Foreign Gangs in the Big Easy
Stratfor had an article yesterday examining the growth of gang violence in New Orleans(subscription required). Of particular interest are the reports that foreign gangs, such as Mara Salvatrucha, have been moving to New Orleans. NOPD still is not at its pre-Katrina strength and the Big Easy’s indigineous gangs are still returning to the city after being displaced by the hurricane. This vacuum of both state power and status-quo criminal elements has attracted foreign gangs looking to capitalize on a key logistical hub.
As Barnett has said before, the home and away games have converged. Domestic law enforcement has confronted high levels of violence, forcing the development of capabilities such as SWAT teams. The most violent conflicts these groups confront have crept up the continuum of violence to low-grade counterinsurgency. Meanwhile, military personnel are increasingly confronted by conflicts that have slid down the continuum (from conventional major combat) to counterinsurgency and stability operations.
I’ve written about past examples of successful counter-strategies. These problems do not have military-only or law enforcement-only solutions. If we look for purely military solutions, we’ll be defeated before we even start.
