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Column 072009 Brewer

Monday, July 20, 2009

Revolutionary Latin America and Today's Nexus of Terror

By Jerry Brewer

As symbolic smoke of death, violence, chaos, and political

instability systematically and euphemistically permeates through
areas of the Americas, there are suspects. Too, there are
sizeable footprints for the forensics of thought to ponder and to
come to grips with.

Regardless of how one chooses to characterize the turmoil and

inhumanity, the process has been a slow, methodical, and
organized global insurgency of revolutionary ideology. The evil
axes of terror constructionists have cleverly exploited terroristic
behavior overlap. This overlap from fragmented elements and
modus operandi of a myriad of organized criminals – from
terrorists and other transnational criminals, to political and a not
so clearly defined narco-insurgency and related agendas.

The progressive expansion of terror and extremism throughout

the hemisphere to the borders of the US are more than simply
fear campaigns. The guerrilla tactics, sophisticated weaponry,
unpredictable attacks, and technical expertise and organization
of these insurgents have caused thousands of deaths, injury,
and misery.

The irony of the narcotics scourge alone is how the massive

accrued wealth of the narco-terrorist’s hierarchy is at the
expense of the citizenry and the victims, as a nation must
struggle with the overwhelming massive resources needed to
defend their homeland. It has been reported that Mexican drug
syndicates “generate more revenue than at least 40% of
Fortune 500 companies.” And let’s face it – Mexico remains
under siege.

It is critically important to understand and to look to the

evidence of the bigger picture and associated tentacles of the
nexus of terror. This is not all motivated by the narcotics trade.
The total elimination of illicit narcotics by product or via
legalization would do nothing to a terror campaign’s ideology
that other revenue sources could not replace.

Many organized and non-organized criminal element’s raison

d'être do not necessarily include elements of the narcotics
trafficking trade. Although one could argue “revenue” as a tool
to perform and expand, human trafficking, weapons
proliferation, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, and related
organized theft that includes white-collar financial frauds and
schemes, provide the financial grease for the wheels of other
criminal movement.

In Latin America, criminal street gangs are elements that have

evolved as not only tools of the narcotics trade, but also as
merchants of crime du jour. Too, many of these gang
members, as well as many former military conscript soldiers
have been recruited throughout the Americas for their particular
expertise.

Insurrection, internal rebellion, and other forms of armed revolt

throughout Latin America are most certainly not a new
phenomenon. However, in the world terrorist’s equation it is a
good marriage to exploit the ideology of intense ethnic hatred,
anger, and revenge towards those that work valiantly to interdict
radicalized terrorists. Especially, when the land mass is
contiguous to the US and resources are scarce to prevent their
strategic and progressive movement.

The organized element of the terror nexus is specific to Latin

America. It has its roots from Argentine revolutionary Ernesto
“Che” Guevara, to Venezuelan revolutionary Ilich Ramirez
Sanchez, also known as “Carlos the Jackal.” Guevara, a
celebrated hero and mentor to the presidential Cuban Castro
brothers, Raul and Fidel, as well as to President Hugo Chavez
of Venezuela. President Evo Morales of Bolivia has also stated
his admiration “of the revolution.” Guevara was known as a
“notorious disciplinarian who unhesitatingly shot defectors.”

High levels of corruption within the Venezuelan government,

military, law enforcement, and government security apparatus
has been reported, and must remain a concern for the
hemisphere. President Chavez was quick to end the joint US
antinarcotics cooperation and efforts. Consequently, Venezuela
is now reported as “fast becoming a major hub for cocaine
trafficking.”

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, an ardent Chavez

supporter, has chosen not to renew the 10-year usage rights by
the US military's Southern Command, for Ecuador’s Manta Air
Base, for use in the fight against illegal cocaine trafficking in the
region.
Drug trafficking through Honduras has risen sharply over the
past couple of years. This in the form of “many shipments of
cocaine arriving on flights from Venezuela in route to Mexico
and the US." President Manuel Zelaya was recently removed
from office in Honduras, after trying to emulate President
Chavez’s extension of constitutional presidential term limits.

The safety and security of free democracies in Latin America

necessitates a sound intelligence infrastructure to conduct
better threat assessments and anticipate attacks on their
sovereignty by terror elements, rogue state security services,
and others looking to disrupt free government. From the Tri-
Border region of Argentina with a significant Middle Eastern
population, to the US border with Mexico, revolutionary terror
must be met strategically, swiftly and jointly by a united group of
free Latin American nations.

——————————
Jerry Brewer is C.E.O. of Criminal Justice International
Associates, a global risk mitigation firm headquartered in Miami,
Florida. His website is located at www.cjiausa.org.