I was looking at a collection of guns captured from a narco in Mexico and he had one with a picture of Zapata and another with Vesace. Interesting icons - rebel designer capitalists...
I spent two weeks in Ecuador over Christmas. Climbed Cotopaxi to the glacier then Cayambe to 17,000'. Quito was an amazing city. Also spent 4 days in the Galapagos. People everywhere were friendly. Beautiful country and I hope it can eliminate the drug gangs.
A very concise no bullshit explanation of what’s going on. It will be interesting to see how these reform efforts work. Typically the desire for the vice outlasts the reformers.
In this case getting rid of the influence of these drug gangs. Typically in history the desire for vice in general has outlasted attempts made to quash it.
Ah right, yes great point. I guess one thing which Colombia went through was trying to stop these gangs being such a threat - although still letting them move cocaine. Cheees Daniel.
True what you say Ioan, Ecuador has porous borders. they can firm those up and still be neighborly with their former foes the Peruvian and Colombian contingencies. There are many ways to disrupt the stability of cocaine trade tho. Thanks again. Your writing on this issue prepared me for my Ecuadorian tour
The question is whether President Noboa is really serious about attacking the narco gangs. He only declared a 60 day state of emergency. The violence started on Monday, January 8 and by Wednesday only 70 people were arrested according to the police and Rear Admiral Jamie Vela said Wednesday night that 329 people were detained (he did not say arrested) mostly gang members. One week later and only 1105 people have been arrested, 5 terrorists killed, two police officers killed and all hostages from the gang controlled prisons have been released. No mention of any military personnel injuries or fatalities. A big question is what deal was made between a government that has little control over the prisons and the gangs that control the prison. The other big question is whether the military was actually involved. In a wish washy statement Noboa told Telemundo Friday that “We aren’t going out to hunt people down and kill them … but we are at war and we are fighting against people who are heavily armed, organised, with domestic and international financial backing and a structure of terror and criminality that reaches far beyond Ecuador’s borders,” So you are not going to hunt down and kill them but then again you have not really arrested them either.
This whole operation may have been a show of bravado for the United States. The United States has pledged a $800 million security plan including $200 million for weapons. President Noboa has called this his Phoenix program in reference to the CIA Phoenix program in Vietnam which moved South Vietnamese villages to basically a protected prison to "protect them from the Viet Cong". An absolute disaster which immediately the US lost the "hearts and minds" of South Vietnam. The United States true concern about Ecuador is that is does not return to a leftist, populist type of government that Rafael Correa represented.
Thanks there Tom Johnston. Yes, a good point about how many arrests are actually made, and how much the power of the gangs is really challenged. It's also fascinating about his use of the term "Plan Fenix" for the operation. This will indeed be one to watch.
What Noboa promised in his campaign was a far cry from dealing with a real security crisis. In his campaign he was trying to demonstrate that he will be the Ecuadoran Bukele. The area of real concern should be the pledging of money by the US after this recent security crisis. Compare it to the United States threatening to cut off aid and funding to El Salvador 4-5 months into El Salvador's campaign against the gangs.
I find this uptick in gang violence very interesting as border issues in the Southwest are rapidly growing..if Cjng can grow south and become a heavy player in that area,it will turn an already powerful non state actor into a multi state player. As for the designer clothing it seems these gangs are organized line our gangs in the US. The new recruits don't get uniforms and have to supply their own stolen guns. The ones that become prospects get better jobs and a cut of the action. Full members get to start their own cliques.
I used to play music with a buddy from Ecuador back in my college days. I'm sad that good people are having such a hard time
Thanks there Darkstar and interesting points. There is certainly a career path and promotions within organized crime. But also these new mobs are sprawling networks, with unwieldy street gangs in one wing, and serious death squads in others. Yeah, some great people in Ecuador going through a very hard time in their country. All best there friend.
Attacks in Ecuador continue to grow. My perspective is to find a way to support President Noboa in his quest for controling his borders from "transnational organized crime". He addressed the UN Security Council in December with a call for strategic planning with member nations. If key latin american countries worked together, the US would be more willing to support them. Maybe a good thing? Instead of going after the crime, go after the commerical network and destabilize it. Why isn't the media reporting on the need for a strategy here? ...A view of a Norte Americano who traveled in Ecuador in November.
Thanks much there Daniel and that is a good notion - of more cooperation among Latin American countries on this. The crazy thing is the cartels can be better at working over borders than the governments. All best there friend.
Black shirts and pants = logical gang. Not wasting time choosing egotistically coloured clothing obviously allowed them space to plan this anarchy.
Good to hear your voice again.
Yes, serious paramilitary organized crime tends to go for black or khaki for the uniforms - modelled on SWAT teams or soldiers. Mind boggling stuff!
Maybe Steve Jobs is their hero, something to replace the out-of-fashion Che Guevara t-shirts.
Seriously, the USA influence is everywhere. 80s action movies shaped the male world, from Ecuador to Russia.
I was looking at a collection of guns captured from a narco in Mexico and he had one with a picture of Zapata and another with Vesace. Interesting icons - rebel designer capitalists...
:)
Seen crazy pics before, bling inspired. Maybe the Ecuadorians need a generation or two to devolve to that level.
Jokes and observations aside, situation is damn sad.
I spent two weeks in Ecuador over Christmas. Climbed Cotopaxi to the glacier then Cayambe to 17,000'. Quito was an amazing city. Also spent 4 days in the Galapagos. People everywhere were friendly. Beautiful country and I hope it can eliminate the drug gangs.
That must have been amazing. Again, the paradox of these beautiful countries and brutal crime wars. All best there DonDon.
A very concise no bullshit explanation of what’s going on. It will be interesting to see how these reform efforts work. Typically the desire for the vice outlasts the reformers.
Thanks much there Daniel. Do you mean drug policy reforms or which ones are you referring to? All best there.
In this case getting rid of the influence of these drug gangs. Typically in history the desire for vice in general has outlasted attempts made to quash it.
Ah right, yes great point. I guess one thing which Colombia went through was trying to stop these gangs being such a threat - although still letting them move cocaine. Cheees Daniel.
True what you say Ioan, Ecuador has porous borders. they can firm those up and still be neighborly with their former foes the Peruvian and Colombian contingencies. There are many ways to disrupt the stability of cocaine trade tho. Thanks again. Your writing on this issue prepared me for my Ecuadorian tour
Good luck with that. Latin American countries are still amazing despite violence.
Saw your coverage of this get cited on the YouTube channel "Warographics" new show "Situation Room" this morning.
Congrats, that's a fairly large audience that now knows you're here.
Nice one. Thanks much for pointing out and Ill check that out. Best there.
The question is whether President Noboa is really serious about attacking the narco gangs. He only declared a 60 day state of emergency. The violence started on Monday, January 8 and by Wednesday only 70 people were arrested according to the police and Rear Admiral Jamie Vela said Wednesday night that 329 people were detained (he did not say arrested) mostly gang members. One week later and only 1105 people have been arrested, 5 terrorists killed, two police officers killed and all hostages from the gang controlled prisons have been released. No mention of any military personnel injuries or fatalities. A big question is what deal was made between a government that has little control over the prisons and the gangs that control the prison. The other big question is whether the military was actually involved. In a wish washy statement Noboa told Telemundo Friday that “We aren’t going out to hunt people down and kill them … but we are at war and we are fighting against people who are heavily armed, organised, with domestic and international financial backing and a structure of terror and criminality that reaches far beyond Ecuador’s borders,” So you are not going to hunt down and kill them but then again you have not really arrested them either.
This whole operation may have been a show of bravado for the United States. The United States has pledged a $800 million security plan including $200 million for weapons. President Noboa has called this his Phoenix program in reference to the CIA Phoenix program in Vietnam which moved South Vietnamese villages to basically a protected prison to "protect them from the Viet Cong". An absolute disaster which immediately the US lost the "hearts and minds" of South Vietnam. The United States true concern about Ecuador is that is does not return to a leftist, populist type of government that Rafael Correa represented.
Thanks there Tom Johnston. Yes, a good point about how many arrests are actually made, and how much the power of the gangs is really challenged. It's also fascinating about his use of the term "Plan Fenix" for the operation. This will indeed be one to watch.
What Noboa promised in his campaign was a far cry from dealing with a real security crisis. In his campaign he was trying to demonstrate that he will be the Ecuadoran Bukele. The area of real concern should be the pledging of money by the US after this recent security crisis. Compare it to the United States threatening to cut off aid and funding to El Salvador 4-5 months into El Salvador's campaign against the gangs.
I find this uptick in gang violence very interesting as border issues in the Southwest are rapidly growing..if Cjng can grow south and become a heavy player in that area,it will turn an already powerful non state actor into a multi state player. As for the designer clothing it seems these gangs are organized line our gangs in the US. The new recruits don't get uniforms and have to supply their own stolen guns. The ones that become prospects get better jobs and a cut of the action. Full members get to start their own cliques.
I used to play music with a buddy from Ecuador back in my college days. I'm sad that good people are having such a hard time
Thanks there Darkstar and interesting points. There is certainly a career path and promotions within organized crime. But also these new mobs are sprawling networks, with unwieldy street gangs in one wing, and serious death squads in others. Yeah, some great people in Ecuador going through a very hard time in their country. All best there friend.
Attacks in Ecuador continue to grow. My perspective is to find a way to support President Noboa in his quest for controling his borders from "transnational organized crime". He addressed the UN Security Council in December with a call for strategic planning with member nations. If key latin american countries worked together, the US would be more willing to support them. Maybe a good thing? Instead of going after the crime, go after the commerical network and destabilize it. Why isn't the media reporting on the need for a strategy here? ...A view of a Norte Americano who traveled in Ecuador in November.
Thanks for your fine reporting!
Thanks much there Daniel and that is a good notion - of more cooperation among Latin American countries on this. The crazy thing is the cartels can be better at working over borders than the governments. All best there friend.