While we are in the habit of renaming things, I am going to call on President Trump to rename USAID to USWAMP - The United States Wealth Appropriation & Misallocation Program

Because in reality, USAID Drains taxpayer money to fund inefficient globalist pet projects while ignoring domestic needs.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was established with noble intentions: to prevent global conflicts, promote democracy, protect human rights, alleviate suffering, foster sustainable economic growth, and safeguard the environment. However, over the decades, USAID has morphed into a sprawling bureaucracy, often channeling taxpayer money into inefficient projects that do little to advance American interests or global stability.

A History of Waste and Mismanagement

Numerous instances highlight USAID's inefficiencies and missteps:

• Afghanistan Reconstruction: The U.S. invested hundreds of billions in Afghanistan, with USAID overseeing significant portions. Reports indicate that substantial amounts were lost to waste, fraud, and abuse, with projects failing to deliver intended outcomes.

  cnn.com

• Iraq Community Stabilization Program: USAID awarded $644 million to International Relief and Development Inc. (IRD) for a jobs and public works program in Iraq. Audits revealed that millions of dollars may have been siphoned off by insurgents, leading to the suspension of IRD's work due to evidence of phantom jobs and possible financial support to insurgents.

  en.wikipedia.org

• Peru Sterilization Scandal: In the 1990s, USAID was implicated in funding programs in Peru that led to the forced sterilization of approximately 300,000 indigenous women, raising serious ethical concerns about the agency's oversight and the unintended consequences of its initiatives.

  en.wikipedia.org

Misaligned Priorities

Beyond financial waste, USAID has often pursued agendas that many Americans find contentious. For instance, the agency has been involved in promoting specific social policies abroad, such as LGBTQ+ initiatives and environmental projects, which rarely align with the cultural values of the recipient countries or the priorities of U.S. taxpayers. This not only leads to ineffective use of funds but can also foster resentment towards the U.S. - the opposite of USAID's stated purpose.

A Call for Reform

Given these challenges, it's imperative to reconsider how the U.S. engages in international aid. Instead of funneling billions through a centralized government agency susceptible to waste and political agendas, we should empower individual Americans and private organizations to lead charitable efforts.

Harnessing American Generosity

Americans are among the most generous people globally. By providing tax incentives, subsidies, and other support mechanisms, the government can encourage private citizens, faith-based groups, and non-governmental organizations to take the lead in international aid. This approach offers several benefits:

• Efficiency: Private organizations often operate with lower overhead and can respond more swiftly to needs on the ground.

• Alignment with Donor Intent: Individuals can choose causes that resonate with their values, ensuring that aid aligns with the diverse perspectives of the American populace.

• Building Genuine Goodwill: Aid delivered through private channels can foster authentic relationships between Americans and global communities, free from the political baggage that government-sponsored aid might carry.

It's time to rethink America's approach to foreign aid. By downsizing or reorganizing USAID and promoting private charitable initiatives, we can reduce waste, respect the diverse values of American taxpayers, and build genuine goodwill worldwide. Empowering individuals and communities to lead in generosity not only reflects the American spirit but also ensures that aid is effective, ethical, and aligned with our nation's true interests.

In a major escalation of U.S. military activity in Mexico, an RC-135V/W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft has reportedly conducted a signals intelligence (SIGINT) operation over cartel-controlled territories in Baja California, Mexico. The move comes amid heightened tensions following the deployment of thousands of U.S. troops to the southern border and the announcement of a new U.S.-Mexico military cooperation against drug cartels.

Surveillance Flights Over Mexico – A First of Its Kind?

According to open-source intelligence (OSINT) tracking accounts, a U.S. Air Force RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft from Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, flew within Mexican airspace, over the Gulf of California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa—areas heavily dominated by the Tijuana Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel.

"Wow, for the first time I have ever seen, a U.S. Air Force RC-135V 'Rivet Joint' Signals Intelligence Platform is operating within Mexican Airspace," wrote OSINTdefender on X (formerly Twitter).

Another OSINT account, WarMonitor, confirmed: "American military RC-135V Rivet Joint surveillance plane has been taking a good look at cartel positions all over the western coast of Mexico today, including in Sinaloa."

Retired USAF Lt. Col. Rick Francona also weighed in, suggesting that this could be "one of the first concrete signs of new U.S. military activity within Mexico" under the new Trump-Sheinbaum cooperation agreement against the drug cartels.

Why Is the RC-135V/W in Mexico?

The RC-135V/W Rivet Joint is the U.S. military’s premier SIGINT aircraft, specializing in intercepting and analyzing enemy communications, encrypted signals, and electronic transmissions. Used primarily for strategic threat assessment and battlefield preparation, the aircraft’s presence over Mexico strongly suggests the U.S. is gathering intelligence on cartel networks, safe houses, smuggling routes, and key communications hubs.

This aligns with recent statements from President Trump, who has openly discussed designating Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and hinted at special operations forces (SOF) raids against cartel leaders. When asked whether he would send U.S. special forces into Mexico, Trump responded:

“Could happen. Stranger things have happened.”

Thousands of American citizens are held in foreign prisons, but only a small number are political hostages—used as bargaining chips by hostile regimes and terrorist organizations. According to the Foley Foundation, which tracks wrongful detentions, there are 46 American nationals currently unjustly imprisoned across 16 countries, with most held for over five years. The key to bringing them home lies in decisive leadership and a foreign policy that projects strength.

The Reality in Gaza

Recent hostage releases in Gaza highlight the stakes. Keith Siegel, a 65-year-old American-Israeli occupational therapist, was freed after 484 days in captivity. Hamas abducted him and his wife during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. His wife was released earlier, but Keith remained in captivity for over a year. Meanwhile, several other American citizens remain missing or confirmed dead, including Adon Alexander (21) and Nam Sagui Deen (35). Reports indicate at least seven American hostages have died in Hamas custody, further emphasizing the urgency of strong leadership.

Trump’s Diplomacy in Action: Venezuela Hostage Release

President Trump’s no-nonsense approach to hostage situations has already yielded results. His envoy was recently sent to Venezuela to secure the release of six American hostages held by the Maduro regime. These individuals had been detained under the Biden administration with little progress toward their release. However, Trump’s firm stance and direct diplomatic intervention led to a breakthrough, once again proving that adversaries only respond to strength.

Speaking the Only Language Hostile Actors Understand

History has shown that hostile governments and terrorist groups only respect force, not diplomacy filled with empty promises. A story from Iraq illustrates this well: when U.S. Army Rangers faced resistance in a hostile city, their commander warned the locals that any attack would be met with overwhelming force. The first time they were fired upon, they leveled the area, sending a clear message. From that point on, the Rangers patrolled without incident.

This is the exact approach America must take regarding hostage situations. The U.S. government should immediately and aggressively respond whenever an American is taken.

The Path Forward: Strength, Not Weakness

President Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela send a powerful message—hostage-taking will not be tolerated. This kind of deterrence is the only way to protect American citizens abroad. The U.S. must adopt an ironclad stance:

• Immediate retaliation for wrongful detentions
• Strong diplomatic pressure backed by military might
• No appeasement, only action

Trump’s decisive moves contrast sharply with the Biden administration’s passive approach, which left many American hostages forgotten. The world’s bad actors are taking notice—when America speaks with strength and conviction, hostages come home.

The lesson is clear: if America wants to prevent future hostage crises, it must ensure that taking an American is a costly mistake for any regime or terrorist group.