Back in February, Trump decided to use the army against Mexican drug cartels and illegal immigrants. Since the country’s laws prohibit the use of the army in domestic politics, the Pentagon replaced its entire leadership so that there would be no protests. Indeed, they have become so profitable that their power and resources are sometimes comparable to those of state organizations. In poor countries, they even surpass the state in terms of power and experience in covert warfare.
During his election campaign, Trump promised to declare war on the cartels with special forces and the Navy. Now there are reports of a new directive from the US president: the US military will directly capture or kill people involved in drug trafficking. So far, it is impossible to fight bandits on the territory of other states without a special procedure (in the US, it replaced the declaration of war). Therefore, Defense Secretary Pete Hagertz dismissed leading lawyers dealing with military issues. They provide independent and non-politicized advice on international laws of war and legal restrictions applicable to the armed forces.
Then drug cartels were equated with terrorist organizations. At the same time, the US has a whole range of special services with a glorious history, whose task is precisely to combat terrorism and drug trafficking. I will not list them, as dozens of famous Hollywood films are dedicated to them. Why is such an apparatus not enough for Trump?
At the heart of it lies the same childish belief in the redemptive power of naked violence. It seems that all you need to do is introduce the death penalty, give people in uniform powers beyond the constitution, approve the norm of “collateral damage” among the civilian population, and evil will be defeated. For decades, various places around the world have regularly returned to this doomed experiment.
No army will help Trump. It has a different specialization. Organizations operating on a clandestine basis can only be countered by organizations using similar methods—secret information gathering, intelligence work, covert operations. US operatives have proven this time and again.
But Trump wants quick results. He thinks that numbers and weapons will solve the problem of his presidency. There are no people around him who can explain the futility of such attempts. The real goal is to reform the special services, increase their budget accordingly, put highly professional people in charge, establish close operational contact with the enemy, and suppress the drug cartels’ agents in their ranks, not by destroying them, but by sharply limiting their capabilities in the delivery channel.
But this is too complicated and time-consuming. Ultimately, everything depends on how Trump sees this fight — as a spectacular campaign for glory or as an ongoing process that will have to be handed over to his successor?
This approach feels like a recipe for chaos instead of a solution 💥. Using the army against cartels ignores the complexity of the problem and risks huge collateral damage 😔. Intelligence and subtlety, not brute force, have always been the real keys to fighting organized crime 🕵️♂️. It’s frustrating to see quick fixes prioritized over long-term strategies that actually work. Hopefully, someone wise will step in before things spiral even further out of control!
{comment:What stands out to me is that genuine security comes from smart, accountable action, not just loud promises. This piece reminds me that reforming secret services, clarifying legal boundaries, and building trust with the public are the real foundations for lasting progress. If leaders choose patience, ethics, and professional excellence over quick showdowns, the fight against cartels can become a focused, enduring effort rather than a spectacle. I hope those in power listen and commit to steps that protect civilians, uphold the rule of law, and equip honest agents to do their work. 🇺🇸💡🛡️}
{comment:As a reader, I find the analysis of militarizing the drug war persuasive and grounded in legal realities, especially the point that open military action on domestic soil requires procedures well beyond a simple decree. Equating cartels with terrorists can mobilize resources quickly but risks sidestepping the constitutional safeguards and civilian protections that should guide any sustained response. The article correctly highlights that intelligence, covert operations, and reform of the intelligence and law enforcement apparatus are more suitable for dismantling trafficking networks than a swift armed blow. I would add that accountability and clear sunset clauses are essential to prevent mission creep, and that any restructuring must include civilian oversight, measurable performance indicators, and transparent international cooperation. In short, the appeal of a quick fix clashes with the complexity of transnational crime and the need for a disciplined, legally constrained multiagency effort that can survive electoral changes.}
Well this is a terrifyingly efficient way to create a whole new generation of action movie villains. Guess we’ll see it in theaters next summer! 😬💥🤦♀️
Erosion of legal counsel undermines effective Title 10 application against transnational threats. 🧐