ID2002
14th July 2002, 06:56
America's Cuban Debacle
Ottawa,
As two small aircraft exploded over the usually tranquil waters of the Caribbean, one can hardly imagine that the MIG pilots who shot them down could have predicted the ramifications of their actions. Grief and rage was immediately expressed by the Cuban expatriate community in the United States over the deaths of two of their own. However, as is often the case, all is not what it seems to be. Although the shooting down of these two planes was quite rightly condemned by the international community, the dead pilots were not exactly on a quixotic mission. They were members of "Brothers To The Rescue," a powerful group of Cuban expatriates committed to overthrowing the regime of Fidel Castro by whatever means necessary. This organization was flying up to thirty-two missions per week, ostensibly to look for Cubans fleeing their homeland so they could guide them safely to U.S. shores. However, their activities have often taken on a much more invasive role. Most of their flights have involved dropping leaflets over Cuba encouraging the people to insurrect and depose Mr. Castro. On one occasion, the leader of the Brotherhood went so far as to drive a boat into Havana harbour and fire a cannon at a hotel where he thought Mr. Castro and his Russian military advisors were staying. These activities can hardly be looked upon favourably by Mr. Castro. In fact, the Brotherhood has been repeatedly warned to stay away from Cuban airspace, but has refused. Many of its members are CIA trained and some even took part in the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.
The downing of these two planes has given a powerful impetus to the Helms-Burton Bill in the U.S. This atrocious piece of legislation enables Cuban expatriates to sue foreign companies in American courts who do business with Cuba and allegedly use their "confiscated assets." This bill flies in the face of international trade agreements and sours U.S. relations with its trading partners. How could such a ridiculous piece of legislation come to pass in the most powerful nation in the world?
The Cuban expatriate community in the U.S. is affluent and politically powerful. In fact, many individuals seeking public office, especially in the Southern and Eastern United States, cannot get elected without the backing of the Cubans who only support those committed to Mr. Castro's overthrow. With a Presidential election looming this fall, we can now understand why Mr. Clinton, who had previously opposed this piece of legislation, approved it so readily.
Dr. Keith Martin, M.P.,
Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca
Ottawa,
As two small aircraft exploded over the usually tranquil waters of the Caribbean, one can hardly imagine that the MIG pilots who shot them down could have predicted the ramifications of their actions. Grief and rage was immediately expressed by the Cuban expatriate community in the United States over the deaths of two of their own. However, as is often the case, all is not what it seems to be. Although the shooting down of these two planes was quite rightly condemned by the international community, the dead pilots were not exactly on a quixotic mission. They were members of "Brothers To The Rescue," a powerful group of Cuban expatriates committed to overthrowing the regime of Fidel Castro by whatever means necessary. This organization was flying up to thirty-two missions per week, ostensibly to look for Cubans fleeing their homeland so they could guide them safely to U.S. shores. However, their activities have often taken on a much more invasive role. Most of their flights have involved dropping leaflets over Cuba encouraging the people to insurrect and depose Mr. Castro. On one occasion, the leader of the Brotherhood went so far as to drive a boat into Havana harbour and fire a cannon at a hotel where he thought Mr. Castro and his Russian military advisors were staying. These activities can hardly be looked upon favourably by Mr. Castro. In fact, the Brotherhood has been repeatedly warned to stay away from Cuban airspace, but has refused. Many of its members are CIA trained and some even took part in the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba.
The downing of these two planes has given a powerful impetus to the Helms-Burton Bill in the U.S. This atrocious piece of legislation enables Cuban expatriates to sue foreign companies in American courts who do business with Cuba and allegedly use their "confiscated assets." This bill flies in the face of international trade agreements and sours U.S. relations with its trading partners. How could such a ridiculous piece of legislation come to pass in the most powerful nation in the world?
The Cuban expatriate community in the U.S. is affluent and politically powerful. In fact, many individuals seeking public office, especially in the Southern and Eastern United States, cannot get elected without the backing of the Cubans who only support those committed to Mr. Castro's overthrow. With a Presidential election looming this fall, we can now understand why Mr. Clinton, who had previously opposed this piece of legislation, approved it so readily.
Dr. Keith Martin, M.P.,
Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca