The Center for Strategic and International Studies reports on the establishment of a new Joint Task Force under the Second Marine Expeditionary Force to address the drug problem in the SOUTHCOM AOR.

We discussed formation of this new task force earlier when it was first announced but this report goes into greater depth. There really is no clarification of how this new JTF and JIATF-S will interact, though this report raises that question also.

I would like to point out that the four key objectives of the new JTF were all also activities carried out by JIATF-S:

• Identifying narcotics trafficking patterns to interdict illegal shipments of narcotics before they reach the U.S. and partner-nation territories using intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft.
• Expanding real-time intelligence fusion among U.S. military, federal law enforcement, and partner-nation agencies.
• Conducting joint training to improve interoperability among U.S. military services and increase rapid-response posture.
• Enhancing partner-nation counter narcotics operations capacity through advisory teams and combined operations.

The only real difference seems to be that the new JTF is not offering any opportunity for the boat crews to surrender. Thinking back, I can’t remember a case where smugglers exchanged gun fire with a Coast Guard boarding party, since the end of Prohibition.

The legality of the strikes on boats allegedly carrying drugs is being hotly debated and is thought by many to be the reason for the early resignation of SOUTHCOM commander Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey. Neither Admiral Holsey nor DOD has made any public statement on his reasons for stepping down.

Thanks to David for bringing this to my attention.