Some Get Pardoned, Some Get Killed

[LumRaiderFan]

7 minutes ago, Big girl said:

Yes you were

Nope, you and your lefty buddies are the only ones upset about Trump pardons while not a peep about Biden’s pardons.

No one here is surprised.

[OlDawg]

A lot more going on here than just pardons for drug traffickers. The U.S. has neglected Central & South America for a long time. Under the Reagan Administration, the U.S. paid special attention to the region, and helped bolster democracies. Interesting that a Democratic Congress that constantly harassed Reagan politically, and tried to sabotage him at every opportunity, almost allowed Communism to flourish in Central/South America all those decades ago for simple political gain at home. Since Reagan, it's been kind of a back-burner issue, and issues have grown to a point where they HAVE to be addressed for REAL National Security purposes.

What has happened since?

• Nicaragua--where we helped the Contras battle the Sandinistas/Communists and establish a democracy--is now a full blown dictatorship under Ortega. In 40 years, he moved the country from a birthing democracy to autocratic rule with help from who? The Sandinistas.
• Honduras--recent election barely beat back the Marxist/Communist party. Trump succeeded in helping keep the communist party at bay for now. But, he may have opened a can of worms by basically presenting the Executive Branch as above the legal system with his pardon of JOH.
• Venezuela--no explanation required.
• Panama/Costa Rica--Still somewhat stable. But, China is exerting a great deal of influence in Panama, and CR--as the historically most stable democracy in Central America--is under economic duress.
• El Salvador--Recently (July '25) rescinded Presidential term limits. Generally, a first step towards an Autocratic government.

These are just a few of the issues. China and Russia are focusing on, and making diplomatic and economic inroads in the region. The Panama Canal is basically being operated by Hutchison Holding (controlled by the CCP), and Panama has joined the Belt & Road Initiative.

At any one time, three or four countries in the region flip between Marxism/Communism, Autocracies, or corrupted Democracies. Lately, through neglect by the U.S., the liberal Marxists have taken a real, tangible foothold in the entire region economically, and politically. Russia and China both have military presences in the region now.

It appears the Trump Administration has recognized the issues, and is trying to address again. Thus, the pardon. Debatable if it was a good move or not. That's up to smarter people than me and history. But, it appears to have been a way to curb Honduras from becoming another Marxist regime at least temporarily. Sometimes, there aren't any 'good choices.' There's just bad, and worse. That's what happens with neglect and appeasement.

As it was when I was more directly involved, if we aren't careful, Mexico will be the only thing standing between us and a Communist China/Russia satellite region called Central America.

As I said in the beginning of this post, there's a lot more going on here than drug traffickers.