DOCSLIB.ORG

SMA Chandler Visits Army South, Speaks To

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
SMA Chandler Visits Army South, Speaks To January - March 2012 www.arsouth.army.mil U.S. Army South Col. Richard C. Bassett Contents Chief of Staff “Defense & Fraternity” is an Army-funded publication Command Corner authorized in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1 intended for: uniformed members of the Department of During a decade of war the U.S. Army has Defense, U.S. Government civilians, contractors and enjoyed many successes, and suffered its share liaisons working for U.S. Army South or in its Area of 51-228th Winged Responsibility and their family members. Contents of of failures. Throughout, the Army has continued to “Defense & Fraternity” are not necessarily official views Warriors adapt and evolve to the ever changing challenges of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of of the operational environment, as well as the the Army or the U.S. Army South commander. “Defense changing world situation. The Army’s mission & Fraternity” is a quarterly offset publication printed is to fight and win America’s wars, and it is my through the Government Printing Office and published belief that we have done so with honor. The Army by U.S. Army South, 4130 Stanley Rd., Suite 500, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, DSN 421-6797. All material continues to serve our great Nation, and remains submitted for publication is subject to editing and rewrite. the best in the world. Publication months are January, April, July and October In order to sustain success, the Army decided 525th Military Police8 each year. Deadline for submission is the first day of some time ago to examine our profession to Battalion keeps the the month prior to the publication month. For questions ensure we are doing the right things for the watch or comments about “Defense & Fraternity” call (210) right reasons. As a profession, we are obligated 295-6797. The content of this publication is solely the responsibility of the Army South Public Affairs Office. to sustain our viability in order to ensure we meet the needs of our Nation. This examination Col. Richard C. Bassett (right), U.S. Army South chief of staff, Commander speaks to Dan Meyer, Army South deputy chief of staff, prior to a encompasses all parts of the Army, including our Maj. Gen. Simeon G. Trombitas staff synch meeting March 7 at the Army South headquarters. values, our professional education system, our regulations and policies, etc. Command Sergeant Major 12Army South pounds Some inside and others outside the Army believe this examination is required because the Army is Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Cervantes pavement of the Alamo, broken. I disagree; instead, I believe our Army is stronger than ever. However, I do believe that the Army Director of Public Affairs prepares for Bataan has, at times, failed to make decisions for our long term success, choosing instead to make decisions for Col. Jane E. Crichton Memorial Death March short term expediency. A few examples include deferring commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers from professional development schooling; relaxing the standards for tattoos; and ignoring height, Public Affairs Sergeant Major weight, and physical fitness standards for the sake of combat deployments. Sgt. Maj. Rick E. Black Inside this issue: Recognizing these deficiencies, the Army is now either emphasizing enforcement of the standards, Belize soldiers work with Army South medics ................15 or raising the standards. Soldiers and leaders must make the adjustment and meet the standards, or they Chief, Command Information, Media Relations Sergeant Major of the Army visits Army South ...............18 and Community Relations will suffer the consequences. How do we adjust to this “new” environment? After almost 30 years of Army Lt. Col. Antwan C. Williams JAG attorney earns American Bar Association award .........20 service, I offer the following solution for Soldiers and leaders: Army South conducts deployment readiness exercise .........22 All Soldiers must be fit, disciplined, and motivated. Fitness entails the four-legged stool of mental, NCOIC, Command Information, Media Relations Army South CG visits Peru, meets with senior leaders ........24 emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Mental function is how we think, emotional function is how and Community Relations Deputy CG visits UTSA ..................................26 we feel; physical function is how our body works, and spiritual function is understanding our place in the Master Sgt. Kevin L. Doheny Jr. Brazilian delegation visits Army South headquarters ..........27 universe, and how we communicate with our higher power. Discipline entails Soldiers doing what is right no Command Information Public Affairs Specialists Army South strengthens partnership with Chilean army ......28 matter the circumstance. Motivation entails Soldiers being satisfied with the circumstances of their service. Eric R. Lucero, Editor G-2 provides essential support in Military Intelligence ........30 All leaders must be competent, confident, and quietly professional. Competence entails leaders Robert R. Ramon, Associate Editor 470th MI trains Soldiers from Washington base ...............32 knowing their subordinates’ jobs, as well as their own. Leaders must be confident in their abilities, and the Sgt. Tamika Exom, Assistant Editor Purple Heart recepients, CG gather to honor founder .........34 abilities of their organization. Leaders must be quietly professional, allowing their actions to speak for them, Frederick Hoyt DA recognizes Army South for best protection program .......36 by leading through their professional example. Sgt. Robert Quintero Sgt. Deylon Douglass DA selects Army South as executive agent for reintegration ....38 I used these behavior standards to communicate my vision to my Soldiers and leaders as a battalion Army South hosts ARSEC/MPEP conference ................40 and brigade commander with great success. As the Army looks to collectively adjust our profession to meet Please send submissions to: Historian collects lessons learned ..........................41 the changing world and its challenges, we as Soldiers must individually do the same. By doing so, we’ll [email protected] Motorcycle safety compliance saves lives ....................42 ensure our Army is poised to meet the challenges of the future, and remain the best Army in the world. arsouth.army.mil Army Strong! facebook.com/armysouth Front cover: Maj. Gen. Simeon G. Trombitas, the U.S. Army South command- flickr.com/arsouth ing general, briefs Soldiers assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo during his visit to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, Jan. 24. (U.S. Army photo by Eric R. Lucero, Defense and Fraternity youtube.com/usarmysouth U.S. Army South Public Affairs) twitter.com/ARMYSOUTH Back cover: Arsenio De La Cruz (right), a personnel recovery planner and Col. Richard C. Bassett Scan the QR code with your Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape instructor with U.S. Army South, Chief of Staff Smartphone to connect talks about survival training to a group of Guatemalan soldiers from the 6th Army U.S. Army South to our webpage Brigade during a Subject Matter Expert Exchange in Coban, Guatemala, Feb. 28. (U.S. Army photo by Miguel A. Negron, U.S. Army South Visual Information) 3 Winged Warriors 1-228th Aviation provides real-world mission support Story and photos by the Winged Warriors of the In 2011 the 1-228th, working Eric R. Lucero 1-228th have a crucial mission. with JTF-Bravo, supported 15 U.S. Army South Public Affairs Partnering with the militaries and medical readiness exercises SOTO CANO AIR BASE, law enforcement agencies of the that treated more than 41,000 Honduras – Roughly 3,000 other countries within the Central patients throughout Central feet above sea level in the American region to detect, deter America. In addition, 1-228th mountainous valleys of and disrupt common security conducted support to other Honduras, there is a familiar, challenges, the unit is a major aviation missions, which rhythmic thumping that can be factor in enhancing regional included counter illicit trafficking heard. Sometimes faint, and security and stability while operations, personnel recovery, sometimes boisterous, the building partner nation capacity. humanitarian disaster responses sound is unmistakable and it “Our mission is to support and other operations for U.S. is something the residents of all the rotary requirements to and partner nation personnel in Honduras not only tolerate, but Joint Task Force-Bravo within Honduras and surrounding area. have also come to appreciate. the Central America area of The U.S. and Honduran The thumping belongs to operations,” said Maj. Ryan C. forces have worked together for the helicopters assigned to Hedberg, the 1-228th Aviation many years. The opportunities the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment’s operations officer. offered by having U.S. forces Regiment, a subordinate “We support all of the medical at Soto Cano Air Base provide command of U.S. Army South. readiness exercises that our the ability to conduct invaluable The unit is responsible for Medical Element unit executes training and daily real-world promoting and executing aviation here. In addition, we support operations. This year, U.S. Army operations to facilitate U.S. humanitarian relief and disaster South will plan and conduct a Southern Command’s strategy response operations within series of Beyond the Horizon of engagement and security in the Central America area. Our exercises in Honduras and theater. unit has even gone as far as Guatemala utilizing the Winged
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Aasen -- Constructing Narcoterrorism As Danger.Pdf
    WestminsterResearch http://www.westminster.ac.uk/westminsterresearch Constructing Narcoterrorism as Danger: Afghanistan and the Politics of Security and Representation Aasen, D. This is an electronic version of a PhD thesis awarded by the University of Westminster. © Mr Donald Aasen, 2019. The WestminsterResearch online digital archive at the University of Westminster aims to make the research output of the University available to a wider audience. Copyright and Moral Rights remain with the authors and/or copyright owners. Whilst further distribution of specific materials from within this archive is forbidden, you may freely distribute the URL of WestminsterResearch: ((http://westminsterresearch.wmin.ac.uk/). In case of abuse or copyright appearing without permission e-mail [email protected] Constructing Narcoterrorism as Danger: Afghanistan and the Politics of Security and Representation Greg Aasen A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Westminster for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy January 2019 1 Abstract Afghanistan has become a country synonymous with danger. Discourses of narcotics, terrorism, and narcoterrorism have come to define the country and the current conflict. However, despite the prevalence of these dangers globally, they are seldom treated as political representations. This project theorizes danger as a political representation by deconstructing and problematizing contemporary discourses of (narco)terrorism in Afghanistan. Despite the globalisation of these two discourses of danger, (narco)terrorism remains largely under-theorised, with the focus placed on how to overcome this problem rather than critically analysing it as a representation. The argument being made here is that (narco)terrorism is not some ‘new’ existential danger, but rather reflects the hegemonic and counterhegemonic use of danger to establish authority over the collective identity.
    [Show full text]
  • Narco-Terrorism: Could the Legislative and Prosecutorial Responses Threaten Our Civil Liberties?
    Narco-Terrorism: Could the Legislative and Prosecutorial Responses Threaten Our Civil Liberties? John E. Thomas, Jr.* Table of Contents I. Introduction ................................................................................ 1882 II. Narco-Terrorism ......................................................................... 1885 A. History: The Buildup to Current Legislation ...................... 1885 B. Four Cases Demonstrate the Status Quo .............................. 1888 1. United States v. Corredor-Ibague ................................. 1889 2. United States v. Jiménez-Naranjo ................................. 1890 3. United States v. Mohammed.......................................... 1891 4. United States v. Khan .................................................... 1892 III. Drug-Terror Nexus: Necessary? ................................................ 1893 A. The Case History Supports the Nexus ................................. 1894 B. The Textual History Complicates the Issue ......................... 1895 C. The Statutory History Exposes Congressional Error ............ 1898 IV. Conspiracy: Legitimate? ............................................................ 1904 A. RICO Provides an Analogy ................................................. 1906 B. Public Policy Determines the Proper Result ........................ 1909 V. Hypothetical Situations with a Less Forgiving Prosecutor ......... 1911 A. Terrorist Selling Drugs to Support Terror ............................ 1911 B. Drug Dealer Using Terror to Support Drug
    [Show full text]
  • Criminal Insurgency in the Americas and Beyond
    Criminal Insurgency in the Americas and Beyond BY ROBERT KILLEBREW ven before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the global context for American secu- rity policy was changing. While the traditional state-based international system continued E to function and the United States reacted to challenges by states in conventional ways (for example, by invading Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11), a cascade of enormous technological and social change was revolutionizing international affairs. As early as the 1990s, theorists were writing that with modern transnational communications, international organizations and corporate con- glomerates would increasingly act independently of national borders and international regulation.1 What was not generally foreseen until about the time of 9/11, though, was the darker side: that the same technology could empower corrupt transnational organizations to threaten the international order itself. In fact, the globalization of crime, from piracy’s financial backers in London and Nairobi to the Taliban and Hizballah’s representatives in West Africa, may well be the most important emerging fact of today’s global security environment. Transnational crime operates on a global scale, and the criminal networks that affect national security include actors ranging from Russian mafias to expanding Asian drug-trafficking organiza- tions in U.S. cities. Without discounting their importance, this article focuses on illegal groups native to this hemisphere and particularly Latin America, those identified by the Department of Justice as posing the most significant organized criminal threat to U.S. security. Two factors related Colonel Robert Killebrew, USA (Ret.), is a Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security.
    [Show full text]
  • Narcotics Funded Terrorists/Extremist Groups
    A GLOBAL OVERVIEW OF NARCOTICS-FUNDED TERRORIST AND OTHER EXTREMIST GROUPS A Report Prepared by the Federal Research Division, Library of Congress under an Interagency Agreement with the Department of Defense May 2002 Researchers: LaVerle Berry Glenn E. Curtis Rex A. Hudson Nina A. Kollars Project Manager: Rex A. Hudson Federal Research Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 20540−4840 Tel: 202−707−3900 Fax: 202−707−3920 E-Mail: [email protected] Homepage: http://www.loc.go v/rr/frd/ Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Narcotics-Funded Terrorist/Extremist Groups PREFACE This global survey, based entirely on open sources, is intended to provide an assessment of the nexus between selected anti-U.S. terrorist and extremist groups in the world and organized crime, specifically drug trafficking, and how this relationship might be vulnerable to countermeasures. More specifically, the aim is to help develop a causal model for identifying critical nodes in terrorist and other extremist networks that can be exploited by Allied technology, just as counterdrug technology has been used in the war against drug trafficking. To this end, the four analysts involved in this study have examined connections between extremist groups and narcotics trafficking in the following countries, listed by region in order of discussion in the text: Latin America: Triborder Region (Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay), Colombia, and Peru; the Middle East: Lebanon; Southern Europe (Albania and Macedonia); Central Asia: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; and East Asia: Philippines. These are preliminary, not definitive, surveys. Most of the groups examined in this study have been designated foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • The Current Peace Process in Colombia As Nation-Building Todos Por Un Nuevo País?
    The Current Peace Process in Colombia As Nation-building Todos Por Un Nuevo País? (Master Thesis) Executive Master in International Politics Centre Européen de Recherches Internationales et Stratégiques – Université Libre de Bruxelles Author: Krisztián Manzinger Brussels, 2018 1 2 Content Introduction.................................................................................................................................5 I. 1. Nation-building....................................................................................................................8 I. 2. Colombia ...........................................................................................................................12 I. 3. Spanish colonial social heritage ........................................................................................18 II. 1. The history of the conflict in Colombia ...........................................................................22 II. 2. La Violencia and its aftermath .........................................................................................23 II. 3. The birth of the FARC .....................................................................................................26 II. 4. The decades of the civil war.............................................................................................27 II. 5. Colombia’s importance to the US ....................................................................................32 II. 6. Paramilitaries....................................................................................................................37
    [Show full text]
  • Statement by Thomas W
    STATEMENT BY THOMAS W. O’CONNELL ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT BEFORE THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM, UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 108th CONGRESS STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD JUNE 17, 2004 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COUNTERNARCOTICS IN COLOMBIA Chairman Davis, Representative Waxman, and distinguished members of the Committee, it is my honor to appear before you today to discuss the Department of Defense programs and policy that support for National Drug Control Strategy and to provide a current assessment of this strategy’s effectiveness in Colombia. The Department appreciates that the support Congress provides is critical to our efforts in fighting narcoterrorism in Colombia. DoD’S Role in the National Drug Control Strategy The Office of Counternarcotics is the focal point for DoD’s counterdrug activities, which support the National Drug Control Strategy. The Department’s counternarcotics missions include detection and monitoring, demand reduction, support to domestic and host nation law enforcement and/or military forces. The Department carries out these activities by acting as the lead federal agency to detect and monitor the aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs toward the United States; collecting, analyzing and disseminating intelligence on drug activity; and providing training for U.S. and foreign drug law enforcement agencies and foreign military forces with drug enforcement responsibilities. In the international arena, the Department of Defense provides much of its counternarcotics support through deployments and programs to train, equip and furnish intelligence and operational support for drug detection, monitoring, and interdiction operations conducted by partner counterdrug forces.
    [Show full text]
  • Enforcement of Drug Laws
    REPORT ENFORCEMENT OF DRUG LAWS REFOCUSING ON ORGANIZED CRIME ELITES LOUISE ARBOUR PAVEL BÉM RICHARD BRANSON Former High Commissioner for Former Mayor of Prague, Entrepreneur, founder Human Rights, Canada Czech Republic of the Virgin Group, United Kingdom FERNANDO HENRIQUE MARIA CATTAUI HELEN CLARK NICK CLEGG RUTH DREIFUSS CARDOSO Former Secretary-General Former Prime Minister of New Former Deputy Former President of Former President of Brazil of the International Chamber Zealand and Administrator of Prime Minister of the Switzerland (Chair) of Commerce, Switzerland the United Nations United Kingdom Development Programme MOHAMED ELBARADEI GEOFF GALLOP CÉSAR GAVIRIA ANAND GROVER MICHEL KAZATCHKINE Director General Emeritus Former Premier Former President Former UN Special Rapporteur Former Executive Director of of the International Atomic of Western Australia of Colombia on the right to health, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Energy Agency, Egypt India Tuberculosis and Malaria, France ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI RICARDO LAGOS KGALEMA MOTLANTHE OLUSEGUN OBASANJO GEORGE PAPANDREOU Former President Former President Former President Former President Former Prime Minister of Poland of Chile of South Africa of Nigeria of Greece JOSÉ RAMOS-HORTA JORGE SAMPAIO JUAN MANUEL SANTOS GEORGE SHULTZ JAVIER SOLANA Former President Former President Former President Former Secretary of State of Former European Union of Timor-Leste of Portugal of Colombia the United States of America High Representative for the (Honorary Chair) Common Foreign and Security Policy,
    [Show full text]
  • Combatting Narcoterrorism Andrea Villa
    University of Miami Law School University of Miami School of Law Institutional Repository University of Miami National Security & Armed Conflict Law Review April 2019 Combatting Narcoterrorism Andrea Villa Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.law.miami.edu/umnsac Part of the Military, War, and Peace Commons, and the National Security Law Commons Recommended Citation Andrea Villa, Combatting Narcoterrorism, 6 U. Miami Nat’l Security & Armed Conflict L. Rev. 125 (2015) Available at: https://repository.law.miami.edu/umnsac/vol6/iss1/8 This Note is brought to you for free and open access by University of Miami School of Law Institutional Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Miami National Security & Armed Conflict Law Review by an authorized editor of University of Miami School of Law Institutional Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Combatting Narcoterrorism Andrea Villa I. INTRODUCTION ..................................... ...... 125 II. THE EMERGING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MDTOS AND FTOS.... 128 a. Hezbollah's Presence in Mexico............... .......... 130 b. Iran'sInfluence in Mexico.. .............................. 132 b. Presence ofAl-Qaeda Affiliates in Mexico ..................... 133 III. SHOULD MDTOS BE CLASSIFIED AS FTOs? ........................ 135 a. Purpose ofFTO Designation. .................... ..... 135 b. DesignatingMDTOs as FTOs ................... ..... 135 c. ProposedLegislation: H.R. 1270 and H.R. 4303.................... 136 d. Statutory Criteriafor an FTO Designation. ..... .......... 136 e. FTO designation as applied to MDTOs............ ..... 137 f Argumentsfor Designation ofMDTOs as FTOs ...... ..... 140 g. MDTOs Should not be Designatedas FTOs.............. 141 IV. SUGGESTIONS ........................................ 143 a. Correctly Defining the Threat................................. 143 b. The Kingpin Act................................... 145 c. Title 21 of the U.S. Code .................. ..... ...... 147 V.
    [Show full text]
  • Fifteen Years of Plan Colombia
    | 315 analecta polit. | Vol. 7 | No. 13 | PP. 315-332 | julio-diciembre | 2017 | ISSN: 2027-7458 | Medellín- Colombia http://dx.doi.org/10.18566/apolit.v7n13.a05 Fifteen Years of Plan Colombia (2001-2016) The Recovery of a Weak State and the Submission of Narco-terrorist Groups? Quince años del Plan Colombia (2001-2016) ¿La recuperación de un Estado débil y la sumisión de los grupos narcoterroristas? Quinze anos do Plano Colômbia (2001-2006) A recuperação de um Estado fraco e a Cómo citar submissão dos grupos narco-terroristas? este artículo en APA: Ramírez, J. (2017). Fifteen Years of Plan Colombia (2001-2016) JULIO CÉSAR RAMÍREZ MONTAÑEZ The Recovery of a Weak State and the Professional in International Relations. Master in International Submission of Narco- Relations, Flinders University Adelaide Australia. Professor terrorist Groups?. of International Business Administration Faculty, Pontificia Analecta política, 7(13), 315-332. Bolivariana University, (Bucaramanga, Colombia) Head of Research Group of International Business Administration Faculty (GRICANI). [email protected]. orcid. Recibido: org/0000-0003-0116-3330. Dirección Postal: Circunvalar 10 de febrero de 2017 Aprobado: 25 # 152-197, Apartamento 802, Edificio Vista Azul, 15 de agosto de 2017 Floridablanca, Santander - Colombia. Atribución – Sin Derivar – No comercial: El material creado por usted puede ser distribuido, copiado y exhibido por terceros si se muestra en los créditos. No se puede obtener ningún beneficio comercial. No se pueden realizar obras derivadas 316 | Julio César Ramírez Montañez Fifteen Years of Plan Colombia (2001-2016) Resumen La idea básica de este escrito es presentar una visión amplia de las implicaciones del Plan Colombia sobre el conflicto colombiano en la ultima década y media.
    [Show full text]
  • Despite Its Siren Song, High-Value Targeting Doesn’T Fit All: Matching Interdiction Patterns to Specific Narcoterrorism and Organized-Crime Contexts
    DESPITE ITS SIREN SONG, HIGH-VALUE TARGETING DOESN’T FIT ALL: MATCHING INTERDICTION PATTERNS TO SPECIFIC NARCOTERRORISM AND ORGANIZED-CRIME CONTEXTS Paper delivered at the Counter Narco-Terrorism and Drug Interdiction Conference in Miami September 16-19, 2013 by Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown Senior Fellow The Brookings Institution Washington, DC Introduction Over the past decade, decapitation, particularly high-value targeting (HVT), has come into vogue and is being increasingly applied in a variety of counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and anti-organized crime settings around the world. There are several reasons for this widespread adoption of high-value targeting as a dominant interdiction pattern. First, there is a long tradition of interdiction focused on high-value targeting in counternarcotics efforts in Latin America, which features some key successes, such as those against the Medellín and Cali cartels. Second, over the past decade, HVT delivered some crucial successes in counterterrorism efforts – such as against al Qaeda in Iraq,1 where the HVT policy was crucially supplemented by mobilizing Sunni tribes to break with Al Qaeda; and in Pakistan against al Qaeda Core. In Pakistan, HVT has been conducted both by controversial bombings, including from unnamed platforms, and to a lesser extent by land-based interdiction teams against presumed high-value al Qaeda and associated militant group operatives. Whatever its complex side-effects in terms of civilian casualties, the growth of anti-Americanism among Pakistanis, and an overall worsening of U.S.-Pakistan relations, these interdiction operations dramatically degraded the capabilities of al Qaeda’s original and most lethal core that had the greatest capacity to conduct terrorism with global reach and hit far-away targets.
    [Show full text]
  • The New Nexus of Narcoterrorism
    Foreign Policy Research Institute E-Notes A Catalyst for Ideas Distributed via Email and Posted at www.fpri.org December 2011 THE NEW NEXUS OF NARCOTERRORISM: HEZBOLLAH AND VENEZUELA By Vanessa Neumann Vanessa Neumann is a Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy Research Institute and is co-chair, with FPRI Trustee Devon Cross, of FPRI’s Manhattan Initiative. Press stories, as well as a television documentary, over the past two months have detailed the growing cooperation between South American drug traffickers and Middle Eastern terrorists, proving that the United States continues to ignore the mounting terrorist threat in its own “backyard” of Latin America at its own peril. A greater portion of financing for Middle Eastern terrorist groups, including Hezbollah and Al Qaeda, is coming from Latin America, while they are also setting up training camps and recruiting centers throughout our continent, endangering American lives and interests globally. Some Latin American countries that were traditional allies for the U.S. (including Venezuela) have now forged significant political and economic alliances with regimes whose interests are at odds with those of the U.S., particularly China, Russia and Iran. In fact Iran and Iran’s Lebanese asset, “the Party of God,” Hezbollah, have now become the main terror sponsors in the region and are increasingly funded by South American cocaine. Venezuela and Iran are strong allies: Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad publicly call each other “brothers,” and last year signed 11 memoranda of understanding for, among other initiatives, joint oil and gas exploration, as well as the construction of tanker ships and petrochemical plants.
    [Show full text]
  • Testimony of General James T. Hill United States Army Commander United States Southern Command
    file:///C|/andeansecbook/04-03-24hill.htm TESTIMONY OF GENERAL JAMES T. HILL UNITED STATES ARMY COMMANDER UNITED STATES SOUTHERN COMMAND BEFORE THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 24, 2004 Introduction Mr. Chairman, Representative Skelton, Members of the Committee, it is my privilege to present the posture statement of the United States Southern Command. The men and women of our command are making enormous contributions to the War on Terrorism and the defense of this country on a daily basis. Your Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Department of Defense civilians are working throughout the region to promote U.S. national security interests. Their work has done much to preserve stability and strengthen relationships with our allies. Simultaneously we are building a cooperative security community that will advance security and stability in the generation to come. The security picture in Latin America and the Caribbean has grown more complex over the past year. Colombia’s considerable progress in the battle against narcoterrorism is offset by negative developments elsewhere in the region, particularly in Haiti, Bolivia, and Venezuela. These developments represent an increasing threat to U.S. interests. We face two primary types of threats in the region: an established set of threats detailed in previous years and a nascent set likely to raise serious issues during this year. On the traditional front, we still face threats from narcoterrorists and their ilk, a growing threat to law and order in partner nations from urban gangs and other illegal armed groups, which are also generally tied to the narcotics trade, and a lesser but sophisticated threat from Islamic radical groups in the region.
    [Show full text]