CIA considers lethal force against drug cartels

• The CIA is reviewing its lethal force policies against drug cartels in Mexico and other countries, according to CNN. The agency is considering legal implications and potential risks, including the possibility of collateral damage to Americans.
• Lawyers are examining potential liability for the CIA if an American is accidentally killed during operations, while concerns have been raised about cartel retaliation and the risk of escalating conflict.
• The CIA can conduct lethal operations under specific legal authorizations.

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The CIA is assessing its lethal force policies related to drug cartels in Mexico and other countries, according to a new CNN report. 

A U.S. official and other sources close to the matter told the outlet the agency is considering what actions it can legally take against drug cartels and any possible risks.

CNN reported that lawyers are looking into the CIA and its officers’ liability if an American is accidentally killed in an operation.

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The review doesn’t say whether the Trump administration ordered the CIA to take these actions, but in January, the administration designated several cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

Is there a risk of retaliation?

Some U.S. officials told CNN they are concerned using lethal force could pose a high risk of collateral damage to Americans in other countries.

Former officials also raised concerns about possible retaliation from cartels, with former Defense Department official Doug Livermore writing in a recent study for the Atlantic Council.

“Mexican cartels are not merely criminal organizations; they operate as paramilitary entities with deep financial resources, global supply chains, and sophisticated logistical networks that extend into the United States,” Livermore said. “Cartels are highly likely to retaliate and possess a substantial capacity for terrorism that, when coupled with their established presence within the United States, could escalate conflict.”

People familiar with the matter told CNN that authorities may hold the CIA accountable for its actions against drug cartels, especially if those actions lead to unintended consequences.

The U.S. intelligence community’s annual threat assessment recently highlighted drug cartels as a major threat for the first time in nearly two decades. 

But, many national security officials say while cartels pose a significant issue, they aren’t a critical threat to the U.S.

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Is it legal for the CIA to use lethal force?

The CIA can carry out lethal strikes or assist other nations in doing so, as long as the president authorizes it and complies with U.S. laws governing armed conflict, including the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

The resolution allows the use of U.S. armed forces in specific circumstances.