Thread: Border as terror route worries U.S.

By Stewart M. Powell
Published 9:30 p.m., Saturday, August 11, 2012


A July 18 deadly bombing of a bus in Bulgaria carrying Israeli tourists has raised concerns about the possibility of a terrorist attack in the U.S. by Iran or its allies. Photo: STR / AP2012

WASHINGTON - Ever since Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad struck a deal with Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez for weekly air service between the nations' capitals, American officials have worried that Iranian-backed terrorists could reach to the rim of Latin America, pick up fake Venezuelan passports and sneak into the United States.

Now, with growing talk of a pre-emptive Israeli attack to slow Iran's suspected nuclear arms program, Iran has threatened that it would retaliate across the globe. And its easy access to the Western Hemisphere has the U.S. particularly concerned.

The commercial service between Tehran and Caracas by Iran Air and Conviasa Air Venezuela, including a stop in Damascus, Syria, is so secretive that there's confusion among intelligence agencies about whether the flights are continuing. Israel believes they are; the U.S. isn't so sure.

Nevertheless, American fears are elevated.

Border as terror route worries U.S. - Houston Chronicle

I'd call this political propagada - if this type of thing worried any American official of any high office in two admins., that border woud be secure by now.