White House refuses to classify drug cartels as terrorist organizations
Karine Jean-Pierre assured that the measures currently being employed are more than sufficient to address the problem.
This Wednesday, the White House reaffirmed its position of refusing to classify drug cartels as terrorist organizations. During a press conference, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre conveyed that the Biden administration would not support the Republican initiative calling for legislation that would allow the U.S. military to directly address the problems posed by drug cartels:
According to the White House spokeswoman, the federal administration is already implementing a series of actions that directly involve the Treasury Department and that, for them, are more than sufficient to deal with drug trafficking organizations:
Republicans call for strong measures
Karine Jean-Pierre's statements were a direct response to the measures proposed by some Republicans following news of the kidnapping of four Americans and the subsequent murder of two of them. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham asserted that "this administration has done nothing about" the problem and declared his intention to introduce a bill that would "set the stage" for U.S. military force to intervene in Mexico.
According to a recent report by the Washington Times, Graham has joined with Louisiana Senator John Kennedy, and together they plan to introduce a bill this week that would classify nine Mexican gangs as terrorist organizations and therefore allow the use of military force against them. Graham said of the need to introduce a such a law: