AMLO Calls Initiatives to Use US Army to Combat Cartels 'Propaganda'

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Mexican President AMLO and Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw.

An initiative referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the US Congress would authorize the US Armed Forces to act against "those responsible for trafficking fentanyl" or any substance related to that drug on US soil.

Resolution 18 was introduced by Representative Dan Crenshaw, also on behalf of Mike Waltz, both Republicans, on January 12, but it gained attention this Sunday, in the midst of the debate on the possibility of designating cartels as terrorists. The initiative enlists Mexican cartels such as the Sinaloa, Jalisco Nueva Generación, and Los Zetas, among others, which bring fentanyl to the United States.

Called the "Resolution on the Authorization of the Use of Military Force to Combat, Attack, Resist, Target, Eliminate, and Limit Influence," or AUMF Resolution, it would authorize the United States government to resort to military force. armed forces to act "against those responsible for trafficking fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance into the United States" and also against those "carrying out other related activities that cause regional destabilization in the Western Hemisphere."

AMLO's Response

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador considered propaganda the initiative promoted by prosecutors from 21 states and a United States legislator to designate Mexican cartels as terrorists.

“It is more than anything propaganda, because on February 27 the State Department presented its report on terrorism to the US Congress, and it made it known that there is no link in Mexico with terrorist groups and that cooperation on this issue is good. between governments, that is the report of the Department of State,” he mentioned.

“I think that some legislators, one from Texas, Dan Crenshaw, are one of those who are against Mexico, I pass it on at the cost to our countrymen or there, who remember that he who does not love his country does not love his mother because they are always insulting Mexico to get an electoral crack," he said.

“The Mexicans who live there, who are already United States citizens and who vote, should not forget these things, these grievances, that when they appear on the ballot, even if they do not know the other candidate, say the other is better off. Vote for the other or for the other, because imagine if it is not even acceptable for them to certify us, that they say there is or is not terrorism in a country, what gives them that power”.

Response from Ricardo Monreal

"As leader of the majority of @senadomexicano, I express my rejection and concern about the initiative presented in January of this year in the US Congress by the Texan legislator @DanCrenshawTX, which I hope will be rejected."

Dan Crenshaw responded to the Tweet: "Did the cartel leaders write this tweet for you?"

After the recent shooting deaths of 2 of the 4 kidnapped Americans in Matamoros. Dan Crenshaw reiterated his claims and offered the US military to 'help' Mexico against the cartels. 

"2 of the 4 Americans kidnapped by the cartels in Mexico were murdered, and we still haven’t declared the cartels a military target. It’s time we authorize military force against them. 

Are you listening, @lopezobrador_? We would love for you to be a partner. Help us help you."

White House Response

The White House of the United States assured that designating the Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups "would not give us additional authority to the one we already have," this after the demands of some Republican legislators who want the North American Army to fight these drug gangs.

At a press conference, the White House spokeswoman, Karine Jean-Pierre, was questioned again about whether US President Joe Biden considered classifying the Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations.

"Designating drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) would not give us any additional authority that we don't really already have at this point," the White House spokeswoman said.

Jean-Pierre assured that the US "has sanctions to combat these cartels and we are not afraid to use them", for which she recalled that the Treasury Department has announced sanctions against these drug trafficking groups, as well as those who benefit from and help them. The White House spokeswoman specified that cartel members can no longer use their relatives to manage their assets and evade authority because they too will be sanctioned.

Source Riodoce, Dan Crenshaw Twitter