And it illustrates the ways in which frustration with immigration, drug overdose deaths and antipathy towards China are defining the GOP’s larger foreign policy. As president, Trump considered placing cartels on the State Department’s terrorist blacklist. | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP PhotoBut current and former U.S. foreign policy and military officials, including Republicans, say there are glaring problems with the military proposals. The first is that U.S. Northern Command assesses that 30 to 35 percent of Mexican territory is ungoverned, giving space for the drug cartels to roam free. The second issue is that while using force against drug cartels might impact the supply side of the fentanyl crisis, it doesn’t address demand.
