May 9, 2008
Colombian Paramilitary Leader Extradited to US to Face Drug Charges
Carlos Mario Jimenez-Naranjo, a/k/a Macaco, has been extradited from Colombia to the United States to face drug trafficking charges, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher announced yesterday.
Jimenez-Naranjo faces drug-related charges in the District of Columbia and the Southern District of Florida. Jimenez-Naranjo made his initial appearance today in the District of Columbia before Judge [...]
April 26, 2008
Enforcement Strategy to Combat Growing Threat of International Organized Crime
On Wednesday, US Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey announced a new federal strategy in the fight against international organized crime that will address this growing threat to the US security and stability.
The Law Enforcement Strategy to Combat International Organized Crime was developed following an October 2007 International Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOC Threat Assessment) [...]
April 18, 2008
Brazilian President: abandoning biofuels would be a ‘crime against humanity’
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, said on Wednesday that not continuing to use biofuels would be a “crime against humanity.”
“Don’t tell me, for the love of God, that food is expensive because of biodiesel,” said Lula, when talking to reporters.
Lula also stated that he was ready for a debate on biofuels. [...]
April 9, 2008
Venezuela finds The Simpsons unsuitable for TV
The animated television show, The Simpsons, has been taken off Venezuelan television after claims that the program is “inappropriate” for children. A regulator in Venezuela said that, by airing the program, the network broadcasting The Simpsons Televen “were infringing many things in the television and radio social responsibility law.”
The American drama series Baywatch Hawaii, which [...]
March 15, 2008
DHS Takes Actions to Strengthen Border Security Programs
Since September 11, 2001, the need to secure US borders has increased in importance and attracted greater public and Congressional attention.
The Department of Homeland Security has spent billions of dollars to prevent the illegal entry of individuals and contraband between ports of entry –government-designated locations where DHS inspects persons and goods to determine whether [...]
March 13, 2008
What if Chavez Isn’t Bluffing About War with Colombia?
Hugo Chavez is making news again, this time threatening war with Colombia (a U.S. ally) over the assassination of terrorist elements that have taken refuge in Ecuador. The facts aren't quite known, but it is alleged the Colombia sent military forces into Ecuador to attack members of the FARC, a terrorist group that has been [...]
Comments (2) Filed under: Europe, International Politics, OP/ED, Russia, South America, Vox Populi, War — John Bambenek @ 8:54 pmMarch 9, 2008
Government Report Claims Success with Secure Border Intiative
In November 2005, the Department of Homeland Security established the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), a multiyear, multibillion-dollar program to secure US borders.
One element of SBI is the US Customs and Border Protection’s SBI program, which is responsible for developing a comprehensive border protection system through a mix of security infrastructure (e.g., fencing) and surveillance [...]
March 3, 2008
Computer documents suggest link between Chavez and FARC
The Colombian government says it has recovered documents from the computers of slain FARC rebels that show financial ties between the leftist guerrillas and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.
Speaking at a press conference Monday, Colombia’s national police chief Gen. Oscar Naranjo said the evidence suggests Chavez had recently given $300 million to the Revolutionary Armed Forces [...]
March 1, 2008
FARC second-in-command killed by Columbian military
Raúl Reyes, senior guerrilla commander and international spokesman of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), has been killed by Colombian security forces in the southern province of Putumayo, the government said Saturday.
Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos confirmed his death in a press conference. He said that 16 other FARC rebels and one Colombian soldier [...]
February 19, 2008
Voracious fire generates panic in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina – Firemen were working to control a large fire in a party supply warehouse in the populous neighborhood of Once in the Argentine capital.
The fire began in the fourth floor at approximately 15:15 hours and rapidly spread to the rest of the building, located on 2257 Lavalle street between Pasteur and Uriburu [...]