Terrorist and Iranians in Paraguay

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Washington Times:

The U.S. has been concerned about about the presence of terrorists - as well as Iranian influence - in Paraguay, according to a cable from the WikiLeaks document dump.

A March 24, 2008, directive sent to the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion asks diplomats to collect information "on the presence, intentions, plans and activities of terrorist groups, facilitators, and support networks - including, but not limited to, Hizballah, Hamas, al-Gama'at al-Islamiya, al-Qa'ida, jihadist media organizations, Iranian state agents or surrogates - in Paraguay, in particular in the Tri-Border Area (TBA)."

The TBA, where Paraguay meets Brazil and Argentina has long been a source of unease in the West, described in 1998 by FBI Director Louis Freeh as a "free zone for significant criminal activity, including people who are organized to commit acts of terrorism."

Both the CIA and Israel's Mossad intelligence agency have long been rumored to have operatives in the area.

...
It is not clear what the attraction of the area is beyond a weak law enforcement effort by the host government. It could be a jumping off point for terrorist acts in this hemisphere. It is hard to understand what other interest these terror groups should have in the area.
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