The Justice Department’s recent announcement that an Iranian agent attempted to recruit a Mexican drug gang to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in the United States presents an opportunity for the Obama administration finally to draw the line on Iran’s growing presence in the Western Hemisphere.

The U.S. is at the forefront of the unconventionals revolution. By 2020, shale sources will make up about a third of total U.S. oil and gas production...by that time, the U.S. will be the top global oil and gas producer, surpassing Russia and Saudi Arabia, PFC predicts.

Merely monitoring Iran's foray into Latin America is not enough. The United States must find its way toward adopting new forward-leaning policies that will frustrate Tehran’s plans to threaten U.S. security and interests close to home.

Iran's new Bolivarian buddies--Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, and Rafael Correa --are not the most cautious cats in the Western Hemisphere. But they look like Bismarkian "satisfied powers" by comparison to the drug cartels that are an increasing part of Iran's anti-American network.

The Valentine's Day announcement of new scientific and technological achievements in Iran's nuclear program demonstrates the continued broadening and deepening of its capacities in this sensitive, dangerous field.

Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico are the three most important relationships in Latin America for the United States, and the Obama administration has succeeded in damaging each of those relationships.

A new Latin American Outlook is the first in a new series documenting Hugo Chávez's growing alliances with hostile regimes that challenge U.S. security and economic interests.

China's engagement in Latin America is not necessarily bad news- except when it comes at the expense of American interests and security in the region.