Why the Obama Administration Claims Cuba Is A State Supporter of Terrorism

[Better Believe It]

In their own words:

U.S. law requires the Secretary of State to provide Congress, by April 30 of each year, a full and complete report on terrorism with regard to those countries and groups meeting criteria set forth in the legislation. This annual report is entitled Country Reports on Terrorism. Beginning with the report for 2004, it replaced the previously published Patterns of Global Terrorism.

Chapter 3: State Sponsors of Terrorism
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
Country Reports on Terrorism 2008
April 30, 2009

CUBA

Although Cuba no longer actively supports armed struggle in Latin America and other parts of the world, the Cuban government continued to provide safe haven to several terrorists. Members of ETA, the FARC, and the ELN remained in Cuba during 2008, some having arrived in Cuba in connection with peace negotiations with the governments of Spain and Colombia. Cuban authorities continued to publicly defend the FARC. However, on July 6, 2008, former Cuban President Fidel Castro called on the FARC to release the hostages they were holding without preconditions. He has also condemned the FARC's mistreatment of captives and of their abduction of civilian politicians who had no role in the armed conflict.

The United States has no evidence of terrorist-related money laundering or terrorist financing activities in Cuba, although Cuba has one of the world’s most secretive and non-transparent national banking systems. Cuba has no financial intelligence unit. Cuba’s Law 93 Against Acts of Terrorism provides the government authority to track, block, or seize terrorist assets.

The Cuban government continued to permit some U.S. fugitives—including members of U.S. militant groups such as the Boricua Popular, or Macheteros, and the Black Liberation Army to live legally in Cuba. In keeping with its public declaration, the government has not provided safe haven to any new U.S. fugitives wanted for terrorism since 2006.

http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2008/122436.htm

So I have just two questions. Why is Cuba listed a nation that supports terrorism?

The State Department fails to provide any evidence that Cuban government is a sponsor of terrorism.

How will falsely labeling them a terrorist regime help establish normal diplomatic, trade and friendly relations with the Cuban people?

This State Department action has pretty much shut down any possibility of serious discussions and exchange of views with Cuban leaders.

The response of Cuban leaders to this provocative document and false charge of terrorism has been swift, firm and I believe is justified.

Cuba should be taken off that list of four terrorist nations now!

----------------------------------

Cuba on Thursday accused the US government of being an "international criminal" after Washington lumped Cuba with Iran, Syria and Sudan on a blacklist as state sponsors of terrorism in a US State Department report.

"The author (of the report) is an international criminal," said Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

"We do not recognize any political or moral authorities from the government of the United States to create any list, on any subject, nor to certify good or bad behaviors," Cuba's top diplomat said at a press conference.

"In matters of terrorism, the government of the United States has had a long record of state-sponsored acts of terrorism, not only against Cuba."

Havana namely accuses Washington of "giving refuge" to Luis Posada Carriles, a one-time CIA operative that Cuba and Venezuela want in connection with the bombing of a Cuban passenger plane in 1976 that killed 73 people.

Posada Carriles was arrested in the United States in 2005 on immigration charges, but was released in May 2007 after a federal judge in Texas dropped the indictment.

Rodriguez also charged that the administration of former president George W. Bush "was certified by the world public opinion" as being "aggressive and warmongering," and that it violated international law and carried out torture.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090501/wl_afp/maydaycubauspoliticscastro

[dgibby]

1. Personally, I don't think the US is in any position to point a finger

at any country until we clean up our own act, reign in the CIA, prosecute and/or turn over war criminals to the World Court.

[marshall]

2. "Nuff said!

I'm glad to see it spelled out.

[old mark]

3. Despite Mr Bush's terrible misuse of power, Castro's Cuba is much

worse.
We haven't yet come close to the atrocities they regularly visit on their own citizens. They are a REAL police state. We are not.

mark

[Better Believe It]

4. Please list all of the terrorist actions Cuba has organized.

With credible links please.

Now if the State Department found it impossible to actually list Cuba's alleged "terrorist" activities I will be surprised if you can!

While you're at it list all of the documented atrocities Cuba conducted during the Bush administration.

Any documentation you can provide on Cuba's invasion of other nations, torture without trial of people they captured during their invasion of other nations, atrocities committed by their military on civilians etc., would be helpful.

Do some real research and don't just echo and accept the false claims of the Cuban-American Federation and other right-wing outfits.

They are lying to you!