The Mexico-US border: Fear of violence

But still pretty safeon the northern sideIS MEXICOS drug war moving north? In Maricopa County, which encompasses Phoenix, officials are alarmed by a spike in kidnappings for ransom and other Latin American-style violence. Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, wants the federal government to deploy 1,000 National Guard troops and six helicopters in his state. A spokeswoman for the governor said that the request, which the administration is considering, is to prevent the situation worsening. But many mayors along the border say that troops are not needed, at least not yet. They dismiss such talk as alarmist. The sky is falling? Well, here comes more funding, says Chad Foster, the mayor of Eagle Pass. He says that his town, on a rugged stretch of the Texas border, is fine. He crosses the border to Piedras Negras daily, even though his sister in Los Angeles called and warned him not to go to Mexico. ...