Are you a domestic terrorist?

[Jester]

The relative power imbalance between the US and Mexico, circa 1848, wasn't what it is today. The core weakness in Mexico was then, as it is now, cultural and conceptual, which is why Scott's campaign from a port to the inland capital with such a small force was a success. He was able to make deals with some of the locals in his rear.

Santa Anna was no fool, on the battle field nor in politics, but he was a typical example of the deeply corrupt hacendado culture that remains Mexico's core failing as a nation, and a so called culture. The current rise of the crime families of Mexico, the narco lords, is a logical extention of the cultural weakness. it is a modern version of Southern Italy's (gee, Latins and Papists again, who would have seen that coming?) immensely powerful and successful crime families -- La Cosa Nostra (Mafia), Comorra, Ndrangheti, Corona, with a the usual similarities in roots, and a corrupt, feudal style of society and government from which to work. The root cause is the inherently feudal nature of the society.

Sure. Because drug gangs and mafias don't happen in other nations (especially ones with real cultures - none of this "so called" business, which is all the Mexicans surely have.) It's all about the Hacienda. And the Pope.

Or, alternately, the US' military power, wealth and organization was vastly greater than the Mexicans', and were up against the kind of megalomaniacal moron who buries his amputated leg with full military honours. You're certainly right that the difference wasn't as great as it was today, but the US still invaded with a force that was overwhelmingly superior in almost all senses - against a country racked by decades of civil wars and political divisions.

-Jester