Terrorists Target NYC Again

     Once again, New York City is ground zero for those wishing to harm the United States. According to AP published reports, Iranian intelligence operatives are engaging in activities that continue to worry the NYPD.  Fortunately for residents of the five boroughs, the local police force seems to be more realistic about the threat than the federal government.

     America’s largest city is not alone.  Brian Higgins (D-NY) believes that Tehran’s terrorist proxy Hezbollah presents a danger throughout the Western Hemisphere, with an active presence in fourteen North American cities. The threat to New York is part of a larger movement by Iran to establish a military presence within the western hemisphere, with a particular emphasis on using several anti-U.S. states in South America as a base for their operations.

     There is bipartisan concern in Congress that the White House has not responded to the threat, although the problem is recognized.    In recent testimony before Congress, Southern Command General Douglas Fraser recently told Congress that “Iran is very engaged in Latin America. The Director of National Intelligence, James R. Clapper, believes that Iranian officials…are now more willing to conduct an attack in the U.S. in response to real or perceived Y.S. actions that threaten the regime.”

     Iran’s involvement goes far beyond mere advice and technical assistance. The Pentagon’s 2010 report to Congress on Iran’s military power, emphasizes that the Qods force, the elite paramilitary unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, is now deeply involved in the Americas.

     Roger F. Noriega, the former ambassador to the Organization of American States and former Assistant Secretary of State, notes that “Iranian officials have made no secret of the regime’s intention to carry its asymmetrical struggle to the streets of the United States and Europe.”

     The challenge goes far beyond ground-level threats. Germany’s Die Welt publication described the Islamic Republic’s construction of intermediate range missile launch pads on Venezuela’s Paraguana Peninsula. Both nuclear and ballistic missile threats are emerging from Venezuelan-Iranian cooperation.  Iran’s Admiral Habibollah has announced plans to send warships to the Atlantic coast of the United States.  This is far more than a “show the flag” exercise.  Having these vessels this close places American cities within range of nuclear-capable missiles.

     The Tehran/Caracas axis, encouraged by Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, is particularly troubling.  The Foundry’s Peter Brookes reports that the two nations have a Memorandum of Understanding “pledging full military support and cooperation that likely increases weapons sales… One could easily see Tehran using Caracas as a stepping off point for attacking U.S. or other (e.g. Israeli) interests in this hemisphere or even the American homeland, especially if action is taken against Iran’s nuclear program…There is concern that Iran and Venezuela are already cooperating on some nuclear issues.  There have been reports that Iran may be prospecting for uranium ore in Venezuela, which could aid both countries’ nuclear programs, should Caracas proceed...  While still prospective, of course, there is the possibility that Tehran, which has an increasingly capable missile program, could sell or help Caracas develop ballistic missiles capable of reaching American shores.”

     Despite wide-scale concern, the White House has slashed funds from the military’s Southern Command, the armed forces’ organization responsible for Latin American affairs. New York’s  police force may have the best anti-terrorist capabilities in the world. However, the threat coming from Iran is a full-scale military challenge, and Washington must live up to its responsibilities to protect both our city and our nation.