World

2 U.S. Gov’t Employees Reported Shot & Wounded in Mexico Attack

Mexico U.S. gov't employees attacked

Security personal search for evidence near an armored U.S. Embassy vehicle after it was attacked by unknown assailants on the highway leading to the city of Cuernavaca, near Tres Marias, Mexico, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. Two U.S. government employees were shot and wounded in an attack on their vehicle south of Mexico City on Friday, a law enforcement official said. (AP)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two U.S. government employees were shot and wounded in an attack on their vehicle south of Mexico City on Friday, a law enforcement official said.

The two were riding in an armored U.S. Embassy sport utility vehicle when they came under fire on a highway leading to the city of Cuernavaca.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said both were hospitalized, one with a wound to the leg and the other hit in the stomach and hand.

The official said the wounded were not agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration or FBI, but did not identify which agency they work for.

The U.S. Embassy had no immediate comment.

A Mexican army official said the SUV with diplomatic plates was found after a report about a shootout on the two-lane highway. The army official was not authorized to be quoted by name. He said a Mexican navy captain was also in the vehicle, but was not injured.

The Toyota vehicle was riddled with bullets, most concentrated around the passenger-side window, indicating possible involvement by experienced gunmen.

The shooting occurred on road winding through a mountainous area where drug gangs, common criminals and leftist rebels have been known to be active in the past.

The scene of the shooting was cordoned off and guarded Friday by more than 100 heavily armed marines and soldiers, and the highway was closed. Investigators examined what appear to be shell casings left at the scene.

Attacks on diplomatic personnel were once considered rare, but this is the third attack in two years.

In 2011, one U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent was killed and one wounded in a drug gang shooting in northern Mexico.

A drug-gang shooting In 2010 in the border city of Ciudad Juarez killed a U.S. consulate employee, her husband and another man.

While Mexico City has largely been spared the drug violence that hit other parts of the country, Cuernavaca has been the scene of drug gang turf battles involving remnants of the Beltran Leyva cartel.

This post has been updated since it was first published.

Comments (66)

  • kapnkd
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:16pm

    Poor ol’ Eric Holder and Obozocommie…..JUST when they thought the furor of Fast & Furious was settling down a bit!!

    Muchos Gracias Messicans!! ….For keeping it all on the front burner and fresh in our minds!

    Report Post » kapnkd  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:37pm

      Fast and furious goes way beyond gun running, it’s about keeping the drug routes open, keeping the illegal aliens flooding in,all for a price…..I’m not a Ron paul guy but this drug war is bogus and doing more damage than prohibition……” and they were planning on blaming it on americans rights to own guns per our constitution ,until Brian Terry got murdered………our government employees love stumbling upon millions in cash,,would you wana give that up…….

      Report Post »  
    • dianna9490
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:45pm

      OH WOW that MUST BE WHY THE FRAUD doesn’t go driving around Mexico! Oh, come on PANETTA don’t you want to take a trip to Mexico to investigate all of this or how about Janet Napalitano – I mean they were IN AN ARMOURED CAR – None of you think WE HAVE UNPROTECTED BORDERS AND ALL OF YOU THINK ITS OK FOR THE FRAUD TO USE HIS PEN AND LET IN ILLEGALS EVERYWHERE – So hey – go take a trip to Mexico and let us know how that works for you! YOU GUYS ARE TRUE BAFOONS!

      Report Post »  
    • 702TruthSeeker
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 6:15pm

      Why doesn’t Mexico just tighten up their second ammendment/gun control rights?? Why don’t we fix illegal immigration by making it illegal to cross border?! Stupid dummycrats

      Report Post »  
  • 19RANDY59
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:00pm

    Silly Cartel members, don‘t they realize our guberment workers r on they’re side. Silly Americans, don’t u realize that every guberment(including ours)is out to destroy U.S.

    Report Post » 19RANDY59  
    • Platonician
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:11pm

      No, they are not silly, Obama and the US Gov work for/with one Cartel, the Sinaloa Carlel. The other cartels are fighting against it.

      Report Post » Platonician  
    • Honestybefore truth
      Posted on August 25, 2012 at 8:23am

      While I wholeheartedly agree that Obama has done nothing but make things worse, a lot of the problems with Mexico have been passed on (like the debt problem) from one administration to the next. The problem is that NO president wants Mexico to go Communist(or hard line Socialist) on his watch. And that, is the likeliest outcome of a complete crack down at the border. We are Mexico’s safety valve. And the uneducated majority in Mexico will believe that redistribution will solve all their problems. Even though it has failed there (at least twice that I can think of off the top of my head) already. Following those two popular uprisings the land (wealth defined as land, Mexico being primarily an agrarian economy at the time) the land ended back in the hands it was taken from with in a generation. It seems it does take more than a strong back to make agriculture profitable. Maybe they should have demanded a decent educational system.

      Report Post »  
    • Honestybefore truth
      Posted on August 25, 2012 at 8:31am

      Also, the report states that there was a Mexican National in the vehicle (Naval officer… really? Mexico has a Navy?) Being that it is not unknown for members of the Federalies to do wet work for the cartels I would not be surprised if there was something more to this than mistaken identity or a mishap.

      Report Post »  
    • Honestybefore truth
      Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:12am

      I doubt anyone’s still interested in this thread but, this speaks to some of my previous post, I think.

      http://ca.news.yahoo.com/mexico-police-held-over-us-embassy-car-shooting-205653690.html

      At least some of those held in the shooting are Mexican Navy (though I remember something about the President of Mexico relying on them to fight cartels because they were the least infiltrated by the cartels). So why would they shoot up a convoy in which one of their officers was present? Maybe he was informing on those that may have become compromised? We’ll see. Maybe?

      Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:56pm

    Mexico is coming apart at the seams and some of their hate for America is spilling out. They have no fear nor respect for the US flag or personnel. Time to make them fear us again.

    Report Post »  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:06pm

      With what money? And, Leon is a very common name for car salesman or dealership.

      Report Post »  
    • Platonician
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:13pm

      That’s not the problem, and since Obama took office making the Army gay, etc very few people respect America in the world. This is just a fight between cartels. US Diplomats in Mexico = Sinaloa Cartels.

      Report Post » Platonician  
    • Sgt_Rock
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:36pm

      That lack of respect includes our national sovereignty. Any nation that allows it’s citizens (in fact encourages them) to illegally cross the borders of our nation is no friend. Their economy is directly effected by the amount of money ($21.27 billion dollars in 2010) their citizens send home from the US every year. Those are Mexican Central Bank stats by-the-way. Immigrants from other Central and South American nations are as follows (2008 stats):
      - Mexico 25,145 Billion
      - Brazil 7,200 ”
      - Colombia 4,842 ”
      - Guatemala 4,315 ”
      - El Salvador 3,788 ”
      - Dom. Rep. 3,111 ”
      - Peru 2,960 ”
      - Ecuador 2,822 ”
      - Honduras 2,701 ”
      -Total for 2008 – $69.2 Billion, that is not counting the use of U.S. social, medical, educational and other governmental service, and does not include U.S. criminal justice costs.

      Report Post » Sgt_Rock  
  • Viking64
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:42pm

    I can’t imagine being in car while bullets are flying through the glass, oh wait, actually if Obama wins or loses, many of us will be able to experience that! His angry, armed , and radical supporters will most likely take out their many frustrations on the wrong people, but it is Obama who has hurt them the most! We had all better hope for the best, while absolutely planning that the future may be worst!

    Report Post »  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on August 25, 2012 at 9:29am

      maybe this is a group trying to get even due to fast and furious.

      Report Post »  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on August 25, 2012 at 9:37am

      @ viking… i don’t see Obama going away quietly if he loses. i see him having a scorched earth policie on the way out. obama will try to cause as much trouble for Romney as he can. overwhelm the system.

      Report Post »  
  • Tickdog
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:40pm

    sounds like it is time to go to war with mexico..

    Report Post » Tickdog  
    • kapnkd
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:13pm

      And…..We don’t even have to go to Mexico to fight them!!!

      Report Post » kapnkd  
    • Platonician
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:55pm

      Hold your patriotic feelings for a second, this is New America. The people involved in this attack are “bad guys” on both sides. American Diplomats = Sinaloa Cartel, Attackers = Some other cartel.

      Report Post » Platonician  
  • branch manager
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:39pm

    Captian Obvious says…”That’s an act of war!!!”

    Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:39pm

    Fast and Furious . Open Southern Borders. OWS International Anti-Capitalist Occupiers in Democrat controlled cities. Tampa under siege . Nobama 2012 NO Democrats 2012

    Report Post »  
  • Patrick Henry
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:30pm

    Holders Guns Blazen the lands of BAAL

    Report Post » Patrick Henry  
    • johnpaulkuchtajr
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:07pm

      Let’s run down some of the major points of “Fast and Furious”:

      1. Over 2,200 high caliber weapons sold to at least two of the major cartels: Zeta and Sinoloa

      2. The CIA launders drug money for one cartel, the Zeta, I believe, as part of a deal to get them to drop a dime on the other cartels.

      3. Part of the deal includes a “get out of jail free” card for the Zeta to allow them to deal and transport their drugs with impunity.

      So, work with me on this analysis…………

      You have a host of incompetents led by the unknowing to carry out a doomed strategy to favor one cartel over the others. Yeah, I‘d can’t see any reason for our people to be at risk down there. One solution may be to ask for the resignation of the top twenty percent of DoJ, ATF, DEA, FBI, US Marshals, ICE and any other agency involved on that border. If they won’t resign, fire ‘em.

      Maybe new blood could end the endemic corruption and idiocy?

      Report Post »  
  • Zuitsuit
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:27pm

    Whooo Hoooo! Way to go Eric, dont stop now, send them some more machine guns, oh and dont forget to through in some ammo.

    Report Post »  
  • SCREW-WINDOWS
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:22pm

    Barry must have ruffled the competitions feathers.

    Report Post » SCREW-WINDOWS  
  • razvedka
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:20pm

    Get ready, it’s coming your way and our government will DO NOTHING to prevent it. If you think this won’t spill across our border I can tell you it already has. Once they get done with what’s left of the mexican police, they will cross that border and do the same here.

    Report Post »  
  • sbs21078
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:15pm

    Concentrated fire around the passenger area. Who was sitting in the passenger (VIP?) seat to warrant such concentration? Or was the shooter(s) just on that side of the vehicle?

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:03pm

    I just heard on local radio out of Houston the these were Marines that were shot. Anyone else heard anything?

    Report Post »  
    • woodyee
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:15pm

      Marines wouldn’t be listed as gobblement employees…they’d be called Marines.

      …then again, it IS the Gaybama administration…

      Report Post » woodyee  
    • yiska8
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 6:34pm

      Drudge has them mentioned as U.S. Marines. What the hell does Barry have them doing down there? Other than working for the U.S. Embassy or consulate office,which makes sense. The shooters probably knew they were U.S. Marines.

      Report Post » yiska8  
  • MN NICE
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:02pm

    Two government officials in a Toyota??? Must have been the Mexi-Chevy cartel doing the shooting…

    Report Post » MN NICE  
  • term limits for congress
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:01pm

    Must have been a rival gang. More senseless gang-on-gang violence. What’s the name of the gang we sponsor?

    Report Post »  
  • expendable
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:57pm

    looks like it’s the american gun owners fault again ! wheres hilary why isn‘t she on the news blaming american citizens the gun owners for all the horrible guns that we sold to the mexican people so they could shoot and kill innocent people you notice no one ever brings up her part in FAST AND FURIOUS and it seems like she’s been hiding

    Report Post »  
  • KeithOlberdink
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:55pm

    Shouldn’t it just read 2 U.S. citizens. Who the hell doesn‘t work for gov’t at this point??

    Report Post » KeithOlberdink  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:52pm

    U.S. GOV’T EMPLOYEES … IN MEXICO = stupid idea.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:52pm

    Don’t worry, Holder will defend the killers and sweep it all away………….FELON.

    Report Post »  
  • walnutportconservative
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:51pm

    Hamas, Drug Cartels, and corrupt government moving in my direction.
    God help us!

    Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:45pm

      And Obama pandering for votes with Open Borders! ( while American taxpayers are harassed at airports by the TSA !)

      Report Post »  
  • jackact
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:51pm

    An air force of armed drones would be a perfect Christmas present from the American taxpayers for Mexico this year.
    Felice Navidad!!!

    Report Post »  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:50pm

    Then they wonder why the States, People, Border Patrol is upset with the government in not wanting them to control our borders. We are a great Country being controlled by those that don’t love America.

    Report Post »  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:48pm

      And if we don’t change it, and fast, we will loose it forever.

      Report Post »  
  • woodyee
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:49pm

    “A Mexican army official said the SUV with diplomatic plates was found riddled with bullet holes after a report about a shootout on the highway.”

    SHOOTOUT? Who shot back at the assailants? The diplomats were rescued so, were any firearms found at the ambush site? Can they be traced to Eric Holder? Armored SUV’s yet “Attacks on diplomatic personnel are extremely rare in Mexico.”

    Extremely rare? Why the need for armored SUV’s? Unless of course, the ones requesting the up-armor are related to the ones supplying arms to the ambush team…

    Report Post » woodyee  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:07pm

      That’s a good question. Also, someone must be watching whoever these two guys are. Are they CIA?
      Notice how the AP tries to make a connection that they were Embassy officials, by using the next sentence to say the US Embassy had no comment?

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • BryanB
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:55pm

      @Anonymous T. Irrelevant

      You don’t need to know who they are. And theres a reason you don’t need to know who they are or who they work for.

      Because you don’t need to know that…………

      Report Post » BryanB  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:46pm

    Must have dusted off some of those Fast & furious weapons and gone hunting again.

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:45pm

      Hi RJJ,

      Fast and Furious weapons? Not this time.

      Whenever their is a shooting with F&F weapons and the bad guys get the upper hand the weapons are always left at the scene before the bad guys run away.

      Funny how that works….

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:45pm

    Gee, let me guess…. Ummmmm… Fast and Furious guns were used in the attack…. Ok, what did i win??

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:08pm

      The right to vote in 74 days,

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • moreteaplease
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:15pm

      Yeah, I wonder if Holder is sitting on the griddle over this one? I doubt it.

      Holders not worried about it because if this gets tied to F&F he knows it too will evaporate just as the hearings did.

      Report Post » moreteaplease  
    • RightUnite
      Posted on August 24, 2012 at 2:15pm

      Yay me!!

      Report Post »  

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