Venezuela: dangerous alliances with drug traffickers

Kerry’s first task is a firm stand on Venezuela

By Roger F. Noriega

A narco-terrorist state must be brought to justice

Venezuela is a base of operations from which two terrorist networks proselytize, fundraise, recruit and train operatives

on behalf of Iran and Hezbollah throughout Latin America.

“Depending on what happens in Venezuela, there may really be an opportunity for a transition there,” incoming U.S. Sec

retary of State John Kerry told a Senate hearing Thursday, alluding to the expectation that Hugo Chavez may soon lose his bout with cancer. Unfortunately, at this very moment, Mr. Chavez’s cronies are doing whatever is necessary to hold on to power indefinitely. The most Mr. Kerry may be able to do is convince Mr. Chavez’s successors to end the dangerous alliances with drug traffickers, Iran and Hezbollah that pose a growing threat to U.S. security.

Until now, most of the U.S. foreign policy establishment has ignored the growing body of evidence that homegrown narco-traffickers in Colombia, Central America and Mexico have teamed up with Hezbollah to conduct criminal operations on our doorstep. What’s worse, this narco-terrorist alliance is aided and abetted by the governments of Venezuela and Iran. To put it bluntly, this is not meree criminal activity — it is asymmetrical warfare.

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