Compared to worshipping a syncritist "saint" that's basically a god of death and criminals, yes, absolutely. I wouldn't be shocked to hear locals feel safer after these, even if it's all psychological.

Actually not as crazy as you'd think. Cartels are very superstitious, as are many people in Columbia (and other places with a cartel presence). Syncretist folk religions like Santeria and Santa Muerte pop up all the time, so even if you don't believe, it makes a certain amount of sense to try and assure people that you have things under control spiritually. As weird as it sounds, encouraging more normal forms of prayer directly discourages the ritual behavior of narco cults, and I wouldn't be surprised it has tangible psychological benefits in reducing people's toleration of the cartel.

Shit, Sante Muerte...Santeria. Plenty of stuff that's downright cultic out in cartel country. It doesn't surprise me at all that he's doing this, since locals there can be very superstitious, and the cartels have developed their own mythology. This is no more unreasonable than burning sage on rez, or going to confession. I'm sure there's psychological benefit at play here, even if you don't actually believe.

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We got the sarcasm, we just thought it was cheesy and tiring.

Regimes everywhere have a nasty habit of human rights abuses; we don't call them that if they don't.

I think the US deserves the credit for the cuban victory there. We promised them air support and reinforcement from the marines, and reneged on both so hard that many Cubans in Miami still hold a grudge.