________________________________________________________________________ South American nations get help fighting terrorism Copyright ) 1997 Nando.net Copyright ) 1997 The Associated Press WASHINGTON (December 22, 1997 3:12 p.m. EST http://www.nando.net) -- Concerned about porous borders, the Clinton administration is helping Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay counter Islamic and other terrorist threats. U.S.-assisted training was stepped up after terrorists killed 125 people in attacks on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1994, and at the Israeli Embassy in the city in 1992. Argentina blamed Iran, which denies involvement, for the 1994 car bombing, and Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas are blamed for the 1992 attack at the embassy. State Department and Central Intelligence Agency officials visited the three countries earlier in the month to discuss counter-terrorism activities. The Miami Herald reported Monday that they discussed training intelligence officials and border guards, and that Argentine intelligence chief Hugo Anzorregui had met earlier with top CIA and FBI officials in Washington to discuss cooperation. The training ranges from teaching dogs to detect explosive devices to coaching local officials on how to guard borders. The United States provides some equipment to the countries under a program established in 1984. Overall, training in one form or another has been given to 90 countries. Congress has approved $19 million for operations for the current fiscal year. One of the administration's biggest concerns is a flourishing black market operation in a "no-man's land" border area of Paraguay and its potential link to terrorism. President Clinton, on a visit to South America in October, considered spending some "down time" between official functions at Iguazu Falls near where the three countries' borders meet. Access for a presidential entourage would be difficult, and the idea was dropped. Clinton and his wife, Hillary, spent the weekend at a mountain resort in Argentina where security posed less of a problem. The borders are relatively easy to cross illegally, and criminals, especially those involved in narcotics, have been infiltrating for years. There are hidden air strips and other means to avoid detection. Thousands of Arab immigrants have settled in the area, most of them engaged in legal commerce. But authorities are suspicious that Hezbollah and other militant Islamic fundamentalist movements could be operating in the area, with local assistance. By BARRY SCHWEID, The Associated Press
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