Republican Party insiders say Mike Huckabee is about to take the initiative in Florida’s presidential primary on 29 January by calling on President Bush to prevent Iran from taking power in Nicaragua. Iran is developing close economic and military ties with Nicaragua and President Daniel Ortega, according to detailed reporing that is ignored by State, Defense and CIA. Secetary of Defense Robert Gates and Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman do not travel to Latin America and do not comment on Iran's takeover of Nicaragua. Likewise, the Republicans in Congress -- under White House pressure to bypass the Nicaragua-Iran connection --also remains silent.
US military comanders fear that the Bush Administration has made a decision to abandon Latin America. Last week, in a plea for assistance from the White House and Congress, the military commander of all US forces in Latin America (Southcom) drew attention to Iran's military buildup and said for the first time that Iran is now cooperating with the drug cartels in Latin America. Suthcom also voiced concern bout Hugo Chavez's arms buildup, his ties with Iran, and his support for revolutionary movements in Latin America. Southcom's plea for immdiate action against Iran as not picked up by a single leading US official. The US has in effect given Iran the green light to take Nicaragua, in cooperation with Hugo Chavez, who is scheduled to visit Nicaragua soon and meet with Daniel Ortega.
Iran has a two part plan for Latin America. Fiirst, Iran wants to bring Latin America's right wing and left wing terrorist groups under Hezbollah control. Second, Iran wants to use Nicaragua as a staging area for terrorism in Mexico and the US, while using Venezuela as a staging area for Caribbean terrorism and Bolivia as staging area for terrorism in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina.
Mike Huckabee's supporters hope that his call for US action to stop Iran in Nicaragua will advance five key political goals in the Florida primary election.
First, Huckabee would evoke the legacy of President Ronald Reagan, who blocked Moscow from taking Nicaragua in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Ronald Reagan is still very popular in the South.
Second, Huckabee would attract support from Southern voters for John McCain (Arizona), Mitt Romney (Massachusetts), and Rudolph Giuliani (New York City) who have very little interest in Latin American affairs.
Third, Huckabee would appeal to Republicans who want stronger US action taken to stop illegal immigration. Huckabee will say that an Iranian presence in Nicaragua and Central America would create political instability and generate a massive flow of refugees to the southern states.
Fourth, Huckabee would appeal to Florida’s Cuban-American voters who fear that the Castro regime in Cuba would survive the passing of Fidel Castro. Huckabee would say that Iran would join Venezuela in shoring up the Castro regime.
Fifth, Huckabee would appeal to Florida’s Jewish voters, who fear Iran would use Nicaragua as a base for terrorism in the region. In recent years Iran has deployed Hezbollah to Venezuela, Bolivia and Argentina for purposes of terrorism. Argentina is now investigating Iran’s involvement in terrorism in Buenos Aires that killed dozens of people during the 1990’s. Iran has refused to cooperate with this investigation.