Here's What It Would Look Like If Delta Force Went After Cartels

TL;DR

A Delta Force veteran explains cartel takedowns require clandestine ops and Spanish-speaking special forces, not guns-blazing raids, based on his Pablo Escobar and Cali cartel experience.

Key Points

• 1.Clandestine low-visibility operations are essential, not direct action raids. Operating south of the Rio Grande as a visibly American 'gringo' gets you identified immediately, making covert infiltration with Spanish-speaking operators — like 7th Special Forces Group — the only viable approach.
• 2.The guest personally participated in operations against Pablo Escobar and the Cali Cartel. He clarifies that Colombians killed Pablo, and the DEA's smiling photo op over Escobar's body was a massive strategic mistake that damaged hearts-and-minds efforts.
• 3.Cartel members are easier to flip than terrorists because their motivation is purely financial. Unlike terrorists who fight for ideology and values, cartel members are transactional — outpaying them is theoretically the key vulnerability to exploit.
• 4.Drones alone won't solve the problem, as proven by the failed hunt for Bin Laden and Zawahiri. Even Predator drones flying constantly couldn't locate top targets; the guest also observed mothership-drone swarm tests from his cabin near Edwards Air Force Base.
• 5.No timeline should be set for dismantling cartels — the mission should be 'develop the situation.' Inspired by Russian strategic patience on the Eastern Front, the guest argues open-ended missions with a secure base of operations and vetted local contacts are necessary.
• 6.Trusting Mexican military or government partners is extremely difficult, risking civilian collateral damage. Killing low-level cartel associates — like fruit stand workers earning $100/month — destroys local support for further operations, and Latin American nations historically fear U.S. invasion based on Grenada, Panama, and Venezuela precedents.