\We will make no distinction between the terrorists and those who harbor them. Make no mistake, the U.S. will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts.""
With these words, President Bush placed fighting terror and evil at the top of his agenda. This policy was used as justification for invading Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as for passing the PATRIOT ACT to protect against terrorists within U.S. borders.
But if the United States is so concerned about terror, why have officials ignored certain terrorist groups in our own country? And why are they incarcerating those who have infiltrated these groups and provided information to the FBI?
For 40 years, the United States has hosted a network of terrorism in south Florida. Such groups have recruited, trained and armed terrorists to attack Cuba. In 1976, 73 people were killed on a civilian Cuban airliner. Involved in this attack was Orlando Bosch, who the Immigration and Naturalization Service classified as an ""undesirable person"" and petitioned to have deported. In fact, a Justice Department review of the case stated that Bosch ""has been resolute and unwavering in his advocacy of terrorist violence.""
However, at the recommendation of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former President Bush overruled the Justice Department and granted Bosch U.S. residence.
Unfortunately, the 1976 bombing was not the last of such terrorist acts. In the period of 1990-2000, there were 108 terrorist attacks, both in Cuba and against its Foreign Service stationed abroad.
It is widely believed that the Cuban American National Foundation has funded many of these attacks, a group which, incidentally, donates considerable sums of money to both the Republican and Democratic parties. In fact, the CANF and its political action committee made total donations of more than $1.3 million and, contrary to popular belief, around half of its donations went to Democrats. The immense political influence such PACs have among both parties might well explain our government's attitude toward terrorism against Cuba.
For example, in order to protect itself from terror attacks, the Cuban government sent Cubans to Miami to infiltrate the terror groups and gain information regarding future attacks.
After repeated Cuban requests, the FBI finally sent a delegation to Havana in 1998. Cuban intelligence gave them four large volumes of information regarding the Miami terrorist groups-each volume over 300 pages in length. The FBI was also given two hours and 40 minutes of videotapes and cassettes. The FBI apparently thanked the Cubans and told them they would get back to them in two weeks.
However, within 90 days, the FBI rounded up the Cuban intelligence officers working in Florida and charged them with espionage against the United States. Can you imagine if this would happen in a foreign country to U.S. officers attempting to infiltrate a terror group like al Qaeda?
Five of these Cuban men went on trial in Miami, even though this was an obviously hostile venue for them. After all, this is the same city from which the Grammys had to be relocated due to fears that the Cuban performers might be attacked by extremists in the Cuban-American community.
The ""Cuban Five,"" as they became known, were portrayed in the U.S. media as a ""dangerous spy ring,"" even though trial testimonies from military officials indicated that they had obtained no information relevant to American national security.
The trial continued, despite witnesses being threatened by the prosecution and the jurors themselves complaining that their license plates had been filmed as they drove away from the courthouse.
And despite the testimonies from high-ranking FBI and Southern Command officials that confirmed the five had not been spying against the United States, all five men were eventually found guilty. Their sentences ranged from 15 years to life in prison. They were also subject to inhumane lengths of time in solitary confinement. Their wives were denied visas to visit them, meaning the prisoners with life sentences might never again see their families.
Fortunately, appeals have been filed with the Federal Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Ga. ""Free the Five!"" committees have sprung up in cities worldwide and it is to be hoped, they can exert pressure on the government to provide a true fair trial for the men.
However, these arrests bring up several disturbing issues. First, what kind of justice exists in a system in which Cuban men are tried in a place as hostile toward them as Miami? It is a place where America's Watch has issued alarming reports regarding the absence of First Amendment protections for anyone who speaks out against the anti-Castro extremists.
Secondly, against what kind of terrorism is the Bush administration willing to fight? If not against the kind of terrorists who blow up airplanes and bomb hotels, then whom? Bomb a nightclub in Bali and they will come after you, but bomb a hotel in Havana and they will look the other way.
It's time for the administration to take a uniform policy against all terrorists, as well as to stop its petty vendetta against Cuba, a country that realistically is one of the least threatening forces our country is facing today. The war against violence should not be a political tool to justify invading certain countries, nor should it ignore those abuses that do not serve our immediate political interests.
For more information about the ""Cuban Five"" or to send a letter, visit
