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!

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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