Now Rick Perry Wants To Invade Mexico
Talk about an election win going to your head: Now Rick Perry wants U.S. troops to invade Mexico.
Pancho Villa redux: U.S. sends troops into Mexico due to border crime?
Speaking with Chuck Todd on MSNBC this morning, Perry said "He'd be open" to sending U.S. troops into Mexico to control border violence, the Dallas Morning News reports.
"Obviously, Mexico has to approve any type of assistance that we can give them," Perry said, which was very big of him.
We see a couple of problems with this.
1. To work, the move would require Texas to remain part of the United States. That obviously puts secession off the table, much to the chagrin of some of Perry's supporters.
2. It didn't really work out so well with Pancho Villa 100 years ago. Just as now, there was a big brouhaha over crime by the border, menacing brown hordes, etc. Presidents Taft and Wilson both dispatched troops, and things just kind of muddled about until World War I took over as an Army priority. Biggest result: Making Pancho Villa a folk hero for the ages.
3. We're not sure the degree to which Perry understands how his buddy George W. Bush stretched the resources of America's armed forces. Then again, it wouldn't be the first time Perry has failed to understand how W messed things up.
Another note from the interview: Perry has apparently never heard of the well-known political term "Shermanesque" in terms of a politician declaring he will not become a candidate for something, usually the Presidency ("If nominated I will not run' if elected i will not serve," is the usual shorthand version of General William Tecumseh Sherman's statement.)
Todd asked if his refusal was Shermanesque. Perry didn't seem to understand."Shermanesque? Help me on that one," said Perry.
Todd explained it meant if nominated he wouldn't run, if elected he wouldn't serve.
"How about Perryesque?" the governor said. "The fact of the matter is I'm not running for the presidency of the United States. Don't want to be the president of the United States."
But if duty calls.....
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