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Hizbollah Makes Inroads into South America

September 12, 2008 3:48 PM

By SONIA GALLEGO, ABC News Digital Reporter, Brazil

As the U.S.'s attention has been diverted to the hot spots in Bush’s  "war on  terror," namely Iraq and Afghanistan, their neighbors in South America have been forging other friendships with more distant lands -- in particular with China and Iran.

China has been extremely important in securing agricultural and manufacturing deals with countries such as Brazil and Argentina, but Iran has also been seen as an increasingly important partner to secure relationships with. In the past year, Iran and Venezuela have cozied up to one another, both bound by their mutual loathing of President Bush.

Trade centered on the manufacturing industries has been focal in the Venezuela-Iran get together, but both countries are also seeking to bond beyond trade  -- a prospect that has left observers in Washington -- and Jerusalem -- decidedly nervous.

A recent report in the L.A. Times claimed that the relationship between Iran and Venezuela is also being used opportunistically by organisations such as the Lebanese-based Hizbollah, setting up anti- Western terrorist cells in strategic areas of the continent. Already this year, Iran announced that it was setting up TV stations in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia, which could potentially be an opportunity for Hizbollah to take their operations further in to South America.

Jewish communities in South America have been vocal about their fears, citing the 1992 Israeli Embassy bomb attack, which was claimed by Islamic Jihad, a group that has ties to Hizbollah. There have long been whispered accusations of gun-running and other shady deals in the tripartite border area between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay by Middle Eastern organizations with links to terrorism.

Much to the chagrin of the U.S. government, Hizbollah itself is not regarded as a terrorist organisation by many Latin American governments, allowing Hizbollah to engage in more activities in the region.

The deal making between Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Iran, is also a conscious kick in the face to  U.S.  foreign policy. No love is lost between the left-wing governments in many Latin American countries and the  U.S., exemplified by the constant anti- U.S. rhetoric of Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez.

Bolivia has also had tempestuous relations with Washington recently. This week, the relationship took a decidedly sour turn when, in an increasing volatile political situation, Bolivia’s President Evo Morales expelled the  U.S. ambassador for allegedly provoking and inciting riots and anti-government protests in the gas-rich region of Santa Cruz, in eastern Bolivia.

Washington responded in kind by ousting Bolivia’s envoy to the U.S. And, not one to be outdone when it comes to the politics of histrionics, Chavez also announced that as a sign of solidarity to his left-wing comrade he too would eject the U.S. ambassador from Venezuelan territory.

Chavez’s rambunctious speech, peppered with expletives last night, was made before a huge crowd of his supporters. He turned the air blue with his theatrical indignation. “Shi**y Yankees!” he cried, “Go to hell a hundred times!,” which got the big-up from his selected audience.

It has all the makings of a Latin American soap opera, were it not for the potentially frightening repercussions.

Venezuela’s oil reserves -- 100 billion barrels of the stuff -- have allowed Chavez to play the Big Man in the name of Latin American interests. But how long can he keep this up for? Food is rationed in Venezuela and the country has become dependent upon food imports from Colombia. His anti-American rhetoric may thunder across the Caribbean, but he is still reliant upon the U.S., which remains an especially important client of the Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA, supplying it with 1.5 million barrels of oil a day. So much for an anti-Yankee rant.

September 12, 2008 in Sonia Gallego | Permalink | User Comments (44)

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now do you really believe Democrats are worried about this?

Posted by: Country First | Sep 12, 2008 4:34:53 PM

I'm sorry, this is OLD news. Telemundo reporter Pablo Gato did an extensive series on this very issue last year.

Posted by: Mdt | Sep 12, 2008 4:41:23 PM

This happend under the BUSH/Cheney Administration...Can't blame the Democrats...OBAMA 2008 & 2012

Posted by: Sara Palin | Sep 12, 2008 4:42:40 PM

I think the Zionist/Corporate owned media needs to stop with their bogus scare tactics in trying to link Iran as a terrorist supporter, and therefore, attempting to link Venezuela as a supporter of Hizbolla. This bogus accusation is done to condition the public against Chavez, so a U.S. led chrge and actions unagainst Chavez will appear to be justified.

Hey Corporate owned media, GO HANG YOURSELF!

Posted by: Sarcasm | Sep 12, 2008 5:15:38 PM

This article provided no proof that hizbollah was setting up in south america. it is just pure nonsense to create a scare and make some ludicrous headlines. nicely done!

Posted by: stu | Sep 12, 2008 5:24:14 PM

Hugo, Hugo, Hugo, you nasty little maggot. What's a free world to do? And stu, you keep wearing those rosy red glasses. Everything's gonna be awlriiite. Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket, everything's gonna bee awlriiiite. Ya GOTTA LOVE IT!

Posted by: Light Group | Sep 12, 2008 6:40:05 PM

Any nation can do what they want as long as they did not invade another nation or violate international law. The alliancing and the partnership as well as attempting to influence other nation is the root cause for international chaos.

Posted by: Sutter197 | Sep 12, 2008 7:29:16 PM

Every time oil is involved. Bush and the US are sure to be causing trouble. Their biggest gripe against Chavez is that oil revenues are going to the people of Venezuela and not to Bush and his mob.

Posted by: JoeForSure | Sep 12, 2008 8:48:05 PM

Oh my God, this is the biggest piece of propaganda nonsense I have ever heard. People please RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH before believing any of this (namely that Hizbollah is operating all over Latin America)!!!!!

Posted by: Shocked | Sep 12, 2008 8:50:51 PM

This is the same convoluted logic that Bush and the US media used to tie Iraq in with 9/11. Bush the maniac is trying to find some kind of excuse, no matter how illogical, to attack Venezuela and steal their oil. The media is in on the deal and the US public goes along like mindless sheep. Sounds like oil lobbyist Cokie Robertson has been doing some more creative writing.

Posted by: JoeForSure | Sep 12, 2008 8:56:40 PM

These diplomats, Holzhauer in Venezuela, Guzman in Bolivia and Szubin of the Treasury Department, are all a bunch of thieves. They are out to steal the oil in those countries, just like the state and treasury departments is out to steal the oil in Iraq, Iran, and Georgia.

Posted by: JoeForSure | Sep 13, 2008 3:45:46 AM

These diplomats, Holzhauer in Venezuela, Guzman in Bolivia and Szubin of the Treasury Department, are all a bunch of thieves. They are out to steal the oil in those countries, just like the state and treasury departments is out to steal the oil in Iraq, Iran, and Georgia.

Posted by: SayItLikeItIs | Sep 13, 2008 3:47:08 AM

Bush and the US have been working tirelessly to have peace around the globe. In our daily lives here in the US, we relish the peace and prosperity that our grandfathers dreamed to experience for their children. It is this kind of peace and prosperity that that we want other countries to achieve too. You will also achieve it if you will get yourself discipline to help yourself and get some help offered by the US. To tell you frankly, the US did not get help from other countries to obtain all that he has right now. He got all of those because of its citizens who have right mind, diligence and perseverance to achieve the great american dream, which now expands in scope to be the great dream for the world. The US is not selfish to keep these things for himself, but for all of us to equally enjoy all that we are enjoying right now in the US.

Posted by: peacelover | Sep 13, 2008 7:24:30 AM

While we're at it, we can steal their oil.

Posted by: JoeForSure | Sep 13, 2008 8:16:22 AM

Chavez is an ignorant debutant in politics and a trouble maker, driving the vehicle de los sonadores to the ground and using suicidarse matando people as foil and as intimidation. He is nothing but a stupid idiot. Saludos - Werner Greuling

Posted by: Werner Greuling | Sep 13, 2008 8:33:15 AM

Chavez is a champion of the people and a religious man. Those money grubbing scoundrels that fled Venezuela when he came to power are still bitter about their lose. They continue to spew out hatred and anti Christian venom.

Posted by: JoeForSure | Sep 13, 2008 9:09:49 AM

This article is most insurmountable pile of trash i have ever witnessed or read. The lack of credability, research and ethics amazes me. You can fool the American reader once, may be twice, but never again

Posted by: click&win | Sep 13, 2008 10:23:43 AM

Its simple just build a fence between us and mexico to keep people out of America, been done, yeah kinda, but you need to build a fence of fear, now you have a fence of rooms and food till they are deported, build a electrical fence with automated machineguns with clearly established safe zones, don't clean up the bodies, soon the world will band together and kill the satan which is America

Posted by: Anarchy1964 | Sep 13, 2008 11:50:52 AM

So much excitement over a temptest in a tea pot. Bush/Cheney nationalism has spread south, What a surprise! Like bush, all the less mature leaders have to show off their conejes (sp.)and prance around. Playing games withe the Russians, the Chinese and now the Iranians and perhaps Hizbollah. It is all part of the manly, man pattern. Spending huge amounts of the peoples oil money on weapons they don't need, expelling ambassadors, snubbing the nose of the their powerful neighbors; marching troops and tanks to their neighbor's borders, supporting rebellion in each other's nations. This is old stuff. Let us all hope that the next leader of America is a little more mature and chooses to ignore the little boy playing in the mire of world power and does not join any of this foolishness. I hate to sayit, but if they think that the
Americans make arrogant, know it all, pushy, demanding guest, just wait until they have had their fill of the Chinese, Russians and the Persians. Good Luck to South and Central America. They should do it their way. That includes any social revolutions (changes are needed) and I hope they don't turn into class wars. And if conflicts do develop we should allow them to resolve themselves without any intervention from America. Let the Persians spend their oil riches coups, revolts, and televisons stations. We have already done this. What a waste of money and lives. Richard Wisecarver

Posted by: Richard Wisecarver | Sep 13, 2008 12:42:20 PM

I'm a liberal, and I'm very concerned about this. I'm TERRIFIED, however, at the thought of Sarah Palin taking over for McCain and being in charge of our response to all this. I don't think she would hesitate for a second before blowing up the planet.

Posted by: cturple | Sep 13, 2008 2:26:47 PM

I think Sarah Palin's credentials point out that she is not plain stupid to blow up the planet. Instead it points out that she is doing very well discharging decisions as chief leader on the state of Alaska. She will just do as fine and will shake Washington like she did in Alaska.

Posted by: peacelover | Sep 13, 2008 4:11:14 PM

Did you notice how the photo for this story makes it look like these two little goobers found a lucky penny?

Posted by: Light Group | Sep 13, 2008 4:53:27 PM

Americans have absolutely no idea how many bad things the CIA has done down here. They were behind the coup that almost cost Chavez his life, and the U.S. wants to control Venezuela like they control many other countries. Any time a country decides it wants control of its own resources, they send the CIA and set up a banana republic, then the US news claims they are fighting communists (remember Nicaragua) only now it's going to be "terrorists". Bunch of BS you all fall for so that we get raped.

Posted by: Rodrigo | Sep 13, 2008 5:03:58 PM

Looking at the picture of these characters I due believe that man came from ape…..

Posted by: sampf15 | Sep 13, 2008 5:08:11 PM

They have brainwashed you, so that you write silly things like "Bush and the US have been working tirelessly to have peace around the globe." What a joke, the U.S. has done a lot of sh*t disturbing all over this planet, and it isn't about spreading peace, democracy or freedom, the CIA has overthrown democracies that seem against "US interests", meaning the interest of corporations and the rich who rule the Republican party. They don't give a doman about you, and they use the media to put stories like this out to keep you brainwashed. The whole world is creating alliances like these to protect themselves against the most dangerous enemy: Bush and the Neocons. The world is tired of them, and now believes you Americans are stupid brainwashed consumers, which is probably true.

Posted by: Rodrigo | Sep 13, 2008 5:13:48 PM

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