Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Sure, but so is basically everyone. Well, sure! The crucial difference between cartels and ISIS is that the cartels are in it to make money, ISIS is an ideologically motivated nation-building project. The cartels disappear when the activity becomes unprofitable, ISIS does not. The cartels tend to use violence when it's profitable, ISIS will use violence because they believe that an imaginary man wants them to do so…
> not forcing the cartels to retaliate. What do you mean forcing? They are organized crime, this is what they choose to do. The right thing for them to do is turn themselves in. How do you expect the cartel to subside and eventually dissolve? Policies that encourage them to play nicely?
Self preservation. Turning themselves in would be antithetical to that. To expect anyone to sacrifice themselves would be absurd.
The only reason the government is only occasionally assassinating individual leaders instead of fighting open war against the cartels is that the cartels are willing and able to impose unacceptable costs in retaliation. It would be suicidal to not retaliate.
>How do you expect the cartel to subside and eventually dissolve? Policies that encourage them to play nicely?
Policies that eliminate their sources of revenue.