This law has nothing to do with terrorism, but is simply a fascist political ploy to avoid its removal, which is inevitable and could happen sooner or later. We have a very, very different international landscape from the days of Bolsonaro and Uribe, the result of fierce struggles for the permanence of the United States and the victories of progressive presidential candidates in Mexico, Chile, Honduras, Colombia and Brazil. and pinera.
What is the “Countries Supporting Terrorism” list?
“Country Supporting International Terrorism” is a designation unilaterally applied by the U.S. State Department to countries that Washington deems to be collaborators of “terrorist organizations” and that are similarly unilaterally identified. Being on the list means facing severe sanctions of all kinds.
The “terrorist organizations” challenged by the U.S. government are:
• Al Qaeda
• Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
• National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia
• Shining Path (PCP-SL), Peru
• FARC Dissidents – EP, Colombia
• Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), Spain, France
• Revolutionary struggle, Greece
People’s Revolutionary Liberation Party, Turkey
• Irish Republican Continuing Army (CIRA), Ireland
• Authentic Irish Republican Army (RIRA), Ireland • Ansar Al Shariah, Derna, Libya
• Ansar al-Sharia Tunisia, Egypt
• Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, Egypt
• Ansal, Nigeria
• Boko Haram, Nigeria
• Al-Mulathamun Brigade, Algeria
• Shura Council around Jerusalem, Egypt
• Iraq and the Levant, the Islamic State of Libya
As you can see, they are all organizations that oppose the US, and US foreign policy in particular. No pro-American organization anywhere in the world is considered a terrorist, no matter how violent it may be. We can mention group atrocities such as:
German Alternative, Black Century, Proudhon Circle, Combat 18, National Socialist/National Activist Front of Action, South African National Front, Nationalist Front, Gesinungsgemeinschaft der Neuen Front, Revolutionary Nationalist Group, Jeune Europe, Jewish Defense Alliance, World League for Freedom and Democracy, Lincoln-88, Gray Wolves, Civil Action Movement, Pro Chemnitz Movement, Russian Nationalist Extremist Group, Terrorist Combat Organization, Lino Skachevsky Band, Pegida UK, Posse Comitatus, Lastria Swayamsebak Sang, White Society-88, People’s Union of Russia, Volkssozialistiche Bewegung Deutschlands/Partei der Arbeit, and other organizations have been “excommunicated” by the US for being terrorist organizations Needless to say, it is never mentioned by the imperialist-controlled media.
Meanwhile, the list of “countries that promote terrorism” only includes Cuba, PDRK (North Korea), Iran and Syria.
What specifically is Cuba being accused of putting on that wretched list?
Cuba was included in 1982 (Ronald Regen administration), withdrawn in 2015 (Barack Obama), and re-listed in 2021 (Donald Trump). Although it was included to provide medical and political support to members of the FARC and ETA, Cuba did not provide these organizations with weapons or paramilitary training. was returned to the list on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed that “Cuba has repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism” by harboring a US fugitive and a Colombian rebel leader. Cuba’s support for Nicolas Maduro in the Venezuelan presidential crisis is another reason to put Cuba back on the list because the Maduro regime has created “a tolerant environment for international terrorists to live and thrive inside Venezuela.” was. The redesignation came just eight days before President Trump’s term ends on January 20. There was extensive talk of an alleged but unproven “sonic attack” on Havana that was already forgotten without admitting it was a lie.
Who supports this proposed law aimed ad hoc to prevent Cuba from being delisted?
The Freedom Caucus (Caucus refers to a group within a party, such as the Latin Caucus) is made up of conservative Republican members of the US House of Representatives. It is generally considered the most conservative and far-right bloc of the House Republican Congress. In January 2015, a caucus was formed by conservatives and members of the Tea Party movement to further shift the Republican leadership to the right. Its first president, Jim Jordan, described it as a group of conservative lawmakers who were “smaller, more cohesive, more agile and more active”.
It sits on the extreme right of the political spectrum, with certain members holding right-wing populist beliefs, such as being against immigration reform, while others are openly fascist. and supports social conservatism and small government.
Since then, the Freedom Caucus has shifted its emphasis and priorities to loyalty to Donald Trump, becoming even more right-wing and ultra-nationalist, but unaffected by political principles, if any. Less. This group supports House candidates through its Political Action Committee’s House Freedom Fund (lots of money, baby).
There is no need to explain that this group is an open enemy of Cuba and its people, and is closely tied to the Cuban-American ultra-right wing in Miami and elsewhere in the United States.
More than 15 members of the Freedom Caucus will endorse and seek support for this “legislation” introduced by ultra-right leader Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27).
HR 314, “Fight against oppression until the end of Castro’s reign,” also known as the FORCE Act. The proposed bill would prevent President Jose Biden from normalizing relations with Cuba unless “freedom and democracy are restored to the island.” In other words, Cuba could not be removed from this list, let alone until the revolutionary government “collapsed”. Plus, there has to be a government favored by the ultra-right in Miami.
The latest version of the law was introduced in the Senate’s last legislative session by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and Senators Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) .
HR 314 will prevent Cuba from being removed from the list of countries supporting terrorism until it meets the requirements of Section 205 of the LIBERTAD Act (Criminal Helms-Burton Act). PL 104. Section 205 of the LIBERTAD Act requires Cuba to:
1. Release all “political prisoners” and allow international human rights organizations to investigate Cuban prisons.
2. Transition from the “Castro Regime” to a system that guarantees the right of the Cuban people to express themselves freely.
3. We will strive to conduct “free and fair elections”.
It is very interesting to note that none of these three points have anything to do with terrorism, even indirectly.
These are the same requirements that must be met to lift the embargo and sanctions against the Cuban regime. In other words, the bill would require the “Castro/Días-Canel dictatorship” to follow current US law, not Cuba, and would return Cuba to its pre-1959 status as a US protectorate. Obviously it never happens.
In addition to Rep. Salazar, the bill would also include Mario Diaz-Balart (Fl-25), Carlos Jimenez (Fl-26), Nicole Mariotakis (NY-11), Alex Mooney (WV-02), and Stephanie Vice (Ok-05). is participating in this bill. , Neil Dunn (Fl-02), Kat Cammack (Fl-03), Michael Waltz (Fl-06), Michael McCall (Tx-10), Ken Buck (Co-04), Burgess Owens ( Ut-04), Darrell Issa (Ca-48), Mark Rutherford (Fl-05), Steve Womack (Ar-03), Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon.
“The Cuban totalitarian communist regime is an ever-present threat to the national security of the United States,” said Salazar, adding, “The Castro regime is subsidizing villains across Ibero-America and making financial and military gains.” We will continue to provide support,” he added.
“The FORCE Act is important to Cuban exiles because it ensures that the Secretary of State or the President cannot remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism until it meets the minimum requirements of a functioning and free society. Not only the community of District 27, but also the thousands of my members who come from countries directly subsidized by Havana.
“For decades, Cuba has fueled instability across Latin America, backed ruthless dictators like Nicolas Maduro and Daniel Ortega, supported an illegal regime and its evil ally, the Communist Party. It has played a key role in threatening the United States by fanning large-scale immigration that benefits ideological China, Russia and Iran,” said former Florida Governor Senator Rick Scott. “Sadly, Obama and Biden’s appeasement policies have only made things worse, empowering the evil communist regime and the continued repression, imprisonment and imprisonment of hundreds of peaceful Cubans, including adolescents. , is funding torture,” he added.
Jimenez, Diaz Ballart, Mariotakis and other ultra-right Florida politicians have spoken in similar terms.
“The Biden administration will keep the “Castro administration” on its list of state sponsors of terrorism for wrongfully denouncing “thousands of political prisoners in summary trials” following the July 11, 2021 protests. We have to,” Jimenez said. “If you weren’t so serious, you’d want to laugh.”
Maria Elvira Salazar represents Florida’s 27th District in the US Congress, which includes several cities and towns in the Miami metropolitan area. She serves on the House Foreign Relations Committee and the Small Business Committee. Organizations in solidarity with Cuba and a sizeable number of US politicians who enjoy reasonable levels of mental health and common sense will oppose this Ani-Cuban monstrosity being approved and carried out.
Moreover, it is likely that Cuba will be removed from such a fateful list within the next 12 months. It provokes a very strong rejection not only within the United States, but also in Latin America and around the world.
* Cuban engineer living in the United States.
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