House Hearing: Growing Terror Connection to Drug Cartels

There will be "hell to pay" if the United States doesn't stop the growing link between Latin American drug cartels and Iranian-sponsored terror, former Drug Enforcement Administration operations chief Michael A. Braun told a House hearing on Thursday. The Iran-Cuba-Venezuela axis is reaching out to regional terrorist groups and drug traders with networks in the United States, expanding the operational capacity of the Islamic Republic deep into our nation's cities.

Iran and Latin American pariah states support terrorists organization with training bases and territory in South America, but both are increasingly cooperating with one another and drug cartels to advance their own agendas. According to Braun, this means that Iran's al-Quds Force and its proxy Hizballah have more "opportunities to leverage the transportation, money laundering, arms trafficking, corruption, human trafficking and smuggling infrastructures of the Colombian and Mexican drug trafficking cartels."

Ultimately, Braun explained, foreign terrorist organizations and drug cartels use similar methods and have little to divide them ideologically. Both favor increasing the amount and exploitation of ungovernable territory, and the anti-American ideology of the Iran-Latin American alliance means using those resources to harm America. The best solution to fight this cooperation is breaking down the barriers between American counterterrorism forces and drug enforcement.

Other witnesses pointed out the depth of the relationship between some South American countries and Iran, and how these nations benefit from one another. José Azel, a senior researcher on the subject from the University of Miami, explained how the anti-American regimes overcome ideological differences, ultimate uniting secular, pro-communist states with Iran's theocracy.

Norman Bailey of the Institute of Global Economic Growth used his prepared remarks to delve into Iran's use of this alliance to circumvent international sanctions and build influence through investments. He recommended sanctioning Venezuelan banks doing business with Iran, and possibly blacklisting Venezuela as a terrorist sponsoring state.

Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, argued that current Western sanctions were already hitting Iran hard. Iran has broken investment promises that it is trying to leverage into influence, and its terrorist activity hurts cooperation. Also, strengthening economic cooperation between South American countries and the United States eliminates opportunities for Iran to make inroads.

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PAYING MONEY TO DICTATORS AND TERRORISTS IS NOT FOREIGN AIDE OR DIPLOMACY

Feb 8, 2012 21:47

I am sure that there is a way to reach the goal that we have of breaking these crimes; but, when we say "strengthen" our ties with South America, we have to consider this: Our efforts will be useless if we continue our policy of giving money to these countries for development when the money is usually put into the pockets of dictators. Our lesson in Pakistan, where the percentage of the money given to that country went directly into the dictator's pocket, it a stupid waste of money. The dictators will not be grateful to you, they will arm their own people to come against is because no thought was given to the restrictions and the manner of delivery, nor the goods or services rendered to help these countries. If the rulers say they are doing something, but indeed are doing something else and threatening our National Security, how can you even thing of giving one red cent to a dictator or leader of a country like that? If you wanted to make food drops, clothing and some means of shelter, the good are always sold on the black market. We need to start making it a mandatory condition that we deliver the good, we spend the money for them, and we make sure the money goes where it is suppose to go. Continuing to make the same mistake over and over again and expecting different results is known as crazy; it does not help the people who need the help and only helps our enemies or those who would do us ALL harm, including their own people. When will you listen to the people and STOP aiding ANY country that supports terror, that has always taken the money for themselves, and does nothing that they say they will do. This is why the true American citizen is tired of hearing the word foreign aide; it is NOT foreign aide, it is a payoff for a dictator or group of terrorists, and that is helping the terrorists kill our own people. Crazy? I'd say it is time common sense and strict policy on foreign policy is reconstructed, and that the people of the U.S. have a say in these policies; after all, our military are dying because of these CRAZY policies and decision, and useless money given to the enemy is NOT foreign aide, it is paying a bribe or extortion fee. We as a nation have had a "policy" that was told to the citizens, we don't do that, even when our military or civilians are taken hostage. But, as foreign aide, it is deemed a necessity to give terrorists money to use to fight against us and to kill our own people. WELL, WE AMERICANS WHO KNOW BETTER WOULD LIKE TO FIRE THE NEXT PERSON THAT SUGGESTS FOREIGN AIDE TO GIVE TO DICTATORS AND TERRORISTS!

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