Iran At America's Back Door

I've heard people say Iran is no threat to the United States, that they don't have the capability to deliver missiles from Iran to the U.S.   Maybe not, but they don't need to have that capability to harm Americans.  Iran is using our Southern neighbors as an open door to the U.S.  In Iran's Latin American Push, (by John Kiriakou, now in the private sector, who served as a CIA counter-terrorism official from 1998-2004) the author discusses Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's relationships with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez;   Paraguay's new president, Fernando Lugo Mendez, and Bolivian President Evo Morales.

[Mendez] was lauded in the Iranian media as "an enemy of the Great Satan" after naming Hezbollah sympathizer.  Hezbollah -- which is Iranian funded and supported -- already has a well-documented presence in Paraguay, and the U.S. State Department has banned the minister from entering the United States or from flying on a U.S. airline. 

The real danger here doesn't have to do with an arcane diplomatic battle over who has more friends in Latin America. The problem is visa-free Iranian travel and the potential creation of a terrorist base of operations in the United States' backyard. If anyone with an Iranian passport may enter Bolivia without a visa or any further documentation, the country will soon be open to covert officers of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security, its Islamic Revolutionary Guard, which the State Department recently declared a terrorist organization, and the Quds Force, an Iranian military group whose mandate is to spread Islamic revolution around the world.

A further danger is if other Latin American countries follow the Bolivian lead and lift visa restrictions. Iran already has proved what it can do in Latin America with visa restrictions. In 1994, Iranian agents worked with Hezbollah terrorists to bomb a Jewish association's community center in Argentina, killing 85 people and wounding hundreds. An established Iranian intelligence presence traveling freely throughout Latin America would make counter-terrorism efforts in the region much more difficult.

The United States still has an opportunity to stop the Iranians in their tracks in Latin America. But it's a big job. The growing Iranian influence -- inconceivable a decade ago -- is the result of the decision by the United States to stop paying attention to the region. And it will only be reversed if the U.S. changes its policy.  (continue reading at LATimes)

Also, as Michael T. reminded me today, "There are dozens of Iranian (Merchant) ships on the Great Lakes, Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the Gulf of Mexico at all times.  Three months ago the Iranians demonstrated their ability to launch a scud-missile from a freighter in the Caspian Sea. Hitting Chicago, New York, California cities and Washington DC is a piece of Persian cake.  We are far from safe."

Also it seems Iran is helping al-Qaeda gain access to nuclear material that could be used for suitcase nukes.  MI6, Britain's secret intelligence service, has identified six Pakistani scientists working in Iran's nuclear bomb program who have been "advising al-Qaida on how to weaponize fissionable materials it has now obtained."  (WND)

Man-made uranium was found in Syria.  Israel and the United Stated firmly believed that Syria was constructing and maintaining a secret nuclear site located near the Euphrates River near the border with Iraq, and so the Israelis took out that facility.  (Telegraph)  The IAEA has now found uranium at the site.  Israel also believes that Syria had relied on imported North Korean scientists to provide the technical expertise to construct the plant.  The question of whether Iran supported this site is still unanswered.

'A possible Israeli strike against Iran is not completely off the radar,' a senior European Union diplomat says. Iran's intention to purchase Russian made S-300s anti-ballistic missiles could push Israel to a quicker offensive,  ...   “The perfect time (for Israel) is between now and Jan. 20 (Obama’s inauguration day).”  (Hurriyet Daily News)

Iran aims to establish Islamic studies departments in UK universities.

The Tehran Times reports that Iran’s Ministry of Science, Research and Technology "feels the necessity to help establish and strengthen departments of Islamic studies."

"The ministry is currently studying proposals by numerous world academic centres and universities including several universities from Britain, the United States, and Germany," an official from the cultural department of the ministry announced last month.

"The departments will be set up to train and educate experts on Islam so as to assist in the introduction of Islam and its realities to the world in a proper academic setting," he explained.  (continue reading at PinkNews.co.uk)

The US authorized its special forces to carry out more than a dozen raids in countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, four years ago as part of a stepped-up hunt for al-Qaida.  This was no surprise to those of us who keep up-to-date with our fight against terrorism.  I think this was leaked to the world via the New York Times and picked up by other media, to embarrass President George Bush and his administration.

It was first reported that Iran was NOT part of this authorization, but in fact our troops do have permission and it is my understanding they have used this authorization, to follow terrorists into Iran and take them out.  Thanks for blabbing the information NYT.

Considering all of the above, iran not only continues to be a threat to Israel, other countries in the Middle East, but also a serious threat to the United States of America.  Let's hope President Elect Barack Obama understands this and is willing to act appropriately.

Comments

[Stormwarning]

MK, certainly you aren't implying that Iran was behind Sept. 11th attacks, are you? Without a doubt, the words that you've typed aren't clear on that point.

We are all doomed, by the way, to have to deal with at least the next 4 years with Obama. How he got elected is less the issue that how or whether his radical campaign rhetoric will ever see enactment.

[MK]

Those who think that Iran cannot pose a danger to the US because their missiles cannot reach American soil haven't learned from 9/11. They didn't have missiles, RPGs or anything else.

It seems some people will only learn from continually making the same mistake.

"Let's hope President Elect Barack Obama understands this and is willing to act appropriately."

His minions are already angling for talks with Iran and lifting the 'terrorist' designation on their Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Great start eh.

[Stormwarning]

Monkey Point combined with the porous border with Mexico represents a serious threat to America.

[Andy Alegre]

If the USA can do to the Middle East what it has done in Asia, especially in China and Vietnam, then and only then can there be peace in that region. It is not oil, religion or even Israel that is the problem there, it is pure and simple POVERTY.

[Skunkfeathers]

American foreign policy stands of the cusp of...who knows what. If the President-elect (official once the Electoral College confirms it) takes the kind of action his legislative and literary history suggest, we and Israel are in trouble. If the President-elect takes more appropriate action, he'll be in trouble with his Daily Kos, Moron.org, Code Pink Wench et al crowd.

Said the zen master, "we shall see..."

[Maggie Thornton]

Israeli politics are in such flux. I think we'll all anticipate what they will do, and the time will pass, Obama will be sworn in and...nothing is done about Iran.

[Katie]

Any other President would respond with an attack if Iran attacked us. With Hussein, he will give in to all demands made by Iran.

[Angel]

wonder what Hussein will do now Deb!..Happy Vets DAY!..Remember all who have served and are still serving.