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An ongoing point of debate concerns the president's authority to undertake such actions unilaterally. The speaker defends the use of force, asserting that the government operates within its legal rights to defend itself from external threats, especially organized criminal groups.
This stance is underscored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks, which highlight that the United States is responding directly to threats from criminal organizations operating in the hemisphere. Rubio explicitly states that the U.S. has every right and obligation to defend itself from organized crime and drug trafficking, framing these operations as part of protecting American sovereignty.