Y'all keep bringing up the US dealings in handling Afghanistan, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS, etc scenarios as if it's the same thing in regards to dealing with a drug cartel

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First of all, the US doesn't view drug cartels in the same manner as terrorists, they would never apply that much pressure on a drug cartel even if they killed a few Americans, the only way the US would intervene that deep is if the Americans killed were important people (US embassy employees, DEA agents, US officials, etc).
Yeah, the US would intervene but not to the extent y'all trying to apply to the situation.
The US would never turn uber patriotic (like they've done in the aftermath of 9/11 and ISIS related situations) and send in troops, drone or missile attacks, etc shyt y'all talking for just any ole simpleton American that happens to get caught up and killed by Cartels and/or their offspring gangs.
Y'all been duped by American patriotism propaganda and military complexion beliefs

if the Cartel didn't order the gang to turn themselves in and release the last two hostages, they probably would've been dead already.