|
Washington, DC -- On the heels of a recent joint NBC-Telemundo investigative report detailing Hizbollah’s growing influence in Latin America, U.S. Rep.’s Ron Klein (FL-22) and Connie Mack (FL-14) introduced a resolution today in the House of Representatives calling on the U.S. government to work with countries in the Western Hemisphere to combat terrorism. The resolution, which has over 30 cosponsors, is fully supported by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
“We are deeply alarmed by recent reports detailing Hizbollah’s presence in the tri-border area,” said Klein, referring to the area where Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil meet. “In fact, a Naval War College report estimates that Hizbollah raises $10 million dollars each year in the tri-border region. By introducing this resolution, we are highlighting the seriousness of Hizbollah’s threat upon this region. We hope our government will take this threat seriously and will work with Latin American governments to develop effective tools to crack down on the money laundering and terrorist financing in the region.”
“Hizbollah’s growing influence in Latin America highlights the importance of U.S. involvement in the region by helping countries respond more effectively to the threat of terrorism in their own countries,” said Mack. “Our resolution stresses the need for working with our neighbors in Latin America to stop terrorist activity dead in its tracks for the sake of our safety and that of our neighbors’.”
Recent reports detailing Hizbollah’s mounting presence in the region come at a crucial time. President Bush has begun re-engaging with Latin America, as evidenced by his recent trip to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico. At the same time, Iranian President Ahmadinejad has tried to gain a foothold in the region, with announcements of aid packages and tours of the region. Earlier this year, Iran held its first-ever conference on the Iranian-Latin American relationship.
“Iran is a growing threat in its own neighborhood and in our neighborhood. President Ahmadinejad has consistently ignored international will, choosing to pursue its dangerous nuclear programs. Now, they are trying to convince countries in Latin America to go along with this program,” said Klein
“Venezuela’s self-proclaimed communist President, Hugo Chavez, has been building alliances with proven enemies of freedom including Iran, Syria and Cuba. Coupled with his rapid militarization, pursuit of nuclear technologies and relentless broadside attacks on freedom in Venezuela, Chavez poses a real threat to the stability of the Western Hemisphere and indeed the world. We must do all we can to prevent Iran, Hizbollah, and other terrorist organizations from getting a strategic foothold in the Western Hemisphere. The Administration and Congress must not ignore this growing threat in our backyard,” said Mack.
Klein and Mack are already co-sponsors of the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act, recently introduced by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos. This legislation would close loopholes in existing laws that prohibit US companies and their foreign subsidiaries from investing in Iran’s energy sector, and increase funding for U.S. agencies working to isolate Iran from the international banking system, which would make it more difficult for Iran to do business with global partners.
|
