Castros love to support terrorists

Castros love to support terrorists
By Frank Calzon
May 28, 2009

In 2008, "Cuba remained a state sponsor of terrorism," according to a
report just issued by the State Department. But Havana says the United
States is "an international delinquent that has engaged in terrorist
actions." The report lists Cuba and Venezuela as "governments who fail
to fully cooperate with U.S. anti-terrorist efforts," but the Brookings
Institution, part of the anti-embargo lobby, says Cuba's actions are
"not a matter of concern for the anti-terrorist programs of the United
States." The Obama administration disagrees.

It is one thing to argue about U.S. policy and whether to lift what's
left of the trade embargo; it is quite another to deny the evidence and
historical record of Havana's support of terrorism. Since 1982, Cuba has
been on the list, issued by both Republicans and Democrats, of states
supporting international terrorism. For years, Ana Belen Montes, a
high-level Defense Intelligence Agency analyst, tried to do so. After
pleading guilty to spying for Havana, she was sentenced to 25 years in a
federal penitentiary.

Early on, Ché Guevara defended "revolutionary terror." Fidel Castro, his
remarks dutifully reported on the pages of Granma, Cuba's official
daily, is on tape boasting: "If the Cuban state opted for engaging in
terrorist acts, to respond to terrorists with terrorism, we are sure we
would be very efficient terrorists. Let no one think otherwise. If we
dedicated ourselves to terrorism, there is no doubt we would be very
efficient." He said that "although the Cuban revolution has not made use
of terrorism does not mean that we renounce doing it…Let this be a warning."

His warning unheeded, his record of efficient terrorism is irrefutable.
In 1996, in daylight, Cuban warplanes shot up two American civilian
aircraft in international airspace over the Florida Straits. Four men,
including three U.S. citizens searching the seas below for refugees,
were murdered. Raul Castro was then Cuba's minister of defense.

President Clinton denounced the crime. The United States, he said, would
not rest until the perpetrators were punished, but the Castros awarded
medals of valor to the assassins. Terrorists continue to enjoy safe
haven in Cuba. Birds of a feather do fly together: Havana maintains a
close relationship with North Korea, Iran and other rogue states.

Frank Calzon is executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba.

Castros love to support terrorists -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com (28
May 2009)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cuba/sfl-cuba-terrorists-forum-m05280pnmay28,0,160007.story