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Top Trump general refuses to rule out escalation as US sinks deeper in war next door: WSJ

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The top U.S. general in Latin America and the Caribbean says land strikes against drug cartels are on the table. Gen. Francis Donovan, the Marine four-star who leads U.S. Southern Command, made the remarks in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that was featured in a Tuesday article . His comments come as the Pentagon broadens its campaign against trafficking networks across Central America, South America and the Caribbean. That campaign began with strikes on suspected smuggling boats one year ago. "Do I see land strikes as options? Yes," Donovan said. "We want all options at the table." He described a wide range of possible actions. "Those actions might be strikes, arrests, or the takedown of a safe house," Donovan explained. "It could even be something as routine as increasing the use of cargo scanners at border checkpoints." His stated aim is to create "total systemic friction" for the cartels. U.S. forces are already moving past the boat strikes. Last week, roughly 50 America