Hearing Of The Subcommittee On The Western Hemisphere Of The House Committee On Foreign Affairs - Mack Urges Greater Cooperation Between U.S., Caribbean Nations To Counter Drug Trafficking

Statement

At a hearing of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere this afternoon, Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14), the Ranking Republican, called for greater cooperation between the United States and Caribbean nations to counter the increase in drug trafficking through the Caribbean.

Mack's opening statement at the hearing, as prepared, follows:

"I want to thank Chairman Engel for holding this hearing today. It has been a pleasure working with him on issues that are important to the hemisphere. I would also like to thank our witnesses for being here.

"I especially would like to thank Steve Johnson for coming today. I know that he has a very tight schedule and might have to leave before we get to him, but I believe that it is very important that we hear his perspective.

"Before we begin, Mr. Chairman, I would like to touch on something that happened in Honduras yesterday. As some of you already know, Honduras' top fighter against narco-trafficking was brutally assassinated.

"Like the Caribbean, Central America is fighting hard against narco-traffickers and this is just another example of what we are facing: cowardly thugs who will stop at nothing to weaken governments and terrorize the people.

"This is also a reminder to us all that the Obama Administration must restore military cooperation with the Hondurans. They are flying blind in a tough fight against narco-terrorists, and the one country that could help them defeat the drug traffickers continues to stand still while the innocent are killed.

"Mr. Chairman, the nations of the Caribbean are instrumental in our fight against narco-trafficking.

"My own State of Florida has firsthand experience with the repercussions of a violent Caribbean.

"In the 1980s, drugs were flown from South America through the Caribbean with a destination point in Florida, creating great havoc across the streets of South Florida.

"History seems to be repeating itself.

"While narco-traffickers moved to Central America and Mexico in the 1990s, we have seen a shift due to Mexican President Calderon's tenacity.

"As Mexico works hard to defeat narco-traffickers, a balloon-like effect has been triggered, and trafficking is now originating in South America, cutting through the Caribbean and either heading to North Africa, Europe, or Florida.

"And as if a rising storm was approaching the islands of the Caribbean, we must make sure that these nations are prepared, Mr. Chairman.

"If we do not, this problem will not only affect the lives of the Caribbean people, but it will also affect the lives of thousands of Floridians and Americans across our great nation.

"We have all seen the facts: high murder rates; increased air smuggling from Venezuela; overburdened prosecutors and judges; dead bodies in the canals and straits of the Caribbean.

"In fact, when looking at the statistics, it seems as if a battle between David and Goliath is occurring in the Caribbean nations.

"To add insult to injury, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez has become a co-conspirator in this fight. Unlike President Calderon in Mexico and President Uribe in Colombia, both of whom deserve great recognition for their efforts, Hugo Chavez has ceded his airspace to thousands of drug smuggling flights.

"Not only that, Hugo Chavez and his family have become partners in the narco business, taking a once proud nation to what now looks more like an abyss.

"As we address the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), we must take a close look at some very key issues. For instance:

"Do the Caribbean nations have the capacity to absorb the help they need?

"Is the new funding under the CBSI really new? Or will it simply replace old projects?

"How dangerous is it that some of the very countries that might be included in the CBSI are the ones that belong to ALBA, an organization that is led by Hugo Chavez?

"Although we might have our own views on what should be done in the Caribbean, what have those nations said they would like to see done?

"As we hear from our panel today, these are some of the points that I would like to address.

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman."

Source