@ISIDEWITHQuestionsNational securityStarted 3yrs agoActive 2hrs ago

Should the President mobilize the U.S. military against Mexican Drug Cartels?

In January 2023 Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R., Texas) and Michael Waltz (R., Fla.) proposed a joint resolution giving the president authority to use the U.S. military against drug cartels in Mexico. The bill was proposed in response to the recent spike in American drug overdose deaths. Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 21,089 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017 and remained steady through 2019. This was followed by a significant increase in 2020 with 68,630 reported deaths and again in 2021 with 80,411 reported overdose deaths. A 2017 analysis, accounting for the costs of health… care, criminal justice, lost productivity and social and family services, estimated that the total cost of America’s drug epidemic was more than $1 trillion annually, or 5% of gross domestic product. Proponents of the bill argue that almost all illicit drugs coming into the U.S. are controlled by the Mexican cartels and an antidrug strategy that leaves the drug supply chain untouched will have minimal impact. Opponents argue that a U.S. military intervention could lead to thousands of unnecessary civilian deaths.

▲ 199k Answer Discuss Knowledge check •••+ My feed React Report Follow

@BBDXWH5 from South Carolina agreed…2mos2MO

We should be able to use the US army to fight against the cartel because it is a major threat to our communities and youth.

▲ 3615 replies31 agree4 disagree

@BB4C8GM from Iowa disagreed…3mos3MO

I believe that while tending to America's drug issues infiltration from the Mexican Drug Cartels, we should not invade Mexico. However, if they reach out to us…

▲ 389 replies37 agree

@B97JNF6 from Wisconsin disagreed…4mos4MO

Mexico has repeatedly shown it cannot or will not control the cartels. Cartels are not just Mexico’s problem — they are attacking the United States directly. Ca…

▲ 391 reply38 agree

@B8VT96G from Michigan agreed…5mos5MO

I feel as if we shouldn't Help Mexico if they do not wish for our help as it would be wrong to force help on another country that might be able to handle it on…

▲ 347 replies29 agree5 disagree

@BC3C8M4 from South Carolina agreed…2mos2MO

We should be able to use the US army to fight against the cartel because it is a major threat to our communities and youth.

▲ 331 reply31 agree1 disagree

@BB3KDFT from New York disagreed…3mos3MO

they also affect the United States. Drugs, violence, and illegal weapons cross the border and impact American communities. Because of this, the U.S. has a respo…

▲ 331 reply32 agree

@B8W7M3J from California disagreed…5mos5MO

I agree, Mexico is a country that's been dealing with this for years, America is here waiting if they need hekp. Plus if we do take action without notifying the…

▲ 321 reply31 agree

@B9T7D3F from Nebraska disagreed…3mos3MO

If drug dealers are coming from Mexico into America, we should be allowed to take action as it endangers the people of America.

▲ 302 replies29 agree

@BC92SBV from Missouri agreed…1mo1MO

We should take over Mexico and get rid of the cartel and make mexico part of USA. It would open all kinds of military advantages stop the border problem and ma…

▲ 277 replies23 agree4 disagree

@B9LYG6C from Kansas disagreed…3mos3MO

Drug cartels in Mexico cause problems for the U.S., like bringing drugs and crime across the border. Waiting for Mexico to ask for help could let the cartels ge…

▲ 283 replies27 agree

@BCPLVMC from Colorado disagreed…4wks4W

The drug crisis is the ultimate threat to our national security and the future of our most vulnerable citizens, especially children in lower-income communities.…

▲ 261 reply25 agree

@BBXQPTK from Illinois disagreed…2mos2MO

Mexico is clearly struggling with itself, government officials are being bought out by the cartel which is just pure corruption. They need the help whether it's…

▲ 227 replies20 agree1 disagree

@B9YTPQZ from Illinois agreed…3mos3MO

If we don’t act, it’s only gonna get worse. We don’t have to send in the military, but at least send the FBI and DEA to it up.. especially in popular cartel are…

▲ 242 replies21 agree2 disagree

@B8RD4Y5 from Georgia agreed…5mos5MO

The number of deaths relating to fentanyl and other synthetic opiods has increased 23 times over since 2013.

▲ 212 replies18 agree2 disagree

@BC7VYMV from Michigan disagreed…1mo1MO

Waiting for Mexico to ask for the United States assistance limits our ability to respond quickly to the direct threat. These cartels are not just Mexicos proble…

▲ 195 replies18 agree

@BCPYDCY from Maryland disagreed…3wks3W

As our neighboring country any problems that plague them will eventually find it's way to our borders. We need to be both reactive and proactive to any problems…

▲ 2120 agree

@BCSTVDF from Kentucky agreed…3wks3W

the evidence supporting the position that Mexican drug cartels constitute a severe, evolving threat to national security and public health is substantial. These…

▲ 161 reply14 agree1 disagree

@B8RD4Y5 from Georgia disagreed…5mos5MO

Americans are greatly affected by these cartels and action must be taken to stabilize the situation.

▲ 152 replies14 agree

@B8Y24MT from South Carolina agreed…5mos5MO

They have killed millions of Americans every year bringing drugs into our country we need to stop them

▲ 141 reply13 agree

@BBPZL2S from Texas agreed…2mos2MO

If we work with Mexico's government, it would be easier to come to agreements on what should be done about the drug cartel crisis.

▲ 132 replies11 agree1 disagree

@BBDXWH5 from South Carolina disagreed…2mos2MO

Mexico , should handle their own cartel problems and the US should only interact when there is a threat to involve the US or the US is involved

▲ 1413 agree

@BBG2CP7 from Michigan disagreed…2mos2MO

If within our borders then yes, but not into southern areas not within our (like mexico) borders unless planned with the president of those areas.

▲ 111 reply10 agree

@B8X8VVP from Michigan disagreed…5mos5MO

I agree, we shouldn't meddle with dangerous entities in other countries if we don't want to get into trouble ourselves. Declaring a drug war on the cartel would…

▲ 109 agree

@B97JNF6 from Wisconsin agreed…4mos4MO

Fentanyl is the #1 killer of Americans aged 18–45, Nearly 10,000 Mexicans were displaced by cartel violence in 2024.

▲ 91 reply8 agree

@B9P5WY2 from California agreed…3mos3MO

We should unless we have coordinated an actual plan with the Mexican Government and when we are given permission to actual arrest legitimate Cartel Leader that…

▲ 98 agree

@BB9ZKDM from New York disagreed…2mos2MO

Drug cartels are often found to be in collaboration with corrupt politicians in Mexico; this makes it difficult to ask for assistance when national politics are

▲ 98 agree

@BC5V9BG from Pennsylvania disagreed…2mos2MO

Mexican drug cartels leak into the lives of civilians near the southern border and should be dealt with swiftly to protect the American people.

▲ 81 reply7 agree

@BCBHWD9 from Colorado disagreed…1mo1MO

Mexico is a sovereign nation that the US does not have the right to annex. Work with the Mexicans to overtake the drug cartels, because the cartel is not the go…

▲ 87 agree

@B8XVMTK from Wisconsin disagreed…5mos5MO

I personally think we should offer our help and offer our resources to assist but if they refuse then we can respect that but when they come back we can still h…

▲ 87 agree

@B9K29RW from Florida disagreed…4mos4MO

They interfere with our daily lives, one less country funneling drugs, especially along our border will help improve the lives of Americans.

▲ 87 agree

@B93DDV8 from Georgia disagreed…4mos4MO

Drug Cartels negatively impact our country regardless of if Mexico asks for our help. We should dismantle Mexican Drug Cartels with or without Mexico.

▲ 71 reply6 agree

@hammm12 from Michigan agreed…5mos5MO

It is not our place to step in and play the hero to a country that has not expressed the want for help. There are many drug related problems in the U.S. that ha…

▲ 62 replies5 agree1 disagree

@BCJ6FGN from Montana disagreed…1mo1MO

The drugs and the effects of the Cartels impacts everyone and the communities we live in, so if there is something we can do to stop them, then we should.

▲ 76 agree

@BBPZL2S from Texas disagreed…2mos2MO

When harmful drugs are coming into our country, Mexico does not get affected. This means that we could reach millions of casualties due to Mexican-born drugs an…

▲ 61 reply5 agree

@BC8WW99 from Florida disagreed…1mo1MO

That if Mexico drug trade is inherently dangerous and hurting our citizens . The government should try to fix the issue.

▲ 65 agree

@94CNR4F from Virginia disagreed…1mo1MO

This violates Mexico's sovereignty and would only make it easier for South American cartels to get drugs to the United States. Annexing Mexico would create a fi…

▲ 65 agree

@BBRZWRP from Kentucky disagreed…2mos2MO

I would say that even without Mexico's permission the cartel is still trafficking drugs into the US which would make it only reasonable to do whatever is necess…

▲ 54 agree

@BB3HKK4 from Iowa disagreed…3mos3MO

The drug cartels' largest market is the United States of America; therefore, we should take action against the cartels to ensure the safety of our citizens.

▲ 54 agree

@B9RRS6C from Utah disagreed…3mos3MO

The Mexican cartels bring the drugs into the U.S. and that kills many Americans and causes crime so it involves us so we need to stop it.

▲ 41 reply3 agree

@BC9B2KK from North Carolina disagreed…1mo1MO

If Mexico needs help and ask for it, we should try to help given our surplus of resources. However, it is not our business if they dont need help.

▲ 43 agree

@B8XGW2G from Texas agreed…5mos5MO

If we do not act against cartels with the Mexican government as of now, the cartels narcotics will once again make their way into america and affect the youth o…

▲ 43 agree

@B8SHYC5 from North Carolina disagreed…5mos5MO

If the Mexican Drug Cartels come into the U.S., we have the right to get them out of the country without Mexico's approval. Also, if they become a problem in Me…

▲ 43 agree

@B8SG5KW from Florida disagreed…5mos5MO

You let Mexicans cross the border and into our country with drugs. It is now our problem and we shall deal with it as we please.

▲ 43 agree

@BB4S6QX from Illinois agreed…3mos3MO

Yes I believe in this statement because we should never invade an ally for something that is stupid and can strain the relationship between us forever

▲ 43 agree

@BCQPRRT from Alabama disagreed…3wks3W

We should still help them prevent this drug cartel because it's a huge deal and people are dying because of drug use. That's like saying you'll only take someon…

▲ 43 agree