President Trump has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that his administration has deemed terrorist organizations, according to people familiar with the matter.

The decision to bring the American military into the fight is the most aggressive step so far in the administration’s escalating campaign against the cartels. It signals Mr. Trump’s continued willingness to use military forces to carry out what has primarily been considered a law enforcement responsibility to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs.

The order provides an official basis for the possibility of direct military operations at sea and on foreign soil against cartels.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/us/trump-military-drug-cartels.html

 

I hope this is just lefty B.S.

 

Why do you hope this is lefty bs ?

He should root out those cartels,

by any means possible , incl military.

Maybe because wars on drugs have been tried before and always failed?

 

Seems like a waste of resources.

14 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Maybe because wars on drugs have been tried before and always failed?

 

Seems like a waste of resources.

Maybe take all the US military out of Germany and give them something useful to do

like going after the cartels.

1 minute ago, FlorC said:

Maybe take all the US military out of Germany and give them something useful to do

like going after the cartels.

 

If you close the cartels and shutter the US's cocaine supply, productivity will fall off a cliff.

1 minute ago, FlorC said:

Maybe take all the US military out of Germany and give them something useful to do

like going after the cartels.

 

That would be sensible, the only concern is that these drug cartls are like the Hydra. They cut off the Colombian head, and six new ones emerged in Mexico. Let's suppose they succeed in decapitating all Mexican cartels, most likely some new South American vaquero will step in and start smuggling drugs to the US.

 

The allure and pleasure these drugs give is so strong that everyone knows that there'll always be a market, no matter what the laws. People will always want drugs.

 

The only way to really eradicate it is to legalise drugs, but as we saw in Thailand that also has its problems.

And what about if those cartels decide to retaliate and wage a terrorist war against the US? How quickly do you think American support for such a war would evaporate?

9 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

If you close the cartels and shutter the US's cocaine supply, productivity will fall off a cliff.

Especially at Trump headquarters.

CIA has been flying drones over Mexico for reconaissance to track down the cartel fentanyl labs. 

 

11 hours ago, Cameroni said:

Maybe because wars on drugs have been tried before and always failed?

 

Seems like a waste of resources.

 

A lot of complications.

High ranking Mexican officials have accepted bribes from cartels to thwart US efforts in the past. So they leak information about US planned operations. 

 

1 hour ago, annotator said:

according to people familiar with the matter.

this is the same as "sources close to", "confidential contact", "anonymous source" etc.

9 hours ago, dinsdale said:

this is the same as "sources close to", "confidential contact", "anonymous source" etc.

Of course - "everyone knows" that!

 

Not a very secret "secret directive" though!

Why limit the action to Latin America, why not include Asia?

10 hours ago, save the frogs said:

CIA has been flying drones over Mexico for reconaissance to track down the cartel fentanyl labs. 

 

 

Probably underground in tunnels, like Hamas's undetectable rocket factories.

"Like other opioids, fentanyl can ease pain and make a person feel happy and relaxed."

 

https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/fentanyl#feel

 

Does the opioid epidemic mean that a lot of Americans feel neither happy nor relaxed?

11 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

That would be sensible, the only concern is that these drug cartls are like the Hydra. They cut off the Colombian head, and six new ones emerged in Mexico. Let's suppose they succeed in decapitating all Mexican cartels, most likely some new South American vaquero will step in and start smuggling drugs to the US.

 

The allure and pleasure these drugs give is so strong that everyone knows that there'll always be a market, no matter what the laws. People will always want drugs.

 

The only way to really eradicate it is to legalise drugs, but as we saw in Thailand that also has its problems.

 

Apparently Fentanyl can kill in very small dosages so yes, great idea, legalise it and cull the herd.

11 hours ago, annotator said:

And what about if those cartels decide to retaliate and wage a terrorist war against the US? How quickly do you think American support for such a war would evaporate?

 

Unlikely. Any terrorist activity would mostly harm the general public. It's really bad business to kill your customers.

10 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

A lot of complications.

High ranking Mexican officials have accepted bribes from cartels to thwart US efforts in the past. So they leak information about US planned operations. 

 

 

Correct. Some factions of the Mexican police and army work hand-in-glove with some of the cartels in order to <deleted> each other. Win-win for the cartels.

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

 

Unlikely. Any terrorist activity would mostly harm the general public. It's really bad business to kill your customers.

Somehow, I doubt they'll be bombing crack houses or shooting galleries. 

12 hours ago, dinsdale said:

this is the same as "sources close to", "confidential contact", "anonymous source" etc.

So far, no denials. That should tell you something,

12 hours ago, annotator said:

And what about if those cartels decide to retaliate and wage a terrorist war against the US? How quickly do you think American support for such a war would evaporate?

 

The "go-to" MO of the cartels is to assassinate politicians that are impeding their business.