Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he'd send U.S. troops to Mexico

A few days ago I ran a post quoting Governor Rick Perry's tough "boots on the ground" warning to Mexico. Campaigning in New Hampshire today, Perry repeated the same theme -- only now those boots could be marching right across the border and into Mexico. The governor says that the level of narco violence is so extreme that military cooperation with Mexican forces may be required. "By exterminating the cartels we can secure our borders," said Perry. But his campaign spokesman emphasized that the governor wants to cooperate with the Mexican government in any joint endeavor.

No response yet by Mexican officials, but president Felipe Calderon is on record as saying that it's unnecessary and would be inappropriate for U.S. military personnel to participate directly in the five year old drug war here. Some experts say that to date, that war has cost over 40,000 Mexican lives.

Perry's proposal is sure to generate controversy in the months ahead, on both sides of the border. Mexico, too, will have a presidential election in 2012.

For Rick Perry's previous tough guy talk, click here: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/09/texas-governor-rick-perrys-big-threat.html