ARMED CONFLICT

Amidst legal controversy on U.S. "armed conflict" designation, most agree on the offensive military capability of the cartels -- and their willingness to use it.

The New York Times reported this week that the Trump Administration sent a confidential notice to Congress which included a legal determination from President Donald Trump that the United States is engaged in “armed conflict” with drug cartels that have been previously designated as “foreign terrorist organizations” (FTO). As per this determination, tho…