A police anti-gang organization called NAGIA.org appears to have a right-wing political agenda. A South American Import, by Al Valdez, links the Mara Salvatrucha, a violent gang in the McArthur Park area, to the FMLN, a leftist party in El Salvador.

http://www.nagia.org/mara_salvatrucha.htm

I think the article needs to explain the FMLN more. (And spell it in that order.) The FMLN were the insurgents in the war, and most of the organized killing in El Salvador was from the right wing death squads, who were indirectly supported by the US. These death squads included a fascist element. During the war, the wealthy people, who were involved in just as much, or more killing than the FMLN, sent their families to the US as well, but to live in nice suburbs rather than the poor innercity.

Though these other El Salvadorians don't present a direct threat, the were definitely participants in the war, and indirectly created the situations that led to so many refugees coming to our country. These M16s coming back to America probably were sold to a secret "ally" of America.

For another explication of the gang situation there, I suggest the following:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1111/is_1803_301/ai_63842600/pg_1

Here's another article, about 18th Street, by Mr. Valdez. Not totally related.

http://www.nagia.org/18th_street.htm