Niccolo Machiavelli at Big Peace reports on a serious suggestion.
Money quote(s):
"(T)his designation would allow the United States to limit cartels’ financial, property and travel interests, and to impose harsher punishment on anyone who provides material support to cartels."
This is not a step to be taken lightly. But it sharply highlights the limitations of our more conventional, "soft power" mechanisms, which don't seem to have improved matters much. Lots of consequences for diplomacy, for business, for travelers, for border states.
"Rep. McCaul, a former federal prosecutor, introduced the legislation on the eve of his hearing examining the United States’ role in the Mexico’s fight against the cartels.
Since 2006 the cartels have killed nearly 35,000 people in Mexico. Over the past year they have killed three individuals (including two U.S. citizens) connected to the U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez, a gubernatorial candidate in the state of Tamaulipas, 12 sitting mayors and one U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent.
According to a press release issued by McCaul’s office, Mexican drug cartels “operate in the same manner as al Qaeda, the Taliban or Hezbollah, each sharing a desire and using similar tactics to gain political and economic influence. They actively affect political, judicial and law enforcement in Mexico. They employ the same tactics as other organizations designated as FTOs – kidnappings, political assassinations, attacks on civilian and military targets, taking over cities and even putting up checkpoints in order to control territory and institutions. Torture, beheadings, dismemberment and mutilation are common tactics that they use to intimidate civilians and government officials."
When all else fails, apply the "if it quacks like a duck" test.
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