Mark Esper, who was secretary of defence at the time, stands behind Donald Trump at the White House in 2019. AFP
Mark Esper, who was secretary of defence at the time, stands behind Donald Trump at the White House in 2019. AFP
Mark Esper, who was secretary of defence at the time, stands behind Donald Trump at the White House in 2019. AFP
Mark Esper, who was secretary of defence at the time, stands behind Donald Trump at the White House in 2019. AFP

Donald Trump reportedly asked about bombing drug labs in Mexico


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Donald Trump asked about the possibility of bombing drug trafficking labs in Mexico while he was US president, former defence secretary Mark Esper says in a book set to be released on Tuesday.

Excerpts cited by the New York Times said Mr Trump believed the US could pretend it wasn't responsible for launching missiles across its southern border, Mr Esper, who was Pentagon head between July 2019 and November 2020, writes.

In 2020, Mr Trump reportedly asked twice if the military could “shoot missiles into Mexico to destroy the drug labs”, Mr Esper writes in his book titled A Sacred Oath.

The Times said Mr Esper was left “speechless” at the requests.

Mr Trump's son Donald Trump Jr, who testified before the January 6 Congressional committee this week, tweeted on Friday about the report

“I'm still trying to figure out the recent media outrage about my father possibly wanting to target Mexican drug cartel manufacturing facilities in Mexico,” he wrote.

“Is that supposed to be a bad thing?”

Former US representative Justin Amash replied to the tweet: “Yes, firing missiles into Mexico is a bad thing.”

The former president dismissed Mr Esper in November 2020, days after he lost the US presidential election.

Mr Trump and Mr Esper's relationship had been strained for months, ever since the defence secretary had publicly opposed sending the military to quell protests predominantly fuelled by the murder of George Floyd, who was black, by a white police officer.

When president, Donald Trump had police clear Lafayette Park for this photo op. AP
When president, Donald Trump had police clear Lafayette Park for this photo op. AP

Other excerpts from Mr Esper's book reportedly show that Mr Trump, in discussing the demonstrations in June 2020, had asked about the protesters: “Can't you just shoot them?”

Mr Trump also posted on social media that looters who joined protests following Floyd's death last year would be shot, internal Facebook documents shared with The Associated Press showed.

Agencies contributed to this report

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

Results
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Neymar's bio

Total club appearances 411

Total goals scored 241

Appearances for Barca 186

Goals scored for Barca 105

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

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%3Cp%3E1.%20Labour%20productivity%20is%20lower%20than%20the%20average%20of%20the%20developed%20economies%2C%20particularly%20in%20the%20non-tradable%20industries.%3Cbr%3E2.%20The%20low%20level%20of%20basic%20skills%20among%20workers%20and%20the%20high%20level%20of%20inequality%20between%20those%20with%20various%20skills.%3Cbr%3E3.%20Low%20employment%20rates%2C%20particularly%20among%20Arab%20women%20and%20Ultra-Othodox%20Jewish%20men.%3Cbr%3E4.%20A%20lack%20of%20basic%20knowledge%20required%20for%20integration%20into%20the%20labour%20force%2C%20due%20to%20the%20lack%20of%20core%20curriculum%20studies%20in%20schools%20for%20Ultra-Othodox%20Jews.%3Cbr%3E5.%20A%20need%20to%20upgrade%20and%20expand%20physical%20infrastructure%2C%20particularly%20mass%20transit%20infrastructure.%3Cbr%3E6.%20The%20poverty%20rate%20at%20more%20than%20double%20the%20OECD%20average.%3Cbr%3E7.%20Population%20growth%20of%20about%202%20per%20cent%20per%20year%2C%20compared%20to%200.6%20per%20cent%20OECD%20average%20posing%20challenge%20for%20fiscal%20policy%20and%20underpinning%20pressure%20on%20education%2C%20health%20care%2C%20welfare%20housing%20and%20physical%20infrastructure%2C%20which%20will%20increase%20in%20the%20coming%20years.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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SPECS
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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

if you go

The flights

Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav. 

The tour

While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).

 

Jawan
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Updated: May 06, 2022, 9:59 PM