Lindsay Graham proposes using military force against Mexico

[Initech]

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham is planning to introduce legislation that would allow the U.S. to use military force against Mexico in order to crack down on drug cartels.

Speaking to Fox News' Jesse Watters, Graham urged the U.S. to "get tough'' on Mexico after four American citizens were kidnapped in northeastern Mexico on March 4. Officials believe the kidnapping was a case of mistaken identity, with members of a Mexican cartel thinking the U.S. citizens were Haitian drug smugglers.

The kidnapping has prompted outrage from Republicans who accuse the Biden administration of failing to crack down on the Mexican drug trade and sufficiently prevent opioids such as fentanyl entering the U.S. from the southern border.

When asked by Watters how he would deal with the kidnapping of the U.S. citizens, Graham backed former Attorney General Bill Barr's recent suggestion of designating the drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
https://www.newsweek.com/lindsey-graham-mexico-military-drug-kidnapping-1786025

Holy shit the GOP has totally lost their fucking minds. This would be like 1930s Germany all over again. Seriously, what the actual fuck is wrong with these people? Is this what their end game with Mexico is? Unbelievable.

[Shipwack]

1. They must have flipped a coin...

“Heads it’s Mexico, tails it’s Canada…”

[Ocelot II]

2. How does he think the US Army can legally enter the sovereign territory of Mexico?

Designating the drug cartels as terrorist organizations still doesn't give us the right to send our armed forces into Mexico. If Mexico isn't cooperating enough with us now, invading it sure won't help; Mexico is an ally and a key trading partner. An invasion would constitute a declaration of war (and make it a lot more difficult for Ted Cruz to escape to Cancun if Texas has another bout of bad weather). 100 years ago Woodrow Wilson sent the Army into Mexico to try to hunt down Pancho Villa. The mission was a failure and an embarrassment, à la the more recent Bay of Pigs debacle.

The Mexico situation is also distinguishable under international law from when US military personnel entered Pakistan without its government's permission to capture or kill Bin Laden: Oversimplified a bit, an invasion to protect against a non-state entity may be permissible if the invaded state is unwilling or unable to act and the invading state asks permission (which is not required if the invaded state is colluding with the non-state entity). In other words, if the US determines the Mexican government is unwilling or unable to control the cartels, and that government is notified and grants permission, then hypothetically, the US military could legally enter Mexico for that purpose (unless Mexico is found to be colluding with the cartels). But we can't just invade, as that would be considered an act of war.

[sarisataka]

3. It would be more akin

To 1916 US actions than a comparison to Europe.

[Freethinker65]

4. Mexican Cartels and drug trafficking are a huge concern with corruption rampant.

I don't think invading a sovereign nation is the answer. LE in our country needs to break the supply and demand chain network...and no, this does not mean banning asylum seekers.

In fact, many asylum seekers are fleeing the cartels. Some asylum seekers might even have information that could be very useful.

[sarcasmo]

5. Using the military has replaced Build The Wall.

[Paladin]

6. Only if you're on the front line, Lindsey.

Pull out that sword and lead the charge, asshole.

[2naSalit]

7. Talking out of his ass again.

Lindsey, please, just sit down and stfu.

[gratuitous]

8. Or maybe South Carolina should take Medicaid expansion?

That way its citizens might not have to go out of the country for treatment.

[jcgoldie]

9. Their endgame with Mexico...

...is to reinforce xenophobia and scapegoat immigrants.