Drug warsLawmakers call for designation Mexican drug cartels as terrorist
Several lawmakers called on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to support labeling Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups and craft a strategy to help Mexico defeat them; the lawmakers behind the letter warned that escalating violence perpetrated by the cartels in Mexico “threatens the very foundation of that nation” and threatens to turn into “a lawless haven”
With new tactics, criminal cartels become terrorist // Source: newsmild.com
Leading U.S. lawmakers called on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to support labeling Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups and craft a strategy to help Mexico defeat them.
“The Mexican drug cartels present a dangerous threat to the national security of the United States,” said the group, led by House Homeland Security Committee chairman Peter King (R-New York). “It is clear violent actions taken by the Mexican drug cartels have evolved and are acts of terrorism. These cartels should be classified as terrorist organizations,” they wrote. AFP reports that Republican Representatives Mike Rogers, Michael McCaul, Jeff Duncan, Dan Burton, Sue Myrick, and Brian Bilbray signed the letter to Clinton, which came as Clinton hosted Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa.
“I strongly urge you to use every capability of the U.S. Government to counter this growing threat to our economy, our security and well being of our citizens. Equally as important, we must make sure Mexico does not become a failed state and yet another haven for terrorists,” the letter said.
The lawmakers behind the letter warned that escalating violence perpetrated by the cartels in Mexico “threatens the very foundation of that nation” and threatens to turn into “a lawless haven.”
The letter noted that former president Bill Clinton designated the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as a terrorist group in the 1990s, and urged “a comprehensive strategy” to help Mexico beat the cartels.
“This strategy should include plans to expedite funding for resources to Mexico for intelligence, training, and technical assistance programs,” drawing lessons from US efforts to help Colombia beat back the FARC, they said.
