Author: R. Alan Harrop, Ph.D.

Not unexpectedly, the leftist Democrats are attacking the Trump administration for their military strikes on drug traffickers attempting to bring deadly drugs into our country. As usual, the Democrats side with the criminals and fail to protect American citizens–just like defunding the police and allowing criminals with up to 70 prior arrests to roam our streets. Fortunately, we have a President who is living up to his promise to protect American citizens. Democrats also continue to resist the efforts of ICE to remove illegal migrants, many of which have prior criminal histories, from our country. Remember that in the 1950s, President Eisenhower deported over 3 million illegals from our country with little or no resistance.

The latest fiasco is the Democrat’s efforts to label Secretary Pete Hegseth as a “War Criminal” based on inaccurate information about an attack on a narco-terrorist boat bringing drugs into our country. The common-sense question you need to ask is whether we have the right to defend our borders from the smuggling of deadly drugs into our country. The answer is obvious to me–especially in light of the thousands of our citizens who have died from these illegal drugs. If another country were using bombs or bullets to kill our citizens, we would know what to do. The fact that the cartels are using illegal and lethal drugs resulting in the same outcome should be considered an attack on our country.

Venezuela, run by Nicolas Maduro, is a communist country aligned with our adversaries Russia, China, and Cuba. Maduro was defeated in the last election, but defied the will of the people of Venezuela and continued in power. Over eight million people have fled from Venezuela during his regime, many of whom have entered our country illegally. Venezuela is one of the largest producers of illegal drugs smuggled into our country and is responsible for the death of thousands of Americans. Given these facts, it is clear to any rational person that Venezuela is a threat to our security. In retaliation, President Trump authorized attacks on these narco-terrorists in September. Narco-terrorists do not qualify for treatment as legitimate combat soldiers under the Geneva Convention during wartime, since they are not members of the legitimate military of a country with whom we are at war, but rather should be considered what they are: terrorists. In order to quality for treatment under the Geneva Convention a combatant must be in uniform and a member of an organized military unit.

By aligning himself with our communist adversaries, Maduro has turned Venezuela from a prosperous country reasonably aligned with our country to a threat in our hemisphere. They have immense oil reserves which should not continue to supply and support our adversaries. The Monroe Doctrine, in place since the early years of our country, clearly states that foreign countries that pose a threat to our security should not be allowed to infiltrate our hemisphere. The Biden administration, as usual, was oblivious to the threat and allowed the situation in Venezuela to deteriorate. President Trump is taking corrective action.

As far as attacking terrorists goes, it should be remembered that President Obama authorized drone strikes and other targeted attacks on known terrorists, killing over an estimated five hundred people some of whom were women and children. The Democrats and the liberal media were silent at the time. Now, since they see a chance to discredit President Trump and his administration, the Democrats and liberal media act shocked and are defending the very criminals who are bringing deadly drugs into our country. If the Democrats had a majority in Congress, they would undoubtedly be pursuing another impeachment of President Trump.

The situation with drugs in our country reminds me of the problem that China experienced in the early part of the last century when many of their citizens were addicted to and dying from opium abuse. They effectively dealt with the serious threat to their national security by implementing the death penalty for suppliers and dealers of opium. Harsh penalties for drug suppliers were effective and always are.
President Trump is once again fulfilling his promise to support and defend the citizens of the United States. He deserves our support.