[backtothestreets]

You are right about the topic thread. I apologize for responding the way I did.  What I picked up on was from the third paragraph of the article, "They provide firepower, security and the force needed to oversee shipments of narcotics and smuggled aliens along the border and up Interstate 35, which runs through Texas and Oklahoma."

Mexico is a third world country, but not due to a shortage of resources or a capable workforce.  It is a third world country by design to benefit a small minority of their population.  As hard as I try, I can't help but think some of our citizens are also involved, and I have trouble accepting this.

Ending the illegal drug trade would certainly dry up some of the profits the cartels make now, but that would likely have them impose stiffer extortion upon the Mexican nationals here now.  Even now, these cartels are expanding their smuggling operations to include pirated goods manufactured in China.