“In most cases, terrorism has failed to bring about anything that is good and noble. Indeed, the belief is that it is impossible to achieve lofty goals with dirty hands (and) that remains a problem with the U.S. policy against terrorism.’
THE United States has taken some strong positions since it was so crudely attacked on September 11, 2001 by a terrorist group. Some three thousand persons were killed in that beastly act.

In the aftermath of these events, the United States declared war against terrorism. It invaded Afghanistan and later Iraq. All of this was done in the name of fighting terrorism.

Yet the U.S. has continued to have a differential approach to terrorists. The policy of fighting terrorists does not apply to all of the cold-blooded murderers who kill innocent people in pursuit of some goals.

In most cases, terrorism has failed to bring about anything that is good and noble. Indeed, the belief is that it is impossible to achieve lofty goals with dirty hands.

That remains a problem with the U.S. policy against terrorism.

For instance, terrorism against Cuba has been historically planned and directed from the U.S. The most noted case is that of the killer, Luis Posada Carriles, who enjoys great freedom in the United States.

That criminal, along with others, also find the U.S. a sanctuary, for example, Bosch was responsible for the bombing of a commercial aircraft killing Cubans, Koreans and eleven Guyanese in 1976. Posada was arrested and was in a Venezuelan prison when he made a spectacular escape. Many are of the opinion that he was helped by anti-Cuban terrorists in Miami in collaboration with U.S. government subversive arm (e.g. the CIA).

‘Why can’t the Cubans who have risked so much to thwart terrorist attacks on their country be recognised for what they are — real patriots and heroes? Clearly, this is sheer prejudice.

The U.S. has a history of fighting against colonialism, fighting for freedom and valuing patriotism. They admire valour. However, when it comes to Cuba and Cubans, they just cannot be objective. They have been blinded by pure hate.’

While these criminals are allowed to walk free, five Cuban anti-terrorists are languishing in jail in the U.S. They are Fernando Gonzalez llort, Rene Gonzalez Schwert, Antonio Gnerrero Rodrigues, Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo and Ramon Labanino Salazar.

These men were in the U.S. and infiltrated the anti-Cuban groups that were responsible for organizing and implementing terrorist attacks on Cuba.

These same anti-Cuban terrorist groups worked closely with Posada and others in killing Cubans.

They were arrested and jailed in the U.S. If the documents of their trial were examined, we would see a lot of contradictions and clear prejudice against Cuba.

If, for instance, similar cases against nationals of another country were caught doing what the Cuban Five did, they would have been expelled by the U.S. However, these are Cubans and the anti-communist poison still contaminate the judgment of U.S. officials. Just see how different Israeli spies are treated by the U.S., although they steal military and industrial secrets.

The Cuban Five did nothing to compromise the security of the U.S. What they did was to try to prevent attacks on their country from terrorist groups working in the U.S.

Surely the U.S. government can understand this. There is no doubt the U.S. authorities are trying to penetrate terrorist groups in Pakistan, Iran, China, Russia and other places. Such persons who perform such duties on behalf of the U.S. would have been hailed as heroes.

Why can’t the Cubans who have risked so much to thwart terrorist attacks on their country be recognised for what they are — real patriots and heroes? Clearly, this is sheer prejudice.

The U.S. has a history of fighting against colonialism, fighting for freedom and valuing patriotism. They admire valour. However, when it comes to Cuba and Cubans, they just cannot be objective. They have been blinded by pure hate.

The Cuban Five have really given concrete meaning to the fight against terrorism. In that regard, they have done what the U.S. government has called for. On this ground alone, they should be released and allowed to return to their families in Cuba.