"the CIA...runs the whole...drug trade....I would respond... by having the cartels remand a half-dozen CIA agents...for hanging."
If your understanding that the CIA is behind the cartels is true, why would the CIA that runs the cartels hand over their agents?
Two things:
CIA would gladly turn in a couple of flunkies to keep the trade alive. Lots and lots of money involved.
If they refused, even better! Start a CIA v cartels war. two black hats. Nobody loses except the combatants.
You know there is never war without innocent victims. There'd be more dead civilians than spooks. Also, the cartels and the CIA aren't different things. The CIA is straight up the mob, and always has been. They don't need to do anything to keep the trade alive except keep smuggling drogas and killing snitches. All they'd have to do to keep AMLO quiet is mention Andrew Getty.
Agree that the cartels would not exist without the CiA, but that underscores that the idea of USA invading Mexico to "stop the drug cartels" is a pipe dream. Any president demanding that would have a shortened reign...
Now we are in complete agreement.
The drug cartels are the rulers of America. They are the spooks. Politicians either serve them, or die.