More focus on Cuba embargo than terror trail is questioned

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Apr. 30, 2004

More focus on Cuba embargo than terror trail is questioned

The Treasury Department is criticized after confirming that it is utilizing far more workers for tracking Cuba embargo violators than for tracing shadowy Mideast funds.

BY NANCY SAN MARTIN

Miami Herald


A Treasury Department report acknowledging that it has only four employees chasing Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein's money and nearly two dozen chasing Cuba embargo violators brought withering criticism on the federal agency Thursday.

''The magnitude of the discrepancy is just stunning,'' said Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., a member of the bipartisan Cuba Working Group, which favors lifting U.S. restrictions on travel to the island.

''We're chasing old ladies on bicycle trips in Cuba when we should be concentrating on using a significant tool against shadowy terrorist organizations,'' he added.
(snip)

The letter was prompted by a little-noticed Treasury report to Congress in November revealing that the agency had six times the number of agents working on Cuba embargo violations than the two full-time investigators focusing on bin Laden's money and two others looking into Hussein's wealth.
(snip)

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/8559629.htm
(Free registration required)

Santiago de Cuba, Cuba at night.


From the site of the only American who has been thrown in jail for travel to Cuba, Dan Snow. He is guilty of bass fishing in Cuba, by golly!
&imgrefurl=http://www.cubatravelusa.com/&h=333&w=429&sz=15&tbnid=FC9nIdXm7IUJ:&tbnh=95&tbnw=122&start=9&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCuba%2Bmap%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26safe%3Dactive">~~~~ link ~~~~

[ClintonTyree]

1. Not only..........

did the Bush Administration ignore terror warnings before 9/11, they seem to be fixated on things other than terror now as well. Their ideological hate for all things Cuba is standing in the way of their own self proclaimed "war on terror".
To my knowledge, Cuba wasn't involved in any way, shape or form in the 9/11 attacks but they can't let old habits die. No, Castro seems to be more important than Bin Laden to them.
The idiocy of this administration seems to know no boundaries. Unfreakingbelievable.

[Mika]

2. The Cuban gov was among 1st to offer aid to the USA after 911

News regarding Cuba & the September 11th attacks:
http://www.ibike.org/cuba/911.htm

HAVANA (AP) Sept 12, 2001 - After decades of criticizing the United States, Cuba has moved to support its northern neighbor after terrorist attacks destroyed the World Trade Center and part of the Pentagon.

Cuban television interrupted normal programming to broadcast images of Tuesday's carnage, and news shows have included updates from CNN's Spanish channel on the investigation and aftermath.

President Fidel Castro condemned the attacks and offered whatever medical assistance the Communist island could spare during a scheduled television appearance late Tuesday.

“The government of our country rejects and condemns with full force the attacks against the mentioned installations and expresses its sincerest condolences to the American people for the painful and unjustifiable loss of human life,” the Cuban government said in a statement issued hours after the attacks.

At noon in Havana, Cuban workers filed out of European embassies to observe with their foreign co-workers a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims.

The Roman Catholic Church in Cuba also said it would celebrate a Mass on Sunday in remembrance of the victims.

Throughout the city, European tourists and Cuban workers gather around televisions in hotels and restaurants, watching and talking solemnly about what happened.

[Judi Lynn]

3. You're so right, Mika.

Also, they offered the use of their airports and air space to handle rerouting, etc., and they offered all their medical resources to be available to us.

Their Latin Grammy candidates were in Los Angeles on 9/ll for the Latin Grammy Awards which were to be held that day. The ceremony was postponed, and the Cuban world-famous artists, like Chucho Valdez remained in Los Angeles until they could all give blood for the injured of that catastrophe before returning to Cuba.

[Mika]

4. And America's response to Cuba's kind offer..?

W*'s crime incorporated stepped up the refusal to grant travel visas to Cuban artists and musicians.

This is the kind of move that is turning the USA into the pariah of the Americas.