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House Democrats sent a polite little note to Senator Marco Rubio asking him not to label two brutal Brazilian crime gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Yes, you read that right. In a letter led by Representative Jim McGovern, Democrats warned that designating Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as FTOs could be “counterproductive” and hurt U.S.-Brazil relations. That argument is stunningly weak, and dangerous.
What the McGovern Letter Actually Says
The letter admits PCC and CV are serious threats. It even says these groups harm regional security, human rights, and the environment. Yet the Democrats still urge caution. Their argument: the Trump administration is supposedly “weaponizing” FTO designations and might be interfering with Brazil’s politics — namely, this could affect President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s reelection chances. In short, the message is: don’t upset our friends in Brasília, even if those friends are dealing with narco-terrorists on their soil.
Why an FTO Designation Matters
An FTO label is a blunt but effective tool. It stops Americans and U.S.-based entities from funding or helping a listed group, makes international cooperation easier, and shines a harsh light on criminal networks. The Trump administration used these designations across the hemisphere to squeeze cartels and corrupt regimes. If PCC and CV are running drugs, weapons, and terror-style attacks across borders, this is exactly the kind of measure that can limit their reach and financing.
Politics Over Security — And the Cost of That Choice
What’s alarming here is the clear political calculus. The letter reads like a campaign memo wrapped in diplomatic language. Worried that a U.S. move might hurt a left-leaning president’s chances, a handful of House Democrats want restraint — even while admitting these gangs are violent and expanding. Choosing political optics over blunt instruments against narco-terrorism risks American lives, regional stability, and the safety of Brazilians who live under the thumb of these groups.
Conclusion: Pick Strength, Not Appeasement
Senator Rubio and the State Department should do what works, not what pleases partisan allies abroad. If the evidence supports an FTO designation for PCC and CV, then label them, choke off their funding, and expand international cooperation to dismantle their networks. It’s not about making a foreign election harder — it’s about protecting people from terror and drug trafficking. If Democrats care about security, they should stop writing polite letters and start backing tools that actually work.
