by Frank Perry
doing their job if the people in Mexico get fed up. There will be less organized attacks on our people and more law enforcement in Mexico.”
“Look I’m all for getting Cardenas out of there, you know I am, but it’s not enough!”
“It’s a start Mike, and I’d be happy to listen to other ideas. This is just one pole in the tent, but it gives something tangible to go after.”
Rebecca took back control, “I like the idea, Rachael, but we can’t sell it. We can’t go to the American people and tell them that we have a new ‘most wanted’ strategy, for drug control.”
Rachael responded, “Why not? We did it in the War on Terror. We offered a bounty for al-Qaeda leaders. Rebecca, it’s not a total strategy and we can’t exactly advertise why we’re doing it.”
The meeting ended at noon without a specific agreement. On the way out of the meeting, LTC Gates walked past Rachael and whispered, “I know just the guy to get him.”
He was gone before she could react.
Washington Post
The following day, the Washington Post had a front page article entitled “Secretary Howell (DHS) Proposes Border Plan to the President.” The article distilled down to several elements focused on reinforcements along the southern borders and attacking the cartels directly. On the morning news, several notable officials raised alarm about targeting foreign nationals on home soil. The DHS spokesperson said the legal and diplomatic aspects were being reviewed, and the department felt comfortable that there is precedent for such actions.
Rachael had conflicting thoughts after the meeting and was unnerved by Gates’ comment. She was doubly upset, learning that someone in the DHS had publicized her suggestion.
In the office the next morning, as the news reports were airing, she passed by Cybil, who said, “Rachael, is something wrong?”
“I’m sorry, Cybil, Good morning. I had a restless night and didn’t sleep well.”
“Can I get you some tea?”
“That would be sweet of you.”
She was reflecting on Cybil’s kindness and enjoying the hot brew when her phone rang, and Peter said, “Hi. I didn’t hear from you yesterday. Is anything wrong?”
“No. You know. You could call me, too!”
“Ouch. Yeah, I’m just kidding around. You sound tense. Anything to do with yesterday’s meeting?”
“What do you know about that?”
“Only that you were a star again.”
“More like a target. What else did that idiot Gates tell you?”
“Not much. Just that you defined a strategy to get mixed up in Mexico with the drug cartel.”
Rachael didn’t know if he was telling the whole truth, “Any details?”
“No. He just said you had a plan. You gonna share it with me?”
“No. It’s Company business on a need to know, and you don’t need to know.”
“Wow! Testy!”
“Look, Peter. I’m not feeling really talkative right now. Can we talk later?”
“Sure, hon. I’ll call this afternoon.”
“Thanks, I love you.” She thought, that’s the problem, I really do love him!
Cartel Reaction
“Let them come!” Hector Cardenas watched the morning CNN broadcast in Mexico City. “Let them come! If the Americans have no stomach for the violence -- just wait. In six months they will see so much blood that their President will be assassinated!” He was yelling at the air.
He yelled for a servant, “Have my plane ready to fly to Juarez in thirty minutes, jackass!”
“Si, Jefe,” The man hurried from the room.
He then called Juan Padilla and instructed him to meet at his Juarez estate.
“Those Americans. Who do they think I am? They cannot threaten me!”
Hector Cardenas, aka Juan Morales, had lived in the United States long enough to know how public sentiment translates into political action.
Three days later, Leo Moritz received a phone call from the El Paso Sherriff’s office to come to the El Paso Meat Co. immediately.
When he arrived, there were official cars from dozens of state and local agencies parked near the loading dock and more than a hundred people milling outside the yellow tape, including workers and news reporters. Police officers were recording names and other statements. Leo approached one of them asking for the Sherriff and was directed onto the loading dock after showing identification.
He walked up the end of the dock then toward the middle where a refrigeration truck from Mexico was backed to one of the open doors into the packing plant. As he walked toward a group of people, Rusty Baker, the Sherriff, came to meet him extending his hand. He looked like he wasn’t feeling well, “Leo, thanks for coming. I’m not sure, but we found a body marked ‘DEA,’ and so I called you.”
Leo took a deep breath, “Well, let’s take a look.” DEA operatives were always at risk. It went with the job. In almost every case, there deaths were cruel and symbolic in some way. Leo took a deep breath and prepared for the worst.
Baker put a hand on Leo’s forearm, “Look, it’s the most awful thing I’ve ever seen. So, I just wanted you to know.”
Leo paused. “It’s okay, Rusty. Let’s get this over with.”
They walked to the open rear of the trailer and cold air hit them like a block of ice. The rear of the truck near them was empty, except for overhead meat hooks. It took a few moments for eyes to adjust to the dark interior. Baker said, “This haul came in from Mexico this morning.”
Several whole beef carcasses hung stripped of their skin and headless. Baker spoke softly, “follow me.”
They stepped between two of the front beef carcasses, and in the second row Leo saw it. He nearly vomited and rushed to the open door breathing deeply. He gasped to the Sheriff, “Rusty, how? How can anyone do that to another human?”
“I don’t know, Leo. I don’t know. Look, I know this is hard, but do you recognize him?”
“Yes. Yes, he’s one of mine. His name is Arturo Navarro.”
The following day, Leo received an email:
Dear Leo,
I hope you enjoyed the little present I sent you in the truck yesterday. Nothing like a good steak! If you value your other agents, you better stop this war on my business. I know who your people are! Also, tell Mike Schmitt all about how I treat prisoners. If the United States wants war, they will get it — by my rules! You tell them.
With warm regards,
Hector Cardenas
His fist hit the desk hard.
Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores
Meetings between the Mexican Ambassador and the State Department began immediately after the President’s announcement. U.S. delegates also went to Mexico for meetings with their counterparts at the Secretary of External Relations. The meetings were cordial with promises that the Mexican government would find and arrest Hector Cardenas and his lieutenants, but nothing happened after several weeks. Violence on both sides of the border increased. Several Mexican government officials, judges, police and military leaders were killed.
The U.S. Border Patrol and National Guard went to all surveillance outposts in teams of two to four personnel. There were no longer single surveillance missions in the El Paso Sector. In response, the Cardenas Cartel began ambushing U.S. Agents. Tensions grew extreme, and it was unsafe for anyone to be in the desert within miles of the border, day or night. Local vigilante groups started “patrolling” border farmland on the U.S. side, increasing the danger to everyone, as untrained lunatics took up arms.
The Air Force began constant air surveillance, and National Guard air patrols were maintained around the clock. American soldiers were forbidden to cross into Juarez on their free time and civilians were discouraged.
After several months of enormous manpower and equipment expense, the danger to security personnel remained constant. The number of attacks subsided with the increased vigilance, but Cardenas could stil
l pick his fights, and win. He knew the American operating procedures and tactics.
Pressure was placed on the CIA to resolve the problem from the Mexican side. Rachael was unable to find a suitable agent to replace Jamie with enough connections or familiarity to survive. She was finally compelled to travel to Mexico City under the condition that the embassy provided extra security, flying in an unmarked Agency plane.
The plane left Andrews AFB around three in the morning on a direct flight path, landing just as the sun was rising. It touched down smoothly after a straight-in approach. As it taxied to the international visitor terminal, there were three black SUVs aligned near the parking ramp. When the door of the plane was opened and its ladder dropped, two Secret Service officers guided her quickly down the stairs. She was wearing a bullet-proof vest. Two other plain-clothed security officers met them at the bottom, with all four encircling as they moved rapidly to the convoy. Once inside the lead car, they began driving immediately. It would be another bright sunny hot day.
Steve Harris was in the backseat of the lead car with her. “Hello, again, Ms. Aston. I hope you had a smooth ride.”
“Hi, Steve. Remember to call me Rachael. I don’t usually like small jets, but this one was a good ride.”
“Great. We’ll be in the car for a while with early rush hour traffic.”
“Why three cars?”
“Oh, we can’t rely on the police for security escorts. We didn’t even tell them you’re coming. The rest of us are what you get.”
“Wow, I’m honored with all the attention.”
“Listen,