Trump – Planning on Bombing Mexico

Trump Planning on Bombing Mexico

The first time Trump talked privately about shooting missiles into Mexico to take out drug labs, was in early 2020. And the first time those comments became public was when his second defence secretary, Mark T. Esper, wrote in his memoir that Mr. Trump had raised it with him and asked if the United States could make it look as if some other country was responsible. Mr. Esper portrayed the idea as ludicrous.

Yet instead of condemning the idea, some Republicans publicly welcomed word that Mr. Trump had wanted to use military force against the drug cartels on Mexican soil — and without the consent of Mexico’s government. Mr. Trump’s notion of a military intervention south of the border has swiftly evolved from an Oval Office fantasy to something approaching Republican Party doctrine.

On the Presidential campaign trail and on the G.O.P. (Grand Old Party i.e. Republicans) debate stage in California last week, nearly every Republican candidate has been advocating versions of a plan to send U.S. Special Operations troops into Mexican territory to kill or capture drug cartel members and destroy their labs and distribution strategies..

On Capitol Hill, Republican lawmakers have even, drafted a broad authorisation for the use of military force against cartels — echoing the war powers Congress gave former President George W. Bush before the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. They have also pushed for designating Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organisations — a related idea Mr. Trump flirted with as President but backed off after Mexico hotly objected.

Now, if Trump returns to the White House in 2025, he has vowed to push for the designations and to deploy Special Operations troops and naval forces to, as he put it, declare war on the cartels.

The plans have angered officials in Mexico. Its President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has denounced the proposals as outrageous and unacceptable. It has been more than a century since the United States sent military personnel into Mexico without the Mexican government’s assent.

Mexico has a bitter history with American interference: Much of the southwestern United States was part of Mexico before the United States took it by force in the middle of the 19th century. To this day, Mexico generally does not allow U.S. agents with guns to carry out operations on its soil, in contrast to other Latin American countries that have agreed to joint operations with the Drug Enforcement Administration and invited the American government to help train, equip and assist their own security forces.

Analysts have also warned about the potential for military action to cause significant economic damage. The plans could rupture the United States’ relationship with Mexico, its largest trading partner, and curtail other types of cooperation, including the arrest and extradition of criminals and Mexico’s efforts to deter migrants from trying to cross illegally into the United States.

Some Republicans view the threat of sending the military into Mexico as a negotiating tool to force Mexican officials to get aggressive with the cartels.

Generally, international law forbids a country from using military force on the sovereign soil of another nation without its consent, except with the permission of the United Nations Security Council or in cases of self-defence. But the United States has taken the position that it can lawfully use force unilaterally on another nation’s territory if its government is unable or unwilling to suppress a nonstate threat emanating from it, such as a threat from a terrorist group.

Republicans have described the Mexican criminal drug-trafficking networks as a national security threat, with some calling the drug – fentanyl, a weapon of mass destruction.

Fentanyl:

Americans spend many billions of dollars a year on cocaine, heroin and other illegal drugs. For decades, the black market created by that demand has been heavily supplied by criminal smuggling operations across the 2,000-mile border with Mexico. But the rise of fentanyl – a powerful and fast-acting synthetic opioid – first designed as a powerful pain-killer – that can be made cheaply from chemicals – and is often added to heroin and cocaine – has created a crisis. Fentanyl has been linked to more than two-thirds of the nearly 110,000 American overdose deaths last year, and lawmakers from both parties have been desperately searching for solutions.

Fentanyl – has also featured recently in the death of one child and illness of three others – in a New York nursery – in which it was stored – along with heroin and cocaine – in close proximity to the children. Four people are now arrested and facing charges.

Frustration has also mounted with the Mexican government, whose president has advocated a “hugs not bullets” policy to deal with drug crime, after crackdowns on cartel leaders by previous administrations led to widespread violence. The cartels, which resemble high-tech paramilitary organisations, have seized control of large areas in Mexico and have corrupted many officials in Mexico’s government and law enforcement ranks.

Trump’s 2025 Plans?

If he wins another term, Trump said that he’d “go after” President Biden, hinting at a radical strategy to erode the post-Watergate norm of Justice Department independence.

Trump and his backers aren’t looking just to revamp the Justice Department. They also want to increase Presidential power over that and other federal agencies.

The Biden administration is trying to Trump-proof the federal work force, hoping to thwart the former President’s plan to fire civil service workers if he gets back in the White House.

Representative Dan Crenshaw has proposed legislation to enact a broad authorisation for the use of military force against nine named cartels.

It would also authorise force against any other foreign organisation that the President determines, meets certain criteria, including organisations related to fentanyl trafficking.

More than 20 House Republicans have signed on to co-sponsor the proposals.

N.B.  If you were not concerned as to whether Trump becomes the next US President – or not – the thought of him taking over control of the US Department of Justice – an organisation which has indicted him on 91 separate criminal charges –and other agencies – like the F.B.I.? –  whilst bombing and invading a neighbouring country – should make you think again.

And – don’t think – ‘It’s the American’s problem – because, such power, in the hands of – ‘The Most Dangerous Man in The World’ – really worries me.

Add to that –

Putin – actually wants Trump as US President –

US intelligence concluded in 2016 that Russia was behind an effort to undermine Hillary Clinton’s presidential run against Trump.

Putin is already facing arrest warrants – for multiple, alleged war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC)

He has recently ordered that Russia place the head of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the country’s most wanted list.

ICC President, Piotr Hofmanski has now been issued an arrest warrant by the Kremlin- though the charges levelled against him have yet to be made public

We all know, what the Kremlin is capable of doing to anybody on its ‘Most Wanted List’!

The thought of Trump in the White  House – with more power over US government agencies – and Putin, in the Kremlin with unlimited power –

Doesn’t just worry me – it terrifies me!

We are living in a time of historic global change – and I haven’t even mentioned – ‘Global Warming’.

OK – I have now – but the chances of global co-operation, essential to any solution, could disappear  over the next twelve months – forever.