Terrorism Against Cuba Remains Terrorism

The explosion was caused by a terrorist bomb planted on board the civilian jet. Months later, the Venezuelan police arrested the suspects in the terrorist attack and put them behind bars awaiting trial there for the slaughter.

The Islamic extremism had nothing to do with this attack. Luis Posada Carriles, the virulent anti-Castro explosives expert, considered the real mastermind of the attack, escaped from a Venezuelan prison in 1985. Not only regret, but, judging from their subsequent actions, continues with intent to kill again. Fifteen years later, he was again accused of terrorism, this time by a foiled attempt to assassinate Cuban President Fidel Castro in Panama during an Ibero-American Summit in that country, and he was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.

Posada Carriles had accepted his involvement in a series of explosions recorded in hotels in Havana in 1997. The attacks claimed the lives of an Italian tourist. In his long career, Posada has been an advisor to the Nicaraguan contras, unofficial security guard for the Guatemalan president Vinicio Cerezo and member of the Venezuelan secret service.

In an event chaired by the Panamanian president Mireya Moscoso pardoned Posada in 2004, just before he left office. Posada fled to Florida months after its release.

The Bush administration is now in a dilemma. It has cemented its entire political capital and its historical legacy in the "global war on terror" and Posada is an international terrorist under all possible definitions of the term, with their hands stained with the blood of many civilians. However, as emphasized in the application for asylum, was trained in the United States and worked as a CIA agent (from 1960 to 1967).

The U.S. government now has three options, none of which fits with his political agenda. The first is to prosecute Posada for illegal entry into the country.

The judge's decision on June 13, calling for a hearing migratory late August indicates that this is the path preferred by the government. However, this option does not satisfy anyone.

The second option is to extradite Posada to Venezuela for trial. Despite being the only option is disregarding the law, the Bush administration refuses to opt for extradition because it would strengthen the growing bond-Castro and Chavez presented one side of right-wing terrorism that contradicts the definitions politicized that the Bush administration uses.

The last option, a flagrant violation of international law, would grant asylum to Posada Carriles.

It's also an opportunity to apply international law beyond the geopolitical interests.

Bibliography:

CARLSEN, Laura. "El terrorismo contra Cuba sigue siendo terrorismo". [online]. [Consulted: 15-01-2008]. Available at: