And he keeps killing it.
Last Wednesday, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, the seven Republican candidates for the presidency of the United States faced off in a debate. It was a curious meeting, as was the first one too: after all, Donald Trump, who leads the polls by dozens of points, chose to be absent again. That left the seven candidates on stage to engage in a discussion in search of second place when the only thing that counts is first.
Still, the debate was useful in learning more clearly about the positions of the most important Republican figures on issues that are rarely heard in a party primary. Ilia Calderón, a colleague from Univisión Noticias, participated as moderator, and brought to the table central issues for the Hispanic community: economy, migration, violence with firearms, the future of the young people known as “Dreamers” (beneficiaries of the protection program immigration, DACA) and, crucially, the relationship with Mexico.
Thanks to Calderón’s questions, it became clear that the Republican candidates have no interest in talking about real solutions for the millions of undocumented immigrants who live in the United States and support a long list of diverse industries. They also have no interest in discussing the asylum system that, battered, has condemned thousands of people wandering through cities like New York and Philadelphia to a risky limbo. The only thing that matters to Republican candidates is talking about punitive strategies. First border security, then border security and finally… border security.
Something similar happens with Mexico.
Calderón asked Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations during Trump’s presidency, if she shared the idea of attacking Mexican criminal organizations using the US armed forces. Calderon asked Haley to be specific. “What does it mean to you? “American boots on Mexican soil, drone attacks?” Haley, who is one of the most moderate figures among Republicans, did not hesitate. “It means special operations. “This is how we deal with terrorists,” she responded. “Mexico has not been a good partner if it is allowing the cartels to get their way.” Haley proceeded to describe “special operations.” She said that, if she were president, she would launch operations to “eliminate the cartels and their operations.”
In short, Haley responded to Calderón’s pointed question in the same ominous tone that other Republican candidates have used in recent months. She, like her colleagues, would seriously consider putting troops from the US armed forces to operate in Mexico, even unilaterally.
This is not new.
Other Republican candidates had already hinted at it and, more importantly, Donald Trump himself and people from what was his close circle in the White House, such as his Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that, at this point, attacking Mexico to, in some way, erode the power of drug trafficking, is already a consensual project, at least in the party that will most likely choose Trump as its candidate.
But Haley’s words underscore once again that the bilateral relationship is entering dangerous terrain. This is not a hypothetical situation, much less a mere electoral provocation. We have said it before: dismissing this type of speech like this is irresponsible. Therefore, perhaps it is worth some serious reflection. What would really happen if, say, in February 2025, President Trump approves a “special operation” in which U.S. armed teams appear in Michoacán or Sinaloa? How about Guanajuato or Chiapas? How would President Sheinbaum—or Gálvez—react? And perhaps even more important: what would Mexicans who live under the yoke of organized crime in those places say? Would they react with repudiation to the inadmissible irruption? Or would there be those who would welcome the appearance of the foreign strong hand? The discussion does not allow delay or chauvinism. The threat is real, but so is the enormous cruelty of crime in Mexico and the pain of helpless people.
When are the presidential candidates going to seriously debate it? The clock is ticking.
@LeonKrauze
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2023-10-02 13:29:56
#American #boots #Mexico #universal
