Events in Review
Curbing Illicit Trafficking Operations A Talk by General Douglas Fraser
in january, general douglas Fraser USAF, Commander of the US Southern Command (SOUTH- COM), spoke at the Marines’ Memorial. Gen Fraser is the first Air Force officer to become USSOUTH- COM’s combatant commander. SOUTHCOM is one of nine unified Combatant Commands in the Department of Defense. Its area of responsibility encompasses Cen- tral and South America and the Caribbean. SOUTHCOM is a joint command of military and civilian personnel representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and other federal agen- cies. One of its primary missions is to
From LtGen John Kelly from page 13
to understand what the immensity of their loss might be, and the depth of the sorrow in their heart, I knew it was impossible. My sense then was it is inconceivable for anyone to understand that has not had his own heart pierced with such sadness. I learned I was right.
I’ve asked this same question of myself a million times these last months, usually when I unexpectedly caught a glimpse of him in a picture at the house, or when a thought of an earlier time came to mind, or in a quiet and unguarded moment when his loss washes over me in emo- tions I still can’t control. Since the day I had my turn standing in the door looking into the glistening eyes of a casualty officer, and the day I woke my wonderful wife and crush her heart with the news, and had to nearly pick my daughter up off the floor where she worked, I have desperately tried to convince myself that it was worth it. I have worked hard at believing his life was worth the sacrifice
14 Crossroads Spring 2012
on the altar of America’s freedom. But it all came to me the day we buried him in the sacred ground that is Arlington, at Section 60, Gravesite #9480, that it doesn’t matter at all what I think. The only thing that matters is what he thought. That he had decided it was more important to be where he was that morning in the Sangin River Valley, Afghanistan, to be doing what he was doing with the Marines and Doc he loved so much and led so well in what was at that time the most danger- ous place on earth. In his mind — and in his heart — he had decided somewhere between the day he was born and 0719, 9 November 2010, that it was worth it to him to risk everything — even his life — in the service of his country. So in spite of the terrible emptiness that is in a corner of my heart, and the corners of the hearts of everyone who ever knew him, we are proud…so very proud. Was it worth his life? It’s not for me to say. He answered the question for me.
It has been my distinct honor to have had the opportunity to be with you here this weekend. In spite of our loss I am confident that our America, this experi- ment in democracy started just over two centuries ago, will
forever remain the
“land of the free and home of the brave” so long as we never run out of tough young Americans like ours who are will- ing to look beyond their own self interest and comfortable lives, and go into the darkest and most dangerous places on earth to hunt down, and kill, those who would do us harm.
God Bless America, ladies and gentle- men, may they rest in peace, may we who loved them find peace and understanding in their sacrifice, and that the America that they so loved and protected, and gave their lives for, is forever worthy of their sacrifice. Of this I pray. Semper Fidelis.
counter illegal activities associated with illicit trafficking. Gen Fraser discussed SOUTH- COM’s key initiatives, with a focus on efforts to curb drug trafficking and weaken transnational criminal organizations. He remarked that in general, we know very little about Latin America. The US is the world’s second
largest Spanish-speaking
country and by 2050, one third of our population will have Hispanic roots. Thus, if for only demographic reasons, we should pay more atten- tion our neighbors to the south. In the last decade, Latin Amer- ica’s economy grew 3.4% in GDP and the growth last year was 4.0%,
weathering the economic downturn better than any other sub-region in the world. Latin America’s success is based on its growing trade with countries like China, exporting iron, copper and various commodities. However, corruption is endemic in the region, with a large dispar- ity of income. Police forces are not trusted by the population; there is only a 2-4% conviction rate; and transnational criminal organizations are large, well organized, ruthless and operate with impunity because gov- ernment institutions won’t prosecute. The illicit traffic is more than just drugs and includes weapons, bulk cash, humans and exotic animals.
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