A Different Kind of Border Issue

Ever since 9/11, the Bush administration has been actively trying to link the Tri-Border region (where Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina meet) with Middle Eastern terrorist organizations. The claim is that this historically lawless region of South America is used by groups like Hamas or Hezbollah as a cash cow, funding their terrorist operations in other parts of the world. The area is a haven for drug smuggling, money-laundering, pirated CDs/DVDs etc; it also has a vibrant Arab population made up of Lebanese, Palestinians, Egyptians and others that have been established there for more than 40 years. None of this adds up to proof that any terrorist cell operates here on a large scale. This, however, has not stopped the USG from leaning heavily on the three Southern Cone nations to do something about the "terrorist threat".

Last year, Paraguay allowed us to set up camp at Base Mariscal Estigarribia and train their troops in anti-terrorism threats. This was done despite vehement opposition from local NGOs and labor unions, who believe the U.S. is only interested in taking control of the Guarani Aquifer, the world's third largest source of freshwater. Frankly, this concern is puzzling to me. While I realize that modern means of transport have become increasingly efficient as well as complex, it doesn't make sense that we would want "control" of an aquifer for our own consumption purposes if said aquifer is thousands of miles away. What are we going to do, build a water pipeline between Paraguay and the U.S.? Maybe I'm just not as familiar with the logistics of moving potable water across oceans, so if someone else has any better insight into it, please feel free to set me straight...

Anyways, U.S. pressure over terrorism concerns in the Tri-Border region have compelled Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay to form a Regional Intelligence Center in order to monitor any possible terrorist activity. The Center will be located in Brazil, in the town of Foz do Iguaçu, home of some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The goal of this taskforce is not exactly clear; if they are trying to find corruption, embezzlement, money laundering, etc., then they are looking in the right place. The region, especially on the Paraguay side of the border, is essentially a zone of no rules or regulations as well as porous borders. However, this is well-established and has been known to the governments of all three nations for years. If it is an established presence of a Middle Eastern terrorist group they are looking for, then this may be harder to come by.

It is odd that Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay agreed to this arrangement, considering how recticent these nations have become to support any U.S. economic initiative for the region as of late...

BTW, the Tri-Border region is prominently featured in the recent Miami Vice movie, which I highly recommend. It does have its share of cheesiness, but the film is beautifully shot and the story is actually very compelling. Overall, it's not your pastel T-shirts and boat-shoes MV of the 80s...just a solid action flick that actually makes you pay attention and engage in the plot, not be spoon-fed the details like an idiot via mindless dialogue or dull background rehashes....