Iran “subversive” threat to LatAm says Robert Gates

Latin America has become a site of "subversive activity" by Iran, according to statements made today by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Regarding recent inroads made by Iran in counties like Venezuela and Nicaragua, Gates said that the Central Asian country has “a lot of offices and a lot of fronts behind which they interfere” in Latin American states. (He didn't provide further details, however).

Gates’ remarks came during a Senate hearing on last month’s Russian naval exercises in Venezuelan waters. He tried to downplay Russian activities in the Americas and claimed that Iran is a much greater concern:

Gates didn't say just what he thinks Iran is up to militarily. But he called Iran a threat there that Russia, despite high-profile maneuvers, is not.

Gates shrugged off Russian naval tours in places like Venezuela. He said that if Russia hadn't raised alarms by invading Georgia last year, he would have invited Russian ships to dock in Miami as well.

He said the Russian sailors would have had more fun there than in Caracas.

Is Iran as big of danger to the Americas as Gates claims? Is he being to flippant towards Russia? What do you think?

Image- washingtonpost.com (“Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega (L) welcomes Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the international airport in Managua, Nicaragua, Saturday, Jan, 13, 2007”.)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Reuters, AP