President Donald Trump has determined the United States is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels that are distributing narcotics in this country, according to a notification to Capitol Hill that seeks to give legal cover for taking lethal action against traffickers following multiple strikes against what the administration has claimed are Venezuelan boats in international waters. Trump directed the Pentagon to conduct operations pursuant to the law of armed conflict after he “determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations” that have helped kill U.S. citizens through drug trafficking, according to a sensitive notice transmitted to Senate leadership and congressional committees this week and reviewed by The Washington Post. “The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations,” the notice reads. Continue readingDisclaimerThe information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only. The South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service.