Cartel Cancer: Rubio's Hardline Approach to Latin America's Narcotics Problem US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently visited Ecuador, reiterating the need for aggressive military action against Latin American cartels.
In defending US strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats, Rubio invoked the metaphor of a "cancer" that must be excised before it consumes entire countries.
Rubio's assertion that unchecked cartel activity would devastate regional nations is a familiar narrative.