Perry open to sending troops to Mexico against drug cartels
Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) - Rick Perry signaled Saturday he would be open to sending U.S. troops into Mexico to combat drug cartels should the situation arise.
After speaking at a house party in Manchester, the Texas governor was asked a series of questions about the border and his stance on illegal immigration.
He said the leaders of Mexico and the U.S. should meet after next year's elections to address the deadly drug trade in that country.
"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," Perry said.
Campaign press secretary Robert Black said Perry wanted to cooperate with the Mexican government and wasn't ruling anything out.
"He's going to work with the Mexican government to do what's necessary," Black said.
Perry also fielded questions on his stance on illegal immigrants already in the country, and offered a glimpse of the stance he may deploy on the debate circuit. The issue has offered his opponents the chance to wound Perry in previous debates.
An audience member at the house party asked Perry about his support for a Texas law that grants in-state college tuition to the children of some illegal immigrants.
Perry defended his stance as being widely popular among state legislators and asserted it was a states' rights issue. And he told the audience that - as a border-state governor - he was the only candidate with the experience and "courage" to tackle illegal immigration.
"I'm the only one that's been dealing with it for the last 10 years, and I know how to secure that border," he said.
He also took a subtle dig at his opponents, who have attacked the Texas governor's conservative bona fides on illegal immigration at a series of debates this fall.
"I don't have the privilege to stand on a stage and say, oh here's what I would do," Perry said. "I've been governor of Texas for 10 years. I have to deal with these issues, real-time."
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More intervention where we're not wanted... this is the way repub control spending with brush fire wars here there and somewhere else.
Yeah, that makes sense. If we cut social security, Medicare, Medicaid benefits we should have enough money to invade another country. Then, we could have ground troops in Libya, Iraq
The war on drugs, what a laugh. The war's been going on for 25 years and the only thing accomplished is the waste of money. To win this war, the desire will have to be extinguished before the supply is shut off. Just like the prohibition years, as long as there's a market, the supply will make it to the users. Do away with the market, and the supply dries up.
Sounds like another war to me.
35,000 killed in Mexico in last four years due to drug cartels. We went to war over 3,000 killed, why are we not helping Mexico right now?
Isn't there some restriction on having the military act as law enforcement? I have to say that there are many ways to deal with this. One of which is making sure that those users who are caught go through some detox program. We need to reduce the desire/need here which will make not worthwhile for them to send the drugs here.
And here's your latest war brought to you by Republicans. That really is all they can do, make wars.
DOes this moron know the previous hick from Texas destroyed our military's capabilities and we no longer are able to defend our borders? We are spent, exhausted, trashed, and burned out. I recently completed a long military career and had Soldiers who've spent half of the last 10 years in a war zone. Not flying C-130s out of an Air Force Base close to home – at war with people shooting at you. Perry is yet another mindless cowboy who thinks war is a game and poor people's kid's are an inexhaustable source of casualties used to defend the rich folk's posessions.
Real top story of the day...the Democratic Party admits they don't have the votes to pass Obama's job bill in the Senate.
Yes CNN, we care about jobs. Come on, where is the journalistic integrity?
It is paramount to get the 20 million illegals out of OUR country. Who do they think they are ruining our home like they did theirs.
Wow another cowboy from Texas...must be a Texan, lowest form of white man there is.
How we going to pay for it?
I am a Republican (I'm not really, I was... never again)... I love war!
Why don't we police the entire world. Jist throw the money away. Rick just legalize marajuana and our trouubles will be less. Dont BS the American public like your other typical West Texas friend did.
Screw mexico , we need to put the troops on the U.S. southern border and defend our country.We need to stop the illegal invasion totally on our border with any force necessary and stop playing politics, period.
Another Republican who is willing to commit the US military to a foreign adventure without proof? Exactly what does he use to justify the expense? What will he be cutting to fund this adventure? Does the cartel have WMD's somewhere? Jeebus, have we learned nothing?
WHoo-boy, is that comment going to cause some ruckus.
Hey Rick, while yer invadin' Mexico, pardner, y'all might'n go on down a ways south and seize them-thar Mexican oil fields
Meanwhile, a couple million Mexican nationals north of the border might consider attacking the U.S. infrastucture in retaliation.
Rick Perry is toast for saying that.
brado rick perry so bright so president ;; like ur brain ur rwally a tiger year born(1950) zodiac sign tiger a natural born leader. we american dont make mistake to choose you ur the one;; ur the one we want. president rick perry; a white bright guy-christian and thoughtful-eloquent.;; hgod help us to choose one a good oen i choose you. seems perfect;; christian-white and long servign governor ;; i applaud you.ur brilliant.
"I'm the only one that's been dealing with it for the last 10 years, and I know how to secure that border," he said.
Then why is the border not yet secure? If you are such a font of knowledge, why didn't you share it with the federal government all these years? Are you in league with the drug cartels?
Get a new talking point, Parry – this one is dead on arrival.
The GOP have complained incessantly about Obama's NATO assistance in Libya BUT to Perry, one the main GOP candidates is backing sending US military into another country.
WHEN are people who support these guys going to come to grips with their constant hypocrisy??
What a great idea, let's go to war with someone else. Perry can sell this as a fuel saver because Mexico is next door! How much of those Wall Street bonuses are going to fund drug habits. Aren't the cartels just letting the free market forces guide their "business" model?
Are you kidding me? It's not US responsibility to deal with the mess the Mexican government has made of Mexico–it's our responsibility and should be our priority to secure our own border to protect the US from infiltration by these cartels. The last thing I want to see happen is for our troops to be put at risk having to deal with a corrupt Mexican government and military and these crazed cartel members. Perry for sure is not going to get my vote.
Yup. Trust a GOP candidate to over-hype the use of military force.
This proves it. The man is every bit as stupid as he looks.
This man is a dangerous, lunatic!!!!! Guess the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan aren't enough, now Mexico. Save us from these wack jobs!!!!!! Obama 2012