Editorial. Published Tuesday, February 20, 2001, in the
Miami Herald
While U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard imposed a gag order preventing any
participant in the Cuba spy case from discussing the downing of two Brothers to
the Rescue planes, Cuban National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcón
knows no restrictions. That's unfortunate.
Alarcón continues to say that the two small places were "violating
[Cuban] air space.'' This statement has been proven false extensively in studies
done by reputable international organizations -- including the United Nations.
Independent experts have consistently agreed that the unarmed Cessna planes
attacked five years ago this week were flying in international airspace.
Yet Mr. Alarcón continues to issue this falsity, taking advantage of
gullible reporters and perhaps hoping that if he repeats the Cuban government's
lie often enough, someone will believe it. The rest of the world must not forget
that the two small Cessnas were helpless against the Cuban MiG-29, a war plane,
that shot them down in cold blood.
Cuba was not the victim in this incident and Mr. Alarcón knows it. If
a gag order is needed, it's on him. | 