It would be a years-long occupation with no clear end goal.
It would kill at _least_ hundreds of thousands and negatively affect the lives of an order of magnitude more.
It would almost certainly fail by any reasonable metric. Look at how occupying Iraq and Afganistan went, or how the US has done in South America over the last century.
Yeah and cartel membership isn't so simple. Most people in any cartel prominent state know cartel members and have a complicated relationship with it and them. They don't want some foreign military coming in and killing their uncle/cousin. They want better opportunities for their family members who are affiliated. In fact - that would probably be much cheaper than trying to kill cartel members with drone strikes.
I live in Mexico and talk to people here about the clowns that are running for president in the US. It's genuinely embarrassing.
Edit to address actual reasons it would be bad:
1) Mexicans (in Mexico) distrust the US and its military. The US should not damage the remaining trust it has with an enormous trade ally. That would push Mexico towards China.
2) Could the US significantly damage the cartel(s) on their own turf?
3) What are the cartels? Are they the literal president-level politicians who are affiliated? Should the US "take them out" too?
I could go on but really the short answer is that the US would end up causing a mess, ruining the lives of normal people, and damaging its relationship with a major world economy and major trade ally.
They should call Iraq and Afghanistan for references /s
It's an impossible situation, but I don't think it's difficult to understand why Mexicans would not want the US military to invade based on its track record.
kadoban|2 years ago
It would kill at _least_ hundreds of thousands and negatively affect the lives of an order of magnitude more.
It would almost certainly fail by any reasonable metric. Look at how occupying Iraq and Afganistan went, or how the US has done in South America over the last century.
And that's just for starters.
blovescoffee|2 years ago
blovescoffee|2 years ago
2) Could the US significantly damage the cartel(s) on their own turf?
3) What are the cartels? Are they the literal president-level politicians who are affiliated? Should the US "take them out" too?
I could go on but really the short answer is that the US would end up causing a mess, ruining the lives of normal people, and damaging its relationship with a major world economy and major trade ally.
redhale|2 years ago
It's an impossible situation, but I don't think it's difficult to understand why Mexicans would not want the US military to invade based on its track record.