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No, I agree with you that the United States going after the cartels within the boundaries of the United States is unassailable, and anyone who disagrees can get fucked. Realistically, no cartel would be willing to try the US government in open warfare or engage in national-scale terrorism because of a crackdown within the States themselves, it's a terrible proposition from their own self-interest. Any cartel that tried would be quickly and summarily destroyed. I just don't think invading Mexico - which would be what using significant military force inside their borders without the consent or approval of their government (cartel-ridden though it is) would be - would be a short- or medium-term positive for the United States. In the long term, a Mexico purged of all cartel influence would be a great thing for all concerned, but it would require significant investments in both blood and treasure to both clear out the cartels, stamp out their insurgency, and then stamp out the insurgency of disgruntled Mexicans who would legitimately be attacking a foreign invader in this scenario. You'd likely get multiple significant terrorist attacks, considering the materiel the cartels have their hands on and their already-existing routes into the country. They have no qualms killing their own people, don't think they'd think twice about mass acts of terrorism against Americans if they're already openly fighting the US Government.
In short, cartels of US soil are fair game, FAFO. Cartels in Mexico (ie not our territory), particularly all the cartels at once, would imo be disastrous without the full support of the Mexican government and people.
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