Putting Acapulco shooting in perspective in wake of news reports

News item: Shootout between outlaws and soldiers at a hillside mansion in the Mexican tourism town of Acapulco leaves 16 gunmen and two soldiers dead and causes the evacuation of tourists from a nearby strip of hotels. Media outlets gobble the story. CNN's Anderson Cooper on Tuesday night asks a global audience: "Is anywhere in the country safe, if this place isn't?" He also labels Acapulco "another town gripped in fear."

Reaction: CNN is intent on getting the most out of its "The War Next Door" theme, but this story begs some perspective. The shootout occurred in a safe house for drug cartel members, not in a hotel, and no tourists were reported to be caught in the crossfire. Acapulco is no longer a popular tourist destination for Americans or Canadians. Surfers visiting the state of Guerrero go straight to Puerto Escondido, to the south, or to the beaches north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, to the north. Fishermen favor Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

Surely, if any of the Hollywood stars who helped make Acapulco famous were still alive, they'd stay away from Acapulco too. It has brutal traffic issues and has long been known to harbor unsavory cartel types. As reported Monday in the L.A. Times, "The area where Saturday's shootout took place is home to budget motels and establishments whose glory peaked decades ago."

So it seems unfair to again toss a blanket over all of Mexico and imply that its drug war has landed in the heart of tourist zones. Cooper spoke of staying in Cabo San Lucas recently, "but in a guarded compound." Presumably he meant an upscale resort with security guards, which resorts have employed for years. It should be noted that Baja California Sur, which includes the Los Cabos area and the capital city of La Paz, has been the site of only one drug war-related killing this year, according to the Mexican newspaper, Excelsior, which keeps a running tab.

And as I type this from my Redondo Beach home office, there's a police helicopter flying overhead, looking for an alleged rapist who tied up his victim and dumped her at a nearby apartment complex. Cabo San Lucas, or anywhere in southern Baja, is sounding pretty good.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Acapulco, which these days caters largely to Mexican tourists, is in the news because of a deadly shooting Saturday, involving drug cartel members and soldiers. Credit: EPA/Marino de Valdez

 

Comments

[Core]

Mexico is on the verge of becoming a failed democracy and a drug state, this has been a problem for years and the country has been on a steady descent. The fact that things like this are happening in the country's larger tourist destinations and most glamorous towns means it probably looks even more glum in the border towns and big internal cities.

[Angelino]

All the news about drug cartel shootouts with police are increasing becasue of new government (Calderon) fighting the drug cartels and bringing down corrupt police in the country. Previous government kept it quiet because they had ties to the cartels. Soon the top cartel members will all be caught and violence will drop to below normal levels in the country of Mexico.

[ZihuaRob]

To the person who said Mexico is on the verge of becoming a failed state: Mexico WAS a failed state before Vicente Fox broke the back of over 70 years of single party rule and helped bring true democracy back to our country. Felipe Calderón has courageously challenged organized crime similar to the battle that occurred in the USA during Prohibition.

The stories that ought to be making news instead of the violence between military forces and narcos are being completely ignored because they are less sensational and not easily understood by the me-first instant-gratification seekers. The narco violence has hardly touched tourists. Instead, the news reports have done more harm to Mexico's tourism than the actual events.

[michaelj72]

mr. thomas makes valid points here, especially about cooper's lumping mexico with all things negative (from his ivory tower in some security guarded ultra-luxurious resort - where else do the wealthy and influencial stay in any third world country they visit anyway?) . contrary to cooper's assertion, there are plenty of 'safe places' in mexico, like the vast majority of the country.

cnn and cooper and the mainstream media are loathe to point out that it's america's fix for all these drugs which has led mexico down this increasingly violent path, which certainly isn't a pleasant one. and that it is the illegitimate president calderon who is increasingly militarizing and polarizing the whole mexican society - instead of seeking to end this ridiculous and futile Prohibition, Calderon pours more fuel on the fire.

Mexico has already wisely recently decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use, and this avenue should be widened and coupled with more drug rehabilitation, and an end to this war on drugs.

[Paul]

Pete's comments are dead on. However ZIhuaRob, it ain't your country, it is your wife's. Last time I went by your place you still had the iron gates chained & padlocked and you were still yakking about grenades in the outhouse on that spoof of a message board you pseudo manage.

[Jon K.]

I lived in Acapulco for three months.

Mexico is a wonderful place, but it is also a dangerous place, especially now. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either disengenuous or an apologist.

Americans need to stop going to Mexico for vacation because only AFTER American tourists stop going to Mexico will Mexico undergo essential internal reforms. That's just the truth.

When people petition for Americans to go to Mexico because of Mexico's hurting economy, THAT'S the advice of an enabler.

It's no different than someone who continues to feed an invalid person who's morbidly obese because the person screams that they're constantly hungry and feel awful about themselves.

American tourism hurts Mexico because it delays Mexico from developing necessary and essential internal reforms. So, know this, if you travel to Mexico on vacation you are contributing to a problem instead of helping it.

[Steve]

You people- in general are so brain washed in the US, it's no wonder our country is floundering so badly and is a laughing stock to the rest of the world. Every country in Europe and Asia has had terrorist attacks all of which are aimed at tourist. What's going on in Mexico does not an issue for the tourist or the Ex-pats like myself I have had residences in the Rosarito- Tijuana area for 25 years, and nothing has changed that affects my travel or behavior here. certainly there are places I won't go here but then that holds true for San Diego and L. A. I was driving down the freeway last month in L.A. an saw a SUV go by with bullet holes all down the side of it- real ones. Considering the legal ripoff's that our government allow the banks and credit industry to do to us here I'm glad i moved most of my assets to Mex. The U.S. is a mess and it's not the Disney land you all think it is.

[ZihuaRob]

I thought comments were moderated here, but apparently not so I'll respond to Paul's out-of-place remarks:

Paul, the country where I have worked and resided 24/7/365 for over 20 years and where I am a nationalized citizen certainly is my country. Perhaps you're just jealous because I have two countries to call my own?

Due to your constant and well-known excessive consumption of alcohol I am surprised you remember where you walked while visiting us here in Zihuatanejo, but I assure you there were no chains on my office door, which, if locked, means I am currently not in my office. The doors are always closed even when I am in my office because I have A/C and do not offer service to pedestrians, least of all excessively intoxicated tourists such as yourself. If you'd like to make an appointment to see me please contact my secretary like everyone else does.

As to any local grenade incidents, again, we haven't had any of those near my home for over 5 years. I live nowhere near the city police HQ that was attacked once this year. Things have been very peaceful downtown and in the tourist areas of Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa for years. Your memory appears to be failing you and I recommend you seek professional medical attention as soon as possible.

As for your comments about my own message board, if you dislike it so much please avoid reading it every day. That is where you found this LA Times article mentioned by one of my readers.

[Anna]

I am an ex-pat Brit and 25 year Acapulco resident. The exclusively drug-related outbreaks of violence in Mexico are the exception and not the rule. The American press as usual sensationalizes everything (could this be to keep Americans and their precious $$$ at home ???) and for the most part has only the most superficial understanding of Mexico and things Mexican. As with any other city in the world if you hang out with the wrong people in the wrong areas, you will eventually find trouble.
Acapulco is still a great tourist destination with unbeatable weather, something for every budget and every taste, great food and fantastic service and the best night life ANYWHERE .
You are more likely to get caught up in a drive by shooting in LA than you are to see any trouble in Acapulco. Come on America, it is time to start questioning the honesty, motivation and level of education of your media.