“Each of you has the absolute right to protect your borders, and so, of course, does our country. Today, we must resolve to work together to end human smuggling and human trafficking and put these criminal networks out of business for good.” — Donald Trump
For the last umpty-ump years, and particularly in the last decade, the rhetoric surrounding the border, especially in relation to national sovereignty, has ramped up, which I have said is a good thing. A nation without borders is asking for trouble.
We’ve spend billions on defense, and the fence, and in federal agencies to patrol the north and south American property lines. The idea of borders, in connection with enforcing national laws, is a good one worthy of more than just lip service.
So when we hear that our military, charged with the protection of our borders and our citizens, crossed into the sovereign nation of Venezuela and “arrested” the leader of the country, Nicolas Maduro, on charges of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices, we have to question what the actual meaning of national sovereignty is.
“You are empowering criminal organizations that prey on innocent men, women and children. You put your own false sense of virtue before the lives (and) well-being (of) countless innocent people. When you undermine border security, you are undermining human rights and human dignity.” — Donald Trump
To my mind, when the forces of one country cross a border into another country, that’s an invasion. In fact, it’s the very definition of an invasion. Regardless of how the move was justified — it was called law enforcement — and the resulting changes in the Venezuelan society, the idea that the end justifies the means doesn’t and shouldn’t apply here.
We demanded that foreign countries respect our borders and follow our laws and given that we’re supposed to be the leaders of the free world, we probably should respect others’ borders and laws. We probably should help them actually enforce laws.
However, as government has shown the people of this fine country that it decides what is right, it also shows that same arrogance to every other country. The line between protecting our interests and forcing our beliefs is becoming more and more blurred.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m extremely glad that the flow of drugs into this country is being taken seriously. But I’m not convinced this was the right approach.
“The future belongs to sovereign and independent nations who protect their citizens, respect their neighbors, and honor the differences that make each country special and unique.” — Donald Trump
It’s right that the president and this administration is taking the protection of the country and its citizens seriously. The War on Drugs should only be a metaphorical on, not a real series of battles.
Then there’s the question of what business really needs to be taken care of. There are so many problems facing this country right now, with civil unrest, serious fraud, even illegal aliens throughout the country.
There’s money problems, budget issues, overreaching government, and people hungry and needing work. The health care industry is a train wreck, most of the infrastructure is close to disaster, and all of it from the arrogance of our “leaders,” people who were elected simply to run the country by the laws of the Constitution and the respective states and not to run the lives of its citizens.
The focus needs to be a little closer to home. A fop like Maduro is of less consequence than Americans.
Tony Farkas is editor of the San Jacinto News-Times and the Trinity County News-Standard. He can be reached at tony@polkcountypublishing.com.
