GOP leaders increasing calls for military force against Mexican drug cartels

WASHINGTON (TND) — Building a wall is simply not enough for some Republicans aiming to address the record flow of fentanyl across the Southern border.

An increasing number of GOP politicians now say bombs and special forces are the way to fight drug cartels in Mexico.

Donald Trump was reportedly among the first to suggest the idea of using bombs against the cartel during his presidency. The move was once considered a fringe idea but now calls for military action are becoming more mainstream on the right.

We cannot let this lawlessness continue to happen and we can do that by putting special ops in there," said 2023 GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley last month.

Another GOP presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy said, "If we can do it to Solemani, if we can do it to Bin Laden, if we can do it to ISIS in Syria, we can do it south of our own border.”

This escalation in rhetoric reflects growing alarm among conservatives. A new Axios-Ipsos poll shows Republicans consider opioids and fentanyl the number one public health threat.

Texas Reps. Tony Gonzalez and Dan Crenshaw co-sponsored a bill authorizing use of military force against Mexican drug lords.

"We have to take the gloves off," Gonzales told Fox News. "It’s time to label cartels as terrorist organizations."

Mexico’s president stands firm in his opposition to the U.S. conducting military operations against cartels in his country, even threatening to campaign against Republicans in next year’s elections.