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Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly is warning that "... the increase in Iranian influence in Latin America is worrisome, and an example of the peril that the combination of criminal networks and states that sponsor terrorism, like Iran, could pose..."
Kelly is the Marine Corps General that recently took over the U.S. Southern Command.
"...[I]n he past six years Iran has tried to increase its influence in Central and South America. The Iranian government, he said, has built embassies and cultural centers in the region...The concern is that … they’re looking … for influence -- say for votes in the U.N. on sanctions...But also, and I've … made mention to some of our friends in the region that these guys are very, very good at what they do, and very, very skilled at what they do, and that people should just be careful as to who they're dealing with...”
According to Jim Garamone of the American Forces Press Service, which handles public affairs for the Defense Department, "...The general stressed he is not accusing Iran of sponsoring terrorism in Latin America, but he noted that Iran is involved in terrorism in other areas of the world..."
Garamone provided Kelly quotes on this issue:
"...“We do know that some terrorist organizations are able to skim off fairly substantial sums of money from the drug profits...And so there has to be kind of a network for that to happen..."
"...The criminal networks in Latin America are very sophisticated and very well financed...Drugs are the basis for this wealth and the drug-related money coming out of the United States...is astronomical...I mean palettes of money...For a buck, anything can get on the [drug transport] network...That network...transports tons of drugs into the United States and Europe and moves bales of money back out..."
“...The point of it all is the network is a very dangerous thing to have working as effectively as it does, because anything can get on it,” he said..."
"...[Kelly said his command]...is working to build military-to-military contacts throughout Latin America and the Caribbean...The good news about Latin America and my part of the world is that there are no wars...And most Latin American countries, including Brazil -- the world’s fifth-largest economy -- want the United States as a partner...The countries of the region don’t ask for much...When I go down and visit, they’re not asking for an awful [lot] -- they’re not asking for money...They’re willing to pay their own way...”
"...What the Latin American countries need is expertise...For example, Peru is asking for help in getting its separate military services to work together better. Colombia needs help in countering improvised explosive devices that the terror group FARC and criminal syndicates use to protect coca fields and factories. Other nations need medical expertise..."General Kelly made the comments at a press conference with reporters at the Pentagon on Wednesday.
Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly, commander of U.S. Southern Command: photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeely
