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BREAKING: President Donald Trump plans to put Mexican "drug cartels" on the designated terrorist list, weeks after calling for "WAR" against drug traffickers
If that sounds like a no-brainer, or a simple proposal, think again. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mexico-cartels/trump-says-u-s-will-designate-mexican-drug-cartels-as-terrorists-idUSKBN1Y02NJ">https://www.reuters.com/article/u...
If that sounds like a no-brainer, or a simple proposal, think again. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mexico-cartels/trump-says-u-s-will-designate-mexican-drug-cartels-as-terrorists-idUSKBN1Y02NJ">https://www.reuters.com/article/u...
To start, most "cartels" do not exist as organizations with membership, official names, or even a well-defined hierarchy.
This announcement begs the question: what would the criteria be? who would be designated? Is this just in Mexico, or also trafficking networks in the US?
This announcement begs the question: what would the criteria be? who would be designated? Is this just in Mexico, or also trafficking networks in the US?
Involvement in or association w/ "cartels" is extremely fluid, and includes an extremely wide array of activities.
Would the U.S. designate the child on the street making some pocket cash as a lookout? What about farmers in "cartel" areas with little choice but to cultivate?
Would the U.S. designate the child on the street making some pocket cash as a lookout? What about farmers in "cartel" areas with little choice but to cultivate?
It& #39;s unclear what the U.S. would even do with this. Many traffickers are already sanctioned by the Treasury Dept., bank accts frozen, etc.
What new powers or priorities would a designation provide to U.S. anti-drug forces?
What new powers or priorities would a designation provide to U.S. anti-drug forces?
Once Trump rings this bell, it& #39;s hard to imagine it being unrung in the near future. Can you imagine a Democrat trying to explain why they& #39;re un-designating "cartels" as terrorists?
There& #39;s also the question of how this affects Mexican sovereignty. If "cartels" are designated, does that give the U.S. wider leeway to take action against them on Mexican soil? We& #39;ve seen what the U.S. is willing to do to designated "terrorists" on foreign soil
Finally, drug trafficking has been treated as a national-security threat and military priority for decades now.
Military escalation against drug trafficking in Mexico has brought nothing but death, despair, and ever more violent "cartels." This could make things a lot worse
Military escalation against drug trafficking in Mexico has brought nothing but death, despair, and ever more violent "cartels." This could make things a lot worse
At best, this is a stupid and politically expedient stunt.
At worst, it could be a dramatic escalation in the militarization of the drug war. Here& #39;s what military escalation brought Mexico last time https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/the-staggering-death-toll-of-mexicos-drug-war/">https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/fron...
At worst, it could be a dramatic escalation in the militarization of the drug war. Here& #39;s what military escalation brought Mexico last time https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/the-staggering-death-toll-of-mexicos-drug-war/">https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/fron...
Anyways, I& #39;m sure that this will be discussed in the United States with great nuance and sobriety, as typically occurs when the "T-word" is thrown around
ANOTHER THING: What does this mean for the ability for U.S. intelligence and law-enforcement agencies to surveil suspected "cartel" members or associates? I& #39;m curious about the implications abroad but also particularly for domestic surveillance
