Posted by
Andrews on Thursday, March 19, 2009 10:46:53 AM
I was reading
George Will's article on the Mexican drug cartels and their war along the border when I was struck by the blindness implicit in one statement:
But even allowing for the stresses arising from the global economic
downturn, speculation that Mexico, with the world's 13th-largest
economy, is sinking toward the status of a "failed state" is
far-fetched, as is the idea that the cartels can withstand a determined
drive by the Mexican military, assisted by U.S. military technologies.
Of course he is correct, but doesn't Mr. Will realize there is a very good reason such action will never take place?
Actually, three related reasons. And no, despite Will's statements, they have nothing to do with the war on drugs. Despite my opposition to criminalization of drugs, I have to say, the drug cartels could be controlled in this case without any change in drug laws, but they won't.
And no, it has nothing to do with gun laws, nor with a "North American Union" or any other conspiracy theories that get tossed about. No, it is much simpler than that.
So why will no one ever rein in the cartels? Because Democrats want votes, Republicans are scared of appearing mean, and both parties are owned by the farm lobby.
You see, if we were to assist the uncorrupted part of the Mexican police and military in fighting the cartels, one essential step would be closing the border, and no one has the nerve to do that. And since the only other option is to throw open the border while monitoring traffic (which would be political suicide for anyone who proposed it), we are left with a porous border no one has the political will to patrol.
Sadly, this is not a partisan issue. Democrats may want the Hispanic votes they think they gain by unrestricted immigration, but Republicans are hungry for them too, and even more frightened of appearing "cold hearted" and "racist" if they propose tighter border controls. And both parties are also very conscious of farmers and others who depend on the cheap labor brought in by an open border.
On the other hand, the second alternative is also impossible. If we will not close the border, the only other measure which make sense is open immigration with full monitoring. That is, allowing in anyone who wants to come, but stopping all illegal border crossings. However, both parties know that the public in general is opposed to open immigration, and so no one would even think of proposing this solution.
And so we end up with our present situation, a nominally closed border no one will patrol, a controlled immigration scheme which allows in countless illegal immigrants, and a porous border ideal for cartels and smugglers but no one else. And so the lack of honesty on the part of our politicians keeps the cartels safe and our border states, as well as northern Mexico, in a state of chaos.