My plan to end the Mexican drug war

[RZM]

We all know that the Allies committed gross human rights violations while defeating the Nazis (especially on the Soviet side, though you could certainly argue that those were justified). And I'm glad we did so. But if you want to end the drug war in Mexico, don't similar actions have to be taken?

How about we legalize all drugs on both sides of the border, give an amnesty period of a few months, then declare war on the cartels and kill everybody associated with them? Would not 4,000 lives sacrificed now be worth 100,000 over 10 years? I'm interested in DU opinions on this. Would it not be worth it to play rough with the cartels if it saves lives in the long run?

[eridani]

1. Sounds like a plan to me n/t

[novealphtang]

2. I've got no problems with this...

...unless the cartels retaliate by killing Mexican civvies

[RZM]

3. They might

But we just retaliate by killing more of them. By 'we', I mean US special forces in conjunction with the Federales. It won't be pretty, but it might get the job done. Either you solve this shit or you make do with the status quo. And I'd rather legalize now and kill a bunch of people in cold blood than deal with this bullshit in perpetuity. Civilians are dying already . . . Why not end it?

[LAGC]

4. Well, if we legalized most drugs...

Wouldn't the cartels pretty much implode on their own? If all the illegal shipping lanes and underground networks were no longer necessary as legal, above-ground networks were established, how would the cartels finance themselves any longer?

They'd all have to go straight and get real jobs, as tax-paying contributors to the economy for a change.

[obxhead]

5. That's exactly it.

The war would end if drugs were legalized. The "war" is for control of the various means of getting those drugs across the borders. If legalized the production means and distribution routes would instantly become big business that is taxed, controlled, and safe.