It's getting spicy in here!
The order provides an official basis for the possibility of direct military operations at sea and on foreign soil against cartels.
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U.S. military officials have started drawing up options for how the military could go after the groups, the people familiar with the conversations said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive internal deliberations.
The good ol' country boys getting ready for a trip south of the border:
But directing the military to crack down on the illicit trade also raises legal issues, including whether it would count as 'murder' if U.S. forces acting outside of a congressionally authorized armed conflict were to kill civilians — even criminal suspects — who pose no imminent threat.
Here's a map of the various cartels running the show in Mexico alone.
The cartels are not just operating in Latin America. They also have a very heavy presence in every U.S. state.
And in case you think regional police can handle a bunch of drug runners, understand that these cartels have professional militaries.
Two weeks ago, the Trump administration added the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, to a list of specially designated global terrorist groups, asserting that it is headed by President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and other high-ranking officials in his administration.
The U.S. attorney general announced Thursday that there is a $50 million reward for information that will lead to the capture and arrest of Maduro.
U.S. military officials have reportedly "started drawing up options for how the military could go after the groups," meaning targeted action could begin in the near future.
Asked about Mr. Trump's authorization for military force against the cartels, Anna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman, said in an email that 'President Trump's top priority is protecting the homeland, which is why he took the bold step to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.'
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