MEXICO VIOLENCE: U.S. MILITARY INTERVENTION UNLIKELY

Texas Gov. Rick Perry would support sending in U.S. troops to quell
violence in Mexico if Mexico asked for a U.S. military presence.

Since there won't be such an invitation, Perry might do well to turn
his attention to matters that can and should be addressed, such as the
deficit facing his state.

Ricardo Alday, a spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington,
D.C., said, "Mexico has reiterated on repeated occasions that the
presence of U.S. troops on Mexican soil is not and will not be an option.

"It seems that some U.S. politicians insist on electoral campaigning,
even as the election ended November 2."

And U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, said with magnificent
understatement, "It is highly unlikely that the government and the
people of Mexico would ever invite the U.S. military to patrol Mexican
soil."

In some circles, Perry is viewed as already "running" for president in
2012, and this stance will no doubt be politically popular in some
circles.

It should also be noted that Perry has been touring around the country
promoting his book "Fed Up!" Such statements certainly can't hurt book
sales.

From a practical point of view, it's unlikely that U.S. civilian and
military leaders would wish to become involved in yet another foreign
conflict, even though Mexico is right next door.

The U.S. is still involved in Iraq, is heavily engaged in Afghanistan
and faces threats in places such as Iran and North Korea. It's not
clear that the U.S. military could handle any significant engagement
anywhere else, including Mexico, at this time.

Perry spokeswoman Katherine Cesinger said, "The bottom line is we need
to keep all of our options on the table when talking about how to deal
with the effects of this drug war, and how to protect Americans
against the effects of this drug war."

To his credit, Perry has been unrelenting in his criticism of the
federal government's efforts -- or lack of efforts -- to secure the
southern border and ensure the safety of people on the northern side
of the boundary.

He has kept consistent pressure on the government to increase border
security, and that's all to the good.

But talk of using U.S. troops in Mexico, no matter what the
disclaimers, isn't useful and doesn't serve to improve U.S. Mexico
relations or further the cause of efforts to quell the violence.