Federal Troops Deployed Against Influenza Protesters in Mexico City

Infowars
May 1, 2009

D. H. Williams of the Daily Newscaster links to a YouTube video showing large numbers of federal troops in Mexico City deployed to stop protests against the government in Mexico City.

“George a citizen journalist from California has been told by Mexican nationals that federal troops have been used to stop protests of the government during the influenza or ‘The Panic’ as it is called by locals,” writes Williams. “Filming from ‘Panic Central’ George captures footage of a company strength unit of Mexican Federales deploying for an operation among the civilian population.”

Here is the video:

The troops do not appear to be armed with rifles or heavy military weaponry indicating this is an operational drill. Such an operation could be used to train the public to the presence of federal troops on the ground and an opportunity for the troops themselves to be tested and evaluated.

In Mexico, at least, the virus psyop (psychological operation) has taken on a military dimension as the government prepares the people to accept the presence of soldiers on the street. It is also using the bogus virus crisis to make sure they don’t protest. Of course, the Mexican people are more or less acclimated to heavily armed troops and federales on the streets after months of brutal warfare between the government and the Wall Street drug cartels that has resulted in the murder of thousands of innocent Mexicans.

It is only a matter of time before this psyop migrates to the United States and other countries. Mexico is merely the beta test.

It remains to be seen if Americans will sheepishly accept the military closing down the First Amendment and the right of assembly. If they are sufficiently brainwashed they probably will not gather in public, afraid of catching a virus now demonstrated to be no more prevalent than the common cold.

Dr. Bill Deagle on Alex Jones Tv (HD) Report on Swine Flu Outbreak in Mexico City

Swine Flu: State of Emergency, Mexican-Style

by Michael Werbowski

Global Research, April 29, 2009 Citizens of Mexico City, ©2009 Michael Werbowski MEXICO CITY -- Last Thursday was first day of what now is the "made in Mexico" great global plague due to the swine flu outbreak. Towards midnight that day, health officials gave an impromptu press conference announcing schools and universities would be closed the following day, that is Friday. Most citizens of Mexico City (Capitalinos) were already asleep by then. The next day, those who didn't catch the late night or early morning newscasts brought their children to school, only to find notices informing parents of the school closures until May 6. On that Friday, the true dimensions and extent of the epidemic's outbreak began to be felt in the capital. The government decreed -- or ordered rather -- a ban on all public gatherings, meetings or assembles of any kind including concerts, sporting events and of course, most of all demonstrations. Even traditional family fiestas or religious ceremonies such as baptismals, weddings etc were curtailed or postponed. Most surprising of all in this fervently catholic country, Sunday Mass services were cancelled over the weekend. In Mexico, churches and cathedrals are also places where one goes to worship and pray during troubled times as these , especially when the country is faced with a man made or natural disaster. Of course, Mexico is not unaccustomed to earthquakes (1985), volcanic eruptions (2000), massive hurricanes, drought and flooding. As for manmade calamities, there were revolutions (1910). More recently, massive economic meltdowns and regional rebellions (the Tequila-peso crisis and Chiapas crisis of 1994) and political assassinations have also shaken the nation. Today, amid the narco violence, there's a full blown pandemic panic attack being unleashed on the nation of 103 million. So, people here have plenty of reasons to pray for and about. Scenes From a City of Fear and Faith Some churches in the Coyacan district where I strolled after brunch on Sunday, were closed to both the faithful locals and blase tourists, who along with the standard shorts and sandals, wore a new fashion accessory , the obligatory surgical masks being worn by the city dwellers as part of the "public health emergency," which has been decreed since last week. View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map       Mexico City street scene. ©2009 Michael Werbowski At times, these face masks in assorted in light blue and green were disturbed for free in the name of "public health safety" or sold as "souvenirs" in the market square. On other occasions, it seemed as if everywhere, I went that is restaurants stores, hotels, government buildings etc (those which still remained open), almost everyone looked like a dental hygienists. Perhaps most surrealist of all was the televised live scene football matches in the capital; they were played behind "closed doors." The teams were out there on the field yet the spectator stands were empty and deserted as if all the footballs fans stayed at home fearing contamination. This week, I ventured out of my self-imposed quarantine and despite dire warnings to stay put and at home, I mixed with masses at my own peril and walked about without my face gear. In the Centro Historico, many fancy shops and restaurants were shuttered. Police wearing the ubiquitous surgical masks directed traffic in the partially deserted Zocalo. The same day -- Monday -- the local population already edgy, experienced an earth tremor which registered about 5.6 on the Richter scale at precisely 11:47 local time. Public and government employees were forced out of their offices during quake, in front of ministry buildings. The fear which has been sowed in the media and by incessant warnings of impending disease related doom has almost paralyzed this huge and great city with fear.    Mexico City street scene. ©2009 Michael Werbowski The only similar situation I can recall witnessing which reminds me of today’s events, was during Poland's martial law. Back then I was just a teen visiting relatives stuck behind the "iron curtain" but not even during martial law in communist Poland, would the authorities dare close churches, especially two weeks before Christmas. This would have infuriated the already agitated populace at that tense time in Polish history. Back then with amid the military crackdown, although classes were cancelled churches remained open. The church in Poland was a refuge from the day-to-day hardships imposed by the regime and a sanctuary or meeting place for citizens and dissidents. It was a harbor of tranquility. That's perhaps why many of them in Warsaw were surrounded by police vans at the time. Poland in 1981 was politically ill and the government was faced with growing popular discontent. The regime lacked legitimacy in the eyes of Poles. The economy was in a free fall and stayed afloat thanks to IMF emergency loans. Mexico, on the other hand, and its economy is reeling and feeling the pain from the collapse of the global free market financial system is also living on IMF credit lines or loans. The current Calderon government suffers from a democratic deficit which stems from the questionable outcome of the 2006 presidential elections. There is ever increasing social unrest due to huge income disparities and drug related crime here. In Poland, the communist regime imposed emergency measures as a desperate act to re-impose their authority. And also to clamp down on labor unions (Solidarity) which were challenging their power (muck like the drug cartels in Mexico) and forbid expected street protests, such as those Mexican authorities anticipate might occur this week for the annual workers' May Day celebrations. Poland after the imposition of martial law was cut off from the rest of the world. It was treated like a pariah state by the "international community." In the early phase of this Mexican epidemic, as the disease spreads so does the world wide panic and Mexico is being evermore isolated from the rest of the world. Travel advisories have been issued for foreigners not to come here. Mexican visas to other countries are being issued on a very limited basis. A nation which has adopted with great zeal all the neo liberal doctrines and ideological precepts associated with free trade is now being almost scapegoated as a carrier of contagious disease. This potential pandemic is perhaps symptomatic of the corruption and crime which 21st century capitalism has engendered here and elsewhere. In that sense, it seems Mexico has been selected to be the fall guy for the financial world's perverse greed. It has in a way, become the outcast of the post capitalist era.

Archeologist Who Greeted Obama in Mexico City, “Died the Following Day from Symptoms Similar to Flu”

April 26th, 2009

Via: Bloomberg:

Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared an emergency in his country’s swine flu outbreak, giving him powers to order quarantines and suspend public events.

Authorities have canceled school at all levels in Mexico City and the state of Mexico until further notice, and the government has shut most public and government activities in the area. The emergency decree, published today in the state gazette, gives the president authority to take more action.

“The federal government under my charge will not hesitate a moment to take all, all the measures necessary to respond with efficiency and opportunity to this respiratory epidemic,” Calderon said today during a speech to inaugurate a hospital in the southern state of Oaxaca.

At least 20 deaths in Mexico from the disease are confirmed, Health Minister Jose Cordova said yesterday. The strain is a variant of H1N1 swine influenza that has also sickened at least eight people in California and Texas. As many as 68 deaths may be attributed to the virus in Mexico, and about 1,000 people in the Mexico City area are showing symptoms of the illness, Cordoba said.

Obama’s Visit

The first case was seen in Mexico on April 13. The outbreak coincided with the President Barack Obama’s trip to Mexico City on April 16. Obama was received at Mexico’s anthropology museum in Mexico City by Felipe Solis, a distinguished archeologist who died the following day from symptoms similar to flu, Reforma newspaper reported. The newspaper didn’t confirm if Solis had swine flu or not.

The Mexican government is distributing breathing masks to curtail the disease’s spread. There is no vaccine against the new strain of swine flu, health authorities said.

Museums, theaters and other venues in the Mexico City area, where large crowds gather, have shut down voluntarily and concerts and other events canceled to help contain the disease. Two professional soccer games will be played tomorrow in different Mexico City stadiums without any fans, El Universal newspaper reported. Catholic masses will be held, the newspaper said, although church officials urged worshipers to wear breath masks and to avoid contact.

Schools will likely remain closed next week, Calderon said in the Oaxaca speech. The decree allows Calderon to regulate transportation, enter any home or building for inspection, order quarantines and assign any task to all federal, state and local authorities as well as health professionals to combat the disease.

“The health of Mexicans is a cause that we’re defending with unity and responsibility,” Calderon said. “I know that although it’s a grave problem, a serious problem, we’re going to overcome it.”

Normal Airport Operations

Mexico City’s international airport, which handles about 70,000 passengers each day, is operating normally, said Victor Mejia, a spokesman. Passengers are given a questionnaire asking if they have flu symptoms and recommending they cancel their trip and see a doctor if they do. The measures are voluntary, Mejia said, and no case of swine flu in airport passengers, workers or visitors has been confirmed.

Authorities throughout Central America have issued alerts to prevent the outbreak from spreading. Guatemala ordered tighter control yesterday of its northern border with Mexico, according to EFE. Gerberth Morales, who’s heading the Guatemala government’s response, said no cases of swine flu have been reported in his country, the Spanish news agency reported.

Brazil is intensifying vigilance in ports, airports and borders to check travelers’ health, luggage, aircrafts and ships in a preventive action against the outbreak in Mexico, the Agency for Sanitary Vigilance said on its Web site.

More: Obama’s Health Fine After Trip to Mexico

Research Credit: ottilie

Mexico Is in Free Fall

February 26th, 2009

Via: Guardian:

Shortly before the US elections last November, then vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden was widely criticised for predicting that an Obama administration would almost certainly be tested by what he called a “generated” international crisis, in much the way that the Soviet Union “tested” John F Kennedy shortly after he assumed office. Biden did not point to a specific region of the world, but mentioned the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Russia as the likeliest sources of trouble for the new president.

Impolitic or not, Biden’s anxieties seem to have informed several of the administration’s early foreign policy decisions. These include his own extension of an olive branch to Russia at the recent Munich security conference, and Barack Obama’s appointment of Richard Holbrooke as special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan – and of George Mitchell to a similar post for Israel-Palestine.

But, as pressing as the Middle East, south Asia, and Russia (as well as Iran and North Korea) are, another crisis far closer to home could create as much peril as a nuclear-armed Iran, an aggressively resurgent Russia, or even an Islamist-dominated Pakistan.

That crisis is located in Mexico, which is in free fall, its state institutions under threat as they have not been since at least the Cristero uprising of the late 1920s and possibly since the Mexican revolution of 1910. While the Obama administration is obviously aware of what is happening south of the Rio Grande, the threat simply does not command the attention that its gravity requires.

The crisis consists in nothing less than an effort by the major drug cartels to tame and suborn the Mexican state, and not just in the strip along the US border, though the epicentre of the crisis is there. Obviously, the cartels’ leaders do not have designs on Mexico’s presidential palace. But, through a policy of terror extending from Oaxaca in the south, through Acapulco on the Pacific coast, and up to the great border cities of Tijuana and Juarez (Mexico’s sixth and seventh most populous cities, respectively), they have made it abundantly clear that they are trying to achieve impunity.

The only recent parallel in Latin America was a similar effort 15 years ago by the Colombian drug cartels. That disguised coup failed – barely – and there is no guarantee that the result will be similar this time around in Mexico.

Journalists with long experience of war zones report being more worried about their safety in Mexico border than when they were in Bosnia, Afghanistan, or Iraq, though much of the violence is internecine. Of the thousands who have been killed, often after being horribly tortured, many, if not most, have been members of the drug cartels and their families.

But it is the campaign of targeted assassination against any Mexican official who seems to pose a serious threat to the cartels’ operations that makes the crisis so dire. First, in May 2007, the cartels killed Jose Nemesio Lugo Felix, the general co-ordinator of information at the national centre for planning and analysis to combat organised crime. Soon after, a hitman murdered Edgar Milan Gomez, Mexico’s highest ranking federal police official.

In November, 2008, a plane carrying Juan Camilo Mourino, Mexico’s national security adviser, crashed under mysterious circumstances. And very recently, the retired General Mauro Enrique Tello Quinones, one of the most decorated officers in the Mexican army, was abducted, tortured, and killed less than a week after assuming a new position as anti-drug chief in the resort city of Cancún.