Reprinted from my article in the Chicago Examiner:
Republican Governor Rick Perry of Texas once again showed why he is utterly unqualified to become President of the United States. In his first real statement on foreign policy, Rick Perry told a group of citizens in Hampton, NH, that he favors American military intervention in Mexico.
No kidding. You cannot make up this stuff.
Rick Perry is attempting to show that he is tough on border security and tough on immigration. Perry told the crowd military intervention is needed in Mexico to keep our homeland safe.
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Gov. Rick Perry of Texas said on Saturday that as president, he would consider sending American troops into Mexico to help defeat drug cartels and improve border security. He indicated that any such action would be done “in concert” with the Mexican government.
“It may require our military in Mexico working in concert with them to kill these drug cartels and to keep them off of our border and to destroy their network,” Mr. Perry said during a campaign appearance here.
“I don’t know all the different scenarios that would be out there,” he said. “But I think it is very important for us to work with them to keep that country from failing.”
The remarks also seem to show a political tone-deafness on Perry's part. He says he would do it with the cooperation of the Mexican government, although history is against Perry. It also shows a lack of understanding about sovereign territories.
Sending soldiers into Mexico — even with the approval of the Mexican government — would represent a far more aggressive policy than the one employed by Washington in recent years, despite the stepped-up surveillance and logistical aid that has been provided to Mexican authorities.
The idea would also almost certainly be a nonstarter with Mexican authorities. Mexico lost half of its territory to the United States in the 1850s, and ever since it has been very sensitive to the idea of any involvement by American troops in its territory.
Perry has been challenged to save his campaign as the latest polls show that he is slipping in public appeal as a direct result of under performance in the Republican debates.
Perry fell from front-runner status at 29 percent in Fox's previous poll to 19 percent in the new survey, while support for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney remained essentially unchanged at 23 percent.
The Republican race is expected to tighten up as candidates such as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie consider getting in. Sarah Palin is considered a long shot possibility of jumping into the race, although most indications are that she will not.
John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African-American studies, published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books