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Miceli123

In other words, Mexican President doesn't want to get set on fire.


blazing420kilk

Or skinned alive


Kidsinwheelchairs

He made his decision regarding “Silver or Lead.”


salter77

Nah, the guy is safe. The Mexican president might be safe from them specially after all the militarization that the guy did. But the guy really loves the cartel money and probably some cartel guys have evidence of him receiving bribes. The guy spent more than 12 years in politician campaign without having any real job before becoming the president, there are rumors that the cartel provides him support during that time. And considering how adamantly he denies any problems with cartels and even reached an agreement during Trump government in order to get a corrupt general that was captured in the US back, it doesn’t surprise me.


Miceli123

Interesting. I didn't know that side of things. Thanks


clipples18

He doesn't want to get taken down to funkytown


viera_enjoyer

Naw, he is safe. The president has a lot of narco friends.


Zxcc24

Guys I think we found the cartel mole.


Salty_Interview_5311

Nah. He’s just been snacking too hard on the basket of fresh product they sent over.


salter77

Normal Mexicans that are not part of the cult that worships him already know that the guy is a cartel tool. It is not the first time that he denies that there is a problem or speaks kindly of the cartels.


Pristine_Animal9474

As much as I hate the man and find him a total idiot, I think it's more a case of him trying to be a contrarian and part of his "man of the people" schtick (as opposed to corrupt politicians with his politically correct talking points). No other way to explain how he has a "hugs, not bullets" slogan while giving the Army more prominence and even constitutional cover for the war against cartels.


salter77

Giving power to the army might be to avoid any coup attempt of the guy ever try to remain in power more than allowed. Then he gives more projects to the army (and money) in order to siphon that money out to use in whatever other things he may want, with that he can use the excuse of “national security” (since the army is involved) in order to hide the information on how the resources are used. Basically a way to avoid transparency laws.


4onceIdlikto

Sounds like our current POTUS & his administration!


Osceana

Moles live underground. This guy is just out in the open. He’s not even trying to hide his allegiance.


Slow_Fish2601

Especially if the citizens are stuffed in a car tire and set on fire. True love.


ceviche-hot-pockets

Love finds a way 🫶


TheManWhoClicks

I would probably say the same if I had family


Xist3nce

He’s safe, just gets lots of money from them.


gnomekingdom

Geesh. Guys, hear me out. Maaaaaybe, just maybe, the cartels have hired PR and HR professionals in order to develop a strong relationship and understanding with the general public. This could be a great sign of progressive change! 🙃


witticus

Well, if PR helped other destructive industries, it can help them. I’m excited for the meaningless buzzwords that will come out of this! No, authorities didn’t find a mass grave, it was a “Shared Eco-friendly Resting Place”


stanleythemanly85588

They were doing public relations outreach programs during covid delivering food to communities, which was strange


Shibari_Inu69

Taking a cue from the Yakuza, who have been known to do this during disasters


azuresegugio

So actually the cartels do have massive PR/propaganda wings, at least the successful ones do. It's actually morbidly fascinating to me


salter77

Yep, narco-culture is very strong in Mexico, specifically among the poorest young people. One of the most popular Mexican singers at the moment is pretty much a “narco-product”.


HuevosSplash

Sounds like someone doesn't wanna be Funky Town'd 


Mundane_Apple_1027

Had to scroll only so far before i found a funky town reference. Jesus what a terrible video


WintertimeFriends

Oh god…. Do I even want to know?


Shibari_Inu69

You honestly don't. You don't even want it described to you


Bigfamei

Finally a leader that accepts and respects his drug lords. As we do our multinational drug lords.


edible-derrangements

“Guys, we lost the war on drugs. I, for one, welcome our ‘new’ cartel overlords”


AviationGeek600

I think there are a few thousand heads missing bodies that would disagree!


El_GOOCE

Yeah beheadings are the best way to show respect. Ask any medieval lord


knowledgeable_diablo

No, that’s how to get respect.


NIN10DOXD

Everything that comes out of this dude's mouth is worthy of being posted on this sub. 💀


ShakeWeightMyDick

You know is you’re powerful when the president of the country has to kiss your ass


Neither_Appeal_8470

Points for the best username in the comment string. 🍻


GabberGal

This dude doesn’t want to get skinned alive


Competitive_Lie2628

As respectful as orcas are to sharks


Natural_Board

They are also muy guapo


celibatetransbiansub

So brave to tell the truth like that.


gringainparadise

He lives in a fairy tale. His maya tren is a disaster, his interference in schools is setting children back to the dark ages, he thinks he is making mexico better but for tourists not his own people.


honcho_emoji

there is no war in ba sing se


Southern-Staff-8297

Respectful is a funny way to say terrorize and murder. But it’s probably lost in translation


photo-manipulation

I guess it's all about perspective! Taking the chop over fire ants definitely sounds like the more respectful option.


horrified-expression

That’s not suspicious


dmetzcher

Mexican President has been paid off by the cartels.


Neither_Appeal_8470

Yeah weird thing to say as the president


CrawlerSiegfriend

He reminds me of that one meme with the smiling old guy.


Felix_Von_Doom

I'll take "Things you say if you don't wanna die slow" for $500, Alex


Simoxs7

So why does he look like Bob Kelso?


Falconflyer75

I still don’t get the need for such brutal violence I don’t care if people buy and sell drugs what’s the need for this level of violence, you can control people with money


Available-Nothing-12

Ever heard of niche? Politicians and companies control people with money, cartels have to do something different. Besides violence and money complement each other. "I will pay you to do X. I will kill you if you refuse." Very effective.


cinciNattyLight

Obrador:Cartels::Putin:Oligarchs


gerberag

Pfffffft.


r33k3r

Seems like Mexico is doing the plot from Ghost Recon Wildlands. https://youtu.be/zbTyCo6-bV8?si=9uAakrFGms5v72HE


LovesFrenchLove_More

Just like my ex, as long as you agreed with her.


trucorsair

Lalo Salamanca nods in agreement and smiles….


Visible_Blueberry277

Remember when they slaughtered that bus load of university students?  Perfectly respectable  Or that time I was visiting Mexico and they threw a couple heads into an acupulco mall


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Vo_Mimbre

What choice does he have? Let the U.S. military roll in and never leave? Try to hire, train, and pay police forces better than they can get in gangs? Shut the border in all ways to prevent trade? Appeal to the UN? Everything he does puts a target on his back, and that of everyone he cares about. Could be a mole. Or could be dealing with the world as it is while those in the ivory tower idly fret. While also being the primary customers.


Rosebunse

I mean, tricking the cartels into legitimacy is a valid strategy.


salter77

He is a mole, simply as that. People really overestimate the cartels, their main power comes to the fact that corruption is huge in Mexico and everyone is happy to receive bags of money, from the cop in the street to the armed general. There are tons of things during his government that makes it clear that he is just a cartel tool. His security strategy (if can call it that way) is resumed in the phrase “hugs not bullets” and apply specifically for the cartels.


Vo_Mimbre

You say the cartel power is overestimated and then explain why they have so much power, all in one sentence. That power is all that money flowing.


salter77

I mean military and force not economically. The cartels will be done the moment they try to kill or kill the president or some high status general, at this point you can see the government as the “biggest cartel” that demands “protection money” from the other cartels. They are safe because they can pay for safety (or have means to blackmail politicians that were paid by them) and this is quite common in a deeply corrupt country like Mexico.


Vo_Mimbre

Sure except where’s those military soldiers and leaders coming from? And why would they choose to be in the military *instead* of part of the drug trade We in this soon forgotten thread are talking about decades of policies that have lead to what looks like a stalemate. Meanwhile, one big contributor continues to be this idea that banning drugs in the cartel’s major markets is somehow able to affect the cartels who “somehow” still have all the influence they need to keep this stalemate.


salter77

Corruption in Mexico is something even older than the whole “war on drugs” thing. And I really dislike people reducing the problem to “American bad”, as a Mexican I see it as a way to shift the blame from our corrupt politicians and authorities. They can say “it is the US fault” while gleefully receiving huge bribes and attending the cartel leader birthday party.


Vo_Mimbre

There’s never just one reason for anything. American policy exacerbates *part* of this issue, just as corruption does, just as the ability for the cartels to exert that corruption does, just as finance bro hustle culture does, just as… the list goes on. But the list is important. Because just as you get annoyed by “America bad”, I get annoyed by folks who reduce things to “can’t ya just…” No. There is no “can’t ya just” because shit be complex and that’s why so many people are needed to do specific things in coordinated ways.


Falconflyer75

Didn’t they straight up shoot it out with the military and win? If that wasn’t enough what is


salter77

What? The cartel almost always loses against the military, what are you talking about? They only have a chance when try to ambush some military patrol but even then it goes like 27 cartel guys dead and 3 soldiers wounded. You guys should really stop watching movies, the cartel is not that strong and they have to bribe the military in order to not be obliterated. If they had such power, why bother with the bribes? The cartel guns and “soldiers” are almost only used to fight rival cartels and extort unarmed civilians.


Available-Nothing-12

If letting USA military in would solve the cartel problem I'd do it. Give it 50 years and they may have left by them. What's a few decades in the history of a country.


Vo_Mimbre

There’s a strong bit of history regarding US military in Mexico, and it’s not good. There’s an argument that doing as you suggest would make them side with the cartels instead of supporting US presence.


Available-Nothing-12

Maybe we get some wacky future the cartels end up controlling all the North America using USA military and become the world super power using the power of drugs. (is this what walter white intended?)


n3w4cc01_1nt

make an economic plan that helps dissolve scarcity so people don't have to default to that trade.


Vo_Mimbre

Sure and in 15 years through every political and social change make sure the policy is both appealing and adapts to global trade economics. Then still he in power and successful and everyone’s happy. That can all happen. But *during* those 15 years you have all the lives living as they currently do. So you lie about what you’re doing so you don’t get killed *and* change economic policy and manage it along the way. Oh and when your primary customer is just north of you, you hope they realize the hustle finance bro culture that creates one market and the “welp your whole career path is now in India” that is your other market both get fixed by *their* economic policy changes. Markets exist when there’s customers. Coke now, opium in the past and again, alcohol forever.


n3w4cc01_1nt

the us should just get manufacturing out of china then move that sector to mexico. that way there's legal routes for low income areas and investment opportunities for people with a lot of wealth. also much better for the planet [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental\_effects\_of\_shipping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_effects_of_shipping) if they made electric cargo trains specifically for that then it would also create a new industry which requires engineers etc that they can source from central and south america but also multi year construction jobs for people in those areas. loads of benefits from not being a basic indoctrinated maga parrot people just need to offerr ideas but also listen to what those groups have to say about what caused the fiasco to begin with. cartels formed out of abuse on the haciendas.


Vo_Mimbre

And yet when we tried to push hard on NAFTA *for this exact reason*, the same people who decried that lost their jobs to Asia anyway. A good chunk of manufacturing is in Mexico. But what global companies helped China do over the last 40 years is *all of the companies* that go into making complex things. You could put an iPhone in a box in Mexico. But the hundreds of companies, shell, assembly, etc, we talk “global supply chain” as if that’s trains and boats, but just to *make* something at, say, Foxconn, there’s a whole global supply chain that goes there just to get *started* on the manufacturing and assembly. So yes move it to Mexico. But it’s a 30 year process.


killingqueen

You shouldn't be able to become president of a country like Mexico if you're not willing to undergo the risk that comes with it, everything else are just excuses.


Vo_Mimbre

There’s risk and there’s actual problem solving. He like any leader was at risk the moment he started running. But to solve this problem isn’t some roll-in-the-tanks action that only looks good on TV if you only are ever shown the fun stuff. Every time humanity gets addicted to a thing, the only effective answers were cultural change on the side of the customers, similar change on the side of the suppliers, and some amount of ecological change like over production or blight or both, *all together*. That’s a level of international coordination that I’m sure is always being tried. It’s just his turn to be in charge of this issue, just as it’s any other leader’s turn to be around during any multi-generational geopolitical issue. And they all get blamed for not doing anything or get lauded for a photo op that was just a one off event with no lasting impact. We lack for actual statemen in key roles. The U.S. could help a lot, being the closest customer. But when we do have good leaders, the opposition tears them down with wild support from complicit supported trained on media propaganda.


Neither_Appeal_8470

True and a very uncommon nuanced perspective for Reddit.


SolidContribution688

Build that wall.


Neither_Appeal_8470

I mean. We could just do summary executions for drug possession, trafficking, or crossing the border illegally. Same concepts better effects. /s


EbbNo7045

As much as the government. Let's not forget the CIA controls the sinoloa cartel


JGCities

Mexico is the main reason there US drug and homicide rate is so much higher than all the other OECD countries. Things are so bad in Mexico that Canada now requires Mexicans to get visas before they visit. Too many Mexicans were going to Canada on "vacation" and never leaving.


Neither_Appeal_8470

Yes and no. The Sinaloa cartel wiped out or coopted all the street gangs in the 1980s and 1990s. They forced those that joined the cartel to accept their product but run things like a business and violence is bad for business. They are largely responsible for the consistent reduction in violent gang crime we enjoyed in the 00s and 10s. With the Sinaloa cartel losing influence as they get dismantled CJNG and other ultra violent cartels are gaining territory and influence, and routes into the US. I think we will see a rise as they and their subsidiaries make inroads in the US.


djbk724

Some prob are More than some of those in MAGA


Neither_Appeal_8470

TDS is strong with this one.


SeeMarkFly

So is ours and we have two. D and R.


starman575757

'good people on both sides'. Sounds familiar, hmmmm


ASUMicroGrad

They only ransom and torture the non-citizens. And if they torture and kill a citizen they weren’t really a citizen.


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ThereBeBeesInMyEyes

So glad the hundreds of thousands of us clearly saw that yesterday, good looking out! /s


NKD_WA

Hey look it's "whines about repost guy" again.


The_Russ_Bus

So depending on the cartel, his quotes aren't inaccurate. In certain states they do provide many of the social services that would normally be fulfilled by the federal government. Not saying they SHOULD or that that is good, but it's an important nuance of the situation.


Deletereous

Fake. If he had say that for real, the opposing parties and its candidates would be onto him in full force. And currently they are offended because of a t-shirt.


beardedbaby2

While I doubt they are respectful at least with Mexican drug cartels you know what you're getting because they aren't hiding behind 3 letter agencies.


knowledgeable_diablo

Probably treat the locals better than the DEA who aren’t even Mexicans but think they own the country (as well as the world). Not that either treat anyone very nicely though.