By: Daniel Nardini
I was one of the advocates for reestablishing diplomatic relations, trade and cultural exchanges with Cuba. I was one of the advocates for taking Cuba off the terror watch list the U.S. State Department keeps on those countries guilty of promoting or aiding terrorist groups. And I was an advocate for fully allowing all Americans to have the freedom to go and travel to Cuba without going to third countries or fear U.S. government prosecution. That was before the Alan Gross affair. In 2008, the Cuban government arrested a USAID employee named Alan Gross whose only “crime” was providing Internet equipment to try and connect the small Cuban Jewish community in Havana to the world.
The truly crazy thing about this case is that Gross was not stopped and arrested at Havana’s international airport, nor did the Cuban government bother with following Gross during the times he did visit Cuba before (he visited Cuba four times. Why did they not try to stop him then?). The Cuban government grabbed him and threw him into prison because he has become a bargaining chip for the Cuban government wanting its five Cuban spies in the United States plus any “concessions” they can get from the United States. Why the Cuban government chose this wicked act at a time when it might have gained concessions as a result of a changed political atmosphere in Washington, D.C. is subject to speculation. Even with the possibility that the U.S. government might want to change its relationship with Cuba, it cannot do so now since the Cuban government holds an American national it knows is innocent and is trying to blackmail America.
This sort of thing does not go well in America or among Americans (including me). Current U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is now considering whether to keep or remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsoring terrorism. I believe that for the time being Cuba should be kept on this list. It is both symbolic and economic pressure that should hopefully force the Cuban government’s hand. Being on the list means that the Cuban government cannot get international bank loans and cannot receive any form of aid from the United States. Taking Cuba off the list now would not only be awarding Cuba for bad behavior but take away pressure from the Cuban government in releasing Alan Gross. If something should happen to Gross. the U.S. government should then consider a military option towards Cuba. Until the Cuban government comes to its senses and unconditionally releases Alan Gross, no improvement should take place between the United States and Cuba.
Keep Cuba on the State Terror List
By: Daniel Nardini
The truly crazy thing about this case is that Gross was not stopped and arrested at Havana’s international airport, nor did the Cuban government bother with following Gross during the times he did visit Cuba before (he visited Cuba four times. Why did they not try to stop him then?). The Cuban government grabbed him and threw him into prison because he has become a bargaining chip for the Cuban government wanting its five Cuban spies in the United States plus any “concessions” they can get from the United States. Why the Cuban government chose this wicked act at a time when it might have gained concessions as a result of a changed political atmosphere in Washington, D.C. is subject to speculation. Even with the possibility that the U.S. government might want to change its relationship with Cuba, it cannot do so now since the Cuban government holds an American national it knows is innocent and is trying to blackmail America.
This sort of thing does not go well in America or among Americans (including me). Current U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is now considering whether to keep or remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsoring terrorism. I believe that for the time being Cuba should be kept on this list. It is both symbolic and economic pressure that should hopefully force the Cuban government’s hand. Being on the list means that the Cuban government cannot get international bank loans and cannot receive any form of aid from the United States. Taking Cuba off the list now would not only be awarding Cuba for bad behavior but take away pressure from the Cuban government in releasing Alan Gross. If something should happen to Gross. the U.S. government should then consider a military option towards Cuba. Until the Cuban government comes to its senses and unconditionally releases Alan Gross, no improvement should take place between the United States and Cuba.