Half-Century of Conflict Backdrop to Alan Gross Trial

[Judi Lynn]

Half-Century of Conflict Backdrop to Alan Gross Trial
By Dalia Acosta

HAVANA, Mar 4, 2011 (IPS) - More than 50 years of conflict between Cuba and the United States, and in particular Washington's consistent support for dissidents in this Caribbean island nation, will leave their mark on the trial of U.S. citizen Alan Gross that began this Friday.

Gross was arrested Dec. 3, 2009 when he was attempting to return to the U.S. after his fifth visit to Cuba in nine months. He is accused of acts against the independence and integrity of Cuba, punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.

The 61-year-old U.S. citizen works for Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI), based in Bethesda, Maryland, near Washington DC, which carries out development work in other countries. At the time of his arrest he was a subcontractor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

As well as alleged involvement in spying, Cuban sources have maintained for months that Gross illegally brought in satellite communications equipment to hand over to internal dissident groups, as part of a programme financed by USAID.

More:
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54718

Editorials:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x591283

[Peace Patriot]

1. The U.S. is spending $45 MILLION of our tax dollars to foment trouble in Cuba!

See my comment about this at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x591283

[Judi Lynn]

2. American goes on trial in Cuba on spy charges

American goes on trial in Cuba on spy charges
Jean-Herve Deiller
March 5, 2011 - 12:29PM

An American who worked as a State Department contractor in Cuba went on trial behind closed doors on espionage charges in a case that has drawn high-level US demands for his release.

Cuban prosecutors are seeking 20 years in prison for Allan Gross, 61, who was arrested in late 2009 for distributing cell phones and computers to members of the island's small Jewish community.

Shortly before the trial began in Havana, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington called on Cuba to release Gross "and unconditionally allow him to leave Cuba and return to his family to bring an end to their long ordeal."

Said Clinton: "It is a matter of great personal pain to his family and concern to the United States government."

More:
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/american-goes-on-trial-in-cuba-on-spy-charges-20110305-1bijn.html

[Judi Lynn]

3. Trial of US contractor ends first day in Cuba

Trial of US contractor ends first day in Cuba
By PAUL HAVEN,
Associated Press – Fri Mar 4, 6:59 pm ET

HAVANA –

~snip~
A senior congressional aide with knowledge of the USAID programs told The Associated Press the Cuba effort — which was ramped up under the Bush administration with the goal of promoting "regime change" on the island — was on autopilot by the time President Barack Obama took office.

"Neither the State Department nor USAID knew who all of these people were or what they were doing in the name of the US government and with US taxpayer money," he said, adding that oversight was insufficient to tell whether the programs were effective.

He said the contractors themselves designed and evaluated the programs and determined whether they were doing a good job.

"They had the mandate, the money, and political advocates in Congress," he said.

The aide, who agreed to discuss the matter only if not quoted by name because he was not authorized to discuss the programs with the media, said that "to this day" it is not clear who Gross was working with in Cuba.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110304/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_cuba_detained_american

[roody]

4. Does Cuba allow USAID to 'work' in Cuba?