Tag Archives: Hezbollah

Iran’s growing involvement in Palestinian incitement

The Islamic Republic of Iran is providing aid to violent protesters in Jerusalem. The Times of Israel reports:

The aid reportedly included boxes of food and drink, which came with a flyer attached depicting the Dome of the Rock and a quote attributed to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reading, “With the help of God, Palestine will be freed. Jerusalem is ours.”

While Palestinian media reported that an Iranian youth movement provided the food packages, PA intelligence officials said it was clear that the Iranian regime was behind the aid.

Photos of the care packages have emerged on social media.

Palestinian media is claiming Iranian youth movements are distributing the care packages. However, sources within Palestinian security forces told Israel HaYom that “such a large logistical effort could not have been single-handedly managed and funded by a youth movement” and that  “It is plainly obvious that the government in Tehran, by way of its long tentacles, was behind these efforts.”

Palestinian leadership has pushed violent incitement for years.  The claim that Israel is trying to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque is a regular falsehood.  This incitement has already lead to several deaths including three members of the Solomon family, who were brutally murdered by a 19-year-old jihadist who claimed in a Facebook post that he was “going to die for Al-Aqsa.”

Last year, the Obama Administration transferred $1.7 billion dollars to the largest state sponsor of terrorism, including a $400 million payout via an unmarked cargo plane, filled with pallets of shrink-wrapped European currency, in the middle of the night.  Obama administration officials even admitted that these funds could be used to fund terrorism.

Iran has been ramping up its anti-Israel rhetoric and foothold in the region. In addition to the care packages, Iran’s proxy, Hezbollah, has ramped up its aggressions towards Israel.  Recently, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is building underground facilities for Hezbollah in Lebanon.  

The Trump administration recently recertified the Iranian nuclear deal (the JCPOA).  However, new sanctions are being levied against Iran over its ballistic missile development, financing of terrorist groups, and its involvement in conflicts around the region.

The Iranian regime’s continued involvement in promoting violent incitement against Israel is a further ramping up of its long-term goal of becoming the region’s hegemonic power. While the US can’t rescind the pallets of cash already sent to Iran, the Trump administration can do more to ensure that the Palestinians are not the beneficiaries of additional funds to incite violence, including defunding the Palestinian Authority for subsidizing terrorism.

Iranian missile factories in Lebanon

Reports show that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is building underground facilities for Hezbollah.  These facilities, which have been reported on as far back as March, are said to be 50 meters below ground to protect from potential Israeli airstrikes.

The factory located in northern Lebanon is said to be manufacturing Fateh 110 missile’s, a short-range surface-to-surface missile with a range of approximately 190 miles.  That range can threaten most of Israel.  The second factory is supposedly manufacturing small arms.

Center adjunct-fellow, Caroline Glick highlights Hezbollah’s growing belligerence her recent column:

Not only is Hezbollah building a missile industry. It is deploying its forces directly across the border with Israel – in material breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 from 2006, which set the terms of the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah at the end of the Second Lebanon War.

The missile facility is a marked upgrade in Hezbollah’s weapons manufacturing abilities.  Additionally, Hezbollah’s has also been battle hardened, having fought in Syria for the past several years.

Last month, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah raised the bar on his rhetoric, calling for fighters from different regions to join forces, saying the next war with Israel could “open the way for thousands, even hundreds of thousands of fighters from all over the Arab and Islamic world to participate – from Iraq, Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan,”

Intentional or not, this situation will only escalate.  Israel would do well to take decisive action to neutralize this growing threat.

Maduro Versus the People

As the protests against President Nicolás Maduro continue, the death toll in Venezuela has risen to 66. Demonstrations were triggered by the Supreme Court’s March 29 announcement when it ruled to dissolve the opposition-controlled National Assembly. This in effect would give all the Assembly’s legislative powers to the Court. The ruling was reversed three days later after provoking nationwide protests.

Venezuela is in the midst of a severe economic crisis. There are widespread shortages of food and medical supplies. An estimated 30% of school-aged children suffer from malnutrition and over 87% of people struggle financially to buy essential food. According to the International Monetary Fund, Venezuela’s inflation rate is expected to increase to 1,600% this year, which would be the highest in the world.

The crisis has much to do with Maduro’s approach to Venezuela’s oil exports. Since Chávez’s time, the Venezuelan government has controlled the monetary side of the oil industry and Maduro continues this control. Oil accounts for over 95% of its export income. Due in part to the decline in oil prices in 2014, Venezuela saw a decrease in the flow of imports and therefore, a decrease in its economy. The country’s economic state is extremely volatile because of its dependence on foreign nations, such as the United States, its main petroleum importer.

There is also an immense amount of political corruption that exists through drug trafficking and other sources of money laundering.

Faced with widening economic crisis and corruption Venezuelan people launched a series of street protests. As managing partner of Caracas Capital Markets Russ Dallen states, the Venezuelan people are “starving because there’s no food, and they’re protesting because they want a change of government.”

Venezuela has held democratically elected governments since the late 1950s, but when Hugo Chávez rose to power in 1999, he transitioned the country to an increasingly authoritarian state. With Maduro’s rise in 2013, state control only expanded. The curtailing of the press and the strict economic sanctions on price controls and currency exchange are just two examples of Maduro exerting power.

The Venezuelan opposition has four demands: a call for general elections, an international humanitarian aid channel, the release of imprisoned activists, and reformation of the current Court and Assembly system.

With the backing of the Venezuelan army, Maduro is difficult to successfully oppose. He has used violence to disband opposition protestors who have taken efforts to defend themselves.

On May 1, in an act of self-preservation, Maduro implemented a constitutional assembly seeking to alter the constitution, which the opposition says is a sham meant to delay upcoming elections.

Elections are set to occur on July 30, a major delay from the original December 2016 deadline. Maduro likely sought the postponement because he fears an opposition victory, comparable to the 2015 parliamentary election, where the opposition gained a parliamentary majority.

But Maduro has powerful foreign supporters that have helped to prevent his political demise, including Russia and Iran.

Up until the 2014 oil price decrease, Venezuela was one of Russia’s principal importers for military equipment. Russia’s support for the Maduro government was affirmed in February by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Venezuela’s financial crisis has caused Russia to slash its budget by close to $1 billion dollars. This financial hindrance could potentially strain Russia’s relationship with Venezuela.

Iran is also a strong alliance for Venezuela, which has allowed groups like IRGC and Hezbollah to operate within its borders unimpeded. With Venezuela’s Vice President, Tareck El Aissami’s alleged ties to Hezbollah and other terrorist networks, the country is a hotspot for illegal activities.

Other international connections for Venezuela include China and Ecuador.

The future of Venezuela depends on two polarizing forces: Maduro and his opponents, specifically the Venezuelan opposition and its leaders such as Henrique Capriles.

With the help of outside influences, powerful military, and the dictatorship style rule Maduro has established, he has successfully maintained power. However, the dire economic crisis and the Venezuelan’s outcry over the current establishment is not to be ignored.

Hezbollah’s expansion since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War

On March 11th sources from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) revealed that the IRGC had established weapons factories in Lebanon to be run by Hezbollah. The IRGC handed over the facilities to the Islamic terrorist organization giving them the ability to manufacture their own weapons decreasing their dependence on imports.

Hezbollah’s domestic arm’s industry is part of a larger expansion that the group has undergone since the beginning of Syria’s Civil War in 2011. They joined the civil war in 2011 as part of the “axis of resistance,” an anti-American/Israeli alliance whose members also include Iran and Syria, to preserve the Assad regime and defend their arms supply routes from Iran.

Their involvement in the conflict grew from sending fighters to back-up the pro-Assad forces into leading a pro-regime Shia foreign legion of between 15,000 and 25,000 fighters.

Hezbollah has been present in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003 when under Iranian orders they founded the Unit 2800 to train and equip Shia militias in the country. With the appearance of Islamic State in Iraq in 2014 the newly renamed Unit 3800 joined the Shia militias and the IRGC in their fight against IS.

According to Hussein Yazadan, a Kurdish military official, Hezbollah has deployed 1,000 fighters to support Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and help them consolidate Iran’s hold over the oil-rich cities of Kirkuk and Mosul.

Hezbollah has also been engaged in an escalating conflict with Israel. In late 2016 the IDF conducted a series of surface-to-surface missile strikes against Hezbollah facilities and leaders through Syria. So far the group has not counterattacked, possibly because it is stretched thin in Syria and Iraq.

To help Hezbollah fight Israel and strengthen its position in Syria the IRGC established the Golan Liberation Brigade (GLB). The GLB is part of Harakat al Nujaba, an Iraqi Shia militia under the control of Iran.

The cooperation between the two groups and the area’s proximity to Lebanon could mean that Hezbollah will supply the GLB with arms from their new weapon’s factories. Shipping arms from Lebanon to Golan Heights would be easier than sending them via Iraq and Syria.

According to the IRGC source among the weapons produced in Hezbollah’s new factories are drones.

Hezbollah has already been using drones to bomb Syrian rebels the group may use the same techniques on Israel. In 2016 Hezbollah was able to fly a drone into Israel and the country’s air defenses failed to down it, a worrisome development if Hezbollah considers putting into practice techniques learned in Syria against Israel.

Faster weapon supply lines and support from the Golan Liberation Brigade will increase pressure on the Syrian rebels in Golan Heights, which could lead to their defeat in the region. This would strengthen Iran’s grip in Syria and allow the Shia militias to turn the area into a staging ground of attacks against Israel.

Should Hezbollah and the GLB start flying drones into Israel, or take other offensive action, Israel is increasingly likely to feel the need to respond military to blunt Hezbollah’s capability. The IDF has previously conducted raids against the Syrian army and Hezbollah have mostly been concentrated around Damascus, but some jets have gone as far as Palmyra.

Besides military instillations these bombings targeted convoys supplying arms for Hezbollah, which Israel has indicated it reserves the right to target because they posed a danger to its nationals security. Now the IDF air raids on southern Syria will likely increase as Israel could target GLB and Hezbollah positions in the Golan Heights as well as their arms supply routes in order to prevent the groups from launching attacks on them from the area.

 

 

 

What do Brazil and Peru’s terror trials portend?

In Brazil eight men from an Islamic State aligned group Defenders of Sharia will stand trial this year for racketeering and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism. Seven of the eight will also be tried for the corruption of minors. Three other men involved with the group have not been charged, but remain in prison.

These eleven men formed the Defenders of Sharia in the lead-up to the Rio 2016 Olympics and were planning to conduct terrorist attacks during the games. The police arrested the suspected terrorists before they could put their plans into motions and sent them to a maximum-security prison in the south of the country.

The authorities said that only two of the suspects met in person; most communication was conducted via WhatsApp and Telegram apps, both popular with Islamic State supporters. The closest the group actually got to carrying out an attack was one of the suspects attempting to purchase an AK-47 rifle.

The indictment made possible by Brazil’s new anti-terrorism law, passed in April of 2016, which created an enforceable definition of terrorism and guarantees stiff penalties for engaging, financing, or aiding in terrorist activities.

On the other side of the continent Peru will be conducting a terror trial of its own. In Lima the trial Hezbollah operative Mohammed Hamdar is set to take place this year. When police arrested Hamdar in 2014 he had traces of nitroglycerin (chemical used in explosives) on his hand and photographs of Peruvian landmarks and building. The authorities suspect that Hamdar was searching for targets to conduct terrorist attack on.

The Brazilian and Peruvian cases show that major Islamic terrorist organizations are active on the continent. A report by the Spanish Defense Ministry indicates that both the Iranian-backed Shia terror group Hezbollah as well as IS operate freely in Latin America.

The Shite terrorist group has developed a terror network on the continent with other groups such as IS and Hamas also operating in the region. Hezbollah operatives work with the Venezuelan government and drug carters to launder money and obtain money for the organization. Although the Islamic State does not have government connections like Hezbollah, it might be working with drug cartels and be profiting from the drug trade.

So far their activities have been able to go unchecked because Latin American countries due to a lack of strong anti-terror laws, but a conviction in the Brazilian and Peruvian cases may redefine the continent’s approach to terrorism.

Convicting Hamdar would establish in Peruvian court that he and Hezbollah were engaged in a criminal enterprise. This would provide ammunition for the authorities to unravel the terror network the organization has in the country.

The trial may also impact the ongoing investigation of Hezbollah’s involvement in the AMIA bombing in Argentina and the death of the prosecutor investigating the case, Alberto Nisman. Nisman was shot dead right before he was to present evidence exposing then-President Cristina Kirchner’s attempt to work with Iran to cover up Hezbollah’s role in the bombing.

Hezbollah has been active through Latin America. So any operations the group might have in Peru could be connected with its activities in Argentina. By shinning a light on Hezbollah in Peru Argentina may find out more about the group’s network on its own territory.

Peru’s efforts to criminalize Hezbollah could have an impact on its neighbors, particularly since the effort against jihadists also provides in roads against the the drug trade, of which Hezbollah is deeply involved.

A conviction in Brazil could hurt IS attempts to set up cells on the continent and show that people can be convicted under the country’s anti-terror law. A successful conviction might push other South American states to build up their own framework of anti-terror laws, which has been lacking.

The terror trials that will be underway in Brazil and Peru might motivate states in the region to fight Islamic terrorism. By criminalizing the activities of Hezbollah and IS the two countries may start a process to dismantle the networks both terrorist organizations have built-up in the continent.

Venezuela’s new Vice-President and Iranian influence in Latin America

Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro recently appointed Tareck El-Aissami to be his Vice-President. El-Aissami is suspected by the U.S. intelligence community to have ties with drug-traffickers, Iran, and Hezbollah. Iran is a sponsor of Islamic terrorism while Hezbollah is one of the terrorist organizations Tehran supports.

The new Venezuelan VP has many business dealings with Iran. Joseph Humire, founder of the Center for a Secure Free Society, testified before Congress that El-Aissami owns a network of 40 front companies. These shells have bank accounts set up in 36 countries, including the U.S. His network has been integrated with the Ayman Joumaa money laundering network that launders hundreds of millions of dollars and ships cocaine for Mexican and Colombian drug cartels as well as Hezbollah. So El-Aissami’s “companies” are probably responsible for hiding terrorist drug money and helping cocaine get into the U.S.

El-Aissami’s ties with terrorists do not end there. Between 2007 and 2010 as the country’s Interior Minister he participated in “Aeroterror,” which were flights between Caracas and Tehran with a stop-over in Damascus. According to Congressional testimony these flights carried drugs, arms, cash, and terrorists. All of these are worrying, but especially the last one since El-Aissami took part in a clandestine operation to provide fake Venezuelan passports to Islamic terrorists in Damascus. This could mean that he transported terrorists into Venezuela and then provided them with documentation that would allow them to move freely through Latin America.

This has been made possible partly thanks to Cuba. Tehran and Havana have been allies for decades. When Chavez took power in Venezuela he sought close ties with the Castro. In exchange for oil Cuba provided Venezuela with 200,000 workers, most of whom are intelligence officers. Along with Cubans also came Iranians who turned the country into a terrorist outpost.

Given El-Aissami’s strong ties with Iran and Hezbollah his appointment as Venezuela’s VP probably signals an increase of Iranian influence in the country and through the region. If the country opposition is actually able to recall President Nicolas Maduro effectively removing him from power, as unlikely as it is, El-Aissami would take charge.

This would most likely mean an Iranian and Hezbollah ally in control of a country that is in America’s backyard. Even if El-Aissami does not become President he might end up unofficially running Venezuela. If Maduro becomes bogged down fighting recall attempts, Al-Aissami might have more say in running the country. Also, since President Maduro has shown himself to be incompetent it is likely that he might depend on a seasoned politician like El-Aissami to be his chief decision-maker.

With El-Aissami as VP the Iranian mullahs could use their connections with him and the country’s desperate economic situation to get more Islamic terrorists into Venezuela. Given that Venezuela is strapped for cash and basic resources, it is possible that El-Aissami might agree to let in more terrorists in exchange for Iranian cash, not to mention increase drug-trafficking to make up for the missing revenue.

Iran could also use its ties to Venezuela to ship more terrorist to Maduro friendly countries like Cuba and Nicaragua. This would allow Iran and its ally Hezbollah to export Islamic terror into the Caribbean and Central America. From there these terrorists could try to make their way into the U.S using fake Venezuelan passports.

The long established threat capability of Iran in Caribbean and Latin America will only increase. This is an important factor to calculate in U.S.-Iranian relations.

 

New Venezuelan Vice-President Has Ties to Hezbollah and Transnational Crime

In a move to protect his totalitarian regime and subjugate the Venezuelan people, President Nicolas Maduro appointed Tareck El Aissami as his vice-president and successor.

This appointment, made on January 4th, is not coincidental. It comes at a time when the Venezuelan government is facing a huge crisis of legitimacy that can no longer be denied. Starvation, violence, and chaos now characterize Venezuela. Even the Vatican supported the call of the Venezuelan Church for civil disobedience and rebellion. The Vatican quoted the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas who gave validity to sedition in the case of a government that is evil and does not deserve to hold power.

As Maduro made the announcement, he pointed out that the reason why he brought El Aissami is because he is concerned about “citizens’ security”. Speaking directly to El Aissami, Maduro said “Get heavily involved, day and night, in the issue of citizens’ security and the need to purge local and regional police. Be ready terrorists, we are coming strong”.

This means that El Aissami is coming not to restore citizens’ security but to eliminate the last bastion of resistance to the powers that challenge the tyranny of the Maduro government. El Aissami has been the governor of Aragua state for the last several years; the most violent state in the country. Restoring security is not really his forte.

Furthemore. El Assami, like Maduro, belongs to a sector of chavismo the ruling elite called “The Francisco Miranda Front“, which is the pro-Castro sector. This also reflects tensions between Maduro and other sectors of the regime, incluidng the military groups that joined Hugo Chavez in his failed coup d’etat of February 4, 1992. (the group is known by the term 4F) . Tensions between the 4F and Maduro emerged as a result of the deteriorating economic situation and scarcity the country is suffering. A group of officials asked for the resignation of Mr. Maduro.

This means that the regime is losing the support of the military. Against this background we may speculate why El Assami was appointed.

El Aissami has been a key liaison between Venezuela and Iran and Hezbollah for many years. As head of the office of Immigration (ONIDEX) and Minister of Interior he provided passports to individuals from the Middle East; mainly Iranians. Iranian presence in Venezuela includes Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Their presence is part of the military philosophy of the Chavez regime that sought to develop a defense strategy by using guerilla warfare. In practice, what it means is the protection of the regime in the same way that revolutionary guards protect the Ayatollah and in the same way that now Hezbollah is fighting for the survival of the Assad regime in Syria. Hezbollah and the Revolutionary Guards are training soldiers of the revolution in camps in Venezuela and also in the ALBA school, located in Santa Cruz.

El Aissami played an important role in all these connections that also include money laundering operations and dealings with drug cartels. Venezuela’s ports and airports are being used freely by drug cartels.

Therefore, it makes sense to assume that the move to appoint El Aissami is to increase repression by mobilizing all these elements. There is a chance that the Iranian repressive apparatus will join the Cubans to secure the survival of their Venezuelan ally. This could mean confrontations not only with civil society but also with potential insurrected military officials. This is likely to increase Venezuela’s dependence on Iran.

In addition, it is also likely that the presence and influence of Iran will increase in Venezuela and elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere.

In addition, it was disclosed that the Venezuelan embassy in Baghdad sold passports to anyone. It can be assumed that Sunni terrorists may have acquired those passports. El Aissami’s father was the representative of the Iraqi Baath party in Venezuela. Former Sadam Hussein operatives and officers are an integral part of the Islamic State. Therefore, the possibility that Sunni extremists may increase their presence is real as well. Let us remember that most recently, U.S. Southern Command reported that 10% of those crossing the Southern border are of Sunni Arab origin. It is not clear to what extent these two facts may be related but it is worth further exploration.

The Venezuelan government is a nightmare for its own population and the world seems to think it is not their business. Now, with the appointment of El Aissami, a man associated with terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption this situation should be of even greater concern to the U.S. and to the region. Without some direction from the United States and certain Latin American countries like Brazil, Argentina and Colombia, the Maduro regime will continue to be a serious security threat as well as a bastion of criminality and lawlessness.

This is the time for the United States to build international support and particularly in the region impose sanctions to every single political, military and para-military leader that supports the Maduro government.

Since we have inherited from President Obama a process of normalization with Cuba, it would be very convenient to apply some pressure on the “friendly“ Castro Regime to stop supporting the Venezuelan regime. As we pointed out, Cuba offcials are currently heavily involved in the survival of the Venezuelan regime. The Venezuelan situation is so chaotic that civil war is likely to erupt at any time. Such scenario could have regional implications.

The current government of Venezuela is no longer popular with many Latin American countries that once supported the Bolivarian Revolution like Brazil and Argentina. Some time ago the South American trading block known as Mercosur suspended Venezuela from its’ membership.

The Trump Administration has now an opportunity to change policy and develop an entire new diplomatic, economic and political strategy aimed at reducing the influence oft he Maduro-El Assami regime. It is the right thing to do and it is in our security interest.

A New Opportunity To Reevaluate U.S. Policy In Latin America

As a new administration is coming to power, there is a tremendous need to reset U.S. policy in the Western Hemisphere, a policy that has been erratic and based on false premises.

The Western Hemisphere is the neighborhood where the United States lives. It is reasonable to assume that a better neighborhood will make us safer and stronger.

The last two decades were characterized by the rise of the left in Latin America. The extreme left led by President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela has been authoritarian and anti-American. Furthermore, it strengthened alliances with rogue states such as Iran as well as with terrorist groups including the FARC and Hezbollah.

While the moderate left in countries like Brazil did not go as far as Venezuela and its allies, it served as an enabler of extremism and anti-Americanism. Brazil actively pursued a foreign policy aimed at reducing U.S. influence in the region and saw the authoritarian left as an ally. In fact, the moderate and extreme left were triumphalist, united in their pursuit of a new order based on alliances with Third World countries while viewing Western countries as rivals.

Under President George W. Bush, U.S. policy in Latin America was delegated to the State Department while the Administration directed its efforts to Asia and the Middle East.

Under President Barack Obama, U.S. policy was characterized by mea culpa. In Obama’s eyes, the U.S. was a source of trouble and arrogance in the region. Therefore, the president subordinated U.S. policy to a mere adaptation to the circumstances without even attempting to exercise any influence in the region. Normalization of relations with Cuba has been the main thrust of American policy in the Western Hemisphere. Such policy was guided by two main principles: First the need to follow the will of the majority of the countries of the region and secondly, to establish Obama’s own legacy as the person who broke the traditional intransigent U.S. policy towards Cuba.

It is in this sense that the Western Hemisphere turned more and more chaotic and the U.S. turned more passive. Authoritarianism flourished and democracy declined throughout the region. Cuba did not substantially change its human rights policy and showed no signs of opening the regime to a transition. Likewise, Cuba continued to support the repressive apparatus of the Venezuelan government. Under the leadership of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela was also turned into a narco-state with part of its political and military elite seriously implicated in organized crime. The country has become a key transition point for transportation of illegal drugs. Likewise, Venezuela’s relations with Iran and subversive and terrorist groups has continued to thrive. Hezbollah cells cooperate with drug cartels in the building of tunnels along the U.S./Mexican border; the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are training revolutionary fighters of the Bolivarian Alliance in Bolivia; Iran extracts uranium from Venezuela; and Venezuela and some of her allies are selling passports to Iranians and other individuals from the Middle East.

None of these detrimental elements was challenged by our foreign policy establishment.

Today, Latin America is threatened with anarchy as the rule of law and transnational crime increases. Our Southern border is more vulnerable to criminal elements than ever before. China has increased its economic and strategic presence in the region raising its leverage. Russia has conducted joint military exercises with Venezuela and sold her weapons. General John Kelly, commander of U.S. Southern Command has pointed out that although Russia is not a threat to the United States, it has increased its profile in the region at levels not seen in three decades. Iran, Russia, and China increased their presence and leverage in the region, as well, thanks to their connections to anti-American countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua, while the rest of Latin America watched with either indifference or joy.

A new policy requires evaluation of all these factors. The rising decline of the left in Latin America as reflected in the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in Brazil; the defeat of Kirchnerism in Argentina; and the severe crisis of legitimacy in Venezuela could present a very good opportunity to recover some of the lost U.S. influence and help undo the damage.

There is now an opportunity for the United States to seek a renewed alliance with countries such as Brazil, having in mind the idea that such an emerging giant could be a very good strategic ally just like any other NATO member or Western ally. Likewise, the U.S cannot show any more tolerance to violations of democracy and human rights such as in Venezuela. First, because the assault on democracy is carried out by regimes that are likely to be involved in criminal activity, while pursuing alliances with rogue elements and adopting an anti-American attitude. Secondly, because democratic regimes are more likely to find common ground with the United States, find common goals and make the region safer.

The fact that President-elect Donald Trump most recently stated that he stands with the people of Cuba and Venezuela and that he will make demands on Raul Castro to further liberalize his regime is very encouraging. Likewise, Mr. Trump stated that the U.S. must stand with the oppressed people in the hemisphere and particularly in those countries.

This is an opportunity to develop an effective foreign policy. A Trump Administration should take into account all these factors and develop strategies accordingly. One thing is for sure: the status-quo is unsustainable and a lot of past defective policy needs to be reevaluated.

Venezuela Flaunts It’s Status As A Narco-State

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro recently appointed Nestor Reverol as new Minister of Interior and Justice. Reverol, whose new position puts him in charge of the justice system and law enforcement has been recently accused by a Federal Court in New York of participating in a drug trafficking network and of aiding in the smuggling of cocaine into the United States.

Reverol is a former general in the Venezuelan Armed Forces, a former director of the national Anti-Drug Office and a former commander of the National Guard. Maduro’s actions are, indeed, “anti-imperialist” in nature but they are also a reconfirmation that Venezuela is a proud, no longer “in the closet” narco-state. American State Department reports have defined Venezuelan officials’ involvement in drug trafficking as “cases of corruption” within government.

Maduro’s defiant actions clearly confirm that drug trafficking is the official policy of the Venezuelan government not merely “corruption”. Furthermore, the United States is investigating a handful of additional high ranking Venezuelan officials that include among others, Diosdado Cabello (the former president of the National Assembly), Tareck Al Assimi (governor of the State of Aragua and former Minister of Interior who allegedly was responsible for providing passports to members of Hezbollah). Likewise, two nephews of Mr. Maduro’s wife were accused by a Federal court in New York of attempting to smuggle 800 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Already in 2009, Venezuela had been denounced as being the main country of transit for Colombian drugs enroute to the United States.

The United States has yet to react to the official drug trafficking policies of the Venezuelan government. It is not in the interests of our government to turn a blind eye to Maduro’s actions and namely to Mr. Reverol’s appointment. It must not only protest that appointment to the Venezuelan government but also take punitive actions as part of the war on drugs. Furthermore, the U.S. needs to treat Venezuela for what it is: a narco-state that affects the well-being of American citizens. I can see no better time than this to take punitive action in the form of economic sanctions and other restrictions against the entire political and military elite.

Similarly, there has been no progress on the situation of Venezuelan democracy and national dialogue as decided on at the last gathering of the Organization of American States (OAS).

At that meeting, the U.S. voted to support dialogue between the government and the opposition to solve the serious economic and political crisis Venezuela now confronts.

As expected, Maduro is undermining this dialogue. On the one hand, the Electoral National Council approved the first step taken by the opposition to move ahead with the recall referendum after the opposition was able to collect 1% of the electorates’ signatures. However, at the same time, the Maduro-controlled Supreme Court Tribunal declared the acts of the Venezuelan parliament “null and void”. Since the opposition took control of the National Assembly Maduro has used the Supreme Court to systematically block laws legislated by that body.

Interestingly enough, normalization of relations between the different branches of government was a pre-condition set by the OAS before dialogue between the government and opposition were to begin.

The actions of the Venezuelan government confirm the suspicion that it has no intention to hold a decent dialogue and even less to open up the system to democracy. All Venezuela received from the OAS was a break from international pressure.

Most recently the Vatican agreed to be a mediator in the Venezuelan crisis along with their recommendations to include former presidents Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (Spain), Leonel Fernandez (Dominican Republic), and Martin Torrijos (Panama) as part of the mediating group. These ex-presidents are considered to be sympathetic to the Venezuelan government and that is why they were accepted. However, nothing much should be expected from the Vatican. As former Uruguayan president, Julio Maria Sanguinetti and the Argentinean scholar, Guillermo Lousteau have pointed out, Pope Francis has adopted a populist position where he has expressed deep concern about the “dangers” of the market, capitalism, unlimited consumption, globalization, modernization and the rule of the wealthy (what he calls oligarchy) but has not spoken up against the authoritarianism of the Maduro government.

The Venezuelan Church has heroically resisted and has been a vocal critique of the Maduro government’s harsh authoritarianism. The Pope has spoken against violence in Venezuela but his message has been well too ambiguous. Pope Francis has met with Maduro as well as with the opposition leader Henrique Capriles Radonsky and with the wife of political prisoner Leopoldo Lopez. However, the Pope has kept an equidistant relation with both sides. This may make him a fair mediator in theory but his extreme caution casts doubt on his ability to accomplish much, particularly when good mediation would require pressure on Nicolas Maduro to give up his absolute power.

The international community, including the United States, needs to speak up against authoritarian elected governments. Nothing is a better proof of this than the impotence of the Western world as the Turkish government continues its’ crackdown on its entire civil society in the aftermath of the most recent failed coup d’état.

A challenge for the next American president should be to build a real pro-democracy coalition and help set a new international consensus.

From AMIA To Nice: A War We Still Fail To Agree To Fight

On July 18, it will be 22 years since a suicide bomber destroyed the headquarters of the Argentinean Jewish community in Buenos Aires (AMIA), killing 85 people and wounding hundreds. Two years earlier, the Israeli Embassy in the same city was destroyed.

In none of the cases has anybody been punished. Based on the findings the late Argentinean prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, Hezbollah along with its’ Iranian proxy were responsible for the attack. A day before he was to reveal his findings to the Argentinean Congress he was found dead with a bullet to his head.

We have spoken a lot about the corruption involving the case and the complicity of the Argentinean government in covering it up. Argentina even tried to involve Iran in the investigation alleging that would help resolve the case. To the contrary, the government only tried to normalize relations with Iran, considering the country to be a symbol of resistance against U.S. hegemony.

From another angle, I would say that the attack on AMIA was the precursor of the 9/11 attacks in 2001 in the heart of the United States as well as terrorist attacks that are taking place nowadays in Western Europe, Turkey, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and possibly future terrorist attacks that will take place elsewhere in the world.

To be sure suicide bombings have been taking place in the Middle East since the Iran/Iraq war. This type of warfare was introduced by Iran during that war and then applied in Lebanon against the Israelis, American marines and French peacekeepers by its proxy Hezbollah. Hezbollah began to carry out these attacks since the early 1980’s and quickly became a role model for other terrorist groups. Hamas has been using suicide bombers against Israel since 1989.

What was new about the attack on AMIA was that it was the first such attack in a crowded urban center outside of and far, far away from the Middle East.

Yet, it did not raise much concern in the Western world.

The United States, under domestic pressure from the organized Jewish community, expressed some interest in the case. The U.S. Government sent security delegations and held hearings in Congress but ultimately it decided not to focus too much on the case because no Americans were among the victims. The Europeans submerged in a sea of indifference and other Latin American countries did not view the issue as a priority.

But Al Qaeda quickly learned from the AMIA terrorist attack.

The AMIA case displayed ineptitude and corruption on the part of the Argentinean system to investigate and to hold the perpetrators responsible. Worldwide, there emerged a general apathy about finding the answers.

The morning of September 11, 2001, Al Qaeda executed the most murderous and heinous attacks on the United States at the heart of New York and Washington. The attack was far more devastating than the one on AMIA but to be sure, was inspired by the Iran/Hezbollah type of attacks.

It is known that Iran and Al Qaeda, despite both representing different sects (Iran is Shiite and Al Qaeda is Sunni), have cooperated at least since the mid 1990’s when Iran provided training to Al Qaeda operatives. Despite their sectarian differences and an element of tension, cooperation between the two groups was based on their mutual antipathy and hostility towards the United States. Iran even harbored Al Qaeda refugees after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in October 2001, including senior Al Qaeda figures.

According to testimonies from former CIA officers including Clare Lopez, now Vice President for Research and Analysis at the Center for Security Policy, Iran provided training, logistical, and financial support, which enabled Al-Qaeda to carry out the 9/11 attacks. These agents also assert that cooperation between the two enabled the attacks on the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia in 1996, the attacks on the U.S. embassies in Eastern Africa in 1998 and the attack on the U.S. Cole off the coast of Yemen in 2000.

Following the Hezbollah/Al Qaeda method, the Islamic State (ISIS) is now carrying out attacks in urban population centers, including Brussels, Paris, Nice and Istanbul with the goal of maximizing the killing of innocent people and creating panic. The terrorists have learned the know-how of how to cause pain and now are involved in a war against the West. It is becoming almost impossible to live a normal life in Europe today and the rest of the world is not safe either.

Since ISIS has the capacity to attack anywhere in the world, Latin America may be a perfect target for the group.

To begin with, corruption abounds in Latin America. Finding local cooperators and fixers is less and less of a problem. In a recent and thorough report by Joseph Humire from the Center to Secure A Free Society details emerge on how Iran has penetrated Latin America through commercial enterprises by taking over local Arab and Muslim associations, and by establishing “local fixers” that set up the logistics and establish a relation with different governments. Let us remember that in a terrorist organization, a diplomat or a businessman may also be part of a terrorist cell. Furthermore, Humire argues that the disappearance of prosecutor Alberto Nisman has undermined the main source of information and evidence about terrorist activity not only in Argentina but also in the rest of Latin America. Thus, according to Humire, the main block against terrorist activities has been eliminated.

ISIS can definitely penetrate Latin America in the same way Iran has done. It can take advantage of corruption, cooperate with drug traffickers, and take advantage of the lack of will and ineptitude on the part of local authorities. Argentina has demonstrated already how its police and legal system have failed to investigate the AMIA case. Likewise, the mysterious death of Nisman also showed the terrorists that the government had more of an interest in getting rid of those fighting for justice rather than those fighting against terrorism. Along the same lines, Brazil does not recognize terrorism directly in its lexicon and has done very little on the matter. It refuses to control the tri-border area as it should. However, after the terrorist attacks in Europe, Brazil began to take terrorism more seriously as it prepared to receive 600,000 foreign visitors for the upcoming Olympic Games.

We hope that with the coming to power of new governments in both Argentina and Brazil, more attention is paid to this issue. But it is also up to the United States and the West to pressure these countries and make them part of a global fight against terrorism.

In fact, last March, a lone individual who converted from Catholicism to Islam and was mentally disturbed, murdered a Jewish leader in a remote town in Uruguay. It is reasonable to assume that the man was indoctrinated via social media by radical Islamist groups such as ISIS. Yet, within days Uruguay’s Interior Minister ruled out the possibility that the murder was connected to radical Islam. To my knowledge, the investigation did not go any further. This shows the extent of the problem in Latin America and why the region could be a paradise for terrorist activities.

The war against terror requires unity of the West (including Latin America) with the support of moderate Arab and Muslim entities. This requires leadership the United States needs to take.

Since terrorist attacks are likely to multiply rather than recede, an effective show of unity to prevent further attacks would be the best homage we could pay to the victims of AMIA, 9/11, Brussels, Paris, Istanbul, Bangladesh, and Nice.