The recognized united mexican states is not an enemy in this case, the recognized state does not actually control large swaths of its claimed territory or even

The recognized united mexican states is not an enemy in this case, the recognized state does not actually control large swaths of its claimed territory or even some of its own armed forces. What happens in mexico at the state and local level is mostly up to the highest bidder, and that’s what the intervention would be about. Even the federal government doesn’t even control part of its own armed forces, they are just paid off and too many people are too well protected. It would be like if California Highway Patrol was in the drug business, and they used their legitimate power to create a system to ensure they could legally do this all in the open because the guy in charge of keeping them in check is getting a cut of whatever they sell, all while sabotaging efforts to do anything about what’s going on. Even if someone did finally get enough evidence, there’s enough paid off government employees that it will just get lost. If all else fails and government officials start acting to remove you, well, there’s a reason being a mexican politician is so deadly… It would not be USA vs Mexico, it would be USA and part of the mexican military under Mexican control vs Fuerza Tamaulipas mixed in with cartel foot soldiers and “”””civilians””””. The cartels would make sure to frame it as Mexico vs USA (calling the mexican government collaborators in the pocket of big bad usa of course), so they could replenish their foot soldiers fighting the “anti imperialist revolution” (straight from the terrorist playbook, because they are terrorists holding the entire population as blackmail).