Alexandria, VA-
According to the U.S. State Department, "dozens of Americans" were
murdered or kidnapped in Tijuana, Mexico last year, and that "in
numerous towns and cities in northern Mexico" the "equivalent to
military small-unit combat" continues to routinely occur, which led
the State Department on April 14 to issue a Travel Alert for the
border nation.
More than a month later, the Big Three Networks have yet to report
on the State Department's official warning.
The Alert states that "foreign visitors and residents, including
Americans, have been among the victims of homicides and kidnappings
in the border region", and that "criminals have followed and
harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in
border areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Tijuana."
But the violence is not contained in and to Mexico. On May 14, the
Associated Press reported that "according to Border Patrol
statistics ... seven frontline (U.S.) border agents were killed in
2007, and two so far in 2008. Assaults against officers have also
shot up from 335 in fiscal 2001 to 987 in fiscal 2007. There have
been 362 assaults against officers during the first four months of
2008." Jayson Ahern, the deputy commissioner of Customs and Border
Protection, was quoted as saying "It's almost like a military fight.
I don't think that generally the American public has any sense of
the level of violence that occurs on the border."
And why is that? Because ABC, NBC and CBS have all left their
viewers in the dark.
CNSNews.com, a division of the Media Research Center,
reported on the State Department's Mexico Alert on May 16th,
and their story received tremendous attention and innumerable
references from the alternative media universe, including from the
likes of talk radio hosts Rush Limbaugh and Dennis Prager.
The Alert was also reported in traditional media outlets such as on
CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight, and in the Los Angeles Times,
the San Antonio Express-News and numerous border city and
town publications.
But over a month after the Alert was issued, the Big Three Networks
have yet to even mention what has been and continues to be a deadly
and dangerous situation for Americans living near or travelling in
Mexico.
MRC President L. Brent Bozell:
"NBC, ABC and CBS have clearly placed their wide-open borders agenda ahead of the safety and security of the American people. Apparently no news involving Mexico, no matter how horrendous, will be reported should it impede the push toward their vision of a policy-free immigration policy.
"Steadfastly refusing to report the murder, assault and abduction of American citizens on both sides of the border is the epitome of journalistic bias-induced malpractice.
"CNSNews.com delivered the State Department story a week ago, and it has been there for the reporting for over a month. And where have the vaunted three networks been? They have been and remain shamefully missing in action."