Pentagon official: US military has no authority to do drone strikes on drug cartels in Mexico

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Pentagon official: US military has no authority to do drone strikes on drug cartels in Mexico

By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Updated 7:08 PM EDT, April 8, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Pentagon official said Tuesday that special operations forces do not have the authority to launch drone attacks at drug cartels in Mexico, even though President Donald Trump has designated them foreign terrorist organizations.

Colby Jenkins, who is currently working as the assistant defense secretary for special operations, told a Senate committee that Trump’s designation doesn’t automatically give the U.S. military the authority to take direct action against the cartels.

Under questioning from Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, Jenkins said it “helps us unlock the doors” for a broader government approach to the drug problem.

Slotkin noted that Elon Musk, a top adviser to Trump on overhauling the federal government, has said the foreign terrorist designation means the U.S. can conduct drone strikes against the cartels. Musk posted that on Feb. 19 on X.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-drone-strikes-drug-cartels-mexico-33af0ea4c766335a3778454f86b3777b

[Lovie777]

1. GQP is fucked up...

[Mopar151]

2. Is it "to find stupid, look for cruel?"

Or the other way around? How low can they go and still be considered humans?

[Midnight Writer]

3. They have "no authority" until Trump fires everyone who refuses and signs a BS Executive Order.

Congress has ceded their authority over our military, our economy, our law enforcement, our foreign affairs, our budget, to the Office of the President. The Supreme Court has decided the President is above the laws of our nation.

I think that means he has "the authority" to do whatever the hell he wants.