Mexico's Interior Minister Killed in Plane Crash (Update1)

[bemildred]

Source: Bloomberg

Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Mexico Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino, President Felipe Calderon's top aide, was killed when the plane he was in crashed into an office tower in Mexico City.

At least 40 people were injured on the ground and 8 people died, Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said in an interview with the Televisa network. Presidential spokesman Max Cortazar confirmed Mourino's death in an interview with Radio Formula.

The plane that crashed was a Learjet that had taken off from San Luis Potosi state this afternoon and was headed to Mexico City's airport, Televisa said.

The plane, operated by the government, crashed near the Petroleum Fountain, in the Lomas de Chapultepec neighborhood of Mexico City. Body parts were visible at the site of the crash, and cars and a newsstand were engulfed in flames.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aC7xHLPtS5QI&refer=latin_america

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Interior, is that like federal cops?

[hatrack]

1. More than that - kind of like the Attorney General, but with soldiers

Fucking weird.

[bemildred]

2. Wierd in a lot of ways.

Almost makes one think of the twin towers. They don't fly into buildings a lot by accident.

[Alamuti Lotus]

3. doubt it's an accident..

the drug gangs (or whoever else lumped into that catagory) have been picking off increasingly more and higher ranking gov't people lately. I read on Narconews a few days ago that the Mexican military was "ramping up operations" in many areas north and south. Given the headlines I've seen since, it doesn't seem to be doing so well..

[bemildred]

5. I kind of thought it was no accident too.

Something along the lines you mention. It bears watching.

[Alamuti Lotus]

6. I haven't been following Mexico well enough lately

but it seems he was a "controversial" (read: corrupt scumbag) figure in the gov't. Close ties to...wait for it...state oil companies. I wonder if the plane going down over a "rich neighborhood" is symbolic..

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. No, the fountain is symbolic

and the energy bill just passed, a bill nobody wanted... on the left at least... it was VERY CONTROVERSIAL

[Alamuti Lotus]

12. "Petroleum Fountain"

Ok, I missed that earlier.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Fuente de Petroleos Mexicanos, o Fuente Petrolera

A standby in the city, and actually now that I think about it, one of the approaches to the Benito Juarez Airport

[bluesmail]

4. Something's up. I have my tinfoil hat on...

Strange it happened during our election of Obama.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. That is coincidence, even if your tinfoil is appropriate for other reasons

[rodrigo2xxx]

7. the mafia ...

[Beacool]

8. I agree, the crash sounds suspicious at best.

The drug cartels have made a bloodbath of the frontier towns. In September 24 people were killed execution style in one day. Many have been tortured and even beheaded.

Mexico is such a beautiful country, but the violence is out of control.

:-(

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. That plane was operated by the Mexican Air Force

like our VIP transport

Why is this not making too much sense?

And that is the second most powerful man in the country

[Peace Patriot]

14. The Bush Cartel/Calderon deal went something like this...

(in my opinion)

1. Bushwhacks: We help you steal your election and give you $$billions of U.S. tax dollars in military aid to subdue your people (um, stop the drug traffic--heh-heh), and

2. You will accomplish the privatization of Mexico's oil (a constitutionally protected resource), and smash leftist uprisings, and maybe also

3. Keep our drugs/weapons operations out of the line of fire.


Calderon came within a hairsbreadth (0.05%) of losing to leftist Lopez-Obrador, in an election that was widely regarded at stolen. And, as we have seen in Colombia, Bushwhack "war on drugs" military aid is like pouring oil on a fire--the drug trade and related crime just escalate. But the more important purpose of the "war on drugs" military booty, in both cases--Colombia and Mexico--is oil. The Bushwhacks have heavily armed Colombia as part of a plan to invade Venezuela and Ecuador--a plan that has now been exposed--to split off the oil rich provinces of these countries into fascist mini-states in control of the oil (to restore U.S. global corporate predator control and profit from the oil). What motivates Bushites the most, even over drugs/weapons profiteering and fostering fascism? Oil. Calderon has run headlong into issues of Mexico's sovereignty over their resources and leftist poverty issues as to the uses of the oil profits. There is great resistance to privatizing Mexico's oil.

The Interior Minister's death may have more to do with the oil issue that drug mafias. My first thought, on reading this news, was that maybe he was resisting the oil privatization. I don't know enough about him to say this with certainty. But I believe that the Interior Minister is in charge of the state oil company. Need to find out more.

[Alamuti Lotus]

15. Mexico says jet crash is likely an accident

MEXICO CITY – A fiery plane crash into rush-hour traffic claimed the life of the Mexico's most powerful official after the president, a heavy blow to the government's escalating battle against drug cartels.

Officials say all indications are that the crash was an accident, but they vowed to investigate thoroughly to rule out the possibility of an attack and brought in U.S. and British investigators to help.

The plane carried Interior Secretary Juan Camilo Mourino, the equivalent of Mexico's vice president and head of domestic security, as well as former anti-drug prosecutor Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos.