Soldiers can't visit Juárez

By Darren Meritz / El Paso Times

Article Launched: 01/27/2008 01:35:34 AM MST

Travel to Juárez has been declared off-limits for U.S. military personnel, Fort Bliss officials announced Saturday in the wake of a rash of drug-related violence that is now taking a toll on both sides of the border.

A Fort Bliss official said Saturday that an unacceptable risk to the health, safety, welfare and morale to military personnel prompted the decision to temporarily discontinue issuing passes to soldiers who want to travel to Juárez.

"This is only for a short term until things settle down and there's no perceived danger to any soldier or anyone going to Juárez," Fort Bliss spokeswoman Jean Offutt said. "I think it's just based on the events that are going on in Juárez at this time."

Other developments occurred Saturday as Mexican and U.S. authorities sought to reduce tensions in the aftermath of a January killing spree in Juárez:

In Juárez, police continued to receive threats despite the arrival of Mexican federal police officers armed with assault rifles and wearing ski masks and flak jackets. Police on Saturday morning found a poster fastened to a monument to fallen police in Juárez that identified officers slain during the past year and named about a dozen current officers who could be targets of organized crime.