This document summarizes research on terrorism movements in Latin America, specifically focusing on the links between Hezbollah, Iran, and terrorist groups like the FARC in Colombia. It discusses how Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela have formed an alliance to coordinate support for these terrorist groups against US foreign policy. The document analyzes the history and activities of groups like Hezbollah, FARC, and the ALBA countries, and argues they pose a threat to stability in the region due to ties to drug trafficking and state sponsors of terrorism like Iran.

1. RichardDawson
TerrorismmovementsinLatinAmerica
Thisresearchpaperexplainsthe existence of terrorismmovementsinthe WesternHemisphere
(especiallyinthe AndeanRegion),the linksof Hezbollah (the proxyof Iran) withthe Colombian
FARC,andthe failuresof the foreignpolicyof the UnitedStates todeal withit,revealingthe lackof a
counterterrorismstrategyandof coordinationamongthe differentagenciesregardingnarcotrafficand
terrorism, aswell asbetweenthe State Department,the Defense Department,andthe Congressinhow
to deal withterrorism inthe WesternHemisphere. Connie Mack,the RankingRepublicanof the
Subcommittee onthe WesternHemisphere said:“The evidencelinkingVenezuela’sHugoChaveztothe
FARCand Hezbollahisoverwhelmingaswell ashisstrategicandtactical alliance withIranthatthreatens
the peace and stabilityof the whole Hemisphere.”1
Afterconductingextensive research andanalysisof terrorism inthe AndeanRegion;Ibelieve thatthe
terroristmovements inLatinAmericamainlythe ColombianFARC,Hezbollah andthe Mexican Zetas, are
coordinated by Iran,Cuba andVenezuelathathave developedaclose andcooperative allianceagainst
the U.S. and insupportof terroristgroupsand statesincludingthe ALBA countries. AccordingtoJaime
Suchlicki,these countries are increasingly coordinatingtheirpoliciesandresourcesin amultiple
partnership thatinvolvesdrugs,weaponsandtrainingcamps counteractingandcircumventingU.S.
policiesinthe Middle East andLatin America. Cubaisplayingastrategicrole because of hisproximityto
the U.S. gatheringintelligence with electronicallysurveillance andwithhuman intelligence (HUMINT)
and disseminatingitamongthe terroristorganizations.AsJaime Suchlickisaysinthe Castroand
TerrorismChronology:“There existsanexus of Narcoterrorism between Hezbollahand Venezuelaasa
resultof cooperation among Latin American drug cartels and the Middle East extremiststhat are
beingfundedby the AndeanRegion cocaine.”2
Duringthe course of my research I have reviewedliterature aboutHezbollah (the proxyof Iran) and
FARCwiththe assistance of the governmentof Colombia,the DEA,the ColombianandPeruviandesk
officersof the State Department,the National Defense Universityandthe SouthCommand, and
differentthinktanksinWashingtonD.C.like the Inter-AmericanDialogueandthe HudsonInstitute. And
carriedout research andanalysisof terrorism inthe AndeanRegion,(specificallyinthe political,
economic,militaryandsocial fields andthe impactinthe foreignpolicyof the UnitedStates.
Duringmy researchI hadaccess to openanddeclassifiedinformationthathelpedme indeterminingthe
level of penetrationof Hezbollahineachcountryof the region (National SecurityArchivesof the George
WashingtonUniversity).Iusedthisinformationtodifferentiate Hezbollah’slinkswith FARC, other
terrorist’smovementsinthe worldand political organizationslikethe ALBA Movementpromotedby
1
Connie Mack,theRanking Republican ofthe Subcommittee ontheWestern Hemisphere.
2 Pons, E. (2001). Castro and terrorism: A chronology. Coral Gables, Fla.: ICCAS.

2. Hugo Chavez(formerPresidentof Venezuela),inthe WesternHemisphere.ALBA includes IranandSyria
as observers .Ialsohadthe opportunityof interviewing CongresswomanElianaRos-Lehtinenand
Connie Mack (bothfromFlorida) aswell asthe AmericanAmbassadorsinthe AndeanRegionandthe
ColombianandPeruDeskofficersatthe State Department.
Thisresearch uncovers the presence of terrorisminthe WesternHemisphereinthe Andean Region, the
linksof Hezbollah (the proxyof Iran) withthe ColombianFARC,the foreignpolicyof the UnitedStates
and the needtodevelopcounterinsurgencystrategiesandcounterradicalizationprograms todeal with
themand to develop abettercoordinationamonglaw enforcementagenciesandthe intelligence
community.
I had the opportunityto enhance myresearchfindingsbyworkingwiththe USState and Defense
Departments andthe National SecurityArchivesof the George WashingtonUniversity,todetermine the
presence of Hezbollahinthe Andean Regionanditslinkswithnarcottraffickingandorganizedcrime at
the international level. Visitingthe U.S. Southern CommandI obtainedmore informationaboutits
participationinthe fightagainstnarcotraffickingandterrorismanditslevel of involvementand
coordinationwiththe armedforcesof the countriesinvolvedinthe regioninordertoreview the
command’sstrategiesandtacticsandits level of successandvisionof the future. Mypointsof contact
withthe US SouthernCommandare JohnCope,Sr.,Fellow of the National Defense University,andDr.
RichardD. Downie, formerDirectorof the CenterforHemisphericDefense Studies. Ianalyzedall the
informationobtainedfromthe regionandfromthe US SouthernCommandinorderto developa
hypothesisandpredictive analysis,gathered the informationandfeedbackof all the partiesinvolvedin
the AndeanRegionconflictandsharedthe informationandmyconclusionswiththe OAS
representativesof the five Andeancountriesandthe Ambassadorsof eachcountryinorderto make the
necessaryadjustments.
AmericanCongress.
CongressmanConnie Mack(FL-14) and CongressmanRonKlein(FL-22),citingVenezuela’stiesto
internationally-recognizedterroristorganizationssuchasthe FARC andHezbollah,
introducedbipartisanlegislationinthe House of Representativesthatcalledonthe Secretaryof State to
add Venezuelatothe listof statessponsoringterrorism. (Mack,KleinIntroduce BipartisanLegislationto
Name VenezuelaaState Sponsorof Terror).CongressmanConnie Mack(FL-14) and CongressmanRon
Klein(FL-22) introducedbipartisanlegislationinthe House of Representativesthatcallsonthe Secretary
of State to addVenezuelatothe state sponsorsof terrorismlist,citingVenezuela’stiesto
internationally-recognizedterroristorganizationssuchasthe ColombianFARCandHezbollah,(the proxy
of Iran). The legislationwasnotenactedbecause of the pressuresexertedbythe Chevron Texacolobby
inWashington,D.C.3
The State DepartmenthasnotyetincludedVenezuelainthe listof State Sponsors
3
According to informationprovidedto mein an interview with a highexecutiveofChevronTexaco, whose name must beundisclosed.

3. of Terrorismthatwas alsoconfirmedtothe audience atthe PotomacInstitute byRogerNoriega,former
undersecretaryof state.4
In myinterviewwith Connie Mack,the RankingRepublicanof the Subcommittee onthe Western
Hemisphere whointroducedsimilarlegislationinthe 110th Congress,he toldme:
“That the evidencelinksVenezuela’sHugoChaveztothe FARCand Hezbollah –twoof the most
dangerousterroristorganizations,responsibleformanybombings,kidnappings,killingsanddrug
trafficking–is overwhelming.He hasgiventhemmoney,weapons,resources,fuel,asafe havenwithin
Venezuelanborders,andevenpublicsupport.Coupledwithhisclose tiestostate sponsorsof terrorism
like Iran,Chavezcontinuouslythreatensthe peace,freedom,andstabilityof the entire hemisphere.
CongresswomanElianaRos-Lehtinen,who wasalsopresent,added:
“NamingVenezuelaastate sponsorof terrorismwill strengthenthe stabilityof the region.The
Administrationmustnotturna blindeye toChavez’sdangerousaggressionandmustaddVenezuelato
the state sponsorsof terrorismlistwithoutdelay.”
AndKlein,closingthe interview said:
“DesignatingVenezuelaasa state sponsorof terrorismisthe rightthingto do forour national security,”
Kleinsaid.“Venezuela’srelationshipwithIrananditsterroristallieshave ledtoactionsthatcould
endangerthe people of SouthFlorida.Venezuela’sassistance tothe FARCinColombiadestabilizesthe
regionandplacesthe Chavezregime squarelyoutsidethe internationalcommunity.Thislegislation
seekstostopVenezuela’sfacilitationof terrorismnow.The UnitedStatescannotandwill notaccept
such actionstakingplace soclose to home.”
National Defense University
I alsointerviewedBorisSaavedra,retired AirForce armygeneral andformerheadof the Intelligence
Service of Venezuela,whocurrentlyteachesatthe CenterforHemisphericDefenseof the National
Defense University,where he expressedhisconcernsaboutIranianagentsinfiltratingVenezuelaand
Nicaragua, because they supportterroristgroupsassociatedwithHezbollahinothercountries,and
aboutthe involvementof LatinAmericainthe Iran-USconflictas a dangerousgame forthe region.
Addingatthe conference atthe Hudsoninstitute thatIranandRussiaare supportingaVenezuelan
nuclearprogram,that ispart of a multi polarworldwithmid-level nuclearpowers(10-15years
program)thatFARCand Hezbollahare workingacrossthe world(ConferenceThursdayApril the 15th
2010
at the HudsonInstitute)
4 Noriega, R. F. (2012). “Hezbollah’s Strategic Shift: AGlobal Terrorist Threat”Washington,D.C.Retrieved fromhttp://www.aei.org/wp-
content/uploads/2013/03/-hezbollahs-strategic-shift-a-global-terrorist-threat_134945797264.pdf

4. ALBA Countries
ALBA,the Spanish Alianza Bolivariana,alsocalledBolivarianAlliance forthe Americas,isaregional
organization.Itwasfoundedin2004 by Hugo Chavez,the formerPresidentof Venezuela,andFidel
Castro,then-Presidentof Cuba. Itspurpose isto promote social,political,andeconomicintegrationin
Latin America. Itwas createdas an alternative tothe Free Trade Areaof the Americassponsoredbythe
UnitedStates. Membercountriesinclude AntiguaandBarbuda,Bolivia,Cuba,Dominica,Ecuador,
Nicaragua,SaintLucia,SaintVincentandthe Grenadines, andVenezuela. Apartfromthe eightLatin
Americancountrymembers,ALBA has three observerstates:Haiti fromthe WesternHemisphere,and
Iran and Syriafromthe Middle East. Although, ALBA isplannedtobe an alternative tothe Free Trade
Areaof the Americasdisguisethe FARC-Hezbollahactivitiesof narco-traffickingandterrorisminthe
regionas an economic/populistalternative. The leadersof these membercountriesholdyearlymeetings
to discusspoliciesforthe regionandhow toimplementthem.5
Iran’smembershipin ALBA reinforces the argumentthatIranhas the intention of promotingpopulist
socialisteconomicmovementslikeinthe ALBA countries of LatinAmerica.Thiswouldbe forthe
purpose of provokingaconfrontationwiththe UnitedStates,leadingthemtoafinal confrontationwith
the UnitedStatesas part of theirglobal strategy. Furthermore,Iargue thatthe formationof ALBA was
premeditated.Forexample,showinghisintentionandvisionof the future, FidelCastro,duringhis tour
of Iran,Syriaand Libya—andthree yearsbefore the foundationof the ALBA countries—declaredinIran:
“Iran and Cuba,incooperationwitheach other,can bringAmericatoits knees.The U.S.regime isvery
weak,andwe are witnessingthisweaknessfromclose up”6
History of FARC
FARCis a Marxist–Leninistrevolutionaryguerrilla organizationthatisbasedinColombia,andisinvolved
inthe ongoingColombianarmedconflict.7
FARC-EPwasoriginallyapeasantarmywhichproclaimed
itself asa revolutionary,agrarian,anti-imperialistMarxist–Leninistorganizationcreatedmore thanforty
yearsago. Nowit isa drugcartel andterroristorganizationof BolivarianinspirationthatopposesUnited
StatesinfluenceinColombia,and isalliedwithHezbollah. Currently, itisholdingpeace negotiations
withthe ColombiangovernmentatlaHavana Cuba,a country that wasdesignatedasa State Sponsorof
Terrorismin1982 by the UnitedStates.
Cuba haslongprovidedsafe haventomembersof Basque FatherlandandLiberty(ETA) andthe
RevolutionaryArmedForcesof Colombia(FARC). Reportscontinuedtoindicate thatCuba’stiestoETA
have become more distant,andthatabout eightof the two dozenETA membersinCubawere relocated
withthe cooperationof the Spanishgovernment. Throughout2013, the Governmentof Cubasupported
and hostednegotiationsbetweenthe FARCandthe Governmentof Colombiaaimedatbrokeringa
peace agreementbetweenthe two. The Governmentof Cubahasfacilitatedthe travel of FARC
5 Encyclopedia Britannica. (2015). “FARC:Colombian MilitantGroup.” Encyclopedia britannica. Chicago, IL:Encyclopedia Britannica.
6 Pons, Eugene. (2001). “Castro and Terrorism: AChronology.”OccasionalPaper Series, Institutefor Cuban & Cuban-AmericanStudies.
Retrieved from: http://www6.miami.edu/iccas/terrorism_email.pdf
7 Hezbollah. (2015). In Wikipedia. RetrievedApril22, 2015, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah

5. representativestoCubato participate inthese negotiations,incoordinationwithrepresentativesof the
Governmentsof Colombia,Venezuela,andNorway,aswell asthe RedCross.8
Additionally,the Colombiangovernmentandthe country'slargestleft-wingrebel group,the
RevolutionaryArmedForcesof Colombia(FARC),are tryingtoendmore thanfive decadesof armed
conflict. The twosidesstartedholdingformal peace talksinNovember2012 in the Cubancapital,
Havana. The governmentand FARCrebelseachhave ahigh-profile teaminHavana. The government's
negotiationteamisledbyformerVice-PresidentHumbertode laCalle.Alsopartof the teamare retired
generalsfromthe militaryand police forces,twoinstitutionswhichwere initiallyvery skeptical about
the peace talks.The FARC teamisledby IvanMarquez,a memberof the FARC’ssecretariat,itshighest
body.9
In May 2013, aftersix monthsof conversations,the twosidesannouncedtheyhadagreedonland
reform,one of the most contentiousissuesonthe agenda. InMay 2014, theyforgeda compromise on
the illegal drugstrade,one of the mainsourcesof fundingforthe FARC. Unfortunately,asetbackcame
whenthe talksbetweenFARCandthe Columbiangovernment were suspended inHavanaonthe 14 of
November,2014 by PresidentJuanManuel Santosof Colombia.Thiswas afterGeneral Ruben Dario
Alzate wascaptured a fewdaysearlierinNovemberbythe RevolutionaryArmedForcesof Colombia
(FARC). General Ruben washeadof the Titantask force,whichisincharge of fightingthe FARC inthe
westerndepartmentof Choco,andwas a highprofile targetforFARC.
Duringthe 34th
roundof peace talks,which endedon March 27, 2015 the Colombiangovernmentand
the FARC continuedtoworkontwo parallel trackstoreach agreementon victimsand endingthe
conflict.Earlierprovisional agreementsonrural agrarian development, political participation,andillicit
crops have alreadybeenreached.10
Abruptly, onTuesdayApril the 14 ,2015, a serioussetbackhappenedwiththe killingof 10 soldiersbythe
FARCin Colombiaandwiththe resuming of the bombingsorderedbypresidentJuanManuel Santos
againstthe FARC.This situation canpotentiallyputatriskthe negotiationsbeingheldatCuba.11
History of Hezbollah
HezbollahwascreatedbyMuslimclericsandfundedbyIranto offerresistance tothe Israelisafterthe
Israeli invasionof Lebanonin1982. Theirforceswere trainedbythe RevolutionaryGuardthat wassent
by the AyatollahKhomeiniwiththe authorizationof the Syriangovernment.Afterthe invasion,Israel
occupieda stripof SouthLebanonand Hezbollahwagedaguerrillacampaignsupportedbyacontingent
of 1,500 IranianRevolutionaryGuards,defeatingthem. Israel hadtowithdraw fromSouthLebanonon
May 24, 2000.
8 State Department PublicDiplomacyOverview. Retrieved from:http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm)
9 BBC News. (2015,January 15). What is at stakein theColombian peaceprocess? Retrieved fromhttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-
america-19875363
10 Bouvier, Ginny.(2015,March 30). “Colombia Calls.”Retrieved from: https://vbouvier.wordpress.com/author/vbouvier/
11
Neuman, William. (April 15,2015). “Killing of10 Soldiers Deals a Setback to Colombian PeaceTalks with FARC Rebels.” The New York Times.
Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/16/world/americas/colombia-attack-attributed-to-farc-threatens-peace-talks.html

6. Hezbollahnowhasseatsinthe Lebanese governmentprogramsforsocial developmentandcharitable
organizations,aradioand TV station,anda large militarydeploymentoutside Lebanon’sborders.They
have become a “state withinastate” andhave strong Shi’asupportbutface resistance fromthe Sunni’s.
Theirmilitarystrengthgrewsignificantlyafterthe endof the Israeli occupationespeciallyitsparamilitary
wing12
. Hezbollahisnowmore powerfulthanthe Lebanese Army,receivingmilitarytraining,weapons
and financial supportfromIranandpolitical supportfromthe Syriangovernment.
Accordingto Yussef BodanskyHezbollah’sfatwafromthe 1980’s mentioned“we are makingdrugsfor
Satan – Americaand Jews.If we cannotkill themwithguns,sowe will kill themwithdrugs”13
Sheikh
Subhi Tufaili wasitsfirstSecretary-General.In1991 SheikhSayedAbbasal-Musawi substitutedas
Secretary-General,buthe waskilledwithinmonthsbyIsrael andSheikhSayyedHassanNasrallah
succeededhim.14
The twobombingsthatHezbollahclaimedresponsibilityfortookplace in1992 and 1994 inBuenos
Airesandkilled 115 Israeli Embassyandthe JewishMutual Associationmembers,leaving125 injured.In
addition,“HezbollahisconsideredaproxyforIran,whohas beenheavilyinvestinginVenezuela.
PresidentAhmadinejadandPresidentChavez’srevolutionaryideologies have unitedboth
administrations”.15
“Chavezhas beenaccusedrepeatedlyforharboringterroristorganizationsamongthemFARCand
Hezbollah.U.Sofficialshave expressedconcernsthatHezbollahisable totap intolarge Lebanese
DiasporainVenezuelawhere FARCmembershave beenhiding”.16
The ItaliannewspaperCorriere dellaSerareportedthatHezbollahhas“establishedacenterof
operationsinCubato expanditsterroristactivityandfacilitateanattackon Israeli targetsin Latin
America”.The newspaperalsoreportedthatHezbollahmightbe planningamajorattack againstIsraeli
targetsin the westernhemisphere inretaliationfor Israel’s killingof Hezbollah’s chief assassin,Imad
Mughniyeh, inDamascusin2008. Mughniyeh wasaHezbollahterroristleaderimplicatedinthe two
huge attacks inBuenosAiresArgentinainthe 1990’s on Jewishtargets.
Last Januarythe 18th
NismananArgentineanprosecutorwasfounddeathinhisapartmentone day
before goingtothe Congresstosupport his accusations againstChristinaKirchnerthe Argentinean
Presidentcoverupinfavorof Iranianinvolvementinthe bombingsforeconomicandpolitical reasons.17
12
Berman, I. “Statementto the U.S.Houseof Representatives.” Committee onHomeland Security, Subcommittee onCounterterrorism and
Intelligence, 2011.
13
Halibozek,E., & Jones, A. (2008). TheCorporate Security Professional’s Handbookon Terrorism. Elsevier.
14
Hezbollah. (2015). In Wikipedia.Retrieved April22,2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah
15
Berman, I. “Statementto the U.S.Houseof Representatives.” Committee onHomeland Security, Subcommittee onCounterterrorism and
Intelligence, 2011.
16 Berman, I. “Statement to theU.S. House of Representatives.”Committeeon HomelandSecurity,Subcommitteeon Counterterrorismand
Intelligence, 2011.
17 Zraik, Karen.(February 20, 2015) “TheMysterious DeathofAlberto Nisman.” The New York Times. Retrievedfrom:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/02/07/world/americas/argentina-alberto-nisman-case.html

7. RecentlypresidentMaduroof Venezuelahasbeen accusedof negotiatingtrainingcampsforHezbollah
inVenezuelabyEmil Blazcoinhisbook“BumeranChavez”.18
Hezbollah’sLinksto Latin America
In the AndeanRegion,HezbollahworksbycreatingconnectionswithFARC. There existsfactual
informationaboutthe linksof the FARCwithHezbollahas takenfromRaul Reyes’computers. Reyes was
the highestleaderof FARCandwas killedathisterroristbase inEcuadoracross the borderColombiaby
the Colombian Army.19
The CounterTerrorismBureauof the State Departmentarrangeda meetingforme with the DEA
CountryTeamat the AmericanEmbassyinLima,Peru,where theyconfirmedtome the presence of
HezbollahinPeru(DEA Peru2012), somethingwhichIhadalsoheardfromJay Bergman,Regional
Directorof the DEA inColombia,in2010.i20
The DEA CountryTeamalsoinformedme thatthe leaderof
ShiningPathinthe VRAEAyacucho,Jose Quispe Palomino,whoreplacedArtemio,isthe linkwith the
FARCand HezbollahinPeru.21
IalsointerviewedduringmyfieldtriptoPeru CarmenMasiasthe Czar
antidrugand she commentedme thatapparentlythe DEA was exchangingweaponsfordrugstoShining
Path at the VRAE(Valleyof the RiversApurimacandEne).AfterthatI metwiththe countryteam of
CEDRO that wasworkingat the VRAE to preventthe use of drugsinthe communityandpromote
cultural and recreational activitiesamongthemmentioningme thatCoronel Rojasincharge of
intelligence atthe VRAEalsomentionthemthatDEA wasexchangingweaponsfordrugsinexchange for
informationthatledtothe capture of Artemio.
AuthoritiesinPeruhave reportedlyarrestedaHezbollahmemberwhowasallegedlyplanningtocarry
out attacks againstIsraeli andJewishtargetsinthe SouthAmericancountry.22
Mossad Intelligence
Service providedPeruvianintelligenceserviceswithinformationabout Amador.DanMariashinof B’Nai
B’rithdeclared atthe HudsonInstitute “The increasingpenetrationof IraninLatinAmericaisa matter of
great concernto us for several reasons.Iran,the world’slargestsponsorof terrorism, fundsterrorist
groupslike Hezbollah”.23
HezbollahhasbeingexpandingitsdrugtraffickingroutesinArgentina,Brazil,Paraguay,andVenezuela,
and isattemptingtoenterColombia. In2008, evidence of anoperationknownasOperationTitan
showedthatLebanese kingpinChekryHarbaka“Taliban”had beenlaunderinghundredsof millionsof
dollarsperyearto criminal organizationsinthe Middle East,primarilyHezbollah.GladysSanchez,lead
investigatorforthe ColombianSpecial Prosecutor’soffice stated,“The profitsfromthe sale of drugs
wentto finance Hezbollah[and] isanexample theme of interesttocriminal organizations,the FARC,the
18 “BumeranChavez” published byCreateSpaceIndependentPublishing Platform, 2015.
19
Weinstein, Kevin. (2014, April 15). Talk presentedattheHudson Institute.
20
Interviewin 2012with JayBergman, Directorofthe DEAinColombia for theAndean Region.
21
DEA Peru. (2012,May 12). Interview withtheCountry Team oftheDEAat theAmericanEmbassy in Peru, coordinatedby theCounter-
TerrorismBureau oftheUS Department ofState.
22
Reuters. (November 20, 2014). “Report: Peru arrested Hezbollahoperativeplanning attacks on Israelis, Jews.” The JerusalemPost. Retrieved
from: http://www.jpost.com/International/Report-Peru-arrests-Hezbollah-operative-planning-attacks-on-Israelis-Jews-380369
23 Weinstein, Kevin.(2014,April15). Talkpresented attheHudson Institute.

8. paramilitariesandterrorist…U.S.officialsinBogotaandWashingtondeclinedtodiscussdetailsof their
evidence.”There isnodefiniteproof thatFARCwasworkingwithChekryHarbbut,giventhat the
Colombianterroristorganizationhasmajorityof control overthe drugtrade that goesthrough
Colombia,itissafe toassume that theywere workingtogether, FARCandHezbollahare developinga
narco-terroristrelationship.24
HezbollahhastrainingbasesandsleepercellsinMexicoandSouthAmerica.Theyalsoassistdrugcartels
withskillsinbomb-makingandexplosives.Hezbollahhasalsocreatedtunnelsonthe Americanborder
that are extremelysimilartothose dividingGazaandEgypt.These tunnelsare perfectforthe transport
of illegal conventionalandbiological weaponstocontactsinthe UnitedStates.Weaponrycreatedby
Hezbollahiscapable of killinghundredsof thousandsof people inmajorU.S.cities.25
LosZetasand
Hezbollahadeadlyalliance of terror.Hezbollah andotherIslamicgroupsinteractwithMexicandrug
cartels.They buyweaponsfromIslamicterroristorganizationscooperatingwithdrugcartels andgain
access to the UnitedStatesviathe routesalreadypavedbythe drug traffickers.Michael Braun,who
servedatthe DEA formany years,believes thatmembersof Iran’sRevolutionaryGuardCorpsdirect
Hezbolla’scriminaloperationsin LatinAmerica.26
There isextensiveevidence of the presence of HezbollahcellsinLatinAmericancountries.Thispresence
was underscoredin1992, whensuicide bombersblew upthe Israeli embassyinArgentina.The same
thinghappenedin1994 to the Argentine –Israel Mutual Association,orAMIA.27
Hezbollah hasbeingexpandingitsdrugtraffickingroutesinthe Tri BorderAreaand Venezuela,
attemptingtoenterColombia.In2008, evidence of anoperationknownasOperationTitanshowedthat
Lebanese kingpinChekryHarbaka“Taliban”had beenlaunderinghundredsof millionsof dollarsper
yearto criminal organizationsinthe Middle East,primarilyHezbollah.GladysSanchezleadinvestigator
for the special prosecutor’soffice stated,“The profitsfromthe sale of drugswentto finance Hezbollah
[and] isan example theme of interesttocriminal organizations,the FARC,the paramilitariesand
terrorists.Sanchezadded:“U.S.officialsinBogotaandWashingtondeclinedtodiscussdetailsof their
evidence.”There isnodefiniteproof thatFARCwasworkingwithChekryHarb,butgiventhat the
Colombianterroristorganizationhasmajorityof control overthe drugtrade that goesthrough
Colombia,itissafe toassume that theywere workingtogether.FARCandHezbollah developinganarco-
TerroristRelationship.28
The relationshipbetweenHezbollahandLosZetashas almosttoucheddownonAmericansoil.LosZetas
was to be paidto bombthe Israeli EmbassyinWashington,andthe Saudi andIsraeli embassyin
24
Wild, N. (2013, May16). FARC andHezbollah a NARCO-Terrorist Relationship. Retrievedfromhttp://nicolaswildbotero.com/2013/05/16/farc-
and-hezbollah-a-narco-terrorist-relationship/
25
Rosenthal,T. (2013). Los Zetas and Hezbollah, ADeadly Alliance ofTerrorandVice.Center for SecurityPolicy. Retrieved
fromhttp://www.theamericasreport.com/2013/07/08/los-zetas-and-hezbollah-a-deadly-alliance-of-terror-and-vice/
26 Noriega, R. andJoseCardenas. (2011, Oct. 6) “TheMounting Hezbollah Threatin Latin America.”IAmericanEnterprise Institute blog.
Retrieved from: https://www.aei.org/publication/the-mounting-hezbollah-threat-in-latin-america/
27 Weinstein, Kevin.(2014,April15). Talkpresented attheHudson Institute.
28 Wild, N. (2013, May 16). FARC and Hezbollaha NARCO-Terrorist Relationship. Retrieved fromhttp://nicolaswildbotero.com/2013/05/16/farc-
and-hezbollah-a-narco-terrorist-relationship/

9. Argentina.Why isthe combinationof well-connecteddrugdealers,terroristorganizationslike
Hezbollah,andthe Zetassucha dangerouscombination?Itisa moneylaunderingoperationthathasthe
powerto supersede local government,weakencommunities,andmake people subjecttocriminal
tyranny.
Colombianguerrillashave enteredinto"anunholyalliance"withIslamicextremistswhoare helpingthe
Marxistrebelssmuggle cocaine throughAfricaonitswayto Europeanconsumers,aU.S. official told
Reuters.Interdictioneffortshave made itmore difficulttosendcocaine straightfromColombiaand
otherAndeanproducernationstothe UnitedStatesandEurope. So criminal organizationsincludingthe
RevolutionaryArmedForcesof Colombia,orFARC,are goingthroughAfricato access the European
market.Andtheyare doingitwiththe helpof al Qaedaand othergroupsbrandedterroristsby
Washington,accordingtothe U.S. Drug EnforcementAdministration.
"In the midto late 1990s whenthe Europeansbecame betterat maritime interdiction,off the coastsof
Portugal andSpainfor example,traffickersstartedmovingtheirroutes,southward.Sothe next
progressionwastoWesternAfrica,"saidJayBergman,DEA directorforthe Andeanregionof South
America.29
Zetas and Mexico
TeresaRosenthal fromthe CenterforSecurityPolicysays: “Hezbollahhastrainingbasesandsleeper
cellsinMexicoandSouthAmerica.Theyalsoassistdrug cartelswithskillsinbomb-makingand
explosives.Hezbollahhasalsocreatedtunnelsonthe Americanborderthatare extremelysimilarto
those dividingGazaandEgypt.These tunnelsare perfectforthe transportof illegal conventionaland
biological weaponstocontactsinthe UnitedStates.WeaponrycreatedbyHezbollahiscapable of killing
hundredsof thousandsof people inmajorU.S.cities.30
FormerAssistantSecretaryof State forWesternHemisphereAffairs,RogerNoriega says:“Thatan attack
on U.S. personnel installationsbyHezbollahispossible.Itisknownthattheyhave expandedfromtheir
operationsinParaguay,Brazil andArgentina,andare gaininggroundinCentral Americaand Mexico.”
That was confirmedby the Presidentof Hondurasata conference heldatthe WilsonCenterApril
Wednesday22,2015.The relationshipbetweenHezbollahandLosZetashas almosttoucheddownon
Americansoil.LosZetaswasto be paidto bombthe Israeli EmbassyinWashington,andthe Saudi and
Israeli embassyinArgentina.The combinationof well-connecteddrugdealers,terroristorganizations
like Hezbollah,andthe Zetasisa dangerouscombinationbecauseitisa moneylaunderingoperation
that has the powerto supersede local government,weaken communities,andmake people subjectto
criminal tyranny”. 31
29 Bronstein, Hugh. (2010,January 10).“Colombia rebels, alQaeda in"unholy"drug alliance.” Reuters News. Retrievedfrom:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/01/04/us-drugs-colombia-qaeda-interview-idUKTRE6034L920100104
30
Rosenthal, T. (2013). Los Zetas andHezbollah, ADeadly Alliance ofTerror and Vice. Centerfor Security Policy. Retrieved
fromhttp://www.theamericasreport.com/2013/07/08/los-zetas-and-hezbollah-a-deadly-alliance-of-terror-and-vice/
31 Rosenthal, T. (2013).Los Zetas and Hezbollah,ADeadlyAlliance ofTerror and Vice. Center for Security Policy. Retrieved
fromhttp://www.theamericasreport.com/2013/07/08/los-zetas-and-hezbollah-a-deadly-alliance-of-terror-and-vice/

10. Noriegaexplains “Itishighlypossible thatthisthreatcouldbecome arealityinthe UnitedStates”.In
2011, Iran’sQudsforcesattemptedanassassinationagainstthe Saudi Ambassadortothe UnitedStates
enlistingthe use of the Los Zetascartel.Luckily,thisplotwasthwartedbyagentsinthe UnitedStates
Drug EnforcementAgency(DEA)”.32
That was confirmedtome inColombiabyJayBergmanthe Directorof the DEA and in Limaby the
Country Teamof the DEA that worksinside the AmericanEmbassyinameetingpromotedbythe
CounterterrorismBureauof the State Department.
Dr. MatthewLevitt,seniorfellowandDirectorof TerrorismStudiesatThe WashingtonInstituteforNear
East Policysays:“The lure of criminal activityandthe drugtrade,coupledwiththe presence of
HezbollahandIranianQudsforcesinneighboringMexicopresentthe UnitedStateswithamajorthreat
at its borders.Hezbollah’stiestoLatinAmericandrugsmugglersposesa “significant”threatforU.S.
national security33
andinthe eventthe nuclearconfrontationwithIrangetsworse ratherthanbetter,
havinga militantorganizationlikeHezbollahon,andevenwithinourborder- itcertainlydoes pose a
threat.”Bergmanthe Regional Directorof the D.E.A.locatedinBogotaColombiaandhe confirmedme
hisfindingsandalsohe agreeswithme aboutthe linksof the FARC withHezbollahinthe Andean
Region.
In a conference promotedbythe Inter-AmericanDialogue andthe BrookingsInstitute inWashington
D.C. aboutthe FARC,I had the opportunityof interviewingandaskingquestionstothe panel composed
by the AmericanAmbassadorstothe AndeanRegionincludingColombiaandtheyconfirmedusthe links
of the FARCwithHezbollahinthe AndeanRegion.
I alsohad an interview withthe ColombiaDeskOfficeratthe State Departmentthatsharesour findings.
As well asthe PeruDeskofficerina “Briefing“withretiredPeruvianArmyGeneral JaimeSalinasSedo.
In an Interview atLimaPeru withAnteroFloresAraozformerDefense Ministerof Peruthatagreeswith
my findingsandexpressedhisconcernaboutthe tactical alliance betweenthe FARCandShiningPathat
the VRAE the Valleyof the riversApurimacandEne inPeruand alsoat the borderline withColombiaat
the Jungle inthe Putumayoregion.
In the Fujimori governmentVladimiroMontesinosthe spymasterthatwasworkingforhimand alsofor
the CIA,triedto smuggle 10,000 riflesfromJordaninthe Middle East to the FARC34
and recentlyseveral
officersfromthe PeruvianArmyhadbeingapprehendedfortryingtosmuggle weapons,ammunitions
and grenadestothe FARC,throughthe borderline with Ecuador.35
Israeli EmbassyatWashingtonD.C.
32 Rosenthal, T. (2013).Los Zetas and Hezbollah,ADeadlyAlliance ofTerror and Vice. Center for Security Policy. Retrieved
fromhttp://www.theamericasreport.com/2013/07/08/los-zetas-and-hezbollah-a-deadly-alliance-of-terror-and-vice/
33 Bronstein, Hugh. (2010,January 10).“Colombia rebels, alQaeda in"unholy"drug alliance.” Reuters News. Retrievedfrom:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/01/04/us-drugs-colombia-qaeda-interview-idUKTRE6034L920100104
34 Forero, Juan.(2004,January 21). “Former Peru SpyChiefTrialfor Colombia Weapons Deal.” The New York Times. Retrieved from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/21/world/former-peru-spy-chief-stands-trial-for-colombia-weapons-deal.html
35
Local NewspapersatPeruandCNN

11. In the interviewwiththe CountryTeamof the Israeli EmbassyatWashingtonD.C. withMr.
OdedJoseph andMr.OrenAnolik held, December2, 2009,36
to talkabout the impactof the F.A.R.Cin
the WesternHemisphereandtheirtiestoHezbollah. The Minister-CounselorforMiddle EasternAffairs
and the CounselorforPoliticalAffairsagreedwithourfindingsandtoldme thatthe ForeignMinisterof
Israel hasexpressedtheirconcernstothe Presidentsof the AndeanRegionCountriesaboutthe linksof
the FARC withHezbollah.
HudsonInstitute
In the Interview withthe HudsonInstitute Directorof the CenterforLatinAmericanStudies.
They toldme they have factual informationaboutthe linksof FARCwithHezbollahfromthe Raul Reyes
computerfindingsasexpressedinaconference heldInApril 15,2010 in a panel composedbyretired
VenezuelanArmyGeneral BorisSaavedraformerheadof the Intelligence Service of Venezuelathat
currentlyteachesatthe Centerfor HemisphericDefense of the NationalDefense University.
House of Representatives
In the meetingwiththe Staffersof the House of Representativesthatworkedonthe Bill requestingthe
inclusionof Venezuelainthe listof terroristcountriestoldme aboutthe linksof Hezbollahwiththe
FARCand theirtrainingsitesatthe Margarita IslandsinVenezuela.Terrorism, Insurgency,andDrugs Still
ThreatenAmerica’sSouthernFlank.
On March 1, 2008, the Colombianmilitary attackedajungle encampmentof the RevolutionaryArmed
Forcesof Colombia(FARC),locatedlessthantwomilesinside Ecuadorianterritory.Itwas an important
operatinghubforthe FARC,whichthe UnitedStateshas designatedasaforeignterrorist organization.
LuisEdgar Devia(akaRaul Reyes),the FARC’ssecondincommandandtopinternational strategistwas
killedinthe raidalongwith24 otherguerrillasandsupporters.Perhapsmore important,the Colombian
militarycapturedthree laptopcomputersandadditional memorydevices belongingtoReyes.
The filesonthese computers anddeviceschronicle the thoughtsandactionsof the FARCand raise
seriousquestionsaboutthe effectivenessof U.S. regional policiesagainstthe interconnectedchallenges
of terrorism,insurgency,anddrugviolenceinthe WesternHemisphere.The FARCfilesare essentially a
smokinggunthat provesthatVenezuelanPresidentHugoChavezwassupportingthe FARCandnow
NicolasMadurothe currentpresidentisdoingthe same thing.
The revelationsfromthe FARCfileshave promptedseveral Membersof Congress tocall forthe U.S. to
place Venezuelaonitslistof state sponsors of terrorism.However,doingsocouldjeopardize economic
36
InterviewwithMr.OdedJosephandMr. OrenAnolik,heldDecember2,2009 at the Israeli Embassy.

12. and commercial tieswiththe fifthlargestsupplierof crude oil tothe U.S. andan importantU.S. trading
partner.It wouldalsolikelysparkanationalistbacklashinVenezuelaandmore anti-Americanism
throughoutLatinAmerica.A more prudentpolicywouldbe acourse of targetedsanctionsagainst
individualswhoare illegallysupporting the FARC.
In addition,Venezuela’s growingtieswithIranappeartoopena door forIslamistterrorismandraise the
questionof whetherthe U.S.has done enoughsince 9/11 to protectagainstbackdoorterroristthreats
originatinginthe WesternHemisphere.FARCanddrug-relatedterrorismstillthreatensprogressmade in
Colombia,the essential U.S.partnerinthe Andes.The U.S.shouldworktobolsterColombia’scapacity
and will todefeatFARCterrorismbycontinuingtofundPlanColombiaandby activelypromotingthe
ColombiaFree Trade Agreementalready signedbyboth countries.Exports of Colombiancocaine,longa
staple of FARCfunding,are financingthe mountingassaultof MexicandrugcartelsonMexicanlaw
enforcementandthe very fabricof democraticgovernance.37
CUBA
Cuba wasdesignated asa State Sponsorof Terrorismin1982 and removedrecentlyof the listof the
State departmentbythe ObamaAdministration.38
Cuba haslongprovidedsafe haventomembersof Basque FatherlandandLiberty(ETA) andthe
RevolutionaryArmedForcesof Colombia(FARC). Reportscontinuedtoindicate thatCuba’stiestoETA
have become more distant,andthatabout eightof the two dozenETA membersinCubawere relocated
withthe cooperationof the Spanishgovernment. Throughout2013, the Governmentof Cubasupported
and hostednegotiationsbetweenthe FARCandthe Governmentof Colombiaaimedatbrokeringa
peace agreementbetweenthe two. The Governmentof Cubahasfacilitatedthe travel of FARC
representativestoCubato participate inthese negotiations,incoordinationwithrepresentativesof the
Governmentsof Colombia,Venezuela,andNorway,aswell asthe RedCross. There wasno indication
that the Cubangovernmentprovidedweaponsorparamilitarytrainingtoterroristgroups.
The Cuban governmentcontinuedtoharborfugitiveswantedinthe UnitedStates. The Cuban
governmentalsoprovidedsupportsuchashousing,foodrationbooks,andmedical care forthese
individuals.39
IRAN
Designatedasa State Sponsorof Terrorismin 1984,40
Iran continueditsterrorist-relatedactivity,
includingsupportforPalestinianterroristgroupsinGaza,and for Hezbollah inthe Middle Eastand in
Latin Americathatcouldspill all overthe regionistheyare notcontained.Ithas alsoincreasedits
37 (The Heritage Foundation)
38 http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm
39 Agence FrancePress,May 10, 2001
40 Agence FrancePress,May 10, 2001

13. presence inAfricaandattemptedtosmuggle armsto Houthi separatistsinYemenandShia
oppositionistsinBahrain. Iranusedthe IslamicRevolutionaryGuardCorps-QodsForce (IRGC-QF) andits
regional proxygroupstoimplementforeignpolicy goals, now providescoverforintelligenceoperations,
inYemen and createsinstabilityinthe Middle Eastandin the WesternHemisphere thatcouldspill all
overthe region.The IRGC-QFis the regime’sprimarymechanismforcultivatingandsupportingterrorists
abroad.
Whyis Iran in Latin America?
Accordingto Mary AnastasiaO’Grady,41
the Westis well aware of the Middle East penetration inLatin
Americaled byIran.This isa threatunderestimatedbythe WesternHemisphere countriesforthe last
thirtyyearsin whichIranhas beenstartingupoperationsinthe regiondescribedbyMr. Humire inhis
book“Iran’s strategicpenetrationof LatinAmerica”thatwas publishedlastyear.42
There have beendifferentstages thatincludedclandestine operationsusingmosquesasfacades
establishingEmbassies like the one inArgentinaandsigningcommercialagreementswithdifferent
countriesinthe regionlike Argentina, Bolivia, VenezuelaandNicaraguaamongothers.
The powerbrokerof thisnetworkthatconnected andactivated all the dotsisEl Aissami,accordingto
O’Grady, whowas raisedinVenezuelaby aLebanese-Muslimfatherbecoming Venezuela’sinterior
ministerfromthe years2008 to 2012. The Washington–basedCenterForaSecure Society sayshe used
information andtechnologydevelopedbyCubanstate securitytogive identitiesto173 individualsfrom
the Middle East.
El Aissami hasbuilt“acriminal terroristpipelinebringingmilitantIslamistsintoVenezuelaandthe ALBA
countriesandtransferring illicitfundsfromthe ColombianFARCtothe Middle East”.
AdditionallyinAraguaState thatisruledbyEl Aissami’stwoIranianmilitaryownedcompaniesthe
ParchinChemical industriesandQodsAviation,have jointventureswith Venezuela’smilitary industry,to
make, explosives,ammunitions androcketpropellantforMissiles.Also,Qodsmakesunmannedaerial
vehicles(drones)thatwere sanctionedbythe UnitedNations.43
One of the mostpowerful driversthatexplains thisalliance willbe thatCubaistryingto cleanits debtto
Iran (Humire) tobe able tocontinue receivingeconomicassistance fromTehran,thatincludesagreater
influenceof Iranoverthe Andean Regionandespeciallyoverthe ALBA countries.
41
O’Grady,M.A. “The Iran-Cuba-VenezuelaNexus:The Westunderestimatesthe growingthreatfrom
radical Islaminthe Americas.”WallStreet Journal, Nov.23,2014.
42 Joseph Humire, Executive Director of the Center for a Secure Free Society
43 U.N. Security Council Resolution 1747

14. Fidel Castro,duringhis tourof Iran, Syriaand Libyadeclared “Iranand Cuba,in cooperationwitheach
Other,can bringAmericato itsknees.The U.S.regime isveryweak,andwe are witnessingthisweakness
From close up.”42 Three yearslaterhe wascreatingjointlywithVenezuela,IranandSyriathe ALBA
countriesinthe year2004.
The final goal of Iran andCuba (a formerallyof Russia,which alsohasimperial ambitionsinEastern
Europe) inthe region isto provide analternative political,economicandsocial systemthanthe one
beingpromotedbythe free trade agreementsof the UnitedStatestogainpolitical andeconomic
influenceandpowerinthe WesternHemisphere andtoexpandthe Persian empire acrossthe
hemisphere.
All the stakeholdersare gaininginthisalliance FARCandZetasmainlyeconomicbyexpandingtheirdrug
cartelsand Iran bypromotingthe Caliphate andMuslimleadershipinthispartof the world.
All these countrieshave historical grievancesagainstthe UnitedStates: Cubaforexample “The bayof
pigs”;Iran the U.S. supportof the Shahand the overthrowingof the democraticelectedauthoritiesof
the country bysponsoringacoup d’étatwiththe Britishgovernmentandthe CIA.Mexicothe loss of
territoriestoUSA duringthe war (El Alamo) especiallyTexas,CaliforniaandNew Mexico.Theseare all
driversof violence.
History
Goingback on time almosttwohundredyearsfurtherinhistorybackto the dawnof SouthAmerican
independencewarswe canfindthe roots of the ALBA countries thatinspiredChavezandCastrotolook
for an ally outside the WestphalianWorldOrderinIranthe formerPersianempire.That will helpusto
understand the real nature of the BolivarianAlliance of the Americas andthe currentconfrontation. Itis
there,inthe grand visionsandhard-foughtbattlesof SouthAmerica’sfoundingfathers,thatwe findthe
seedof the ALBA.It grewfrom the ideaof SimonBolívarto establishGranColombiafromwhattoday
are Venezuela,ColombiaandEcuador. Bolívarenvisionedone powerful LatinAmericannation,
subordinate tothe will of one maximum caudillo andsteadfastinitsoppositiontothe UnitedStates.It
was,Bolívar believed,the onlyway SouthAmericawouldbe able tostandupand prosperinthe face of
whathe couldsee,evenatthat earlymoment,wouldbe apowerful giantandrival tothe north.In a
last-ditchefforttosave hispolitical project,Bolívarassumedthe role of dictatoroverthe unrulybody,
resigningashorttime later—livinglongenoughonlytosee the GranColombiaandthe Congressof
Panamacollapse.44
UnitedStates Response
44 Hirst,Joel D. “A Guide to ALBA.” Americas Quarterly, n.d. Retrieved from:
http://www.americasquarterly.org/hirst/article

15. Cuba
The Obama Administrationhasrenewedthe diplomatictieswithCuba andPresidentBarack Obama
shackedhandsat the OAS Summit inPanamaheldApril 15th
, withRaul Castro. At the Summitthe Cuban
governmentrequested the liftingof the economicsanctionsandthe embargo.
Iran
The Iraniangovernmentrequested afterthe declarationsthatemergedApril 2nd
inGeneva, overthe
non-nuclearproliferationagreements, the liftingof the economicsanctions tobe done atthe same day
that theysignthe non-nuclearproliferationagreementasa condition tosignthe final document.
Venezuela
In March 09 2015 PresidentObamaissuedanew executive order(E.O.) declaringanational emergency
withrespecttothe unusual andextraordinarythreattothe national securityandforeignpolicyof the
Unitedstatesposedbythe situationin Venezuela.The targetedsanctionsinthe E.O. implementthe
VenezuelaDefenseof HumanRightsandCivil societyActof 2014, whichthe presidentsignedon
December18, 2014, and also gobeyondthe requirementsof the legislation.45
Conclusion
I believethatthe terroristmovementsinLatinAmericamainlythe ColombianFARC,Hezbollahandthe
MexicanZetas,are coordinatedbyIran,Cuba and Venezuelathathave developedaclose and
cooperative alliance againstthe U.S.andinsupportof terroristgroupsandstatesincludingthe ALBA
countries.
Recommendations
The U.S. needsto take advantage of thiswindow of opportunityand explore more avenues to
strengthen the vigilance inthe borders andtopreventCuba,Iranand Venezuelafromexploitingthis
potential conduittothe homelandbycreatingsafeguards clauses astoolsof intervention previousto
liftingthe sanctionsandembargotoCuba,and before the signature of the final documentwithIranin
Genevaonnon-nuclearproliferation astheyare requesting, tomodifythe violentbehavior of Cubaand
Iran and to stop themfromsponsoringterrorism worldwideandtocreate a counterradicalization
culture inthese countries.
Nowthat the drivers of violence have beingmitigatedbythe openingof diplomaticrelationswithCuba
inthe WesternHemisphere we have todevelopanactive PublicDiplomacythroughthe State
Departmentandall the AmericanEmbassieslocatedinthe WesternHemisphere usingitsfull diplomatic
45 The White House Office of the Press Secretary “Statement by the Press Secretary on Venezuela” press release,
March 09, 2015.Retrieved from: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/09/statement-press-
secretary-venezuela

16. and commercial capacitytoregainour influenceinthe region,that isbeingthreatenedbythe presence
of Iran.That is tryingto displace usfromitby usingourfree trade agreementsandourgood will inthe
region.Atthe same time that we mustinsistinthe negotiationsthatare beingcarriedout at Genevaon
non-nuclearproliferationthatIranhasto modifytheirviolentbehaviorand stopsponsoringterrorismin
Latin America.We have tolinkthe liftingof the economicsanctions andembargotoCubato thispre-
conditions.Thisisaunique opportunityforustopacifythe Middle East andthe WesternHemisphere at
the same time,aftermore than fiftyyearsof conflictand confrontation.I considerthisaextraordinary
opportunityof one ina life time tobe able topacifythistwo regionsthatare veryimportantfor our
economicgrowth.