Escobar took on the state while the Cali cartel didn't. Since we are on topic I have reinstate that while there was more murder per capita in Colombia than Mexico. What Colombia didn't have was hours long shootouts between cartel soldiers vs other rival or the military. The Mexicans never took on the state but it was more of survival than anything. I don't know what's worse 4-6 hours shootout on the street between cartels and the military or high murder rates and Escobar targeting the state.