29 July 2002
Nominee to Head U.S. Southcom Discusses Threats to Security in Americas
(James Hill tells Congress: Southcom's priority is to fight terrorism)
(610)
By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- The transnational threats of arms and drug trafficking,
illegal migration, and terrorism are some of the most serious problems
affecting the security and stability of Latin America and the
Caribbean, says James Hill, President Bush's nominee to be the next
commander-in-chief of the U.S. Southern Command (Southcom).
Hill told a congressional panel that many of the region's democracies
remain fragile, because of the instability and corruption that evolve
from these transnational threats.
"Without strengthening these fragile democracies, we will not have a
prosperous, democratic, and safe hemisphere free of current societal
and economic ills," Hill said July 26 in response to a series of
questions posed by the Senate Armed Forces Committee regarding his
nomination and views on Southcom's role in the region.
A top priority for Southcom, said Hill, should be to foster regional
support for the war on terrorism by "improving partner nation
capabilities, ensuring U.S. operational access, and building reliable
coalition partners."
Terrorist groups operating in Southcom's area of responsibility in the
Americas "have demonstrated the capability and intent to conduct
violent activity ranging from anti-government demonstrations to
bombings," said Hill, who holds the rank of lieutenant general in the
U.S. Army.
Terrorist activity has been greatest in Colombia "and there is an
apparent resurgence of the Sendero Luminoso [Shining Path] in Peru,"
Hill said. International terrorist support organizations are operating
mainly in the tri-border region of Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina, he
added. Terrorists continue to make threats against U.S. civilians,
military members and diplomatic personnel, and "the full extent of
their capabilities and actions is unknown," Hill said.
On the subject of Colombia, Hill said the greatest threat to that
nation is the lack of a "safe and secure environment for democratic
institutions to take hold."
"The nexus of guerrillas, terrorists, drug traffickers, and illegal
self-defense forces has severely stressed the government's ability to
exercise sovereignty and maintain security" in Colombia, said Hill.
Hill said that he believed "rigorous human rights" protections in
Colombia will continue if U.S. aid is allowed to be extended to help
the Colombian Army fight terrorism in that country. Hill said the
U.S.-trained Counter Narcotics Brigade is the "best-trained and
-equipped unit" in the Colombian Army, and that there have been no
allegations of human rights abuses made against that brigade.
"Increased U.S. support and training will help the human rights
situation in Colombia, while enhancing the Colombian military's
capability to provide a safe and secure environment," he said.
Hill said that while he understood that there has been an increase in
Colombian coca production overall, "in those areas where
U.S.-supported Colombian counternarcotics forces operate, there have
been significant positive results."
He said that increasingly, terrorist organizations support themselves
through drug trafficking. This trend, Hill said, "is particularly
troubling in Colombia, where there are clear connections between drug
trafficking, guerrillas, and terrorist activities." In Peru, he added,
terrorist organizations may be funding themselves by protecting the
coca crop, which is used to make cocaine.
Therefore, Hill said, "there is value" in U.S. counter-drug
activities, "which disrupt a significant source of funding for
terrorism."
As described by Hill, the commander of Southcom is responsible for
U.S. military forces arrayed in an area that encompasses one-sixth of
the world's landmass and includes 32 countries and 14 protectorates
throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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