US & Ecuador Carry Out Joint Military Operations Targeting FARC Dissident Camp

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

The United States and Ecuador conducted joint military operations against "designated terrorist organizations in Ecuador," U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced on Tuesday.

This is the first time, officially, that the U.S. military has engaged in a land combat operation against South American drug cartels and gangs since the 1980s.

Recently, the U.S. military had only carried out airstrikes targeting smuggling boats in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean killing a total of 152 alleged traffickers.

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US Military Launches Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela, Arresting Nicolas Maduro on Narco Terrorism Charges

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

U.S. forces struck at least 13 targets across Caracas during an operation aimed at capturing Venezuela’s leader. Delta Force helicopters were tracked landing near Maduro’s hideout.

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Colombian President Petro Responds to Trump's Order for Military Action Against Cartels

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

From an Infobae Article

In recent days, a report by The New York Times revealed that US President Donald Trump had signed a secret order authorizing the use of military force against cartels and drug trafficking organizations in Latin America.

The measure, considered by analysts to be the broadest in decades, would not be limited to diplomatic or economic sanctions, but would also allow direct attacks by the Pentagon on targets in countries in the region, including Colombia .

President Gustavo Petro expressed concern about this provision, warning that it could open the door to U.S. military operations on Colombian territory.

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US Transfers 100,000 Acres of Borderland in New Mexico to the Army

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum traveled to New Mexico today to announce the emergency withdrawal and transfer of administrative jurisdiction over approximately 109,651 acres of federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border. The land will be transferred to the Department of the Army for a period of three years, subject to valid existing rights.

This action is intended to safeguard sensitive natural and cultural resources in the region while enabling the Department of the Army to support U.S. Border Patrol operations in securing the border and preventing illegal immigration.

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U.S. Troops at Mexican Border?

The U.S. military should be used to defend our border with Mexico.

Immigration Reform Examiner
Dave Gibson

In 2005, the Bush administration used U.S. combat troops to patrol the borders which define Iraq. In fact, at the time, he announced that there would be a complete lockdown on Iraq's borders during that nation's elections. Obama is now using our troops in that same capacity, as well as in providing border security for Afghanistan.

While protecting the borders of foreign lands has been a priority for both Presidents Bush and Obama, neither has ever shown a portion of that commitment to their own country.

Rather than sending a few hundred National Guardsmen to the nearly 2,000 mile-long border, functioning under orders to step aside when confronted with those who cross our border illegally (Even when they are armed drug smugglers.), the way Bush did, we should send 30,000 troops to the U.S./Mexican border immediately.

If that number of troops, along with their tanks, helicopters, and U.S. Air Force over-flights were utilized along the border, illegal entries would come to a sudden, screeching halt.

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Gang Connections Within the U.S. Military

 

Law enforcement authorities are concerned the influence of warring Mexican drug cartels may now be penetrating the U.S. military.

Retired Border Patrol agent David Jackson flips through pictures of last Christmas. "This is Mike," he said, referring to his grandchild, Michael Jackson Apodaca.

David tells ABC-7 he encouraged Michael to join the military. "We talked him into going in the military just to get him away from this environment," he said.

However, Michael's past caught up to him this summer. He's now facing capital murder charges for the alleged contract killing of a drug cartel informant in El Paso. "They picked him because of his background," said David. "Before of he joined the military he was a member of a gang, the East Side whatever."

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Army officer escapes violence of Juarez only to be murdered on his own base

One of the shooting victims of the Fort Hood massacre which now appears to be another instance of Muslim terrorism, was Maj. L. Eduardo Caraveo, 52. He grew up in the extremely violent city of Juarez, Mexico, and became a psychologist and by all accounts, a pillar of the community.

Maj. Caraveo spoke very little English when he arrived in the United States, but he quickly learned the language and worked his way through school at the University of Arizona, eventually earning his doctorate.

While still living in Arizona, Caraveo worked for Tucson Child Protective Services as a case worker for special needs children.

Caraveo moved to Woodbridge, VA and opened a private practice. Ten years ago, he also joined the National Guard, becoming a Medical Service Corps officer. He spent one year at Guantanamo Bay’s Camp X-Ray.

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