How Trump Could Use Military Force Against Cartels In Mexico

[Vmedvil]

This is an informational piece about how Trump and the United States could use military force against the Cartels in Mexico, read more at How Trump Could Use Military Force Against Cartels In Mexico

 

 

Do you think military force should be used against the Cartels in Mexico?

[Moontanman]

No! Such an act would be an act of war against one of our closest allies! 

[OceanBreeze]

On 3/24/2025 at 7:35 AM, Vmedvil said:

This is an informational piece about how Trump and the United States could use military force against the Cartels in Mexico, read more at How Trump Could Use Military Force Against Cartels In Mexico

 

 

Do you think military force should be used against the Cartels in Mexico?

Assuming your question is meant to read: "Do you think US military force should be used against the Cartels in Mexico?" Let me start out by saying there is no simple answer to this.

Because of my engineering background, I approach all issues the same way: first, try to get all the facts, then consider the facts carefully and impartially, then consider and respect opinions of others, finally form an opinion of my own.

That is the approach I have taken here.

I asked myself is Mexico, as it exists today, a close and valuable ally of the US or is it a failed state ruled by drug cartels?

The generally accepted definition of a failed state is one where the ultimate authority to provide security and enforce the rule of law comes from a power other than the state itself.

Based on that definition, I conclude that Mexico is more like a failed state than a valuable, close ally of the USA.

Mexico is a haven for drug cartels, all of these cartels  possess armed branches, consisting of highly trained military personnel recruited from within the ranks of the Mexican armed forces. Recruitment is achieved easily;  whatever the Mexican army pays as a monthly salary for soldiers; the cartels pay more than double that amount  to its own men.

The cartels have recently been officially recognized as International terrorist organizations because, in recent years, they have expanded their illegal activities to include not only the drug trade and homicide, but also kidnapping, human trafficking, extortion and theft of valuable resources, such as oil, among other illegal activities.

The Mexican government is either unwilling or unable to suppress these drug cartels. One reason is: drug trafficking in Mexico helps to “stabilize the peso, and directly or indirectly provide[s] thousands of jobs, many in under-served regions desperate for a way out of poverty”

The fact is, many Mexican civilians trust the cartels more than they trust the local or federal government.

Drug-related violence currently is at an historical peak and inter-cartel wars have surpassed the annual battle death threshold, which is commonly used to define a civil war.

There is no question that as violent instability engulfs Mexico, American vital interests are also threatened.

Taking the above facts into consideration explains why, in January 2025, Representative Dan Crenshaw, chair of the Republican-led Task Force to Combat Mexican Drug Cartels, alongside Rep. Mike Waltz, introduced a bill, known as House Joint Resolution 18, seeking authorization for the use of military force to “put us at war with the cartels .”

Note that the bill specifically states “war with the cartels”, not war with Mexico!

Article 51 of the UN Charter reads: “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations.”

The Joint Resolution contains testimony about Mexican Cartel members shooting at US border patrol officers, a Cartel attack on the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, and the Cartel’s fentanyl trafficking operation, as events that justify U.S. military intervention.

Among these, perhaps the best justification for targeted US military actions against cartels in Mexico is in response to the fentanyl trafficking. The Resolution states, “fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances kill approximately 80,000 Americans every year and is the leading cause of death for American men between the ages of 18 and 45.”

The vast majority of these deaths are due to non-intentional over doses, not intentional suicides, because it only takes a two-milligram dose, similar to 5-7 grains of salt, to cause death for an average size adult.

Whether the fentanyl deaths qualifies under Article 51 of the UN Charter as an “armed attack”on the United States is up for debate. The fact that each cartel has an armed branch to protect the fentanyl operations may fulfill the “armed” part of that qualification.

Having considered all the facts at my disposal, in my opinion, if the Mexican government cannot, or will not crush these drug cartels then the United States military, under President Trump, may be justified to step in and use military force to do the job, as debatable as such justification may be.

Of course, it would be preferable to have the consent and assistance of the Mexican government to conduct any military operation against the cartels  as a joint operation with the Mexican and US military.

Note: Since I am expressing my opinion, I am under no obligation to engage in debate or to provide support for the opinion itself. Readers may agree or disagree but I will most likely not engage in any debate about this.

However, since I included material that I relied upon as facts, I offer this paper as one of my several sources. I encourage any readers who question the facts, as I stated them, to do their own research and form their own independent opinions.

 

[Vmedvil]

On 4/4/2025 at 2:43 PM, OceanBreeze said:

Assuming your question is meant to read: "Do you think US military force should be used against the Cartels in Mexico?" Let me start out by saying there is no simple answer to this.

 

Because of my engineering background, I approach all issues the same way: first, try to get all the facts, then consider the facts carefully and impartially, then consider and respect opinions of others, finally form an opinion of my own.

 

That is the approach I have taken here.

 

I asked myself is Mexico, as it exists today, a close and valuable ally of the US or is it a failed state ruled by drug cartels?

 

The generally accepted definition of a failed state is one where the ultimate authority to provide security and enforce the rule of law comes from a power other than the state itself.

 

Based on that definition, I conclude that Mexico is more like a failed state than a valuable, close ally of the USA.

 

Mexico is a haven for drug cartels, all of these cartels  possess armed branches, consisting of highly trained military personnel recruited from within the ranks of the Mexican armed forces. Recruitment is achieved easily;  whatever the Mexican army pays as a monthly salary for soldiers; the cartels pay more than double that amount  to its own men.

 

The cartels have recently been officially recognized as International terrorist organizations because, in recent years, they have expanded their illegal activities to include not only the drug trade and homicide, but also kidnapping, human trafficking, extortion and theft of valuable resources, such as oil, among other illegal activities.

 

The Mexican government is either unwilling or unable to suppress these drug cartels. One reason is: drug trafficking in Mexico helps to “stabilize the peso, and directly or indirectly provide[s] thousands of jobs, many in under-served regions desperate for a way out of poverty”

 

The fact is, many Mexican civilians trust the cartels more than they trust the local or federal government.

 

Drug-related violence currently is at an historical peak and inter-cartel wars have surpassed the annual battle death threshold, which is commonly used to define a civil war.

 

There is no question that as violent instability engulfs Mexico, American vital interests are also threatened.

 

Taking the above facts into consideration explains why, in January 2025, Representative Dan Crenshaw, chair of the Republican-led Task Force to Combat Mexican Drug Cartels, alongside Rep. Mike Waltz, introduced a bill, known as House Joint Resolution 18, seeking authorization for the use of military force to “put us at war with the cartels .”

 

Note that the bill specifically states “war with the cartels”, not war with Mexico!

 

Article 51 of the UN Charter reads: “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations.”

 

The Joint Resolution contains testimony about Mexican Cartel members shooting at US border patrol officers, a Cartel attack on the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, and the Cartel’s fentanyl trafficking operation, as events that justify U.S. military intervention.

 

Among these, perhaps the best justification for targeted US military actions against cartels in Mexico is in response to the fentanyl trafficking. The Resolution states, “fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances kill approximately 80,000 Americans every year and is the leading cause of death for American men between the ages of 18 and 45.”

 

The vast majority of these deaths are due to non-intentional over doses, not intentional suicides, because it only takes a two-milligram dose, similar to 5-7 grains of salt, to cause death for an average size adult.

 

Whether the fentanyl deaths qualifies under Article 51 of the UN Charter as an “armed attack”on the United States is up for debate. The fact that each cartel has an armed branch to protect the fentanyl operations may fulfill the “armed” part of that qualification.

 

Having considered all the facts at my disposal, in my opinion, if the Mexican government cannot, or will not crush these drug cartels then the United States military, under President Trump, may be justified to step in and use military force to do the job, as debatable as such justification may be.

 

Of course, it would be preferable to have the consent and assistance of the Mexican government to conduct any military operation against the cartels  as a joint operation with the Mexican and US military.

 

Note: Since I am expressing my opinion, I am under no obligation to engage in debate or to provide support for the opinion itself. Readers may agree or disagree but I will most likely not engage in any debate about this.

 

However, since I included material that I relied upon as facts, I offer this paper as one of my several sources. I encourage any readers who question the facts, as I stated them, to do their own research and form their own independent opinions.

 

 

 

I tend to agree with your assessment of the situation and your conclusion as well. As always, logical and well thought out and I tend to think that is pretty close to the position that the United States should take in this situation.

Edited Saturday at 10:20 PM by Vmedvil