"No better example illustrates this danger than the Iranian Qods Force's attempts to work with the Los Zetas drug cartels."
"Iran is attempting to cement relations with certain Latin American countries to expand its influence and challenge the United States."
"Hugo Chavez is an able broker between Hezbollah and the narco-traffickers because I believe his regime is a narco-state."
"Iran also tries to flout international economic sanctions by using Venezuela as a major destination to ship its exports."
"International terrorist networks are expanding their ties to ruthless Mexican drug-trafficking organizations and creating risks to our Nation's borders."
"If you look at how groups evolve, particularly the FARC in Colombia, it went from being a very ideological organization until it got into the drug trade."
"I walked away with a tremendous respect for what they are trying to do."
"The narco-terrorism on our doorstep, backed by Venezuela and Iran, demands a response from those whose job it is to keep us safe."
"The problem is, is we are not moving quickly enough or treating it with the urgency I believe it deserves."
"The administrative actions are not sufficient because, let's note, Chavez has promoted people who the Treasury Department has on their list of supporters of terrorism and narco-trafficking."
"A line in the sand: Countering crime, violence, and terror at the Southwest Border."