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…
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@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Yes
@9FMR87D2yrs2Y
This would be an endless fight. Where do we draw the line? Do we really want to be fighting a war inside another countrys borders?
@9FMXW5VRepublican2yrs2Y
Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, and all through the Latin/Southern Americas are still crawled with cartels, their governments are failing, and the cartels are getting stronger, we need to do bigger actions to stop them.
@9FD4N7J2yrs2Y
Drugs brought in from borders such as Fentanyl has killed over 107,000. That is ridiculous we need to close the border
@9G59LP7 2yrs2Y
“That is ridiculous we need to close the border”
I agree with you about the fentanyl stats, but I'm a little iffy on the border thing. while that may help us in the US, it sort of leaves everyone else affected by mexican drug cartels in the same spot they're in now, personally I think that if we want solve the problem we need to work together and use all of our resources to fix the violence problems associated with the cartels for good. I think closing the border would be a temporary fix, then it would come back as a much worse problem later.
“I think closing the border would be a temporary fix, then it would come back as a much worse problem later.”
Historical precedents show that closing off channels for illegal activities often leads to the emergence of new, more sophisticated methods. A great example is the Prohibition era in the U.S. When alcohol was banned, it didn't stop consumption—instead, it led to the rise of underground speakeasies and empowered organized crime syndicates. Similarly, closing the border might result in cartels finding alternative routes or methods for drug trafficking, potentially exacerbating the issue.
As you've suggested, addressing the root causes of the violence and instability that allow drug cartels to thrive seems to be a more sustainable solution. What do you think those root causes might be, and how could they be effectively addressed?
@9L785CZ 1yr1Y
I would fix our "healthcare" system and turn it into a lifetime educational and support system. For medical and emotional health, because the USA's current system is for profit businesses that don't care about helping people to be healthy and prevent addictions, illnesses, diseases and sickness of the over all body and mind.
But that would just be my start, the rest is not much to write.
@9GNDS8V2yrs2Y
the Mexican military lost to the Sinaloa cartel after the military accidently captured the leader's son.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
No
@9FR72HN2yrs2Y
The US military is a hammer. Drug cartels are a screw. Use the right tool for the job which is federal and local law enforcement.
@9GMPDQG2yrs2Y
It's not just Hispanics who are "bringing drugs" It's also Americans who are paying for drugs. Instead of trying to harm the Hispanics the government should try and find who is buying these "drugs" and arrest them.
@9FP2QVS2yrs2Y
Once the United States starts interfering more and more in political issues in Mexico they will want to have a bigger role.
@9FVLQGX2yrs2Y
There could be many consequences for involving the military like increased violence and civilian casualties. Although the military may seem like a good thing to stop Mexican drug cartels we have to ask ourselves is this decision going to cause more issues in the long-run.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Yes, but only for operations within our country’s borders
@9G35DZN 2yrs2Y
The Republicans somehow always talk about “we need to focus on America” yet want to be involved in Mexico’s business, all because they know, if they just point and say “look! At all those scary brown people” that their voter base will do whatever they say.
We need to stay outta Mexico’s business and actually focus on helping those migrates, that bravely go through barbed wire, men on horses with whips, all to give themselves and their children a better life.
We praise pilgrims from coming in on ships, illegally, and killing millions of the true original Americans, but when an innocent family of four, legally, approach the border, for citizenship, we call them drug dealers and criminals?
Sounds about white 👀
@9G3MZX8Republican2yrs2Y
I am not white, but I am a strong advocate for equality. When I came to the United States of America, I had to go through the legal system and wait for years to obtain a visa. I believe it is unfair that some foreigners can enter the country illegally without going through the proper process. The issue at hand is that illegal entry is being justified by using the history of natives and white Americans to bully the system. America does not deny any foreigners their American dreams, but we all must follow the legal process, plain and simple.
@TheHillbillyLordRepublican2mos2MO
If their operations are within our borders, it becomes our business
@9G3MZX8Republican2yrs2Y
I am not white, but I am a strong advocate for equality. When I came to the United States of America, I had to go through the legal system and wait for years to obtain a visa. I believe it is unfair that some foreigners can enter the country illegally without going through the proper process. The issue at hand is that illegal entry is being justified by using the history of natives and white Americans to bully the system. America does not deny any foreigners their American dreams, but we all must follow the legal process, plain and simple.
@9FVLQGX2yrs2Y
Top Disagreement
My best counter argument would be that using military on Mexican drug cartels would just make the situation worse
@9FP2QVS2yrs2Y
The borders are the responsibility of both nations, so the border is also a concern of the United States.
@9FMR87D2yrs2Y
Impractical because too difficult/complex to determine what activity constitutes "cartel activity" within the US
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
No, legalize all drugs instead
@9G35DZN 2yrs2Y
Legalization doesn’t mean no regulations are rules. Alcohol has always, does, and will continue to kill and cause the deaths of hundreds of thousands a year, but look what happened during the Prohibition.
If alcohol is allowed, so should all drugs.
And all drugs, like alcohol, need to be federally regulated, and nobody under 21 should be allowed access, same age for cigarettes and alcohol.
@9F6TBF72yrs2Y
Even if we were to legalize all drugs, that would not stop the cartels. We need to deal with them by force
@9FL54FZ2yrs2Y
Several countries (most notably Portugal) have had significant reductions in drug overdoses and harms to society when responsibly decriminalizing hard drugs. By continuing our counter-productive war on drugs, we harm our own people and give huge piles of money to the worst international criminals and terrorists.
@9F9H53W2yrs2Y
It is a stupid belief as the legalization of drugs will create worse conditions and bring the death toll higher.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
No, we already have agencies that address these issues
@9GJBGHZRepublican 2yrs2Y
Top Disagreement
Why is it taking them so long to end the cartel? Are they being paid enough or is it that they are but are doing nothing about it. Do they have access to he some equipment as the military? Do they need military assistance? What’s taking them so long? Is the Mexican government working with the cartel? If so we should just declare war on them.
@9GKSGV7Women’s Equality2yrs2Y
the dea should take full force in bringing them down as they are a treat to both mexico and the usa with drug trafficing and human trafficing
@9GKT9RB2yrs2Y
I do not think we should declare war on Mexico but the CIA is definitely letting the cartels getting away with stuff,
@9GKSX6LCA Common Sense2yrs2Y
The reason mexico is taking them so long to end the cartel is due to the numbers of cartels that there is in mexico. If mexico keeps pushing to fight cartels it could end up in a Civil War.
@9GKQK4VRepublican2yrs2Y
The Cartels are a mighty entity in the Mexican government, and although part of the Mexican government is trying to do something about the issue; Mexico does not have enough money or power to do something against them. Instead of declaring war, it would be more favorable to help the government deal with the cartels as Mexico is now responsible for most production-related needs even surpassing China.
@9GKPVD22yrs2Y
I think that it is apparent that Mexican drug cartels are still a problem and not being put completely in check.
@9FMXW5VRepublican2yrs2Y
The Drug Cartels are still carrying on business just as normal, obviously these agencies have done nearly nothing.
@9FGS26L2yrs2Y
The U.S. Border Patrol has multiple patrols and checkpoints far away from the border for this specific issue and they are specialists in the field. The military would help but it would be better to hire and train more border patrol agents.
@ISIDEWITH10mos10MO
Yes, but only if coordinated with Mexico's government
@9T6VJLD10mos10MO
The us has a history of negatively impacting the countries they become militarily involved with, working with the government makes no difference if the government is seething with corruption. The existence of cartels in Mexico is a far deeper problem that goes beyond an internal defense crisis.
@9T5Q4NR10mos10MO
If the United States does something to the wrong group of people, there could be American casualties because the government can't protect everyone all the time.
@9SW6YJWLibertarian10mos10MO
Mexico’s government is corrupt and in the pockets of the cartels and can not be trusted to effectively deal with the cartels.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
If the military action against cartels were successful, what changes do you think you might see in your community?
@9H8MD2Y2yrs2Y
Perhaps less drug abuse and less crime/deaths overall.
I believe people are right in believing that sending the military to deal with this situation can lead to unnecessary civilian deaths. It also won't completely solve the problem with drugs as in certain states certain drugs are legal while being illegal in other states.
I would see less teen overdoses, and less lives taken by illegal drugs
@99P5TWZ2yrs2Y
no, decriminalize all drugs instead
@9D4Z9ZKRepublican2yrs2Y
Yes, but only with the consent of the Mexican government
@9B2J8JS2yrs2Y
Yes, but only in cooperation with the Mexican Government
@99XDJ9C2yrs2Y
Yes, with Congressional approval
@9BQHHPZ2yrs2Y
Yes but only with congressional approval
@9FG557K2yrs2Y
Yes, but only for operations within our country’s borders, and if only when Mexico asks for help.
@9D3XCMX2yrs2Y
@9B4S8642yrs2Y
No, decriminalize all drugs instead
@9D4WW7V2yrs2Y
Only with congressional approval.
@9D8GBQR2yrs2Y
Yes and drug and slave traffickers
@99PQTXX2yrs2Y
No, legalize and regulate all drugs instead
@9DXYMNV2yrs2Y
Yes, and decriminalize all drugs.
@9F9YKKQ2yrs2Y
Yes, we cannot afford to leave the drug supply chain intact
@ISIDEWITH10mos10MO
Do you believe it's possible to handle the drug crisis without involving military force, and if so, how?
No, sadly I have seen the destruction first hand of the Mexican Drug Cartels, and the only way to stop the Mexican Drug Cartel would be a systematic change using military force. I wish there would be some other way, but I feel there is too much destruction within the drug business, and it is a situation where fire must be fought with fire. What El salvador did was a clear human rights violation, so I don't think that would be fair, because even though I think military force is neccessary, I think we shouldn't give up our morals and ethics to win, because sometimes the ends don'… Read more
@9V3CLQS9mos9MO
No it is not possible to handle it without police/military.
@9V3BXC59mos9MO
I think that the government should try to control it without the military until it comes down to using the military
@9TNN28610mos10MO
No, there is too much of it and the military needs to take care of it
@9B63NJV2yrs2Y
@9CDR7GX2yrs2Y
Yes, but with congressional approval.
@ISIDEWITH10mos10MO
How would you feel if military intervention led to the loss of innocent lives but helped reduce drug-related deaths in the U.S.?
@9YFG8M98mos8MO
That isn't good. It depends on how many people were innocently killed, and the impact of the operations. If its greater than 4, there is a problem.
@9TJGW8210mos10MO
i think its a hard choice, but it would be worth it with the millions of possible drug attics we would save from addiction.
@9TJGVFC10mos10MO
Pretty bad. If military intervention is necessary, then civilian casualties should be as limited as possible.
@9TJGS9W10mos10MO
i dont think we should attack but keep closer watch.
@9B2CLXL2yrs2Y
no legalize most drugs instead.
@9C49SSJ2yrs2Y
Yes, but only for operations within our country’s borders, unless Mexico asks for assistance
@9BCNPT42yrs2Y
With congressional approval
@9FB462H2yrs2Y
yes, but only with the Mexican governments approval.
@9CJJFX42yrs2Y
Yes, but only with the approval of the Mexican government.
@9D7D9QVConstitution2yrs2Y
Only with the cooperation of the Mexican government.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Do you believe that the potential for civilian casualties in Mexico can be justified by the aim to reduce drug-related deaths in the U.S.?
@9FDPH9WProgressive2yrs2Y
Yes, as long as the US military helps communities affected or provide relief once a cartel is busted.
That's an interesting perspective. However, the U.S. military isn't typically involved in relief efforts or community development. This role is often filled by non-military government agencies or NGOs. For instance, after the fall of Pablo Escobar in Colombia, it was primarily NGOs and local government that aided in rebuilding the community. Could there be a different, perhaps more suitable, way to ensure affected communities receive the necessary support following a cartel bust?
@99WW4RL2yrs2Y
No, decriminalize all drugs
@9D36XX92yrs2Y
Yes, but only with the permission of the Mexican government
@943QKSZ2yrs2Y
Yes, but only with the cooperation of the Mexican government
@7YY64YV2yrs2Y
Yes, and legalize all drugs
@9BHQTWF2yrs2Y
Yes, but only in coordination with the Mexican government
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How would you feel if a family member was harmed because of a military operation against drug cartels?
@9H8JB232yrs2Y
I would feel worried for my family member. Obviously it would mae me have bias but casualties and injuries are bound to happen in war.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
As a student, do you think military resources are better spent on foreign operations or domestic issues, such as education and healthcare?
@9H8HDRP2yrs2Y
I think they are better spent in education and healthcare
@9KXTZW61yr1Y
Yes, but only for operations within our country’s borders. And only if there is undeniable evidence they are indeed cartels.
@9DDDR492yrs2Y
Yes, but only with permission of the Mexican government.
@9D5SP7N2yrs2Y
Yes, but only for operations within our country’s borders and in coordination/with permission with Mexico.
@9BSJ33K2yrs2Y
Yes, but only with Mexico’s permission.
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