COMMENTARY | After an alleged plot against a Saudi ambassador, U.S. policymakers should begin to take the threat of street gangs more serious than they have in recent years. Last week a plot, foiled by authorities, centered around a man whose address is listed in Round Rock, near Austin. On Sunday, Oct. 9 and Monday, Oct. 10, the Austin-American Statesman ran a two-part series about the cartels , their connection to Austin and how A.P.D is combating local street gangs. These articles were timely because by Wednesday, Oct. 12, the plot against the Saudi ambassador was uncovered and put out in the media.
The threat of a rogue government like Iran-arming local street gangs through the cartel is a clear and present danger. Local street gangs have access to local communities within the U.S. and any country that is an enemy of this country could use these gang members to bring terrorism to our door steps.
Many gang members are disgruntled , poor, lack a strong family structure and are willing to do anything for money. It shouldn't have taken this long for this threat to gain publicity and put on the front burner; better now than never.
With the recent article by Yahoo! News stating that cartels where recruiting Texas teens, we must now take an in depth look at how we are treating our teens. An allure of quick cash can sidetrack a teen for life. On the other hand, the budget cuts enacted by congress under Bill Clinton cutting jobs for teens has really had adverse affects on our youth. Also, 20 years ago, high-school teens worked fast food restaurant jobs that have now been taken over by Illegal Immigrants. When we neglect our youth, others will find opportunity and use it against us.
Iran also must be dealt with. They are a rogue nation that has declared war on all American citizens. Our policymakers should find it easier to get a war declaration now that Iran is threatening us with our own youth.
Locally, there is a recreation center located in the Colony Park Neighborhood of Austin, which was recently featured on the front page of the Austin-American Statesman. In this article, they uncovered how the cartels had set up shop and ran an elaborate scheme right next to unsuspecting neighbors, pushing narcotics to thirteen states in the southeastern United States.
This is a little too close to home. Then with the bust of the terror suspect from Round Rock; just imagine if he would have been able to coerce the La Familia Cartel(Colony Park) to get with the local 2-4 Bloods(Colony Park) to enact terror on local Austin residents.
We must begin to look at these threats to homeland security more serious and attack it at its core which is the local street gangs.
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