"Army deserters fill drug cartels' ranks."

"Better pay makes the violent work appealing to many ex - soldiers."

By Marion Lloyd, Houston Chronicle. In San Antonio EXPRESS - NEWS, Monday June 25, 2007.

As the author tells us:

"[M]ore than 150,000 Mexicna soldiers have deserted," in only 8 years!

One security analyst based in Mexico City named Georgina Sanchez is quoted as saying:

"Even if just 5 percent of those join the cartels, that's an army of hit men.

"And it's a bigger army than many in the world."

You bet! Let's see: 5 percent of 150,000 makes for 7,500 hit men, right?

Hey! You're talking roughly seven (7) Light Infantry Battalions, plus!

As for Mexican Army base pay for peons, we're told this:

"Until receiving a raise this year, rank - and - file soldiers made $330 a month, less than many [Mexican] police officers."