Feed: Obama to tour Latin America next month - AggScore: 12.9

Obama to tour Latin America next month

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caption id alignalignleft width127 captionObama will visit South American nations next month to discuss mutual concerns. Photo WH Press Office img srchttpcdn2b.examiner.comsitesdefaultfilesstyleslargehash7ab8Obama53.jpg alt width127 height128 captionPresident Barack Obamas expected visit to Latin American countries next month is renewing the hope of some Americans that the president will address their concerns rather than his usual pronouncements in which he apologizes for perceived slights and makes promises that benefit Latin America.The man known by many to be the most farleft President in American history will tour an area where Latin American leaders and activists blame Americans for their tough stances on immigration and trade. They also blame American citizens for the power exerted by Latin American drug cartels as well as drug cartel violence.Obamas visit comes during the time of a political shift toward socialism in Latin America led by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. In addition, El Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes is expected to aggressively push the possibility of an immigration amnesty for his countrymen illegally living in the United States.However, national security and law enforcement officials in the United States are hoping President Obama will address U.S. security concerns such as terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, drug trafficking, and border security.For example, during the Bush Administration, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine General Peter Pace warned members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that members of radical Islamic groups were active in South America recruiting and training terrorists. Yet, the Democratcontrolled Senate ignored Gen. Paces warning and the lameduck Bush White House appeared disinterested.Today, the Terroristsponsoring nation of Iran is increasing its presence in Latin America, and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization it sponsors, is making inroads in drug trafficking in Colombia, according to American Forces Press Services spokesperson Donna Miles in a press statement to Chief of Police Magazine, a publication of the National Association of Chiefs of Police.Navy Admiral James G. Stavridis told the House Armed Services Committee that he shares the concerns of Defense Secretary Robert Gates about Iranian activity in Central and South America.Iran has opened six embassies in the region during the past five years and is promoting Islamic activities in the region, according to Miles.That is of concern, principally because of the connection between the government of Iran, which is a state sponsor of terrorism, and Hezbollah, Stavridis told Congressman.We see a great deal of Hezbollah activity throughout South America, in particular, he said.Much of that activity takes place in the triborder area of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, and in the Caribbean, an area previously pinpointed by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace USMCRet in a similar congressional hearing.Stavridis noted in his written statement that the Pentagon supported a Drug Enforcement Administration operation in the triborder area last August that targeted a Hezbollahconnected drug trafficking organization.Two months later, officials from the US Southern Command supported another interagency operation in which several dozen people were arrested in Colombia for ties to a Hezbollahconnected drug trafficking and money laundering ring.Despite big successes in professionalizing the Colombian military and helping it deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, Southcom has witnessed a direct connection there between Hezbollah and drug trafficking in Colombia, Stavridis stated.He asserted that a direct link exists between the illicit drug trade and the terrorist groups it bankrolls, noting the threat posed by Islamic radical terrorism.Identifying, monitoring and dismantling the financial, logistical and communication linkages between illicit trafficking groups and terrorist sponsors are critical to not only ensuring early indications and warnings of potential terrorist attacks directed at the United States and our partners, but also in generating a global appreciation and acceptance of this tremendous threat to security, he said while testifying.Stavridis called Colombia the major global source of cocaine and home of the FARC pivotal in the fight to stop illicit traffickers at the source and advocated continued support to Colombia to help it in this endeavor will pay big dividends for the region and for the United States, he said.