'LONG OVERDUE': Inside the war on drugs

Key Concepts

• Drug Smuggling Interdiction: U.S. military operations targeting drug trafficking vessels.
• Narco-Terrorism: The intersection of drug trafficking and terrorism, where drug profits fund terrorist activities.
• Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) Designation: A legal status granted by the U.S. government to groups deemed to be a threat, enabling the use of specific government powers against them.
• Overdose Deaths: Fatalities resulting from the misuse of drugs, a significant public health crisis in the United States.
• Criminal Narco-State: A state where government officials are involved in or facilitate drug trafficking for profit.

U.S. Military Action Against Drug Smuggling

The U.S. military has conducted an operation resulting in the destruction of four drug smuggling boats in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, approximately 400 miles southeast of Acapulco. This region is identified as a known drug trafficking route. Reports indicate that a total of 14 individuals were killed in the operation, with one survivor. The estimated number of accused narco-terrorist drug smugglers killed is 57.

Justification for Military Action

Jim Hanson expresses strong support for this action, viewing it as "long overdue." He argues that the "War on Drugs" has never been truly declared, and that designating cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), as proposed by President Trump, is the appropriate approach. This designation, he contends, unlocks government powers that can be used to combat these groups, including lethal force.

Hanson draws a parallel between the threat posed by these drug smugglers and the threat of poisoning the water supply. He emphasizes that the drugs being trafficked are "bringing poison" that is killing American citizens, and that the scale of overdose deaths in the U.S. justifies a forceful response. He states, "we have lost so many citizens to overdoses that I think at-this-point, they are bringing poison it is killing American citizens, they are done."

Equating Narco-Terrorists with Other Terrorist Groups

The discussion addresses the case for equating narco-terrorists with leaders of groups like Al-Qaeda, responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Hanson argues that the number of Americans who have died from drug overdoses "exceeds the number of all of the people killed in our wars throughout American history." This statistic is presented as evidence that narco-terrorists pose a comparable, if not greater, threat to American lives than traditional terrorist organizations. He questions whether narco-terrorism should be viewed as a mere "business we need to regulate" or as a deadly force that profits from exploiting lax enforcement and killing Americans.

Allegations Against the Maduro Regime

The conversation also touches upon the alleged involvement of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in narco-terrorism. Hanson unequivocally states that Maduro is "running a criminal narco state," asserting that there is "evidence of these people being working with the Maduro regime." He identifies Maduro as "the head bag guy" in this criminal enterprise.

Conclusion

The U.S. military's recent interdiction of drug smuggling boats in the Eastern Pacific is framed as a necessary and overdue action against narco-terrorists. The argument is made that the deadly impact of drug overdoses on American citizens justifies a response comparable to that against traditional terrorist organizations. The alleged involvement of the Maduro regime in Venezuela further strengthens the case for treating these groups as a significant national security threat.