Letters from an American October 2, 2025
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Oct 4, 2025 A recent raid in Chicago highlights the chilling impact on civilians, raising concerns about the administration's tactics. The government declares armed conflict with drug cartels, stirring legal and ethical debates over maritime strikes. Alarm bells ring as experts criticize the manipulation of wartime laws. Meanwhile, the shutdown is weaponized against Democrats, with federal agencies caught in the crossfire. Trump's acknowledgment of using the shutdown to advance policy illuminates internal instability and voter backlash.
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Traumatic Pre-Dawn Raid In Chicago
- Federal agents raided a Chicago apartment building at about 1 a.m., using helicopters, flashbangs, and zip-tying residents, including children.
- Witnesses described terrified people, crying children, and residents left tied up outside for hours while apartments were trashed.
Cartel War Redefines Combatant Status
- The administration declared a formal armed conflict with drug cartels and labeled suspected smugglers unlawful combatants.
- Legal experts argue trafficking is not equivalent to organized armed combat and that the declaration stretches laws of war dangerously.
Legal And Political Alarm Over Powers
- Retired JAG lawyer Jeffrey S. Korn called the administration's move an abuse that 'shreds' the laws of war.
- Senator Jack Reed warned the declaration gives the president secret wartime powers without Congress or public justification.