Perry open to sending troops to Mexico against drug cartels
October 1st, 2011
05:08 PM ET
12 years ago

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."


Filed under: 2012 • Mexico • Rick Perry
soundoff (252 Responses)
  1. NoTags

    How about this? We guard OUR border and let Mexico take care of their internal affairs.

    October 2, 2011 08:11 am at 8:11 am |
  2. zb

    Perry says, "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."

    I guess the same could be said about Perry and the rest of the mindless mouthoff republican/tparty candidates when it comes to talking about President Obama. What a clueless bunch of ignorant, liying, hypocritical idiots they have shown themselves to be.

    October 2, 2011 08:11 am at 8:11 am |
  3. GODZILLA1

    You koolaid drinkers from Ricochet Rick's bottle do realize he is a criminal? Have you looked up his dealings with that dirty money-laundering bank PLAINS CAPITAL?

    October 2, 2011 08:14 am at 8:14 am |
  4. Jack V

    Send all the tea partiers down there with them.

    October 2, 2011 08:18 am at 8:18 am |
  5. CornucopiaOfKnowledge

    He should invite the Mexican Army in to Texas to clean out the right wing nuts in that hellhole of a state.

    October 2, 2011 08:25 am at 8:25 am |
  6. Diana

    Stop trying to be policemen to the world. First priority is to get out of debt.

    October 2, 2011 08:31 am at 8:31 am |
  7. a in austin

    Perry has been wanting boots on the ground for a long time. He's full of hot air. His biggest belief is making sure those that have helped him ($$$$) are appointed to executive positions to help keep the lies from reaching the media.

    October 2, 2011 08:32 am at 8:32 am |
  8. Sematary

    This guy is a joke. Send troops into Mexico? How about this, RICK! How about ending the ridiculous, unproductive, wasteful, war on drugs? Then we wouldn't even have this discussion because the Cartels would be struck a fatal blow without ever having to put anyone in harms way.

    October 2, 2011 08:32 am at 8:32 am |
  9. DonBeal

    I don't support Rick Perry or any of the other Republican candidates, but for some strange reason, I sort of like Perry. The last comment is telling. Most of these candidates or would-be candidates and the loud mouths on talk radio are just loud voices from the sidelines. They really don't have to do anything except bloviate. But Perry does, as does President Obama, and it ain't that easy.

    October 2, 2011 08:37 am at 8:37 am |
  10. BD70

    And where is G0n Perry going to get the money? That and the fact the war on drugs has failed. When are they just going to legalize drugs? Cheaper and quicker and no loss of life. If people want to snort or toke let them....they will anyway whether its legal or not.

    October 2, 2011 08:42 am at 8:42 am |
  11. jay

    I would be for sending Perry to Mexic0o.

    October 2, 2011 08:49 am at 8:49 am |
  12. Malory Archer

    He wants to invade Mexico?! Ironically, the weapons that would be used against our troops by Mexicans are being smuggled into the country via Texass. Wouldn't it make more monetary sense to legalize and tax the heck out of everything? Follow the Netherlands model but include cocaine in the mix, then hammer those who sell to kids or are dealing without the proper credentials to do so.

    October 2, 2011 08:51 am at 8:51 am |
  13. nnn

    if he was to send any troops it would be to help protect the cartels. ourgovt has a big interest in the drug shipments and sales and has for a long time.

    October 2, 2011 08:54 am at 8:54 am |
  14. James

    Perry is a classic republican liar.

    October 2, 2011 08:57 am at 8:57 am |
  15. Liz the First

    Yeah, that's what we need, another war. yeah, that's the ticket! is this jerk for real??? invade another country, one right on our border? those drug cartels are better armed than our cops and a lot of our soldiers. can't see any problems there. Good God! is there no end to rethuglikkklan stupidity????????????

    October 2, 2011 09:06 am at 9:06 am |
  16. annie s

    Is there anywhere Republicans wouldn't deploy troops? How about instead of the billions we have spent and continue to spend to fight the so called war on drugs, we legalize the darn things....we not only drastically weaken the cartels, we save a huge amount of money and have a whole new taxable commodity.

    October 2, 2011 09:12 am at 9:12 am |
  17. Al

    Sorry Governor, you have not secured your border with Mexico. Perhaps you have been looking toward the North and not the South>

    October 2, 2011 09:17 am at 9:17 am |
  18. JustSaying2U

    This sounds like another signal in that, Gov Perry is not fit to be President. We already involved in 2 wars we don't need to be in, and he wants to send troops to Mexico? This guy gives loose canons a new name.

    October 2, 2011 09:19 am at 9:19 am |
  19. Philabias

    well thats it for perry! he is to stupid to be president. the war on drugs is a complete failure and this idiot just wants to waste more money.perry once again ends up on the wrong side of america.cant win by doing what america has said dont do! so we are now down to cain or paul

    October 2, 2011 09:19 am at 9:19 am |
  20. Do I really agree with this?

    Why are the most impoverished states the most republican state? It's a fact, look it up..... Does the GOP really create poverty to increase cheaper labor?

    October 2, 2011 09:22 am at 9:22 am |
  21. diridi

    He is a total Idiot, may be he is drunk, or under drugs....Instead of watching our Borders, he wants to spend like Iraq...whose money, it is public...He doesn't have brain, nor care....pity....idiot.

    October 2, 2011 09:23 am at 9:23 am |
  22. WatchDawg

    There you go...the GOP/Tea Party's answer to stimulate the economy...start another war...Lets hide this one off the books as well..so when the Democrats come back into power the GOP/Tea Party's can play the blame game all over...

    October 2, 2011 09:30 am at 9:30 am |
  23. PaulC

    No. He's nothing like George W. at all! If he is elected we will have to implement the draft because we will not have enough mercenaries to invade all the countries that he doesn't like.

    October 2, 2011 09:33 am at 9:33 am |
  24. ED FL

    What skill and tact.A GOP not even President ready to send other peoples kids off to war to get killed. I am sure that statement will bring you lots and lots of votes. WHAT A JERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    October 2, 2011 09:39 am at 9:39 am |
  25. Republicans Are The American Taliban

    We also would have to station troops all along the Canadian border, possibly invading Canada, to shoot all of the elderly returning with cheaper prescription drugs.

    October 2, 2011 09:40 am at 9:40 am |
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