Trump administration sends memo to Congress declaring ‘non-international armed conflict’ with drug cartels
By Louis Casiano ,
The Trump administration sent a memo to Congress on Thursday saying that the United States is now “in a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels, which administration officials have designated as “terrorist organizations.”
“The President directed these actions consistent with his responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to his constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct foreign relations,” the memo states.
The White House said that the report was issued to Congress following the Sept. 15 strike against “a Designated Terrorist Organization” and “does not convey any new information.”
In a statement to Fox News, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said that Trump has acted “in line with the law of armed conflict to protect our country from those trying to bring deadly poison to our shores, and he is delivering on his promise to take on the cartels and eliminate these national security threats from murdering more Americans.”
The notification to congressional lawmakers came as Democrats on key committees have accused the administration of exceeding its powers to use the military against the cartels, particularly in the wake of recent strikes on what the administration said were drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean.