Perry: Send Military To Mexico

If one needs any indication that the "Drug War" has gone a little too far, Presidential candidate Rick Perry says that he would consider sending troops into Mexico:

“It may require our military in Mexico,” Perry said in answer to a question about the growing threat of drug violence along the southern border. Perry offered no details, and a spokesman, Robert Black, said afterward that sending troops to Mexico would be merely one way of putting an end to the exploding cartel-related violence in the region.

While we are fighting multiple wars across the globe why would we want to start one with Mexico? And, no, I don't actually think this would start a war with Mexico, but it would be an act of war and one in which we would deserve to lose by being the aggressor. Its like saying that Mexico has a right to invade the U.S. because our lax gun laws allow criminals in Mexico to easily acquire guns. Ridiculous. Need other reasons? Political scientist Dr. Steven Taylor offers a few:

...such a move would just lead to an escalation of violence, not a diminution thereof. The Mexican cartels are in a position to wage an insurgent style fight against US troops. Further, they are mixed in with the civilian population. What, exactly, does Perry think regular troops would be doing in Mexico?

Third, there is also the historical tone deafness to the suggestion, given that US troops in Mexico has a rather significant negative connotation to Mexicans. While those of us en the north have forgotten about the Mexican-American War, not to mention numerous incursions by US troops into Mexican territory in the mid-to-late 1800s and the early 1900s, it remains a point of significance to Mexicans.