terror orgs with worldwide reach based in south america...
paraguay...http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/specials/attacked/investigation/A52327-2001Oct12.html
clips...Suspected terrorist links here date back to the early 1990s, when investigations into the Buenos Aires bombings of the Israeli embassy in 1992 and the Jewish Community Center in 1994 pointed to Islamic extremists operating on the Paraguayan side... More ties surfaced later in the decade...
"In the tri-border area . . . we see the long-standing presence of Islamic extremist organizations, primarily Hezbollah and, to a lesser extent, the Sunni extremist groups Gamaat i-Islami [Egyptian Islamic Group] and Hamas," Francis X. Taylor, the State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism,
argentina...http://travel.state.gov/argentina.html
clip...given the presence of members of and support for foreign extremist terrorist groups in the tri-border region of Argentina (Misiones Province),
columbia...http://www.ifa-usapray.org/ARCHIVE_TERRORISM/Designation%20of%20Columbia's%20AUC%20as%20a%20Foreign%20Terrorist%20Organization%20-%20September%2010,%202001.html
clip...Secretary, Colin L. Powell
Washington, DC
September 10, 2001
I have decided to designate the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, commonly known as the AUC, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under U.S. law. This designation, published today in the Federal Register, makes it illegal for persons in the United States or subject to U.S. jurisdiction to provide material support to the AUC; requires U.S. financial institutions to block assets held by the AUC; and enables us to deny visas to representatives of the group. I made this decision in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury after an exhaustive review of the AUC’s violent activities over the past two years.
The AUC has carried out numerous acts of terrorism, including the massacre of hundreds of civilians, the forced displacement of entire villages, and the kidnapping of political figures to force recognition of AUC demands. Last year, AUC members reportedly committed at least 75 massacres that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Many of these massacres were designed to terrorize and intimidate local populations so the AUC could gain control of those areas. The AUC has also committed hundreds of kidnappings, including the abduction of seven Colombian congressional representatives in November of last year.
The AUC now joins 30 other groups, which include two other Colombian groups, the FARC and the ELN, on the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations designated under U.S. law. Beyond the legal ramifications of this decision, I hope this will leave no doubt that the United States considers terrorism to be unacceptable, regardless of the political or ideological purpose. Tomorrow, the United States will join the other states in this hemisphere in pledging our full support for democracy in this hemisphere. We also stand with the Government of Colombia against the threats to its democracy from these terrorist groups.
brazil...very pro-American...some terrorist activity in the tri-border. has an effective (US trained) brazilian, Special Forces counter terror battalion...history includes the first terror kidnapping of a senior American (the US Ambassador, about 30+.... years ago)...would not expect much here...but then this guy was found...
arabicnews.com
clip...Egypt to ask Brazil to extradite Qaeda terrorist
Egypt-Brazil, Local, 10/30/2001
Egypt will forward a request to the Brazilian police to hand it over an Egyptian terrorist who has connections with Saudi-born dissident Osama Bin Laden's al-qaeda network
mexico...http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/mexico/news/news100601.html
clip..."Until now it isn't known at what point irregular forces are considered terrorists," said Escudero. "There is a very thin line between guerrillas and terrorists."
The width of this line is particularly relevant in Mexico, which is home to an unkown number of armed groups (estimates range upwards of 37), the most prominent of which is the Chiapas-based Zapatista National Liberation Army(EZLN).
peru...http://travel.state.gov/peru.html
clipActivities of the terrorist group, Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), are restricted largely to certain parts of the interior of Peru. Shining Path is, however, still capable of terrorist actions, and was re-designated by the Secretary of State in October 2001 as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization"
bolivia...the ELN, che gueverra's old terror outfit, was recently reported back in business.
venezuala...http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/9/20/181037.shtml
clips...Colonel Chavez held meetings with the Libyan sponsor of world terrorism, Moammar Gadhafi and referred publicly to the Libyan dictator as a "hero,” to the western world as "criminal” for its actions against Gadhafi and to Libya as a "model of participatory democracy.” In Tripoli, Chavez declared, "Our struggles are the same, as well as our ideals.”.....
Chavez is the only western president to embrace Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi government. Chavez praised the totalitarian government of Iraq as a "model” for Venezuela.....
Chavez met with the leaders of the fundamentalist dictatorship of Iran where he referred to the Iranian hostilities against the West as a "worthy” Holy War
uruguay...attack against American embassy thwarted last year. known links to osama bin lost. main local terror org has been pursuing change by non-violent means. uruguay's main contribution to international has probably been banking...they have favorable exchange rates, very stable banks, and very secretive banking laws. their banks have a long history of laundering drug money.
chile...a total terror mess...remember pinochet?...chile has a long history of death and corruption at every level.
suriname...a key cocaine packaging and shipping country.
guyana...the US has recently deported over 100 guyanians. cocaine trade and close ties to cuba makes them suspect in my eyes.
french guiana...marijuana shipping point
guatemala...after 35 years of terror that left over 100,000 dead bodies, they seem to be trying to change...some are concerned that the war against terror there is just a cover story for more terrorism.
el salvador...the famous death squads and FMLN are still active.
nicarauga...a safe harbor for mid east terrorists...nicaraugan passports were found in the apartment of the 1993 WTC bombers. the local org "FSLN" has known ties to mid-east and european terror groups.
panama...an arab suicide terrorist crashed a civilian airliner there in 1994 (what is the link?)...they have a known terrorist named Pedro Gonzalez on their national assembly. panama is trying to get out of the terror business mainly by trying to eliminate their role in the drug trade. they have much work to do.
cuba...http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2000/index.cfm?docid=2441
clip... Cuba continued to provide safehaven to several terrorists and US fugitives and maintained ties to state sponsors and Latin American insurgents.
from America to africa and throughout south america cuban terrorists have reached out to touch someone. columbia's FARC, and ELN (their main terror orgs) have permanent offices in cuba today.
Gerry Adams (sinn fein leader) spent 3 days in cuba last week.
cuba has recently taken an open stance against terror...does anyone believe them?
this link tells a rather complete story about cuba's current and recent terror support with footnotes for further reading...
canfnet.org |
