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Another look at the slaughter going on in Juarez, with some of the same footage we've seen and some new info as well. Afterwards, Michael joins Anderson in the studio to discuss the future.
ANDERSON
COOPER: We're back with an exclusive look inside the
sophisticated tunnel underneath the San Diego-Tijuana
border. A Mexican drug cartel built it. They don't
know which one yet.
They and other cartels responsible for dozens of
freshly dug graves, as well, all across Mexico every
single day. Dozens of murder victims.
Michael Ware saw that firsthand in a single bloody
day in Juarez, Mexico, just across the border from El
Paso, Texas. First, we want to warn you: his report
has some very graphic images.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL WARE (voice-over): On this day, we're in
Juarez to see the horrors for ourselves. It's just
before dusk as I approach a fresh crime scene.
(on camera) In Juarez, 1,600 people died from
drug-related violence last year. This year the
total's already well over 2,000. And today's total is
already at 12.
The man in that car was hit by cartel gunmen, riddled
with eight bullets. His passenger tried to flee but
only made it that far.
(voice-over) This was yet another afternoon of
killing in Juarez, with a night of murder yet to
follow.
(on camera) It's only 9:00. We're now going and
joining this police patrol. Since the killings this
afternoon that we saw, there's already been another
homicide, bringing today's total to 13.
(voice-over) Every night joint patrols like this one
between local and federal police and Mexican soldiers
crisscross the city, trying desperately to stem the
flow of blood.
(on camera) This patrol has just received a call that
something's happened. They're now moving at high
speed through these narrow streets to get to the
scene as quick as they can. We have no idea what
we're about to find.
Turns out it was a report of a robbery. The two men
have escaped on foot. The police are still looking
for them. But in a town like this, you never know
what a call may lead you to.
(voice-over) By now, it's close to 10 p.m., and the
reports of violence are streaming in over the police
radio.
(on camera) The men with us say sometimes the cartels
put in false calls to drag them to other parts of the
city while they go and do their business where
they're really operating.
(voice-over) But before the night is over, there is
even more carnage to come. All this in our one
afternoon and evening visit to this deadly city.
(on camera) This time it's almost too much to bear.
It's just after 11:00. And where you see those
policemen gathered at that door, there's just been
four more slayings, this time all women.
The early reports are that a gunman walked in that
door and executed all of them, one of them a
12-year-old girl, another one 14. And in a
gut-wrenching irony, all of this done with the
American border crossing just here, 80 yards away.
There can be no more pertinent reminder of the
Mexican blood that's being spilt in this war for the
right to supply America's demand for illicit drugs.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Michael Ware joins us now.
You know, the Mexican military has now flooded into
these towns. It's been -- you know, I think some
45,000 Mexican soldiers all across the country. I
mean, unless drug consumption in the U.S. gets
reduced, can anything really be done, as long as
there's a demand?
WARE: Absolutely not. And that's the thing about this
war. I mean, this war rages from U.S. soil all the
way down from Colombia.
In Colombia the product is created. It's transshipped
through Central America. The banking's done in
Panama. It's distributed through Mexico, all of which
is driven by America's demand for the drugs. And
until that changes, the profit incentive is so huge
that there's nothing to stop them.
COOPER: And what the Mexicans are trying to do, the
military, the government is hoping to do is to at
least break down these large cartels into smaller
groups so that it's more of a law enforcement issue
and not a threat to national security.
WARE: That's right.
COOPER: They think it's a threat to national
security.
WARE: And it is a threat to national security. I
mean, some of the building blocks of power, political
and certainly on the street within Mexico belong to
the cartels. I mean, it's hard for politicians to run
seriously for office without some kind of cartel
backing. I mean, that's how entrenched they are
within Mexican society.
COOPER: Are you surprised? I mean, you spent a lot of
time in Iraq. Were you surprised at how violent
things were in Juarez?
WARE: Well, it's my second or third trip to Juarez.
And it's just getting worse. It's getting absolutely
worse. I thought the first trip earlier this year was
bad enough. Now they're averaging at least 12
drug-related murders every single day.
COOPER: Amazing.
WARE: There's no sign of it stopping, none.
COOPER: Michael Ware, appreciate it. Great reporting.
Thank you very much.
WARE: Thanks, Anderson.