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 Whose War on Terror?Posted on May 20, 2011
By Barry Lando At a time when the White House is spending hundreds of billions and has dispatched killer teams to liquidate Osama bin Laden and lesser targets, imagine what the leaders of other countries—Cuba, for instance—might do if they declared their own war on terror. That question is evoked by a disturbing new documentary chronicling the past half century of Cuban-American relations, “Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up.” Written and directed by radical, Emmy-Award-winning filmmaker Saul Landau, the report shies away from revolutionary cant and vague rhetoric. Instead, Landau backs up his case with research and interviews that, taken together, represent a damning indictment of U.S. policy. Most of the facts he cites are not news to those who have closely followed relations between Cuba and the U.S. since February 1959, when Fidel Castro came to power. But the great majority of Americans have not paid attention. And most of what they have been told has been filtered through a Cold War prism that continues to warp U.S.-Cuban relations. Washington’s war against Castro began long before May 1961, when he declared himself a Marxist-Leninist. Indeed, almost from the time that Castro marched into Havana and made it clear his revolution was the real thing, American presidents—Republican and Democrat—have attempted to combat and overthrow his regime by every possible means, from an embargo that strangled the country’s economy to allowing Cuban exiles operating from Florida to attack Cuba’s refineries, infrastructure and sugar cane fields and assassinate government officials. Of course, there were also notorious attempts by the CIA to kill Castro himself. And then came the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. Incredibly, after Cuba charged—accurately—that the U.S. was behind the invasion, U.N. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson had the gall to “categorically” deny the allegation: “The United States has committed no offense against Cuba and no offensive action has been launched from Florida or any part of the United States.” As part of the agreement ending the Cuban missile crisis in the fall of 1962, President John F. Kennedy pledged that the U.S. would not invade Cuba, but the White House and the CIA continued to support radical U.S.-based exile groups that were intent on using terror and violence to topple Castro. Advertisement All this, of course, would have been immediately denounced and massively countered by the United States if such a campaign had been waged against the U.S. or its allies by the likes of Iran, North Korea, Hamas—or Cuba. On several occasions, Castro attempted to negotiate with the U.S. government, and there were Americans who argued for a change in policy. As John L. Burton, the former president of the California Senate, put it, “We do business with all sorts of bad quote undemocratic countries without free elections, but we pick on Cuba because we can, because they’re small, because there’s political benefit to doing it in Florida.” Even after the end of the Cold War, millions of voters in Florida still view the struggle to bring down Castro as a holy crusade, which is the reason no American president—including Barack Obama—has had the guts to change course. In effect, Florida is the only state with its own foreign policy. In the face of unrelenting attacks from U.S. territory, Castro’s government did what any government would have done: It dispatched intelligence agents to the U.S. to infiltrate radical exile Cuban groups and thwart their plans. One of the groups they targeted was Brothers to the Rescue, which flew small planes out of Florida to buzz Cuban cities and drop anti-Castro leaflets and propaganda. According to Landau’s report, the group was also experimenting with weapons that could be fired from the air. In 1996, Fidel Castro told visiting Bill Richardson, now the former governor of New Mexico, “You’ve got to tell your government to get control of these people.” Castro also said: “What would the U.S. do if the Cubans flew over Washington? How long would that plane last?” Richardson relayed the message to Morton Halperin, point man for Cuba on President Bill Clinton’s National Security Council staff. Halperin said he would raise the issue with the Federal Aviation Administration. The flights continued. In addition, a top Cuban official asked Saul Landau to alert Halperin that there would be drastic consequences if the U.S. didn’t stop the flights. According to Landau, Halperin indicated he would have the FAA cancel the licenses of the exile Cuban pilots. But the FAA didn’t. And on Feb. 24, 1996, Cuban MiGs shot down two of three small Cessnas over international waters, killing their occupants. Clinton, who reportedly had been hoping to loosen American policy toward Cuba, instead was forced by political pressure to further tighten the embargo.
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By bogi666, May 23, 2011 at 1:25 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
gerard, I am of the “duck under…” generation.It was the USG terrorizing school children and obedience training. The “duck…” exercise was conducted nationwide in rural locations that would not be targeted with nukes. This means it was obedience training, by the USG,using terror.
Report thisBy TDoff, May 21, 2011 at 5:33 pm Link to this comment
This may sound counter-intuitve, but the argument could be made that the reason the US is so effed-up is that we are too moral, too idealistic, too much on the straight-and-narrow.
If most, or all of US were crooks, thieves, con artists, fraudsters, and amoral sob’s, 99% of US could be mega-rich plutocrats, leaving only a few poor stragglers behind. All US plutocrats could spend all our time fighting among ourselves to see who was going to rape the cutest foreigner-chambermaid or housekeeper, or build the longest yacht, or own the biggest sexual prosthesis.
We’d fight about which of us owned the most politicians, and whether our politicians were richer than yours. We’d fight about who paid the least taxes, and who got the biggest refunds from the government. We’d fight about who got the most of our dictated ‘wish lists’ written into US laws, and which of our lobbyists were the most subservient.
And while we were fighting all these battles here at home, we’d be so busy we’d neglect the foreign wars we direct, and give the rest of the world a chance to est, quit dying and being maimed. And decide if they were as wantonly, destructively, criminally avaricious as US, and really wanted to emigrate here, and emulate US.
Or Not.
This is a path that could make US a peaceful nation, and solve our illegal alien problem at the same time.
Report this‘Course, the US nation would still be broke, but we US Plutos would still all be rich.
By TDoff, May 21, 2011 at 3:28 pm Link to this comment
I’ll second this:
By THX 1133, May 21 at 4:04 am Link to this comment
ardee, May 20 at 4:48 am
Blackspeare, May 20 at 2:12 pm
gerard, May 20 at 3:56 pm
and last but far from least;
FRTothus, May 20 at 6:13 pm
===========================
Wow! You guys pretty much got it covered; good stuff!
That’s all I got! Cheers.
Now we all agree what’s effed-up, the only remaining question is how and when to fix it.
Report thisBy MarthaA, May 21, 2011 at 9:18 am Link to this comment
All the wars are not in the best interest of the 70% majority common
Report thispopulation, and the 70% majority common population do not go
along with the wars, but the 10% Aristocratic Ruling Class along with
the 20% Middle Class do not see any need to pay any attention to a
majority populace that doesn’t even recognize their own class and
culture and don’t even know that they have no representation in
Congress in the making and enforcing of legislated law and order.
By gerard, May 21, 2011 at 9:02 am Link to this comment
Reminder: Any time a country has its school kids
Report thisducking under their desks for protection from atomic bombs, you know your country is its own worst enemy.
By Cliff Carson, May 21, 2011 at 6:35 am Link to this comment
FRTothus
Excellent. Your truth is solid.
Report thisBy bogi666, May 21, 2011 at 5:46 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
“Florida, the only state with a foreign policy of its own” and Florida, because of the electoral college has been able to elect Presidents, Bush and Nixon. The fact that these Cuban malcontents have been able to elect Presidents who have no concern for the country as a whole, but in fact are President of Cubans.
Report thisBy ardee, May 21, 2011 at 3:28 am Link to this comment
Blackspeare, May 20 at 2:12 pm
For some reason the USA is paranoid about Socialism and it’s half-brother Communism.
Just a small correction. Per Marx, Communism was to be the evolutionary result of Socialism and not its “half brother”.
There has not been to date a true Communist nation as envisioned by Marx and Engles. All attempts so far have fallen to the curse of elitism.
Steve, May 20 at 11:09 am
One should be familiar with one’s subject, and give it a bit of thought as well, prior to commenting upon it, dontcha think?
But regarding Brothers to the Rescue, what is wrong with using a plane dropping anti-government leaflets? Maybe it would be better if there were freedom of speech and political activity in Cuba so people could freely engage in political debates without fear of reprisal.
So, you have no problem with planes from , oh say, Venezuela, or Iran, or wherever, dropping leaflets over our cities then? Air space violations are fine when we do it because we are the greatest nation on the planet, are approved of by god, and what we choose to do is gods work after all, right?
As to Cuban elections, there were always candidates opposing Fidel, always large turnouts and ,according to the Carter Commission, those elections are honest as well. That the Cuban Justice system is in dire need of overhaul is true enough, but your comments are in error and show that you have drunk the kool aid. At least you are not thirsty…..
Report thisBy THX 1133, May 21, 2011 at 3:04 am Link to this comment
ardee, May 20 at 4:48 am
Report thisBlackspeare, May 20 at 2:12 pm
gerard, May 20 at 3:56 pm
and last but far from least;
FRTothus, May 20 at 6:13 pm
===========================
Wow! You guys pretty much got it covered; good stuff!
That’s all I got! Cheers.
By MarthaA, May 20, 2011 at 5:55 pm Link to this comment
It’s the Bush administration’s Conservative Revolution terror wars.
The Conservative Obama administration
inherited these terror wars and should be pulling out of the terror
wars for the sake of the nation that can’t afford all these wars with
only cost and no benefit, but so far not.
Is all these Conservative wars suppose to help in the separating of the haves
from the have
nots? I think so.
http://www.independent.com/news/2011/apr/29/big-con-job/?print
Report thisBy MarthaA, May 20, 2011 at 5:40 pm Link to this comment
It’s the Bush administration’s Conservative Revolution terror wars.
The Conservative Obama administration
inherited these terror wars and should be pulling out of the terror
wars for the sake of the nation that can’t afford all these wars with
only cost and no benefit, but so far not.
Is all these Conservative wars suppose to help in
the separating of
the haves from the have nots? I think so.
http://www.independent.com/news/2011/apr/29/big-con-job/?print
Report thisBy FRTothus, May 20, 2011 at 5:13 pm Link to this comment
If a democratic republic was the best government
offered why be afraid of Socialism/Communism?
If I may…
The elite will call a dictatorship of their peers,
Report thischosen for their wealth, protected by the laws that
they write, in a Hobbs-ian society, in which those
who can buy people whose allegiance is for sale, and
hire armies, did not have in mind the object of
giving the common people any say in the affairs of
George Washington’s nascent empire, “democratic”.
It’s a great trick. The people, and their opinion(s)
might be allowed written expression unless against
the domestic threat of capitalist callousness, but
the common man has no business being anywhere close
to decision-making, from the founders’ point of view.
The people are kept at arm’s length, “represented” at
every election, the final decisions always up to the
delegate or the elector, and it’s much easier to
bribe just one guy.
We are ruled. We do not have popular government, and
that is why (imo) the State is so paranoid and
violent. We do not have plebiscites; major opinion
polls are not published in the papers, although in a
free society the fact that the opinions of the
majority, by wide margins, and consistent over many
years, is FAR to the left of what little the public
knows about what their alleged democratic republic is
up to, would be front page news, but in the Mafia
world ruled by two crime “families” that provide the
drama that distracts with red herrings and false
claims, never telling the truth, so as not to make a
habit of it, up is down. This country was to be
ruled by the Senate, men most removed from the
popular will, protected by men in the courts they
would appoint away from the “meddlesome outsiders”
who, owning nothing, would get to decide nothing, but
duped into thinking that they owed allegiance to
those who would seek to rent them, take from them
their meagre pay, make it so they ever owed their
lives to the company store. And so long as the
subjects confine their disapproval to words on paper,
and keep their heads down, pay their taxes, take out
and pay mortgages and buy into the notion that
happiness or contentment could be satisfied with a
bought thing, and that it is reasonable for a person
to be bought or rented or sold, discarded at will,
then all would be well. If the people get out of
hand, a repeat of Kent State, and other heavy police
state atrocities will be employed to keep the rabble
in line. No protest will be allowed to remain
peaceful, the FBI having long been used as agents
provocateur, a red-white-and-blue political police
force, now more militarized, but as crooked and
vicious as ever. The only thing the American people
have ever had to fear was fascism, and it has taken
hold in ways most can no longer even recognize, for
the truth of the hold by the minority who own all
that’s worth owning is so extensive, the control of
what is written or published so nearly circumscribed,
the propaganda so constant, that the people have been
like the villagers who have heard the boy cry wolf a
few too many times, a nation of traumatized no-
nothings, who believe everything and nothing, are
aggressive and hate anything if given a chance,
especially each other. YouTube comment section, for
example, is a hate-fest. We have been atomized and
suburbanized and think we are “clever and class-less
and free”, encouraged at every turn to just worry
about ourselves, “mind your own business”, while we
claw to “get ahead”. No one will tell us that alone
we are nothing, that only together do we have any
import, and only then when we stop talking and start
acting, stop giving our consent by word or deed. We
must hold our noses and organize. We must care what
happens to the orphan across town who has nothing to
eat, nowhere safe to sleep; we must care about
someone’s grandma or grandpa who can’t afford heat.
An injury to one is an injury to all.
By MarthaA, May 20, 2011 at 4:36 pm Link to this comment
It’s the Bush administration’s terror wars. The Obama administration
Report thisinherited these terror wars and should be pulling out of the terror
wars for the sake of the nation that can’t afford all these wars with only
cost and no benefit for the majority population.
By gerard, May 20, 2011 at 2:56 pm Link to this comment
Good little naive question, blackspeare. Why, indeed. Trial balloon answers:
Report this1. Because, in order to believe your country is “better” you need to believe that other countries are “worse”?
2. Because it’s easier to criticize others than to correct your own mistakes and shortcomings.
3. Because if you can make people afraid of a place that is “different” that scares your people, and hence they are easier to control.
4. Because in a democracy, if a rich enouth, sizeable enough minority makes a huge stink about something, they command attention and political power as a “voting block.”
By Okasis, May 20, 2011 at 2:01 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Good article and some good comments. But, the article, and perhaps the movie, leave out one of the most disturbing and damning bits of terrorism committed in our name.
The CIA released a modified form of Dengue Fever into Cuba, and also some animal diseases that severely damaged their agriculture. The Dengue Fever was especially damaging to children. Adults usually survived it, but kids did not. I cannot remember the fatality count. 300? 3000? Either one would be devastating in a small close knit society.
Then there was Operation Peter Pan, which incited terrified parents to ship off their young children to Miami to protect them from the godless Communists.
Several thousand children were given entry visas and flown to the US. Many never saw their families again. Some were adopted, but others grew up in Catholic orphanages [The Church was a prime supporter of this program]. I sometimes wonder how many of these kids were abused by the Priests who were supposed to care for them.
A personal note: During the 2nd World War, my mother had to put both my brother and I in a Catholic Orphanage in Seattle for a month or so because she had no way to take care of us and work too. I was 3, but I still remember the night I wet the bed and the ‘sister’ put my wet pants on my head to teach me a lesson. There were other small tortures, like no breakfast because I cried, etc. No wonder I am neither a Catholic, nor a Christian!
Report thisBy Blackspeare, May 20, 2011 at 1:12 pm Link to this comment
Interesting comments on this article, but one has to understand the underlying reasons for the US anti-Cuban position and it didn’t start in Cuba. It started in 1917 with the Marxist Revolution and continued on into Central and South America. For some reason the USA is paranoid about Socialism and it’s half-brother Communism. The question is why the paranoia? What was the USA afraid of? If a democratic republic was the best government offered why be afraid of Socialism/Communism?
Report thisBy maruata, May 20, 2011 at 1:00 pm Link to this comment
A wonderful article that captures concisely the lengthy and complex terrorist
activities and hypocrisy of Cuba’s giant neighbor. Any president who continues to
play to the Florida vote by enforcing the embargo is simply proving that they have
no real power.
International banks and global corporations control the U.S. whose President, on
strings, is merely gesturing and nodding to their every will. The same goes for
every major position of power in the land.
Time to invite the Egyptians over for some expert lessons in people power!
Report thisBy LibyaWest, May 20, 2011 at 12:17 pm Link to this comment
Who’s the terrorist? that lying, baby-killing, torture-loving, war mongering, mass-murdering, jig-dancing traitor, barrage insane o’bomber.
Report thisBy Cliff Carson, May 20, 2011 at 12:07 pm Link to this comment
Yes CarlG
America has become the tool of the Rich and powerful. And our elected Government has become the hired Mercenaries of the Government that actually runs our Country - The Shadow Government. I’m talking about the boss behind the curtain.
What is even worse is that the majority of this Shadow Government may not even be composed of American Citizens.
I was watching the Obama body language today explaining his revised stance on the Israeli / Palestinian peace initiative.
Looked to me that the Israeli Lobby took him to the wood shed and “splained” to him how it was a’gonna be.
Anybody else get that feeling?
Report thisBy Steve, May 20, 2011 at 10:09 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Mostly good comments. But regarding Brothers to the Rescue, what is wrong with using a plane dropping anti-government leaflets? Maybe it would be better if there were freedom of speech and political activity in Cuba so people could freely engage in political debates without fear of reprisal.
Report thisBy CarlG, May 20, 2011 at 10:04 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
My uncle’s second wife was born to a wealthy Cuban family. They fled Cuba when Castro came to power. She vehemently hated him. One day as she was recalling her life in Cuba, she told me how as a child she would beat the servants with her riding crop if they didn’t properly help her into her saddle. Wonder why they revolted?
Report thisOur government has become the tool of the wealthy. The rest of us are here solely for their use and abuse.
By Jimnp72, May 20, 2011 at 9:49 am Link to this comment
stopping the foolishness with cuba and normalizing relations would be a big financial boon to the cuban govt and their rich cronies. Then the trump plaza south, Harrah’s south, etc etc. etc can glut and destroy all of their beautiful shoreline, while the ghettos a few blocks away continue to fester. Just like here.
Report thisBy poonckie, May 20, 2011 at 9:16 am Link to this comment
There in lies the rub. We have the luxury of being the only Country in the World that can invade, slaughter, kidnap and crush any Country we target. We don’t even need a weak excuse anymore and anyone who questions what is being done in our name is labled and/or marginallized. We reserve the right to be the worlds most murderous and aggressive nation on the planet. God is on our side.
Report thisBy Arabian Sinbad, May 20, 2011 at 8:35 am Link to this comment
Good comment, ardee! I concur and I am constantly mentally tortured every time I am reminded of the atrocities and evils that our so-called democratic governments have been doing in our names and our taxpayer money.
I am tortured to the point that there are times I entertain the thoughts of my deserving to be killed in a counter-terrorist attack by some aggrieved group or country wishing to give us a taste of our own medicine!
Report thisBy SarcastiCanuck, May 20, 2011 at 7:59 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
All of this information is well documented with credible witnesses from both sides.Even ex-CIA agents have disclosed this as truth.This is just one more reason that the U.S. is seen as both hypocritical and dishonest on the world stage.Then you have actors like Hillary Clinton pontificating to the rest of the world about America’s committment to freedom and self determination.It all falls on deaf ears now.The jig is up…
Report thisBy ardee, May 20, 2011 at 3:48 am Link to this comment
The facts of US harrassment and intervention in the affairs of Cuba are well documented , as the article above plainly shows. Ironic that Fidel was expecting to be a friend to the US after the revolution. We cold shouldered him prior to the USSR installing missile bases on that island.
With a populace to feed Castro was forced towards alliance with our “enemy” in the cold war. Further, when we withdrew our factories Castro turned all those empty buildings into schools, resulting in a higher literacy rate than we enjoy here in the belly of the beast!
There is no doubt in my mind , and there should be none in yours as well, that our country is the greatest terrorist threat on this little blue ball we inhabit. Its all done in our name, do not ever forget that, let it prey upon your conscience as it does on mine.
Report this