.S. and Mexico have a shared interest, and we 
committed to work effectively and rapidly to curb the violence in 
Juarez and assert the state's authority to sustain the rule of law. 

PASCUAL