The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is currently going through extensive revisions of its authorities and policies regarding the use of lethal force against drug cartels inside Mexico and possibly outside of it. This information, which has been discussed by US officials and some people who are up to date with this information, suggests a possible heightened response from Washington towards these criminal networks businesses.
A Serious Consideration: The CIA’s Review of Lethal Force
As it stands, this review does not mean that President Trump has specifically directed the CIA to take lethal action against the cartels. Simultaneously, it does suggest that the agency is looking into the legal boundaries and operational frameworks for such action and what the associated downsides may be. This review highlights the importance placed by the Trump administration on the employment of covert operations against powerful criminal networks.
The Perils of Escalation: Collateral Damage and Legal Complexities
The use of bending conventional counterterrorism policies to objective cartels, as suggested by the Trump administration, has raised major concerns within parts of the US government. Some officials worry within the government, especially with the emphasis on decreased collateral damage to Americans, who, because of cartel activity, number far more than Middle East regions where such works were performed.
Protecting American Lives: Legal and Ethical Scrutiny
One of the most important aspects that CIA lawyers are investigating is possible agency and officer liability in the American citizen casualty problem. This legal liability line captures the profound consequences bound by the use of deadly force in areas with a large American presence.
Employing Counterterrorism Tactics: A Cautious Approach
The U.S. official who addressed the CNN microphone mentioned the agency’s “cautious” review, which has raised worries about using “assets traditionally going after what were seen as military targets” on cartel targets.
Foreign Terrorist Organization Designation: A Justification for Action
The former U.S. officials and some contemporaries claim that President Trump’s earlier cartel designation as foreign terrorist organizations was intended strategically to enable lethal force justification. Nonetheless, the CIA is already operating surveillance drone flights over Mexico capable of weaponization.
A Lack of Clarity: Who Ordered the Review?
CNN’s report could not determine if the CIA was ordered by the White House or John Ratcliffe to conduct the review or if it was done preemptively by the agency’s staff in reaction to the administration’s clear intention to escalate pressure on the cartels.
Precedent and Caution: Learning from the “Enhanced Interrogation” Debacle
The briefing participants emphasized that the CIA’s enduring institutional memory of Bush’s “enhanced interrogation” program is captured in the review. “Enhanced interrogation” was a program that was later on termed torture by legislators and the Obama Administration, which resulted in a plethora of public and high-profile scrutiny into the CIA’s actions. This history of legal and ethical scrutiny has likely shaped the agency’s current cautious approach.
The Law of Armed Conflict: A Legal and Ethical Framework
One of the people briefed on the review emphasized that the legal justification under the law of armed conflict does not translate to ethical or reasonable justification for taking violent actions. The claim was made that even if an operation is legal on paper, the logical consequences, such as collateral damage, especially to civilian non-combatants, must be carefully assessed.
The Cartel Threat: An Accelerating Concern for National Security
The assessment of the threat posed by drug cartels was the primary focus of the U.S. intelligence community’s threat assessment for the year, published last month. This unprecedented move in the report’s history was combined with heightened attention from multiple security officials. While acknowledging the seriousness of the cartel problem, many current and former national security officials have cautioned against viewing them as an existential threat to the U.S.
A Weighty Decision with Important Outcomes
This CIA review on the use of lethal force against specified targets such as drug cartels may result in a profoundly transformative shift in America’s foreign policy, bordering law enforcement policies. The review predicts a shift in policy regarding the safety of American citizens and people residing in Mexico or other affected areas. The outcome of this review —as well as the CIA’s carefully influenced stance—will greatly rely on America’s approach towards organized crime.
