FROM CNN57;s Jack Cafferty:

The Obama administration says it will send hundreds of federal agents and crime-fighting equipment to the Mexican border in an effort to prevent drug- related violence from spilling over into this country. It57;s a little late 52; the Mexican drug cartels are already active in 230 American cities.

$700 million meant to bolster Mexican law enforcement and crime prevention efforts probably can57;t come soon enough. The mayor of Phoenix says it57;s a great first step, but 60;a drop in the bucket in terms of what57;s needed.61; Crimes like drug-related kidnappings and torturing are overwhelming the Phoenix police department. And Texas Governor Rick Perry had asked for a thousand more troops for parts of the border, saying he doesn57;t care what kind of troops they are as long as they57;re properly trained.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department has identified 230 U.S. cities where the Mexican cartels 60;maintain drug distribution networks or supply drugs to distributors,61; and we57;re not just talking about cities along the border here; they include places like Anchorage, Alaska, Atlanta, Boston and Billings, Montana.

This mess is the net result of President Bush57;s failure to secure the borders, among other things. They57;re still not secure and nothing has happened to diminish the appetite for illegal drugs in this country. Drugs flow north and money and guns flow south into Mexico.

The open border advocates think it57;s fine that illegal aliens come and go in and out of this country pretty much as they please. I wonder if they think it57;s also okay that Mexican drugs are poisoning their children here and increasing crime at home.

Here’s my question to you: What should be done about the fact that the Mexican drug cartels are now operating in 230 American cities?

Tune in to the Situation Room at 4pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.