Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 03/27/09
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Tonight on AC360°, Anderson is continuing our special coverage on the "War Next Door". He's still along the U.S.-Mexico border reporting on the drug violence. We think this is an important story that need to be told. Thousands of people have been killed. Tonight, Anderson gives us a look at the gruesome reality of this battle. He reports on a mass grave that's been found in Juarez. Plus, we track how the cartels get their drugs here into the U.S. Do you think American drug users share the blame for the drug war? Some have made that accusation. We'd love to hear your thoughts.
Want to know what else we're covering tonight? Read EVENING BUZZ
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Isabel, the cartel member probably had to claw and scratch his way out of the cartel and is risking his life to give the interview. He's revealing what he knows about the cartel because he's stricken with grief by the things he has seen...
People's deepest emotions don't always come out on cue.
Anderson, that man apprehended and who confused to, horribly, disposing of people bodies in acid for the cartels, seemed overwhelmed with sadness and in a way glad to be caught because he knew how nightmarish and evil his life is.
This is really scary. I live in northern Texas. I sure hope this "war" doesn't make its way to the Dallas area.
That house has got to be the late Aaron Spelling's house. I mean Aaron Spelling's widow...Tori's mother, right?
ND will back to norm after week, hopefully
Hi Randi – missed you last night on the blog. Aaron Spelling's place is just a little ridiculous, isn't it? Who is going to buy it? Somehow I don't think the currently low interest rates really make any difference at that price point. Do you?
Good evening Anderson, Randi and fellow bloggers! TGIF!...Ready for the weekend!...I'm still amazed at the coverage with respect to the drug wars in Mexico!..
I'm not really on the edge of my seat to hear out about the late Aaron Spelling's ridiculously expensive mansion.
Randi Kaye - all I can say to the widow trying to sell the 150 million dollar house in today's market - good luck!
Randi, you have done excellent work this week. You should be commended for that. Congratulations on your outstanding journalism, and thank you for blogging with us.
is it safe too travel to ensenada this spring break
Dodie from Irvine, CA, That is exactly what they are. Besides the money it is a power struggle between these cartels..
@ Randi- "enjoyed the coverage" is a strong phrase... i think "appreciated" is a better one 🙂
and wow, $150 million? i guess it could but it seems unlikely!
@casey, i wouldnt be surprised to find out the women may be forced to participate to save their families.
and hello Randi! always nice to hear from you.
the house i mentioned belongs to the widow of legendary TV producer Aaron Spelling.. she's "downsizing" .. wait til you hear to what she's downsizing too.. it's really quite a story. would love to know your thoughts on someone trying to sell a home for 150 million dollars in this housing market.. hello!
That's between 4 and 5 murders each & every single day in Juarez.
If they are just finding some of these victims how do they know that the murder rate has dropped?
For the last two nights, and tonight too, you have been doing what you do best. Just you, a cameraman and a microphone talking to real people telling real stories about real problems. No panels, and thank God a break from Washington, D.C. That's what I loved about your book; each vignette made you care about the people in them. The interview with the member of the Cartel is fantastic. So here's a note to CNN – let Anderson be Anderson. That's why we all watch him!
Hello Anderson, Team 360 and Fellow Bloggers -
Another night of compelling television on AC360.
My prayers go out to the people of Fargo - what a horrible situation. And sandbagging in the snow!
Mass graves are so sad. Sad to hear the Mayor say that their family members probably don't even know they are dead. All over drrugs and money -
1600 murdered in 2008...that's more than 4 per day. That is truly frightening and astounding. How big is Juarez?
This is very shocking! But it need to be shown!
Often, in the comfort (and safety?) from our homes, we don’t have notion of something so brutal.
hi everyone. Rnadi Kaye here.. hope you all are well.. glad you're with us all at 360 tonight. it's been a busy week but a good week.. have you enjoyed all the coverage on the mexico drug wars? how bout that cartel member who AC interviewed? amazing, huh? For those of you who are curious why there is a shadow on his mouth it was to make sure that he can not be identified by any of his features at all.. that would put his life in danger and he agreed to talk to us so we had to make sure nobody could tell who he was. it was fascinating to hear his take though from inside the cartel, wasn't it? i thought so.
on a lighter note tonight, i have a story coming up on a house that is new to the market. it's the most expensive house for sale in the U.S.
list price: 150 million dollars!!! think it will sell??
Rikki in Fargo, im praying sweetie! i hope it turns out to be better than it looks.
Hey Anderson and my fellow bloogers another day for Anderson at the border stay safe down there.
Hi Anderson, Tom Foreman, everyone. Hope people in Fargo are evacuating safely when needed and keeping the water back where they can. Thoughts and prayers with them and Rikki from Fargo esp.
I know people up there have been working round the clock to fill sandbags and protect the city.
The sad thing is that some of the unidentified dead may be innocent victims and their families will never know what happened to them.
Apparently, most of those missing are men. I wonder to what extent women are involved in the drug trade, beyond acting as "mules?"
Good evening everyone! This cartel member Anderson is interviewing is very scary, Such a vicious and sad story in Mexico. And the poor folks in Fargo. Alot going on now
@isabel, to protect his identity. and to answer your question about his lack of compassion, that is what happens when lives are reduced to the basic instincts of survival.
Impressive interview with the “man” of the cartel. For this “man” to kill is a common task in their day to day, just as I make my job.
This “man” fears for your family. And we? We also fear by our dear.
Rikki and all in Fargo (and nearby MN as well) hang tough. We're all thinking about you.
This interview is terrifying, but riveting. I'm glad Anderson is okay. This is scary.
Takes a lot of courage to share this information with us.
The Masked Man is fudging a little. He mentios "money and women" as draws of the life in the cartel, but also mentions he fears about his family. How can anyone with a family, possilby even children, participate in these atrocities?
Isabel – to be sure no one recognizes him, i think
So much for the good news on Fargo having such low unemployment. I don't think people are in a rush to live there.
@ Marin in Oregon
Last night one of our regular fellow bloggers, Rikki, Fargo, ND did not post at all. Let us all send prayers and/or positive thoughts to the city of Fargo and especially t!!o our Fellow blogger, Rikki
Why is there a shadow on the mouth of the cartel member?
Happy evening Anderson,
I wish you have peacful day
Evening, Everyone!
Good evening bloggers! My thoughts are with Rikki in Fargo.
Drug Cartels appear to be like gangs... fighting over turf
I posted this at another story but I think it bears repeating and hopefully Anderson might be able to shed some insight on this:
I don’t know if I’ve seen this addressed before, but is it possible that the “decline” in violence (if you can even call it that) isn’t so much due to the military presence but rather due to the fact that thousands of cartel members who were doing the killing in the first place are now dead themselves, and therefore fewer cartel members are out there continuing the violence? It would seem like at a certain point they are just causing their own extinction.
Just a thought.
How and why a person stay so insensitive, so without love of neighbor?
Hey ALL. Hey Anderson, twitter/facebook buddies and the rest of the best bloggers in the world.
Stay safe over there Anderson and CNN crew.
goodevening all! fellow tribe members, our favorite CNN team.
the last two days have brought so much to the forefront for people to see, i thank you CNN for doing such a great job.
The "man' of the cartel
The really horrible scenario in Fargo is if the water freezes! It will simply crush the houses – not just flood them. This is really bad.
Good evening, Anderson! Hello Bloggers!
Be careful. Get home safe.
hello everyone
Hi, Anderson,
I'm glad to see you!
I wish all is well with you!
Hi bloggers and best friends!
Evening for everyone…
Buenos Noches, Anderson, AC360 Crew, Tom, Gary and the whole team. One more great night of informative reporting, and just plain terrific TV. Thank you, all!