# Why Is the Mexican Police/Military So Passive In the Drug Wars **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 18, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192 "2010-09-18T16:00:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/21 "2010-09-19T23:14:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Why is the Mexican police and military so passive in the Drug Wars? As others have said, the answer to this is ‘they aren’t passive’. They are fighting hard, and under some fairly heavy duty handicaps. Corruption being one of them, to be sure, but the other is that the cartels have a LOT of money to throw at the ‘war’, which means they are going to be much more effective than run of the mill and disorganized criminals. Think of the Mob during Prohibition, then ask why OUR police and military were so ‘passive’. > [@](#): > > Hundreds of police officers and soldiers are being killed by the cartel thugs but there is rarely any situation where the police and troops actually win a shoot-out. Then you haven’t been paying attention, or you are getting your facts from people who haven’t been. The police and especially the military hold their own fine against the cartels. -XT ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/22 "2010-09-20T00:33:43Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@Mach Tuck](#): > > > > Yeah, I mean, boys will be boys, right?. Why should we whine about a few measly human rights violations when we’re talking about something as important as the war on drugs? And just when we’re on the cusp of winning! :rolleyes: > > I’m saying considering how bloody Mexico’s drug wars are getting, we need to support the police and military has much as possible and while human rights violations are unfortunate that doesn’t mean we should stop providing aid. How about we mind our own damn business and let Mexico solve their own damn problems? If we defended our borders, maybe drug flow would diminish. ---
**Author:** ![shamblesmaybe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@shamblesmaybe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamblesmaybe)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/23 "2010-09-20T01:04:19Z")
The trouble is that America is happy to spend hundreds of millions on the War on Drugs if it involves shooting people and sticking them in jail because many people think killing ‘bad’ people and putting ‘bad’ people in prison represents good value for money. The same people simply wouldn’t like to see their tax dollar being spent on the kind of social services and education that could have a propper impact because those bad people don’t deserve something for nothing (unless it’s bullets or bars on the windows) ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/24 "2010-09-20T02:51:31Z")
> [@shamblesmaybe](#): > > The trouble is that America is happy to spend hundreds of millions on the War on Drugs if it involves shooting people and sticking them in jail because many people think killing ‘bad’ people and putting ‘bad’ people in prison represents good value for money. The same people simply wouldn’t like to see their tax dollar being spent on the kind of social services and education that could have a propper impact because those bad people don’t deserve something for nothing (unless it’s bullets or bars on the windows) And this is especially true if the people getting killed are not Americans. Who gives a damn if a Mexican family gets gunned down in a crossfire or by mistake? Ask Curtis Lemay. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/25 "2010-09-20T14:59:38Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > > I’m saying considering how bloody Mexico’s drug wars are getting, we need to support the police and military has much as possible and while human rights violations are unfortunate that doesn’t mean we should stop providing aid. > > How about we mind our own damn business and let Mexico solve their own damn problems? If we defended our borders, maybe drug flow would diminish. Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/26 "2010-09-20T15:08:21Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@LouisB](#): > > > > How about we mind our own damn business and let Mexico solve their own damn problems? If we defended our borders, maybe drug flow would diminish. > > Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. What is your definition of good is in disagreement with theirs? Corruption exists in every country. Read about the Detroit police department and their problems. Should Canadian Mounties cross the border and straighten out the Detroit Corruption? All over America we have corrupt city governments. Lets fix those first. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/27 "2010-09-20T15:15:17Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@LouisB](#): > > > > How about we mind our own damn business and let Mexico solve their own damn problems? If we defended our borders, maybe drug flow would diminish. > > Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. You need to both get a new nationality and not start posts based on nothing but the imaginary world in your head. Anyone who feels able to start a thread with this title and subject should be informed enough on the subject to - in this case- know that the entire premise of passivity is a misconception. Do some fact checking or something before posting. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/28 "2010-09-20T15:23:29Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@DCnDC](#): > > > > [Massive corruption](http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67T52D20100830) is certainly a factor. The cartels have no fear of the police or other officials. Anyone they can’t pay off they just kill. > > If that’s the case perhaps the United States needs to be given the right to operate police and troops in Mexico without molestation. We already have a Doper whose board persona is that of Machiavellian (if incompetent) evil overlord, **Curtis**. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/29 "2010-09-20T15:33:23Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > If there is money to be made, eliminating a drug cartel does no good. Another will quickly replace it. We are dealing with symptoms ,not causes. Exactly. And whilst I believe in the total legalization of all drugs on the grounds that it is not anyone’s place to regulate most pleasures, and because I have no cares about people killing themselves whilst not harming others ( some of my best friends are druggies, but if they off themselves it’s just another little grave in the west ), I strongly disagree with those who argue that legalization will reduce crime; anymore than ending prohibition meant the gangsters repented and went into honest employment. There are a lot of unpleasant people prone to violence, fraud and theft in the world: closing one door opens a window for them. ---
**Author:** ![Mozart1220](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Mozart1220](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mozart1220)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/30 "2010-09-20T16:13:17Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@RickJay](#): > > > > Well, why are drugs so prevalent in the United States? What the hell’s the problem with U.S. law enforcement? > > > > It’s often pointed out that marijuana is the top cash crop in the USA. Cocaine, heroin, and other narcotics are rampant. Crack dealing in most major urban centres is virtually unstopped. What’s going on there, anyway? Maybe Canada should be given the right to police the USA without molestation. > > Drug use has decreased over the past few decades actually. As has the population. Go figure… And yet, there is no issue of black market Tequila coming over the border, and not a soul has died in a war between tobacco cartels. Why? Could it be these things are LEGAL and thus more easily controlled? NAAAAAAAAHHHHH ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/31 "2010-09-20T20:59:43Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. The good of humanity is best served by Tough Love. Mexico won’t learn to solve its problems unless we sit back and make them sink or swim. ---
**Author:** ![Ionizer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5daacb/32.png) [@Ionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ionizer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/32 "2010-09-20T23:03:01Z")
It seems that the ‘leaders’ of the cartels are not fighting back as much when it they are found/caught by military/Police forces. Maybe because the government was so aggressive overall that word kinda got around about it. [Here’s](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/14/mexico-drug-kingpins-now-_n_715980.html) a story with some quotes from Navy spokesman and how it appears that the upper-level bad guys see fighting the ‘govt forces’ as a poor choice nowadays. Definitely no lack of violence against others, though - not at all. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/33 "2010-09-20T23:08:27Z")
An oft-published journalist has spent a considerable amount of time in Juarez, Mexico and written a book called Murder City, about the connection between the drug cartels and the global economy. He makes some observations which may answer your question. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/34 "2010-09-21T00:04:51Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@LouisB](#): > > > > How about we mind our own damn business and let Mexico solve their own damn problems? If we defended our borders, maybe drug flow would diminish. > > Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. Charity begins at home and God helps those who help themselves. Altruism doesn’t pay. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/35 "2010-09-21T07:02:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. Matthew 7:2-6 (King James Version) 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. We need to fix things in our own country and society before we start interfering with other countries and societies. We’ve got plenty of our own problems that we should be taking care of. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/36 "2010-09-21T21:01:15Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > > Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. > > The good of humanity is best served by Tough Love. Mexico won’t learn to solve its problems unless we sit back and make them sink or swim. Like the US has ever really cared about the welfare of México. I 'd like to know how SO many shipments of illegal drugs cross your border every day? Why are your police and military so passive in stopping this? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/37 "2010-09-21T21:17:20Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > > [@Steve\_MB](#): > > > > The good of humanity is best served by Tough Love. Mexico won’t learn to solve its problems unless we sit back and make them sink or swim. > > Like the US has ever really cared about the welfare of México. I 'd like to know how SO many shipments of illegal drugs cross your border every day? Why are your police and military so passive in stopping this? [One might also wonder where the drug cartels in Mexico get their weapons from.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/28/AR2007102801654.html) ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/38 "2010-09-24T02:47:05Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > > Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. > > What is your definition of good is in disagreement with theirs? Corruption exists in every country. Read about the Detroit police department and their problems. Should Canadian Mounties cross the border and straighten out the Detroit Corruption? > All over America we have corrupt city governments. Lets fix those first. > [@Steve\_MB](#): > > > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > > Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. > > The good of humanity is best served by Tough Love. Mexico won’t learn to solve its problems unless we sit back and make them sink or swim. > [@LouisB](#): > > > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > > Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. > > Charity begins at home and God helps those who help themselves. > > Altruism doesn’t pay. > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Because we ought to work for the good of all humanity. > > Matthew 7:2-6 (King James Version) > > 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. > 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? > 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? > 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. > 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. > > We need to fix things in our own country and society before we start interfering with other countries and societies. We’ve got plenty of our own problems that we should be taking care of. Is America perfect? Of course not. But by that logic you have no business interfering with an abusive parent because you happen to utter profanity at your friends when angry. Whatever minimizes long-term human suffering is the best thing we can do. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/39 "2010-09-24T02:51:50Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Is America perfect? Of course not. But by that logic you have no business interfering with an abusive parent because you happen to utter profanity at your friends when angry. Whatever minimizes long-term human suffering is the best thing we can do. And as a rule, that’s nothing. America is not well meaning. America is neither moral nor benevolent. Greed and hatred are what it offers the world; America is a nation that despises benevolence. Any attempt to intervene will only make matter worse, because making matters worse is what we’ll be trying to do. You might as well to be appealing to the Mafia to go in and do something. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192/40 "2010-09-24T03:00:27Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > > [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > > Is America perfect? Of course not. But by that logic you have no business interfering with an abusive parent because you happen to utter profanity at your friends when angry. Whatever minimizes long-term human suffering is the best thing we can do. > > And as a rule, that’s nothing. America is not well meaning. America is neither moral nor benevolent. Greed and hatred are what it offers the world; America is a nation that despises benevolence. Any attempt to intervene will only make matter worse, because making matters worse is what we’ll be trying to do. You might as well to be appealing to the Mafia to go in and do something. Whatever you may say you’re a leftist Calvinist who looks at America as utterly depraved as Jonathan Edwards considered human nature to be. You deny it has any possible good motivations in ridiculous absolute statements. Consider for instance the Balkans where the United States intervened to stop the massacres and ethnic cleansing (and yes I praise President Clinton for that and shame to those conservatives who opposed it). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mexican-police-military-so-passive-in-the-drug-wars/554192.md?page=3)