Mexican Army Restores Order as Rubio's Drug War Still Looms

Feb. 24—The deployment of more than 15,000 Mexican Army troops, along with thousands of Federal Police, appears to have, for the moment, restored order—if not calm—in Mexico following the violence that broke out in more than 20 of the country’s states after a military raid that killed drug lord "El Mencho," Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, head of the New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG), on Feb. 22.

Sources on the ground report that the military established roadblocks and checkpoints throughout Mexico, denying cartel members free transit as they sought to stop the damage the organized violence was doing to tourism. Thousands of Americans were ordered to stay in their accommodations, while others attempting to flee found airports closed after they were attacked by armed cartel members. The images of the violence and frightened tourists were broadcast around the world via the internet. Reliable reports indicate that at least 100 people have died so far in the violence, 25 of whom were Mexican police targeted by the cartel.

The Failed Capture of El Mencho

Sources with knowledge of the raid—carried out by the nation’s elite anti-terrorist forces with air support and intelligence provided by the U.S.—said the operation had aimed to capture El Mencho alive, intending to turn him over to the U.S. for prosecution. But the raid found the drug kingpin and his protectors more heavily armed than expected. He was fatally wounded in the gun battle and died in transit to Mexico City for medical treatment.

Mexico had been under extreme pressure to take action against the cartels from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the would-be U.S. Viceroy for the region, who threatened an American attack on the cartels that still bring thousands of tons of drugs into the U.S. The Mexican government of President Claudia Sheinbaum has said that such an attack would violate the nation’s sovereignty and could unleash a total war inside Mexico with the cartels—one that would destroy the Mexican economy, which is America’s number-one trading partner as well as the top destination for millions of American tourists.

Cartels Poised to Retaliate

Sources say that Sheinbaum agreed to the raid hoping the violence could be contained. However, they expect the cartels to respond by calling off a de facto truce that has, for the most part, kept them away from tourist areas in exchange for less intense government action. The cartels make huge sums of money "peacefully" off the tourist trade.

It is unclear exactly how the cartels will respond now, sources say—especially if they believe they will ultimately come under American military attack. It is not easy for Mexico to militarily deal with the cartels, as they are in many places integrated with local government. It is not clear that the cartels could be "defeated" by a military attack without unacceptable levels of civilian casualties. These sources say that cartel leaders may unleash attacks against American tourists and residents to show that Rubio cannot really protect them.

Sources in the tourist industry say that even the limited violence of the last few days has already caused some people to change their travel plans. However, with Spring Break looming—when millions of college-aged tourists flood Mexico—the demand remains high.

Sare’s Critique of the Military Approach

Independent presidential candidate Diane Sare has said that the military solution to the drug problem is no solution at all. The problem, she says, is that international drug trafficking, as well as other illicit trades—including human sex trafficking—is an integral part of the global financial system. This operation, as exposed by Sare’s mentor, the late statesman and physical economist Lyndon LaRouche, which he labeled "Dope, Inc.," daily passes tens of billions of dollars through the corrupt global banking system, which uses the funds for its speculations and launders them—at great profit for the banks. Dope, Inc., which is run by and is an essential part of the British Empire, is not touched by military operations and is left intact.

"If you want to shut down the drug trade and bust up the cartels," said Sare in response to the Mexican raid, "then shut down its banking operations. Close down their accounts and the money laundering. That puts them effectively out of business. People know where these accounts are and have known for years. They are hidden in plain sight. Yet Rubio never mentions them. Why? Because if you shut them down, then you will collapse this whole bankrupt financial system that tries to keep itself afloat on the proceeds of drug traffickers and child sex traffickers. Shut down their banking and the cartels don’t have the money to pay their capos and buy their guns."

Political Motives Behind Rubio’s Pressure

Sare and other sources say that Rubio is using the drug issue as a cover—in this case, to provoke a crisis in Mexico that he can then use to justify invading the country. He has demanded that Mexico allow bases for U.S. troops to operate in the region to enforce the policies of the same banks that launder money for the drug cartels. Thus far, Sheinbaum’s government has resisted Rubio’s demand for bases.