US Army Sends Strykers, Air Defense Radar to Mexican Border - Polidicks

They're in our border so i don't see why people are tripping out. They're trying to help keep the violence from spreading in to the US. We can get all political and say the war on drugs is stupid and all that. But the point is, they're there to protect the border.

[QUOTE=Reviized;35371439]Sort of wish that the US would "invade" Mexico, just to clean up these damned drug cartels. I know that it would be seen as an act of "global policing" and "imperialism" however, not only are innocents getting killed in mexico, but this whole problem is spiraling out of control without any real solution. I would rather see american troops fighting for their own country's safety for a change rather than what is going on in Afghanistan and Iraq. Also, to avoid the pit falls of those two wars, an intervention in mexico would NEED to be a nation wide effort.[/QUOTE] Mexico: The 51st state. Up next, Canada.

[QUOTE=shian;35367002] Why the fuck do you need these at the border? Invade Mexico? [/QUOTE] Well, I do remember reading articles about the crazy shit the cartels build. Including armored trucks. [img]http://makezineblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/narcotank.jpg[/img]

armored trucks really aren't that hard to build, though their dedication is shining.

Legalize the shit and suddenly all these problems go away.

[QUOTE=Pierrewithahat;35367518]That's fucking ingenious, and that's also why you won't stop the cartels from turning a profit.[/QUOTE] We could stop cartels from turning a profit if we had a different drug enforcement system.

[QUOTE=Sickle;35374634]Legalize the shit and suddenly all these problems go away.[/QUOTE] Really, please enlighten us as to how the viciously militant Cartels will simply up and disappear with the legalization of drugs?

[QUOTE=Sickle;35374634]Legalize the shit and suddenly all these problems go away.[/QUOTE] They don't just move drugs. They sell weaponry, kidnap people, commit fraud. Cartels do more then act like Scarface all day. But legalizing recreational drugs would certainly hurt them. Plus it doesn't really have any negative side. Portugal did it and that country hasn't turned into one giant crackhouse or anything.

[QUOTE=Sickle;35374634]Legalize the shit and suddenly all these problems go away.[/QUOTE] Or the Cartels just viciously murder everyone who tries to sell drugs legally, and continue to viciously murder each other for selling drugs illegally, and viciously murder anyone who speaks out against their vicious murders. "Legalise" always comes up as a solution, when it's so easily shot down. These men are brutal killers, they'll destroy anything and anyone who gets in their way of profit. Why do you think legalising drugs will just make them give up and go home? It's passed the point of no return, legalising won't do shit at this point.

[QUOTE=Pierrewithahat;35370029]Damn pesky RC planes filled with coke. Incidentally if you shot one of em down it would be snowing snow :v:[/QUOTE] it'd be snowing [i]ice[/i], actually [editline]31st March 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Sickle;35374634]Legalize the shit and suddenly all these problems go away.[/QUOTE] suggest legalizing it and undercutting the cartel and suddenly your throat is slit in the middle of the night

[QUOTE=Mac2468;35374786]We could stop cartels from turning a profit if we had a different drug enforcement system.[/QUOTE] No you won't because if people want to get high they're gonna get high.

[QUOTE=Reviized;35371439]Sort of wish that the US would "invade" Mexico, just to clean up these damned drug cartels. I know that it would be seen as an act of "global policing" and "imperialism" however, not only are innocents getting killed in mexico, but this whole problem is spiraling out of control without any real solution. I would rather see american troops fighting for their own country's safety for a change rather than what is going on in Afghanistan and Iraq. Also, to avoid the pit falls of those two wars, an intervention in mexico would NEED to be a nation wide effort.[/QUOTE] I'm only for an armed conflict if we have a clearly defined goal and decent exit strategy. There was no decent exit strategy for Iraq or Afghanistan. Saddam was killed, there were no WMDs, and yet the US was still in Iraq for several years. Same story with Afghanistan.

[QUOTE=BANNED USER;35367508]Is this because they found UAV's packing drugs flying across the border?[/QUOTE] Avatar fits

Operation Fast and Furious just stepped up a notch.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;35375096]Or the Cartels just viciously murder everyone who tries to sell drugs legally, and continue to viciously murder each other for selling drugs illegally, and viciously murder anyone who speaks out against their vicious murders. "Legalise" always comes up as a solution, when it's so easily shot down. These men are brutal killers, they'll destroy anything and anyone who gets in their way of profit. Why do you think legalising drugs will just make them give up and go home? It's passed the point of no return, legalising won't do shit at this point.[/QUOTE] So they are going to come into the United States and murder people in the US selling drugs legally. That scene in the Lord of the Rings when the giant eye starts changing direction comes to mind. If the cartels ever actually got the attention of the United States military, the cartels would be beyond fucked. Their armor trucks are cute and probably pop in a delightful fashion when lit up by the 30mm on an Apache. Much less the FFAR's or Hellfires. Legalizing the majority of their inventory would in turn make it almost impossible to compete in terms of prices with the US even after taxes. With the market here destroyed, their income would significantly decrease. Nobody in their right mind, not even the Cartels, would realistically roll into the US with any overt campaign to take out drug dispensaries. Not in any real numbers. So now they have a fraction of the income they once did (Guns don't grow in the ground, so the cash flow is intermittent based on supply and demand and kidnapping is only so effective. Ramp it up or kidnap the wrong person and hell rains down on you) and they no longer have a major reason to cross the border. That makes them Mexico's problem. With the reduction in cash flow it then makes Mexico's job of handling them difficult. Now if there is a flaw here, I'm happy to hear it. But from everything I have seen, cutting off their drug flow into the US by crippling the market is an extremely effective means of crippling them. They won't magically disappear, but their reach and power will be drastically cut.

[QUOTE=fluke42;35371930]Mexico: The 51st state. Up next, Canada.[/QUOTE] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97du1N7Znb0[/media]

In a perfect world, the US and Mexican governments would cooperate and send in our troops to high level areas and clean out the place, then fall back. Just skirmish tactics mopping up the place.

[QUOTE=Hinterlight;35374802]Really, please enlighten us as to how the viciously militant Cartels will simply up and disappear with the legalization of drugs?[/QUOTE] noone thinks that legalization will just cause the cartels to disappear. it would start a quite possibly long transition period of the cartels either focusing on other organized crime or legitimizing their business. you know why? because cartels exist to make money, not to just do random acts of violence, that is just how they protect their means to create money. a legal recreational drug industry would net a far far far greater profit than an illegal one, that's why we don't have beer companies shooting it out like prohibition gangsters, because they don't need to do, they can perform their business legitimately and make huge profits WITHOUT being killed or put in prison for the rest of their lives. are you telling me that anyone would prefer to continue in the illegal drug trade when this is the alternative? [editline]2nd April 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;35375096]Or the Cartels just viciously murder everyone who tries to sell drugs legally, and continue to viciously murder each other for selling drugs illegally, and viciously murder anyone who speaks out against their vicious murders. "Legalise" always comes up as a solution, when it's so easily shot down. These men are brutal killers, they'll destroy anything and anyone who gets in their way of profit. Why do you think legalising drugs will just make them give up and go home? It's passed the point of no return, legalising won't do shit at this point.[/QUOTE] you say it wont do shit but how do you know this? it hasn't been attempted and frankly the other method of trying to battle the cartels (which mexico has been doing for like, the past decade WITH military action) has resulted in the deaths of 60 thousand people and with no end to the violence in sight. as long as theres shitloads of money in illegal narcotics, there will be cartels. violence only begets violence and when you cut off a hydras head it grows another two!!!!!

[QUOTE=Lachz0r;35394148]violence only begets violence and when you cut off a hydras head it grows another two!!!!![/QUOTE] I disagree. You just need to cut much, much deeper.

Why don't we have a few elite National Guard units that are well equipped and used more often? We could even take a hint from our great and powerful allies in Iraq and call them the "Republican Guard"

[QUOTE=RR_Raptor65;35367554]That and they're using manned ultralights too. We really need more National Guard presence on the boarder though, if only to discourage American militias doing the job of the National Guard when they aren't there.[/QUOTE] Those people have regular jobs that they're taken away from if they're called to duty, I'd rather have full-timers on the border.

[QUOTE=gufu;35394365]I disagree. You just need to cut much, much deeper.[/QUOTE] how can you cut deeper than cutting something completely off that doesn't EVEN MAKE SENSE

[QUOTE=BANNED USER;35367508]Is this because they found UAV's packing drugs flying across the border?[/QUOTE] Either that, or the druglords now have their own airforce.

[QUOTE=ewitwins;35394423]Those people have regular jobs that they're taken away from if they're called to duty, I'd rather have full-timers on the border.[/QUOTE] You're always a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine first. Irregardless if you're National Guard or Reservist.

[QUOTE=InvaderNouga;35394922]You're always a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine first. Irregardless if you're National Guard or Reservist.[/QUOTE] I realize and understand that is probably a good mentality to keep, but I'm talking about things from a financial point of view for the individual. Not every position nor is every boss willing to keep a spot open for every serviceman called to duty, and that's just a sad fact.

[QUOTE=Groat;35394419]Why don't we have a few elite National Guard units that are well equipped and used more often? We could even take a hint from our great and powerful allies in Iraq and call them the "Republican Guard"[/QUOTE] Because legally the US Military is not a law enforcement agency. Their are exceptions to the rule, such as The G8 / G20 meetings where National Guardsmen are deployed as extra security, or when a governor declares a State of Emergency (1992 LA Riots, Katrina disaster).

Where do we draw the line between law enforcement (which also entails basic border patrol) and "national security"? [editline]2nd April 2012[/editline] Does the military have the power to assist in matters of national security, for that matter? Constitutionally-speaking.

[QUOTE=Ninja Duck;35374432]Well, I do remember reading articles about the crazy shit the cartels build. Including armored trucks. [img]http://makezineblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/narcotank.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Let's see if it can survive a shot from a 120mm cannon

[QUOTE=ewitwins;35395657]Where do we draw the line between law enforcement (which also entails basic border patrol) and "national security"? [editline]2nd April 2012[/editline] Does the military have the power to assist in matters of national security, for that matter? Constitutionally-speaking.[/QUOTE] Considering that part of national security is maintaining an effective military force, I would say yes the military does play a role in national security :v: Obviously you mean something else, could you be a bit more specific?

[QUOTE=DaysBefore;35374848]They don't just move drugs. They sell weaponry, kidnap people, commit fraud. Cartels do more then act like Scarface all day. But legalizing recreational drugs would certainly hurt them. Plus it doesn't really have any negative side. Portugal did it and that country hasn't turned into one giant crackhouse or anything.[/QUOTE] Drugs aren't legal in portugal theyre decriminalized, its different.