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Operation Intercept: The International Politics of Pressure*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2009

Richard B. Craig
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Extract

Operation Intercept was launched along the United States-Mexico border in September of 1969, ostensibly to halt the flow of marijuana, heroin, and dangerous drugs. In reality, however, it was designed not to interdict narcotics but to publicize the new administration's war on crime and force Mexican compliance with Washington's antidrug campaign. With the exception of border residents, the much-heralded operation has been forgotten by most Americans a decade later. But as President Jimmy Carter discovered during his visit in early 1979, Mexicans, and particularly their presidents, have keen memories. Hastily conceived, unilateral programs such as Operation Intercept go far in explaining why.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Review of Politics , Volume 42 , Issue 4 , October 1980 , pp. 556 - 580
Copyright
Copyright © University of Notre Dame 1980

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References

1 Opinions of the task force are drawn from Narcotics, Marihuana and Dangerous Drugs Task Force, Report of the Special Presidential Task Force Relating to Narcotics, Marihuana and Dangerous Drugs, 6 06 1969Google Scholar (mimeographed).

2 The State Department rejected the passport proposal on three primary grounds: it would not deter drug traffic, it would irritate many Americans in Mexico on legitimate business, and Mexico might retaliate by restricting the spending of its citizens on the American side of the border. Such a move would have “a very adverse effect” on relations between the two countries and should be considered “as a measure of last resort” only if all other control methods failed. Department of State Airgram, Washington, D.C., 06, 1969 (mimeographed).Google Scholar

3 Associated Press Dispatch, Mexico City, 9 06 1969Google Scholar (mimeographed); and Laredo Times, 10 06 1969.Google Scholar

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7 Minutes of the 28 June 1969 Action Task Force meeting (mimeographed). The author possesses copies of the minutes from six meetings beginning 28 June and ending 20 August 1969. At no time do they list anyone in attendance from the State Department or the border community. In fact, during the six meetings under study, State is mentioned only twice.

8 The FAA's role in combating aerial smuggling was discussed at length by the In tercept Task Force: Minutes of the Action Task Force dated 13 August and 20 August 1969 (mimeographed). As regards the flight regulations, see “FAA Adopts Rules to Combat Flight Hazards of Aerial Drug Smuggling,” 29 08 1969Google Scholar (mimeographed); and “FAA Proposes Restraints on Drug Traffic,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 18 08 1969, p. 112.Google Scholar

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12 Interviewed 12 July 1973, an American narcotics official in Mexico City remarked: “As far as I know, no one here knew anything about it until it happened.” Salazar, (Los Angeles Times, 29 08 1969)Google Scholar received a similar response from consular officials in Tijuana. Kleindienst later termed the announcement “an unfortunate release by the Navy Department,” but he still insisted that no definite decision had been reached on placing border cities off limits. See Ostrow, Ronald, “U.S. Reveals Plans for Turning Youths From Use of Marijuana,” Los Angeles Times, 14 09 1969.Google Scholar

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28 Al R. Wichtrich, executive vice president of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, estimated the loss due to Intercept along the entire American side of the border at $500,000 per day, or total of approximately $10 million during the entire 20-day program. Mexican businesses estimated their losses at $400,000 per day, or a total of some $8 million. Inter-Office Memorandum, Mexico City, dated 27 October 1969 (mimeographed).

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35 Department of State Airgrams, Juárez, Ciudad, 26 09 1969Google Scholar (mimeographed). A similar but less notable incident occurred in Brownsville on 27 September. See El Paso Times, 28 09 1969.Google Scholar

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43 Department of State Telegram, Washington, D.C., 30 09 1969 (mimeographed).Google Scholar

44 Interview: Ministry of Foreign Relations, Mexico City, 14 03 1977Google Scholar. In reality, it was not the measures of Intercept which so riled the Mexicans, but the harshness of their application.

45 Belair, , New York Times, 2 10 1969Google Scholar; and San Diego Union, 5 10 1969.Google Scholar

46 The News, 7 10 1969.Google Scholar

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49 Belair, , “U.S. Bows to Mexican Demands; Drugs Smuggling Drive Is Eased,” New York Times, 11 10 1969.Google Scholar

50 “Statement of Deputy Attorney General Richard G. Kleindienst and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Eugene Rossides,” 23 10 1969 (mimeographed).Google Scholar

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52 Letter from PresidentNixon, Richard M. to PresidentDíaz Ordaz, Gustavo, 18 11 1969 (mimeographed).Google Scholar