Ex-Border Patrol Chief Supports US Military Action Against Drug Cartels

Military Intervention Against Cartels

• 🎯 Reports indicate President Trump is ordering the Pentagon to target specific Latin American drug cartels, including Trend Ara, MS-13, and the Cartel of the Suns, designated as global terrorist organizations.
• ⚡ This directive could place US troops on the front lines against groups responsible for smuggling fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamines into the US.
• 🇺🇸 The administration aims to protect the country, with President Trump emphasizing the need to secure borders and combat drug flow.

Precedent for Military Action

• 🏛️ Lieutenant General Richard Newton notes precedent from the 1980s Reagan administration, where the US provided military sales and training to Colombia to fight cartels.
• ✈️ This involved C-130 aircraft, A37 attack aircraft, and special operations forces for training purposes.
• 🇺🇸 Newton suggests current plans might involve special operations forces, enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
• 🇵🇦 General Newton also referenced President Bush's 1989 operation in Panama to arrest Manuel Noriega for drug trafficking, deeming it a success aligned with US national security interests.

Border Security and Cartel Operations

• 🛡️ Chris Clem, retired Yuma sector border chief, states the southern border is more secure than ever due to the National Guard's presence.
• ⚔️ He emphasizes that cartels are well-outfitted with military-style equipment, necessitating a "fight fire with fire" approach.
• 🤝 Military operations would likely involve supporting Border Patrol and other agencies in remote areas, complementing normal operations.
• 🌎 Clem acknowledges cartel operations exist within all 50 US states and globally, and that collaboration with state, local, and federal agencies is expected.

Targeting Nicolas Maduro

• 💰 The US has doubled the reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to $50 million, the largest bounty ever placed on a sitting foreign leader.
• 📈 Maduro is accused of being a major drug trafficker and leading the Cartel of the Suns.
• 💸 The substantial bounty is intended to incentivize individuals to provide information leading to his arrest, potentially shaking loose crucial intelligence.
• 🇨🇳 Concerns are raised about China's influence in South America and its support for Maduro.