Trump Directs Pentagon to use Military Force against Cartels: Report

Saturday, August 09, 2025

Trump has reportedly signed a directive for the Pentagon to start using military force against certain drug cartels that have been designated foreign terrorist organizations.

Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 04:30 PM | 26 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

Alternate links: Google News | Twitter

Donald Trump secretly directed the Pentagon to use military force against drug cartels - just like the movie, "Clear and Present Danger." Ali Velshi adds, "the plan to send American soldiers after the cartels was a bad idea in the movie and it's a bad idea in the real world." youtu.be/63ND593iA7w

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-- All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris.bsky.social) Aug 8, 2025 at 9:59 PM

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"Mexico's President Says U.S. Forces Are Unwelcome in Her Country"
www.nytimes.com

"Pobre Mxico, tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de Estados Unidos"
Attributed to Porfirio Diaz

#1 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-08-08 01:30 PM | Reply

"military force against certain drug cartels"

The EPSTEIN files scare Donald Trump to death.

He wants to distract from them by having Americans die and the United States get involved in one or more wars.

He (Peace President Trump) has already tried this once. It didn't work.

He's decided that he needs fresh blood, pun intended.

#2 | Posted by Zed at 2025-08-08 03:23 PM | Reply

The fundamental problem is US domestic demand, aided and abetted up and down the line by corruption on both sides of the border.
Staging a snatch operation in Cabo ain't gonna solve that.
Now, back to what this is really all about ...

E
P
S
T
E
I
N

#3 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-08-08 04:41 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

The Sheriff of Bagdad says this is a very bad idea. He believes we're going to hurt if we try this.

#4 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-08-09 01:56 PM | Reply

War, glorious war.

Give Trump that Nobel.

#5 | Posted by Zed at 2025-08-09 02:28 PM | Reply

"Mexico has said US military would not be entering its territory following reports that President Donald Trump had directed the Pentagon to target Latin American drug cartels.

"The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military," President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday. "We co-operate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion. That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out."

www.bbc.com

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2025-08-09 04:01 PM | Reply

Time to get rid of the over-abused Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF). The people of the US, through Congress, should decide when to wage war on an enemy to take their lives. That's how a democracy is supposed to work and what the framers of the US Constitution originally wanted. Trumpf will abuse this power for three and a half more years, making more enemies for the US.

Link: guides.loc.gov

#7 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-08-09 04:42 PM | Reply

From what has been reported in the popular press some of those cartel guys are pretty well armed, thanks in part to the lax gun laws in the US. Granted, the US armed forces have air power on their side, but the locals know the land. As we have seen, air power is negated in urban environments so the US forces could find themselves in action similar to that in Iraq, probably with similar results.

Of course, the larger issue is the threatened invasion of a sovereign nation for what is a police action. Nobel Prize? Not with US army and Marines coming home in boxes. 2026 elections look dicier because of this. What GOP MAGA functionary wants to face voters whose sons have died in some Mexican town where Americans partied a few months before?

#8 | Posted by catdog at 2025-08-09 05:19 PM | Reply

What a novel way to get the attention of the Nobel Peace Prize committee. And the Mexican cartels have been effectively using lethal FPV drones: drudge.com

I guess Trumpf's absorption of Canada and Greenland into the US are off the table for now.

#9 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-08-09 05:24 PM | Reply

The people of the US, through Congress, should decide when to wage war on an enemy to take their lives.

Naww. It's ok. Let our big daddy warbucks decide if our children live or die.

I'm busy. I have to get to my pod cast and listen to a master debater explain to me how it all works.

#10 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-09 05:57 PM | Reply

Give Trump that Nobel.

#2 | POSTED BY ZED

The Nobel POS Prize is all his. He's earned it.

#11 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-09 05:59 PM | Reply

As an aside where in the constitution does it say the president can unilaterally raise massive taxes? It's it literally insane

People aren't even discussing the tariff thing anymore

------- just created a whole REGRESSIVE tax. And it barely gets a mention

Our country should not work this way

Again the magat scum cut the taxes for the wealthy and raised taxes on the poor and middle classes

Thanks magat scum

#12 | Posted by truthhurts at 2025-08-09 06:06 PM | Reply

"People aren't even discussing the tariff thing anymore"

Oh it's being discussed. There is just no point I discussing it with the maga morons here.

It was a big topic on Bill Mahers show this weekend. George Will even mentioned how it wasn't even constitutional for trumpy to do it. But he is doing it anyway.

But you are right in that no one (Congress) is doing a damn thing about it because Congress has given their authority on this over to the president.

#13 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-09 06:17 PM | Reply

MadBomber, what are your orders?

#14 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-08-09 07:46 PM | Reply

This could be exciting :)

Asymmetric warfare with a foe with a nearly unlimited budget and lots and lots of US LEO who are already compromised.

hahahaaha :)

#15 | Posted by billy_boy at 2025-08-09 08:39 PM | Reply

Around the clock saturation bombing and low level strafing.

#16 | Posted by willowby at 2025-08-09 08:41 PM | Reply

Around the clock saturation bombing and low level strafing.

So, declare war on Mexico?

#17 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-08-09 08:42 PM | Reply

Around the clock saturation bombing and low level strafing.

#8 | Posted by willowby

lol

hahahahahaha

car bombs, mass shootings, maybe even a dirty bomb or three for your enjoyment.

The cartels will have no problem killing your loved ones en-mass if pushed to it.

So dumb, you are.

#18 | Posted by billy_boy at 2025-08-09 08:55 PM | Reply

I think you should unilaterally enforce your will on the cartels and while doing so kill a bunch of innocents as collateral damage.

Yep, that'll show them!

#19 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-08-09 09:00 PM | Reply

lol
hahahahahaha
car bombs, mass shootings, maybe even a dirty bomb or three for your enjoyment.
The cartels will have no problem killing your loved ones en-mass if pushed to it.
So dumb, you are.
Posted by billy_boy at 2025-08-09 08:55 PM | Reply

That's exactly what The Sheriff Of Bagdad says as well. It's a very stupid idea.

#20 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-08-09 09:04 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

I think you should unilaterally enforce your will on the cartels and while doing so kill a bunch of innocents as collateral damage.

Yep, that'll show them!

#11 | Posted by fresno500

Sounds like an excellent recruitment tool for the cartels, who will suddenly become the revolutionaries opposing the imperialists from the north.

Stop me if you've heard this story before :)

hahahahahaha!

#21 | Posted by billy_boy at 2025-08-09 09:06 PM | Reply

@#7 ... Asymmetric warfare with a foe with a nearly unlimited budget and lots and lots of US LEO who are already compromised. ...

If the US law enforcement is going after those who break US laws, I am 100% in favor of that.

But, as the Trump admin has shown in the past, it seems to be quite careless regarding those it determines have broken laws.

For example, using tattoos, apparently most any tattoo. Stated differently, if your skin is non-white and you have tattoos, then you are a gang member to be deported.

So, give up on that asymmetric warfare BS, and just look at the actual happenings.

#22 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-09 09:34 PM | Reply

Remember this:
www.nbcnews.com

The US military will be used to snuff out the competition of the cartels that bend the knee.
Like every action Trump has ever taken, policy is dictated by what Trump has to gain or lose.
There is no bottom. Nothing is too low or off limits. He'll do anything that benefits him personally; Including but not limited to partnering with cartels.

#23 | Posted by BluSky at 2025-08-10 09:54 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#9, #10

That was a joke from a Get Smart episode where an Arizona Indian tribe declared was on the United States. When the Air Force chief was asked what to do about it, that was his reply. You people need to relax for a change.

#24 | Posted by willowby at 2025-08-10 11:54 AM | Reply

War

#25 | Posted by willowby at 2025-08-10 11:54 AM | Reply

Is that also your advice for when you are getting raped?

Just sit back and relax. Try to enjoy it!

Nope. Not gonna do it. Not good for the economy!

#26 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-10 02:53 PM | Reply