[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 11, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1448-H1449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VENEZUELA: A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of
January 4, 2007, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mack) is recognized
during morning-hour debate for 2 minutes.
Mr. MACK. Madam Speaker, last week our allies in Colombia struck a
blow for freedom against the terrorist organization known as the FARC.
As we all know, the FARC supports its war against our friends in
Colombia through drug trafficking, kidnappings, and the murder of
innocent civilians. While Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been
vocal in his support of the FARC and his opposition to the United
States and Colombia, it is now clear that Chavez is increasingly
intertwined with the FARC and is now giving aid and comfort to
terrorist organizations.
During last week's raid in Ecuador, the Colombian authorities
recovered records that clearly show that Chavez has been giving the
FARC millions of dollars, weapons, and safe passage in Venezuela. Last
night, published reports indicate that the Bush administration has
taken the first steps towards naming Venezuela as a state sponsor of
terrorism because of its support of terrorist organizations just like
the FARC.
I am pleased that the Bush administration has initiated the process
of including Venezuela on the list with the likes of Iran, Cuba and
North Korea. Madam Speaker, the time has come to once and for all take
the steps that will cripple the ability of the Chavez regime to fund
its terrorist friends and allies. By adding Venezuela to the list of
official state sponsors of terrorism, we will help do just that.
Furthermore, Congress must act now on the Colombian Free Trade
Agreement to promote freedom and prosperity in the region. By passing
the Colombian Free Trade Agreement, we will show our allies we stand
with them and against the tyranny of Hugo Chavez.
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, March 6, 2008.
Hon. George W. Bush,
President of the United States, The White House, Washington,
DC.
Dear Mr. President: I am writing to seek your support in
standing against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his
support for terrorist groups in our hemisphere by designating
Venezuela a state sponsor of terrorism.
Last weekend, our allies in Colombia struck a blow for
freedom against the internationally-recognized terrorist
organization known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC). The FARC supports its war against our
friends in Colombia through drug trafficking, kidnappings,
and the murder of innocent civilians. And, as you are aware,
the FARC has expanded their war in Colombia to specifically
target the United States by their holding of three Americans
as hostages. The attack last weekend which occurred in
Ecuador, about a mile from the Colombia-Ecuador border,
killed Raul Reyes who was a leader of the FARC terrorist
organization.
While Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been quite vocal
in his support of the FARC and his opposition to the United
States and Colombia, it is now abundantly clear that Mr.
Chavez is increasingly intertwined with the FARC and is now
giving aid and comfort to international terrorist
organizations. During last week's raid in Ecuador, the
Colombian authorities recovered several laptop computers and
records belonging to Mr. Reyes. Reports indicate that
included in those laptops and papers is evidence that Mr.
Chavez has given the FARC hundreds of millions of dollars,
weapons, and safe passage and haven in Venezuela.
According to our State Department, ``. . . state sponsors
of terrorism provide critical support to non-state terrorist
groups. Without state sponsors, terrorist groups would have
much more difficulty obtaining the funds, weapons, materials,
and secure areas they require to plan and conduct
operations.'' While Venezuela previously has been certified
by our Secretary of State as ``not fully cooperating'' with
our counterterrorism efforts, it is increasingly evident that
Venezuela now qualifies to be designated as a ``state sponsor
of terrorism.''
Designating a country that repeatedly provides support for
international terrorists, like the FARC, imposes certain
United States government sanctions such as a ban on arms-
related exports and sales and the imposition of economic and
financial restrictions. Other countries which have been
designated as state sponsors of terrorism and which are good
friends of President Chavez include Cuba and Iran.
As you are aware, President Chavez has repeatedly
threatened to cut off shipments of oil to the United States.
As I have said to you before, we cannot be held as an
economic hostage to the whims of tyrants, thugs, and
dictators like President Chavez and his anti-American allies
such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Designating
Venezuela and the Chavez regime as a state sponsor of
terrorism would likely mean an end to Venezuelan oil until
there is regime
[[Page H1449]]
change there. However, now is the time for us to stand
against President Chavez and for the United States government
to firmly protect our nation and our economy against an oil
war with Venezuela and its allies. That is why I have called
for having proactive policies in place, such as increasing
our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. I believe that it is in our
national security interest to begin increasing our Strategic
Petroleum Reserve in order to replace Venezuela's supply to
the United States. By doing this, we will let the markets
know that the United States government will protect the
American people from those who sponsor terrorism and would
use oil as an economic and political weapon against our
nation.
The FARC is despised across Latin America and many
Venezuelans are openly denouncing President Chavez for his
alliance and open support of a terrorist organization. In
President Chavez's effort to take the focus off of his failed
domestic policies and his recent loss in the December
referendum, Mr. Chavez is increasingly trying to create an
international crisis with neighboring Colombia and he is
seeking to destabilize all of Latin America. We must
recognize this gathering storm and must stop Mr. Chavez in
his tracks by designating Venezuela as a state sponsor of
terrorism. By taking this prudent step, we will be standing
against President Chavez and his menacing alliances and we
will be defending the people of the region against a
dangerous thug and dictator in Latin America.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Connie Mack,
Member of Congress.
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