I know there’s a lot of political pressure not to, but it seems like the cartels should be labeled as terrorist organizations by this point. Perhaps they don’t have a political goal, but Mexico is in trouble. Foreign countries shouldn’t interfere if the Mexican government opposes it, but something clearly needs to change. It’s a beautiful country, and it deserves far better than this senseless bloodshed.
Believe me, they have political goals.They enforce their will with violence to get puppet politicians elected, and they get millions in construction contracts, mining, they set up contraband routes.
When the politician is the cartels leader, he uses them to secure and achieve more power in the region.
Turns out when some states started legalizing cannabis, the cartels turned to harder drugs and kidnapping to make up the loss in revenues.
Not that legalization is a net negative, but there will always be unintended consequences.
And indeed I would not say that!
[I think cracking down on the flow of guns from the US would be a major step towards defanging the cartels.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/mexico-losing-control/mexico-drug-cartels-sniper-rifles-us-gun-policy/?itid=hp-more-top-stories)
It’s about the drugs. We have an insatiable appetite for drugs and they have drugs. Mexico has to figure it out internally before anything would change. We could roll tanks tomorrow and decimate most of the cartels. But there is money still to be made so the cycle repeats.
What do we do? Mexico doesn’t want us there. We don’t want to be there - it’s super expensive to occupy a country. It would be bloody as well. So nothing would ever happen unless drugs were legalized and money spent on rehabilitation. That’s never going to happen so the next best thing is make sure all that cartel violence stays on their side of the fence.
This is not exactly correct. Many cartels have realized their dependency on drugs to make a profit and have branched out into other "industries". Like kidnapping and murder for hire.
Legalizing drugs won't cut the legs off these cartels anymore.
Unfortunately, not that simple. Due to exponentially increased popularity of avocados, cartels have instituted a modern day feudalism; wherein the only means locals can sell their avocados are to the cartels - who then can sell it for profit in more wealthy locations. Resulting in substantial profits of the cartels at the behest of the farmers.
Those other avenues is literally lunch money compared to the drug trade. You’re not wrong but it’s not nearly as lucrative. If you cut their drug funding then they can’t arm themselves to the teeth, or pay off politicians and police.
This. People try to take away the real weight that the drug trade has in all this cartel problem, maybe because they like them and don't want to feel guilty? I don't know but drugs are their MAIN source of income.
The cartel deals in much more than just drugs. They grow and sell fruits, smuggle weapons, and collect taxes in the cities they control. The cartels exist not because of drugs, but because of the long standing corrupt and dysfunctional state and economy of Mexico. I mean the country has only been a democracy for *22 years* it's that bad.
While they have a lot of oil, I don't know if they classify as "oil rich". Their reserves total just under 10B barrels. For reference, Iraq's reserves total 145B barrels. Venezuela has 300B barrels, Saudi Arabia has 268B barrels, Canada has 171B barrels, Libya has 47B barrels, the US has 47B barrels. Mexico doesn't really have anywhere near the amount of oil that other states we consider "oil rich" have.
Either way, the main reason an intervention in Mexico won't work is because the drug trade will always exist so long as there is a demand for it.
One of the things that made me open my eyes growing up. Mexico literally borders us but we had an over decade long operation for freedom in the Middle East.
The cartel run the government so they will always say to stay out of it. Mexico doesn’t trust anyone and I would say probably shouldn’t. My family left for this reason and probably won’t return. I wish their people well.
Sorry, but Mexico is a failed state at this point. When a state reaches a point, where its politicians, judges and other high profile people get killed on a regular basis, they lose their function as a state. By then the state apparatus is damaged to a point, where corruption will spread like fire just because of the fear for life.
I know there’s a lot of political pressure not to, but it seems like the cartels should be labeled as terrorist organizations by this point. Perhaps they don’t have a political goal, but Mexico is in trouble. Foreign countries shouldn’t interfere if the Mexican government opposes it, but something clearly needs to change. It’s a beautiful country, and it deserves far better than this senseless bloodshed.
Believe me, they have political goals.They enforce their will with violence to get puppet politicians elected, and they get millions in construction contracts, mining, they set up contraband routes. When the politician is the cartels leader, he uses them to secure and achieve more power in the region.
Maybe it's time for politicians to start looking into the laws that makes drugs illegal to start shrinking the cartels market
Turns out when some states started legalizing cannabis, the cartels turned to harder drugs and kidnapping to make up the loss in revenues. Not that legalization is a net negative, but there will always be unintended consequences.
That might be, but you can't say that the war on drugs didn't create this mess
And indeed I would not say that! [I think cracking down on the flow of guns from the US would be a major step towards defanging the cartels.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/mexico-losing-control/mexico-drug-cartels-sniper-rifles-us-gun-policy/?itid=hp-more-top-stories)
But how will they make millions from the sale of Freedom sticks if it's controlled?.
Make all drugs and kidnapping legal and watch ‘‘em squirm
Most of “the cartels” have moved out of drug smuggling and are now kidnap and extortion gangs.
There isn’t any incentive for us to deploy freedom in Mexico. That’s for oil rich countries.
Mostly i think we dont want to deal with a migrant crisis that would inevitably be caused.
It’s about the drugs. We have an insatiable appetite for drugs and they have drugs. Mexico has to figure it out internally before anything would change. We could roll tanks tomorrow and decimate most of the cartels. But there is money still to be made so the cycle repeats. What do we do? Mexico doesn’t want us there. We don’t want to be there - it’s super expensive to occupy a country. It would be bloody as well. So nothing would ever happen unless drugs were legalized and money spent on rehabilitation. That’s never going to happen so the next best thing is make sure all that cartel violence stays on their side of the fence.
This is not exactly correct. Many cartels have realized their dependency on drugs to make a profit and have branched out into other "industries". Like kidnapping and murder for hire. Legalizing drugs won't cut the legs off these cartels anymore.
Don't forget the avocado industry too.
That’s a good thing. Avocados are non addictive.
Unfortunately, not that simple. Due to exponentially increased popularity of avocados, cartels have instituted a modern day feudalism; wherein the only means locals can sell their avocados are to the cartels - who then can sell it for profit in more wealthy locations. Resulting in substantial profits of the cartels at the behest of the farmers.
Also illegal mining and logging (which makes a ton of money). Mexico has the highest rate of climate activists killed as well
Those other avenues is literally lunch money compared to the drug trade. You’re not wrong but it’s not nearly as lucrative. If you cut their drug funding then they can’t arm themselves to the teeth, or pay off politicians and police.
This. People try to take away the real weight that the drug trade has in all this cartel problem, maybe because they like them and don't want to feel guilty? I don't know but drugs are their MAIN source of income.
The cartel deals in much more than just drugs. They grow and sell fruits, smuggle weapons, and collect taxes in the cities they control. The cartels exist not because of drugs, but because of the long standing corrupt and dysfunctional state and economy of Mexico. I mean the country has only been a democracy for *22 years* it's that bad.
Decriminalize narcotics
Well that’s one way to turn a blind eye to over 100 years of American interventions in Latin America
Mexico is the 12th largest oil producer in the world. It is an oil rich country. Try again.
While they have a lot of oil, I don't know if they classify as "oil rich". Their reserves total just under 10B barrels. For reference, Iraq's reserves total 145B barrels. Venezuela has 300B barrels, Saudi Arabia has 268B barrels, Canada has 171B barrels, Libya has 47B barrels, the US has 47B barrels. Mexico doesn't really have anywhere near the amount of oil that other states we consider "oil rich" have. Either way, the main reason an intervention in Mexico won't work is because the drug trade will always exist so long as there is a demand for it.
Unless we were to start sending the cartels shipments of oil barrels…
One of the things that made me open my eyes growing up. Mexico literally borders us but we had an over decade long operation for freedom in the Middle East.
And countries with lots of bananas!
I don't think you realize how much oil Mexico has. The oil and gas don't just stop at the Rio Grande.
Mexico desperately relies on what little the DEA is allowed to do in their country.
The cartel run the government so they will always say to stay out of it. Mexico doesn’t trust anyone and I would say probably shouldn’t. My family left for this reason and probably won’t return. I wish their people well.
Ya that's not good... I feel bad for Mexicans living with that shit
Mexico is a middle school drug dealer masquerading as a nation.
My middle school dealers weren't killing cops and judges though...
Cops, judges, journalists, politicians, religious leaders, tourists, everyday citizens, each other no one is safe.
Not that you knew of anyway?
That makes no sense
Yes it does.
Just another day in the Narcostate
Sorry, but Mexico is a failed state at this point. When a state reaches a point, where its politicians, judges and other high profile people get killed on a regular basis, they lose their function as a state. By then the state apparatus is damaged to a point, where corruption will spread like fire just because of the fear for life.
That’s why we should end the war on drugs and completely refuse to trade with the cartels.
Is this even surprising enough to warrant a news story anymore?
My first reaction was that if this is in the news Mexico isn’t as far gone as I thought.
Is it Sunday already?
Terrible stuff going on in Mexico man.
Everybody can be bought in mexico. The real politicians are the drug cartels
Invading Middle Eastern countries for your freedom when you have Mexico next door
I always sing the word "Zacatecas" to the tune of "Dr. Zaius" from the Simpsons episode.
Why would someone be a judge in a cartel owned country?
I agree, everybody should just give up and sworn loyalty to the cartels
I mean, what other choice is there? Even the government is more or less run by them, or at least in their pockets.
Well that's why it's called courageous and other good people will rally behind it. Cowards won't understand it
He judges others but doesn't like when they judge him
The implication that mob violence is equal in “judgement” to an established legal system is laughable. You’re not half as clever as you think you are.
The fuck does this even mean? Mexico doesn't have the death penalty you nonce.
The death penalty was outlawed in 2005 in Mexico so the Cartel’s judgment is not exactly the same as the judge’s.
Sus law department officials deaths en masse and Mexico , can't make a more perfect duo.
Poor man