Just for the heck of it let’s say we are under attack by another country or organization and last year we suffered about 208 KIA per day. It would be nice if this was just a hypothetical scenario, but as unbelievable as it may seem, it is happening every day across our once-great land. 208 per day, average.
But what makes the situation even more incredulous is that our Commander in Chief will not talk about it, neither the Secretary of Defense nor the Secretary of State will confront the situation, the Secretary of Home Land Security tells us repeatedly, under oath, that, “our borders are secure” and the mainstream media for the most part is ambivalent about the whole subject.
We are under attack; the aggressor state is China, their ammunition is fentanyl, the non-state proxy warriors are the Latin American Cartels and the Cartel host nation is our supposed-to-be-friend Mexico and their leader, President Obrador, could care less, saying “U.S. fentanyl deaths are due to lack of love, of brotherhood, of hugs”. 23 June, 2023 Mexican President Obrador said during a press conference, “We do not produce fentanyl.”
KIAs by comparison: In all the years of daily combat with the enemy there are 58,000 KIA names on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. while just last year, 2022, we suffered 75,900 KIA on U.S. soil in the fentanyl war.
And the 208 KIA per day are just from fentanyl; the overall opioid numbers from 2022 were 110,236 deaths, 302 per day.
President Biden tells us, “White supremacists are the most lethal threat to America.” No president in our history has knowingly and deliberately threatened our national security to this degree. Vietnam protest demonstrations were commonplace from 1965-1973. Where are the protesters today? Where is the media outrage demanding a counter attack?
THE PROBLEM: The beginning of finding a solution is to define the problem. But it is not just about fentanyl, it is a two-part problem.
FIRST, THE FENTANYL PROBLEM:
Here is a snapshot of how China and the Cartels get its ammunition (fentanyl) to the soldiers on the ground across America. Data taken from an article in the NEW YORK POST, February 18, 2023 by Michael Kaplan.
$200 per kilogram (in round numbers, two kilograms equals about one pound):
Chinese chemists produce powdered chemical “precursors” that are fentanyl’s building blocks. There is so much corruption at the ports that a couple hundred bucks will make authorities look the other way as chemicals are unloaded in Mexican ports.
$3000-$5000 per kilogram:
“Laboratory” is a glorified word for Mexican fentanyl production facilities. Much of the fentanyl is brewed by mom-and pop operations outdoors in pots over open flames where the “cook” tries to stay up-wind in order to live through the process The drugs get diluted, mixed with other chemicals and the final product is either powder or fentanyl pressed into pills that resemble pharmaceuticals or candy.
$20,000 per kilogram:
Drug dealers routinely stash the fentanyl in trucks, usually mixed in with other shipping products. With 200,000 vehicles crossing the Mexico/US border each day, it’s not difficult for the deadly cargo to slip through.
$35,000 per kilogram:
Most of the product is delivered to drop-off hubs near large cities.
$300,000 per kilogram:
Inside apartments, houses, garages, wherever it is convenient, fentanyl is cut with adulterants and sealed in glassine (smooth and glossy paper that is air, water and grease resistant) envelopes that contain single-sized doses. A crew of 12 can package 100,000 glassines in 24 hours. On the street a glassine packet becomes a $10 sale. One glassine usually contains less than two milligrams of fentanyl. Keep in mind that there are about 28 grams in an ounce so that means there are about 28,000 milligrams in one ounce. According to the DEA, two milligrams, just 2mg, of fentanyl constitute a lethal dose. By comparison, one small Bayer baby aspirin weighs in at 81 mg.
$1 million per kilogram ($2million per pound):
Wholesalers’ pick-up glassine-enveloped goods from the drug mills and then meet up with their street dealers. Street dealers make approximately $2 for each $10 bag of fentanyl that they sell to their customers.
While the Biden administration will occasionally brag about seizing a big shipment of fentanyl at the border, the Border Patrol and DEA will tell you that whatever the number of pounds, it is just a drop in the bucket and considered a small cost-of-doing-business to the Cartels.
THE LARGER PROBLEM, CARTEL ORGANIZATIONS COMING SOON TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD:
Cartels are not just about drug trafficking. Their expertise also includes bribery, kidnapping, extortion, oil pipeline tapping, sex trafficking, general human trafficking (as in millions of illegal aliens crossing the border), money laundering, gun running, contract killing, robbery and general lawlessness.
BACKGROUND ON THE CARTELS:
The primary actors are the Sinaloa Cartel, for many years the most dominant drug trafficking organization in Mexico. Cartel Jalisco is the emerging power. Additionally in the mix is the Los Zetas Cartel, Gulf Cartel and Juarez Cartel. All are engaged in holding their current territory and/or expanding their territory thus creating one of the most violent areas in the world today with an enormous impact on the Mexican economy and society as a whole.
Additionally, the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels have each split into 35-40 subordinate cells each with a chain of command similar to paramilitary organizations.
Furthermore, over the past few years there have been about 400 new gangs and splinter groups formed to challenge the Cartels; all of which has overwhelmed Mexican law enforcement.
The Cartels are like a cancer on society; you may not know you have it until it’s too late. The Cartels thrive in a dysfunctional society and further turn it into an unlivable catastrophe.
In 2006 the Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared a “war on drugs.” Since then, more than 60,000 people have disappeared in Mexico. The Cartels won that war. They operate with broad impunity in Mexico, terrorizing local populations with their brutal tactics.
How do the Cartel’s operate in Mexico on a day-to-day basis with such impunity? The answer is simple, they gain control over leaders and influential people. Elected leaders, police leaders, military leaders, media leaders at the local, state and national levels are all vulnerable to Cartel tactics. It’s not a complex formula, they simply kill the opposition or approach them and suggest an alternative they cannot refuse. That is, the leaders become part of the problem by accepting bribes to look the other way or the Cartel operatives threaten the lives of the leaders’ family members. Simple but effective.
When there are no boundaries to the level of violence the Cartel enforcers will employ, there daily operations are simple. A phone call or visit from someone you don’t know or may never see again who simply provides an ultimatum; you will not interfere in our operation or we will kill you and or your family.
With this terrorist tactic in place, it is impossible to know which side of the fence any leader is operating from. Case in point: A former Mexican presidential cabinet member, Garcia Luna, was convicted February 2023 in the U.S. for taking bribes to protect the violent drug Cartels. He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Note he was convicted in the U.S., not in Mexico.
The Mexican media is generally mute on Cartel terrorism because Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. You publish a contrary article and your body may be discovered with your hands cut off. Message sent; message received.
Political candidates who campaign on a promise to clean out the Cartels will likely be “encouraged” by the Cartels to drop out or change his or her intent.
The questions facing the general Mexican public on a daily basis are who can I trust? Is my best friend actually taking Cartel bribes? Will the police help me if I am threatened? Are my local, state and national representatives in bed with the Cartels? Will the Cartels eventually take over my business? What will I do if my family is threatened? Mexico is a country living in fear with no solution in sight.
CARTEL EXPANSION:
The United States of America is right now a target rich environment, we are more than just vulnerable, we are likely next on the Cartel’s expansion list. Why? Four reasons:
- One, the Cartels’ foot soldiers are already in place throughout the U.S., the Cartels just have to get them organized. The FBI reports there are about 33,000 violent street gangs, motorcycle gangs, and prison gangs criminally active in the U.S. today with about 1.4 million members. Additionally, the number of street gang members is increasing in about half of FBI jurisdictions. Many gangs are sophisticated and well organized; all use violence to control neighborhoods and boost their illegal money-making activities, which include robbery, drug and gun trafficking, prostitution and human trafficking. The gangs represent an in-place nation-wide resource of foot soldiers for drug distribution, street sales, crime, general lawlessness and violence.
- Two, general lawlessness is becoming pervasive throughout our nation. Under current leadership at the local, state and national levels, police forces, prosecutors and judges appear helpless or unwilling to solve the lawless problem.
- Three, why should the Cartels delay when the U.S. Commander in Chief is, by policy, leaving the southern border open.
- Four, this is where the money is.
The Drug Enforcement Agency’s 2023 assessment is that Mexican Cartels already have operations in at least 60 American cities.
And what are we doing about it? With this administration, absolutely nothing.
HOW CAN WE MOVE TOWARDS A SOLUTION:
- First, officially classify the Cartels as International Terrorist Organizations.
Republican attorneys general from 21 states have called on President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to declare Mexican drug Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. They argue that the Cartels pose a threat to U.S. national security beyond their drug-related activities.
Opponents say there are already sufficient laws on the books to deal with the Cartels. Notwithstanding that objection, there are also compelling reasons to do so.
The terrorist label will have some appeal not because it expands legal authority, but because it sends a loud message. People view terrorism as more heinous than ordinary crime. Calling it drug trafficking, kidnapping, and murder by themselves doesn’t adequately reflect the national outrage that we should be feeling.
The terrorist label elevates the issue, suggesting that more must be done to prevent the Cartels current actions against the U.S. and furthermore to send the message not to attempt to expand operations on our soil.
Other countries will likely get behind the U.S. position thereby reenforcing consensus at an international level on counterterrorism. DEA says, “The Sinaloa Cartel is operating in 45 countries around the world”.
- Second, begin this process of taking down the Cartels with a secret meeting between the presidents of the U.S. and Mexico (Biden and Obrador are up for reelection in 2024) along with their Secretaries of Defense and State. No one else in the room. No press release.
The point of the meeting is for our next president to assert to his Mexican counterpart that his country is in serious trouble, his government has lost control of large sections of territory, it is getting worse, it is negatively impacting the U.S. and we have no intentions of having a narco-terrorists nation on our southern border. We are not asking for permission but very much want the Mexican president’s blessing and cooperation. It will be a win for both countries. Neighbors helping neighbors. The status quo is unacceptable
Mexican President Obrador is currently part of the problem. Elected in 2018, he has undertaken a non-confrontational security strategy which he has referred to as “hugs not guns.” On 9 March 2023, he called any plan for U.S. military action against the Cartels, “irresponsible.” On 13 March he stated that “Mexico is safer than the United States; there is no problem traveling safely in Mexico.” By the way, Mexico’s nationwide homicide rate is 28 per 100,000 inhabitants while the U.S. is one quarter as high.
- Third, labeling the Cartels as terrorists also automatically opens the door to discussions of use of U.S. military forces in Mexico. There needs to be a precursor to begin the dialogue about use of military in Mexico. If we just dump the military force idea on the public the mental picture for many will be that of the 82nd Airborne Division jumping into areas of Mexico and taking control. Or a mental picture of tanks from the 1st Armored Division (currently stationed outside El Paso Texas) rolling across the Rio Grande River headed for points south. We do not need that kind of hysteria going public and, in all probability, loudly opposed by the left media.
Last spring, Senator Lindsey Graham said, “We are going to unleash “the fury and the might of the United States. It’s time now to get serious and use all the tools in our toolbox, not just in the prosecution way, not just in the law enforcement lane, but in the military lane as well.”
We may need to be a little more subtle than Senator Graham as we approach the subject of military action in Mexico; remember Mexico is a vital trade partner. In 2022 trade between the two countries totaled more than three-quarters of a trillion dollars and nearly 5 million U.S. jobs depend on that trade.
- Fourth, our president needs to have a serious talk with China’s leader. It has been reported that in 2019 China stopped shipping fentanyl to the United States, and instead began shipping separate chemicals. If China wanted to stop their chemical companies from exporting, they could. Our president needs to pressure him to do so. Obviously, Biden is not up to this task.
AUTHORITY TO USE THE U.S. MILITARY IN MEXICO:
Constitutional War Powers, Article II, Section 2 grants the President the power to direct the military after a declaration of war by Congress.
Presidential Policy Guidance, PPG, on Procedures for Approving Direct Action Against Terrorist Targets Located Outside the United States and Areas of Active Hostilities: This was put into place under the Obama administration, the PPG established standard operating procedures for circumstances when the U.S. takes direct action against terrorist targets outside of the US and outside of areas of active hostilities.
Additionally, Article 51 of the United Nations Charter specifies that, “Nothing in this Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs.” The U.S. interpretation of the Charter recognizes three circumstances under which the use of force is permitted: 1) the use of force authorized by the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter; 2) the use of force in self-defense, including against imminent attacks; and 3) the use of force in an otherwise lawful manner with the consent of the territorial state.
Some examples of the U.S. engaging terrorists in foreign nations in the past:
Somalia. Operations against al-Shabaab terrorists with the consent of the government of Somalia in furtherance of U.S. national self-defense.
Libya. Operations against Daesh were conducted 2015-2019 with the consent of the Government of National Accord in furtherance of U.S. national self-defense.
Yemen. Operations against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have been conducted since 2015.
Given the above, one could argue that the Cartels have become a clear and present danger to the United States; that Congress has acknowledged inherent executive power in accordance with the Joint Resolution passed by Congress on September 14, 2001 which states the President may deploy military force preemptively against terrorist organizations in the states that harbor or support them.
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE USE OF OUR MILITARY IN MEXICO:
The intent is to begin operations with a Mexico-wide shock-and-awe attack on headquarters, production facilities, collection/distribution points and supply chains to immediately put the Cartels on their heels and in a defensive mode. Then increase the operational tempo to the maximum extent.
Trust no one. Too many Mexican politicians, law enforcement and military at all levels are on the Cartels’ payroll, accepting bribes and/or living under threat of violence for themselves and their families.
Every U.S. intelligence gathering/reporting element will be temporarily focused on Mexico. Humint, human intelligence, is the center of gravity. The locals know the Cartel operatives in their area and where they live. They know where the mom-and-pop fentanyl production facilities are located. They know the drivers, the pick-up points, the routes to the border. etc. An intel tip in the afternoon becomes an operation that night.
The objective is to gain the local trust. After a few weeks of operations, a conversation between a couple locals might go like this: Hey, have you seen Jose (the local Cartel leader) lately? No, he just seemed to have disappeared and now his replacement is also missing. Wonder if it has anything to do with those gringo military guys around here at night? Hmm, they might really be doing some good for us.
Conduct Mexico-wide operations without a significant visible military foot-print inside Mexico. The intent is NOT to use large forces to take control of geographic areas, to have someone sitting in the mayor’s office, to be setting up road blocks, patrolling roads, to be visible. The force will consist mostly of Special Operations elements; Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Navy Seals, Marine Corps Forced Recon and Delta Force. Night ops will be the norm. The idea is not for the community to see these forces but to see and feel the results of our military’s efforts. Information will begin to leak out then spread across the nation that the entire senior leadership of a particular Cartel has “disappeared.” Across the country the local fentanyl production facilities will go up in smoke night after night.
At some point in time after the U.S. effort has shown success and has gained the trust and respect of the Mexican leaders and the public, the U.S. forces can begin to integrate local police and military forces into their daily operations moving towards the Cartels’ defeat and a handoff to the Mexican government to sustain the peace.
As a high priority, port security to intercept shipments from China will be beefed up and the port Cartel operators will be taken out.
As the Mexican operations wreak havoc on fentanyl production and distribution, drug inventories, transport and distribution will be in disarray. The DEA, FBI, law enforcement, prosecutors and judges across the country must commit to the arrest and prosecution of everyone in the drug operation chain inside the U.S. and to putting the criminals in jail. Thousands of them.
What the Mexican president will see and hear is that Cartel leaders are missing, their chains of command are being killed and captured, incoming raw chemical supplies and outgoing fentanyl products are not on schedule and production facilities are disappearing. This will allow Mexican military and law enforcement to go on the offensive and regain control of territory and generally reduce the violence.
Drones of every size and capability will fill the sky; surveillance drones with real-time downlinks to Special Operations forces on the ground; drones armed with Hellfire missiles in the air and on station for immediate use by ground forces against high-value targets and targets of opportunity.
While taking out the Cartels, the U.S. must completely rethink its operations at the 300-plus ports of entry. Over 90% of all the hard drugs confiscated is accomplished at the ports of entry.
CONCLUSIONS:
The U.S. is vulnerable and completely exposed to an all-out covert assault by the Cartels. Doing nothing is not a feasible alternative; the stakes are too high.
The Biden administration is powerless to initiate any actions against the Cartels because of the in-place Biden policy of open borders. President Biden continues to completely ignore his number one priority, the safety and security of all Americans. Therefore, this concept of operations will have to be an action for the 2024 president-elect. This the becomes an important campaign issue for the Republican candidates.
BOTTOM LINE:
Without taking positive action against the Cartels, We-the-People run the risk of living in fear of violence from the Cartel operatives every day. Do we want to wake up every morning wondering if our neighbor is part of the Cartel organization, wondering if we can count on the police in time of need, worrying that something I recently said about Cartel violence will result in harm to me or my family, worrying that the Cartels will demand a weekly or monthly “tax” on my business, worrying that my journalist son will become a Cartel target, etc. etc. etc.
If this is not the environment we want to live in, we better wake the hell up America, grab the preverbal bull by the horns, not let this become a political issue and encourage the media to look in the mirror and again become the honest broker for America. We must take action.
This impending crisis and need for immediate counter action highlights the fact that the two actionable leaders, Presidents Biden and Obrador, are unwilling to accept that there is a pending crisis, are incapable of leading this initiative and are abrogating their most basic leadership requirement; the safety and security of their citizens.
Knock on the door, I need for you to cease all actions against the Cartels or your life and the lives of your family are at risk. Have a nice day.
Marvin L. Covault, Lt Gen US Army, retired, is the author of two books, Vision to Execution and Fix the Systems, Transform America as well as the author of a blog, WeThePeopleSpeaking.com.