Letter to the Editor: Label drug cartels as terrorist organizations
Published 2:00 pm Sunday, November 17, 2019
The United States State Department has an official list of groups from around the world that are designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Groups like the Palestinian Liberation Front, al-Qa’ida, al-Shabaab, and Boko-Haram are just a few.
With their atrocities well documented I think everyone would agree that they have certainly earned their position on the list and are more than deserving of all the consequences.
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However, over the last few decades an equally dangerous and ever growing form of terrorism has emerged and inflicted a myriad of human tragedy all over the entire Western Hemisphere.
Ruling through intimidation, driven by money, and fueled by the drug trade, the cartels of Latin America have reeked havoc on our country.
The narcotics, the murder, and all of the violence that ensues due to these gangs is wide spread and is a scourge on our nation.
There is not a single American that does not know somebody that has been affected, in some way, by these monsters.
Where the cartels are terror, death, and destruction follow. So how are they any different from ISIS? Why are they not designated as an FTO?
They certainly should be because only then can the United States use a more robust means of combat under the Authorization for Use of Military Force Act. Meaning we could then conduct missions across international borders, perform raids, and even carry out drone strikes thereby sending a real message to these savages.
It is clear that Mexico can not or simply will not stand up to the cartels. Even in the face of their own people being slaughtered.
So my question is this. How many more Americans will suffer before we stand up to them? The war on drugs has failed, and it failed because we did not deal with the root of the problem. And the root of the problem is the cartels.
Yes I know, people choose to take drugs but they can not do the drugs if they can not get the drugs. I also understand that we will never completely rid ourselves of this problem. But that is no excuse to do nothing. Something must be done.
I believe that something is being proactive instead of reactive.
I believe that something is taking the fight to them. In order to do that we must officially designate them for what they are, a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Tommy Roberts
Fitzgerald
