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Disclaimer: I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, I just make observations.
The November attacks on Mormon communities in Mexico had me actively researching the influence of the Mexican drug cartels shortly after. I always thought that the cartels simply produced drugs, sold them across the border, and fought the Mexican authorities as well as each other due to their power dynamic struggle. But after learning how deep their control goes, I realized they are a much larger threat to US national security than simply a supplier of illegal drugs and their violent nature.
Cartels have been known to be using legitimate banks to hold their money, buy property as legitimate investments, and investing laundered money into Mexican and US companies. Just one example:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/n...1-million-money-laundering-scandal-2018-02-21
Trump's administration wants to classify the cartels as terrorist groups. First lets look at a simple definition of terrorism: A non-state actor that influences politics. They meet the definition due to assassination of Mexican political candidates that they don't like. As well as using money to influence politics in Mexico. The cartels also use child soldiers, similar to conflicts in Africa. Training camps, similar to those of Al Qaeda and ISIS, are used to train cartel members in guerrilla warfare. Another trope of terrorists that many overlook is that there is a counter hearts and minds campaign. Giving money, food, material goods to the communities in their region of control is common for cartels.
However, classifying them as a terrorist organization would mean that the legitimate business that they associate with would be under the same scrutiny as any other business that is found to deal with terrorists. Those could have many unintended consequences that I personally think will be 100% overlooked rather unintentionally or not. This could disrupt businesses and potentially lead to economic turmoil in the US over time. An extreme example: having to carve up a large business conglomerate due to their (possible) unintentional dealings with cartels will cost the taxpayer money. In addition to that, people could be out of their jobs due to legal action when they as individuals didn't actually commit crimes in the first place.
I'm not saying it would happen rapidly. This scenario would be a slow burn if it would play out.
Are cartels involved in terrorist levels of activities? Absolutely. Should they be labeled with the classic terrorist classification? Really hard to say with the potential for blow back on the American economy.
Just some thoughts.
The November attacks on Mormon communities in Mexico had me actively researching the influence of the Mexican drug cartels shortly after. I always thought that the cartels simply produced drugs, sold them across the border, and fought the Mexican authorities as well as each other due to their power dynamic struggle. But after learning how deep their control goes, I realized they are a much larger threat to US national security than simply a supplier of illegal drugs and their violent nature.
Cartels have been known to be using legitimate banks to hold their money, buy property as legitimate investments, and investing laundered money into Mexican and US companies. Just one example:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/n...1-million-money-laundering-scandal-2018-02-21
Trump's administration wants to classify the cartels as terrorist groups. First lets look at a simple definition of terrorism: A non-state actor that influences politics. They meet the definition due to assassination of Mexican political candidates that they don't like. As well as using money to influence politics in Mexico. The cartels also use child soldiers, similar to conflicts in Africa. Training camps, similar to those of Al Qaeda and ISIS, are used to train cartel members in guerrilla warfare. Another trope of terrorists that many overlook is that there is a counter hearts and minds campaign. Giving money, food, material goods to the communities in their region of control is common for cartels.
However, classifying them as a terrorist organization would mean that the legitimate business that they associate with would be under the same scrutiny as any other business that is found to deal with terrorists. Those could have many unintended consequences that I personally think will be 100% overlooked rather unintentionally or not. This could disrupt businesses and potentially lead to economic turmoil in the US over time. An extreme example: having to carve up a large business conglomerate due to their (possible) unintentional dealings with cartels will cost the taxpayer money. In addition to that, people could be out of their jobs due to legal action when they as individuals didn't actually commit crimes in the first place.
I'm not saying it would happen rapidly. This scenario would be a slow burn if it would play out.
Are cartels involved in terrorist levels of activities? Absolutely. Should they be labeled with the classic terrorist classification? Really hard to say with the potential for blow back on the American economy.
Just some thoughts.
