CSP’s Menges Project testifies on Capitol Hill

(Washington, D.C.): In a clear demonstration of the long overdue urgency with which the United States must turn to the security situation in Latin America, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is massing troops on neighboring Colombia’s border in response to Colombia’s recent raid against FARC operatives in Ecuador.  In the wake of these and other significant and troubling developments in Latin America – including the ascension of Fidel Castro’s brother and long-time Defense Minister Raul Castro to the Cuban presidency, as well as Chavez’s embrace of the Hezbollah-sponsoring Iranian regime and ongoing support for violent groups such as the narco-terrorist FARC – Nancy Menges of the Center for Security Policy appeared today before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere to discuss the growing turmoil in the region and its implications for American national security. 

Ms. Menges manages the Center’s Menges Hemispheric Security Project, and also serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Americas Report – a Center for Security Policy publication covering political and security developments in the Western Hemisphere.  In her prepared remarks and in response to questions from Committee members, Ms. Menges made the following comments and policy recommendations with respect to this critical region:

• The embargo against Cuba must remain in place.  The leadership change in Cuba does not signify any change in ideology, governance, or human freedoms for the Cuban people.  Lifting the embargo now would be interpreted as a defeat for U.S. policy, and would provide the Castro government with newly acquired wealth with which to strengthen its hold on the people of Cuba.
• Venezuela ‘s Hugo Chavez is pursuing nuclear cooperation with Iran.  Chavez has defended Iran’s right to produce atomic energy while declaring his own aspirations to develop nuclear weapons for "peaceful purposes", and has stated his intention to seek cooperation with Latin American countries and Iran in this regard.  Reports have confirmed the production of uranium inside Venezuela.
• Chavez is cultivating relationships with radical Islamist terror organizations including Iranian-backed Hezbollah.  The U.S. Southern Command has identified Isla Margarita as one of the most important centers of terrorist gathering and money laundering activities for Hamas and Hezbollah.  Following Islamist terrorism doctrine, Chavez has spoken publicly about the adoption of methods such as suicide bombers in the event of a war between Venezuela and the United States.
• Iran is making its presence felt in other Latin American countries such as Nicaragua and Bolivia.  Nicaragua exerts no control over the movements of Iranian diplomats, and it was recently disclosed that President Daniel Ortega permitted twenty-one Iranians to enter the country without visas.  Nicaragua has also signed numerous agreements with Iran on energy, technology, and commerce.  In Bolivia, President Evo Morales has welcomed the Iranians and is allowing them to open a radio station, which could enable Iran to spread its ideology throughout Latin America.
• Chavez is actively supporting numerous violent revolutionary organizations in Latin America, including the narco-terrorist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).  Chavez is also lending ideological and financial support to violent revolutionary organizations in Argentina and Peru.
• The U.S. must take several steps to counter Chavez’s influence in the region.  These includes:

1. Provide continued support to Colombia, a critical ally in the region through measures such as the reauthorization of "Plan Colombia";
2. Work with opposition leaders and activists in Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia who are committed to democracy and the rule of law;
3. Reduce regional dependence on Venezuelan oil;
4. Ratify free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama;
5. Educate Latin American countries about the dangers Iran poses to the region; and
6. Rebuild American public diplomacy and broadcasting efforts to counter Iranian radio programming and propaganda.

Ms. Menges concluded by observing: "We cannot afford to be optimistic about events in Latin America in the era of terrorism in an area where Chavez and Iran are cooperating so closely. Our foreign policy should be comprehensive and creative and needs a most serious cooperation between the Administration and Congress. It needs to be taken seriously and not pushed to the backburner because of the emergence of other conflicts in the world."

A copy of the full testimony is available here.