MEXICO, Zetas: "military-grade communication system built with slave labor"

[presence]

The Mexican military is trying to dismantle an extensive network of radio antennas built and operated by the notorious Zeta drug cartel. But the authorities haven’t had much luck shutting Radio Zeta down. Not only is much of the equipment super-easy to replace. But the cartel has also apparently found some unwilling — and alarming — assistance by kidnapping and enslaving technicians to help build it.

At least 36 engineers and technicians have been kidnapped in the past four years (http://www.animalpolitico.com/2012/10/esclavos-del-narco-los-esclavos-especializados/), according to a report from Mexican news site Animal Politico, with an English translation (http://www.insightcrime.org/slavery-in-latin-america/zetas-enslave-engineers-in-mexico) published by organized-crime monitoring group InSight. Worse, none of the engineers have been held for ransom — they’ve just disappeared.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/11/zeta-radio/

[tod evans]

And how exactly is this different from the United States?

Our "media" is bought-n-paid for by armed thugs who use guns and violence to protect their turf.

[DerailingDaTrain]

And how exactly is this different from the United States?

Our "media" is bought-n-paid for by armed thugs who use guns and violence to protect their turf.

Because the "media" doesn't kidnap people and force them to work and keep them from ever seeing their families again? I understand where you're coming from but you can't compare the MSM to a group of assassins who work for a drug cartel.

[tod evans]

Because the "media" doesn't kidnap people and force them to work and keep them from ever seeing their families again? I understand where you're coming from but you can't compare the MSM to a group of assassins who work for a drug cartel.

No our media is much more tactful, either report correctly or you're out the door never to work in journalism again.

Sure you can see your family, watch them adapt when the standard of living they've grown accustomed to isn't there because you wouldn't present "The-News" as proscribed.

At least with the drug cartels everything is on the table, play ball or die........Here the end result is the same just with a thin veneer of legitimacy wrapping the package.

The internet is (for now) the only arena where a reporter can speak their mind if they don't mind being black-balled for doing so.

The Zetas are doing exactly what any dominant group will do in a free market, promoting themselves.

Those with the most/biggest guns write the rules.