Friday, October 20, 2006

Border Security & Venezuela by Aaron Mannes

US Representative Michael McCaul (TX - 10), Chairman of the Subcommittee for Investigations of the House Homeland Security Committee just released a major report A Line in the Sand: Confronting the Threat at the Southwest Border.

Among other things, the report deals with the history and future risk of terrorists entering the US along with the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants entering this country along the US-Mexican border annually.


A particularly interesting note was the report's discussion of Venezuela's current policy of freely issuing identity documents. Thousands of cedulas (the Venezuelan equivalent of social security cards) have reportedly been issued to non-Venezuelans - including Cubans, Columbians, Middle Easterners, and Pakistanis. Combined with Hugo's belligerent rhetoric and close relationship with Iran this is extremely worrisome.


This issue has been discussed in intel circles for some time. FARC's foreign minister was living openly in Caracas and had even voted in Venezuela's election.


In fairness, even for Hugo, directly supporting terror attacks against the U.S. may be a bit much (although maybe not). This is more likely crime plus. That is - corruption and criminal activity - permitted by Hugo's regime as a revenue source with the added bonus of causing trouble for the United States.


Regardless it is presents a serious security problem.


The House report has made headlines in Venezuela and the US Ambassador there has called for more stringent controls on Venezuelan identity documents. This also plays into Venezuelan politics. Venezuela is holding elections in December and many Venezuelans are not pleased to see their country slowly slipping into international pariah status.

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