Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw has argued that drug cartels in the neighboring country pose a \u201cclear and present danger\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Military intervention against drug cartels in Mexico should be among the options under consideration by the US government, Congressman Dan Crenshaw has argued. The Republican from Texas insisted, however, that any such operation would have to be conducted in close cooperation with the Mexican authorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an interview with TV channel FOX 26 Houston on Sunday, Crenshaw claimed that the Mexican government \u201cdoes not have operational control of their side of the border.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The politician argued that criminal groups were actually in control of the frontier, and estimated the total annual profits of cartels to be around $13 billion. Crenshaw also said that synthetic opioid fentanyl distributed by Mexican syndicates kills \u201ctens of thousands of Americans a year.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The situation demands a \u201cwhole new government approach,\u201d Crenshaw claimed, adding that the cartels should be treated as the \u201cenemy of the state that they are.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked whether he thought military action should be considered, the decorated Navy SEAL veteran said that keeping that option available should be a \u201cbig priority.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Military steps in coordination with the Mexican authorities would \u201csend a message to the cartels that they\u2019ve crossed a red line with the fentanyl production,\u201d Crenshaw stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Washington would be working \u201cwith and through the Mexican government\u201d if it took military action, the congressman added, asserting that \u201cwe have a clear and present danger, basically a para-military threat, right on our border, and we have to deal with it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In March, Crenshaw posted a tweet in Spanish asking Mexican President Lopez Obrador why he had objected to a proposal put forward by the congressman in January. The document called for the authorization of the use of military force against drug cartels in Mexico. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around the same time, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham argued that it was time to \u201cput Mexico on notice\u201d and suggested designating some cartels as \u201cforeign terrorist groups.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an apparent response to those calls, President Obrador insisted that his administration was \u201cnot going to permit any foreign government to intervene in our territory, much less that a government\u2019s armed forces intervene.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obrador argued that Mexico \u201cdoes not take orders from anyone,\u201d and described any suggestions of US military action in his country as \u201cirresponsible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n