By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Trump has reportedly directed the Pentagon to explore the use of military force against Latin American drug cartels, potentially escalating U.S. involvement in the region. While details are limited, the order provides a basis for direct military operations, prompting swift condemnation from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who stated that U.S. troop entry is “absolutely ruled out.” This move follows the designation of certain cartels as global terrorist organizations, granting the administration new legal authorities. Experts caution that such military intervention carries significant risks, potentially exacerbating unrest and further destabilizing the region, with potential ties to regime change goals.
Read the original article here
Trump Orders Use of Military Force Against Drug Cartels in Latin America. It’s a pretty serious development, the idea of potentially sending in the military against cartels in Latin America. It immediately brings up a host of complex questions and concerns, doesn’t it? The immediate thought is, well, what does this really mean? Is this a full-blown invasion, or something more akin to a targeted police action? And of course, there’s the inevitable question of, why now? One can’t help but wonder if this has anything to do with, say, the upcoming release of some potentially damaging information. The timing feels, let’s say, interesting.
One cannot help but recall some of the campaign promises that seem to be conflicting with this sort of action. Remember the “no more foreign wars” rhetoric? It clashes with the notion of direct military engagement on foreign soil. And what about the impact on relations with Mexico? We’re neighbors, and this sort of action could definitely strain the relationship, to put it mildly. Are we looking at a situation where we’re essentially going to war with our neighbors? Or, to frame it differently, is this a maneuver to distract from more pressing issues, like perhaps certain files that some people would prefer not to see the light of day?
Considering the potential scope of this, if this unfolds as a military operation, it sounds like a de facto invasion. The idea of deploying troops where they may not be welcomed, where they may lack local support, and where they are likely to be fighting on the adversary’s home turf – it doesn’t exactly sound like a recipe for success. History has a way of showing us what can happen when you overreach. It is not hard to imagine some version of events playing out like a bad Tom Clancy novel. And the potential for unintended consequences is immense. What happens to innocent civilians caught in the crossfire? What happens to the stability of the region?
There are questions about the strategy itself. Instead of, say, focusing on things like constricting the flow of weapons into Mexico. Instead of legalizing drugs to cut the legs out from under the cartels. Instead of working collaboratively with the government in the country in question. But no, let’s go for military force instead. It really seems like a recipe for a bloodbath.
It is important to note that the military is already engaged with DTOs in other ways. The Coast Guard and Navy are already doing counter-drug operations. But this feels different. It is a stark power grab. Where is the authority for this? Where in the world can one find an excuse? To get involved in another conflict like this at the tail end of someone’s political career, it’s a pretty wild gamble. One has to wonder if this is the result of a compromised individual desperately trying to cling to power by any means necessary.
One of the biggest concerns is for Americans living and visiting Mexico. They would immediately be at risk if things go south. This isn’t just a military exercise; this has real human consequences. There is the possibility of innocent people being caught in the crossfire, as well as a massive backlash against the United States. And, once again, one can’t help but return to the questions that seem to be at the heart of this: Why? What’s the real objective here?
There is a great deal of historical precedent to consider. The cartels are smart, cunning, and will probably have a massive advantage in a situation like this. Trump is very fond of making big statements with zero substance. One of the big concerns is how this would even be carried out. The flow of weapons from the U.S. into Mexico would need to be curtailed. One of the great failures in the past is not learning from it.
With everything that has been going on, with the various actions taken recently, one can’t help but wonder if this is just another diversion. A way to shift the focus. A way to obscure the information some people desperately want to keep hidden.