The Eagle and the Scorpion

Since 3-2 SBCT's return from Iraq the Army has tasked the brigade with training for the "next" conflict since we are not on any projected lists to go back to Iraq or Afghanistan in the near term. With Iraq at the end for conventional unit rotations and Afghanistan headed that way as well in 2011 we have begun planning to train for "full spectrum operations". What that means is we are preparing for anything. Full spectrum operations essentially means fighting a conventional fight (tank on tank) and then quickly shifting to peace keeping/counterinsurgency. My goal, since I really don't have a lot else to do at work these days, has been attempting to figure out where that next conflict will be located.

I've been trying to follow closely my usual list of potential hotspots that may give 1-14 a better understanding of the area we may be sent to conduct business. My finger normally points to Somalia, Sudan, Mali/Mauritania/Algeria, Yemen, and the "stans" north of Afghanistan...although Iran and Pakistan are always in the back of my head. I had forgotten about the dark horse canidate however, the one a little closer to home...

Hidden behind the sombrero are 3 IEDs and an RPG

That's right...Mexico. The ongoing fight against the drug cartels has been a challenge for the Mexican government and if the violence begins to creep over the border it would not surprise me if we send a brigade or three to the border area or even conduct operations inside Mexico. When I first started this blog I made my list of top 10 global concerns; Mexico was #9. The U.S. has in the past sent expeditionary forces into Mexico, examples include landing Marines at Veracruz in 1914 and chasing after Pancho Villa in 1916. 1-14 CAV was sent to New Mexico for a couple of months in 2005 to assist the border patrol. The precidents have been set.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton even mentioned on Saturday that the U.S. can do more to assist Mexico fight the drug cartels. She claimed that the cartels have begun operating more and more like terrorists and insurgents:

"For the first time, they are using car bombings," Clinton said. "You see them being much more organized in a kind of paramilitary way."

Is Mexico the next conflict? At least finding interpreters will be a lot easier.