Yahoo! February 28, 2001
1996 Attack Affects Cuba Relations
By George Gedda, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON, 28 (AP) - Five years after Cuban MiGs shot down two unarmed
Miami-based private planes north of Cuba, the fallout continues to infect
U.S.-Cuban relations, with no sign of any letup.
Partly as a result of the Feb. 24, 1996, incident, Washington and Havana
have dispensed with even the most elemental courtesies.
There is name-calling on both sides, with Cuban President Fidel Castro (news
- web sites) saying he hopes President Bush (news - web sites) is not as "stupid''
as he seems and prominent Americans, including Senate Foreign Relations
Committee Chairman Jesse Helms, R-N.C., expressing hope that death will soon
claim Castro, now 74.
Fortieth anniversary celebrations in April of the Bay of Pigs invasion are
expected to have a pronounced anti-American theme. Also, Cuba has vowed to
retaliate for the parting shot that former President Clinton (news - web sites)
took at Cuba on his last full day in office.
He issued an executive order to pay $96.7 million in frozen Cuban assets to
families of three American citizens, all Cuban-Americans, who were killed in the
1996 incident. The funds were derived from long-distance phone service between
the two countries.
In Miami, federal prosecutors in a trial of five alleged Miami-based spies
for Cuba have presented documents suggesting that the MiG attack was the result
of an elaborate plot hatched in Havana.
The planes belonged to Brothers to the Rescue, a Cuban-American group known
for efforts to save Cubans attempting to flee the island for U.S. shores.
But Cuba regards the Brothers as primarily a terrorist organization which
has engaged in provocations against the island. It says Cuban agents in Miami
who infiltrated the group were merely trying to prevent an attack on their
homeland.
But former U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick says those responsible for the
attack, including higher-ups, should be indicted. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., says
the "criminal conspiracy'' responsible "almost certainly leads to
Fidel Castro.''
Cuba maintains the two aircraft penetrated Cuban air space. An independent
investigation backed up the U.S. claim that the attack occurred in international
air space.
Clinton's decision to use frozen Cuban funds to compensate the Brothers'
family members has caused controversy.
Successive administrations have viewed escrowed funds as untouchable.
Traditionally, frozen assets belonging to an adversary country have been used as
bargaining chips in negotiations.
The Carter administration in 1981 used frozen Iranian assets to cut a deal
that freed 52 American hostages held by Iran.
Last fall, Congress approved legislation that allowed victims of terrorist
attacks to collect damages by attaching foreign nations' assets in the United
States. It stripped a provision included in earlier legislation that enabled the
president to block such payments.
The $96.7 million award, which included $41 million in compensatory damages,
was in response to a $187 million judgment granted to the families by a Miami
judge in 1997.
Clinton's reasons for issuing the Jan. 19 executive order have never been
fully explained. He could have dumped the issue in Bush's lap.
Wayne Smith, a Cuba expert and former diplomat who opposed Clinton's action,
said: "There must be a money trail somewhere.''
Smith believes that if frozen Cuban assets are to be used for compensation,
they belong to the many Americans who have property claims or wrongful death
suits against Cuba dating back 40 years.
Robert Muse, a Washington lawyer who represents U.S. corporations with
claims against Cuba, says Clinton's action "mocks the concept of equal
treatment under the law'' because it pushed the Miami relatives of three
Cuban-Americans "to the front of a line that formed 40 years ago.''
Dennis Hays, another retired Foreign Service officer who is now a high-level
official of the anti-Castro Cuban-American National Foundation, says Clinton
acted properly. He noted that Clinton showed respect for the will of the
Congress.
"This is exactly what the Congress was intent on doing - to put a price
on terrorist states. What better way to make the point that there is a price
when terrorist states kill American citizens.''
On the Net:
State Department Western Hemisphere desk:
http://www.state.gov/www/regions/wha/index.html
Cuban Communist Party newspaper website:
http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu
Bush Letter to Congress on Cuba
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by
the White House:
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides
for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, prior to the
anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal
Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to
continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this
provision, I have sent the enclosed notice to the Federal Register for
publication, which states that the emergency declared with respect to the
Government of Cuba's destruction of two unarmed U.S.-registered civilian
aircraft in international airspace north of Cuba on February 24, 1996, is to
continue in effect beyond March 1, 2001.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE, February 27, 2001.
Continuation Of The National Emergency Relating To Cuba
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by
the White House:
NOTICE
CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY RELATING TO CUBA AND OF THE EMERGENCY
AUTHORITY RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF THE ANCHORAGE AND MOVEMENT OF VESSELS
On March 1, 1996, by Proclamation 6867, President Clinton declared a
national emergency to address the disturbance or threatened disturbance of
international relations caused by the February 24, 1996, destruction by the
Government of Cuba of two unarmed U.S.-registered civilian aircraft in
international air-space north of Cuba. In July 1996 and on subsequent occasions,
the Government of Cuba stated its intent to forcefully defend its sovereignty
against any U.S.-registered vessels or aircraft that might enter Cuban
territorial waters or airspace while involved in a memorial flotilla and
peaceful protest. Since these events, the Government of Cuba has not
demonstrated that it will refrain from the future use of reckless and excessive
force against U.S. vessels or aircraft that may engage in memorial activities or
peaceful protest north of Cuba. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of
the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing the national
emergency with respect to Cuba and the emergency authority relating to the
regulation of the anchorage and movement of vessels set out in Proclamation
6867.
This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to
the Congress.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE, February 27, 2001.
Cuba Trade Embargo Likely Stays
By Philip Brasher, AP Farm Writer
WASHINGTON, 27 (AP) - The Bush administration probably won't support
relaxation of the trade embargo against Cuba beyond the narrow opening for food
sales that Congress created last year, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said
Tuesday.
Under legislation passed last fall, the U.S. government will be forbidden to
finance Cuban purchases of American food, a restriction demanded by lawmakers
opposed to Cuban President Fidel Castro (news - web sites). The government also
is barred from subsidizing such exports.
"What the Congress did last year provided some opening of the door to
Cuba,'' Veneman told a meeting of state agriculture commissioners. But she said
the administration will not support "a lot of changes'' in the legislation.
U.S. farm groups want to ease the financing restrictions, which Cuba says
will make purchases almost impossible.
When the legislation passed last fall, hundreds of thousands of Cubans
marched in Havana to protest the restrictions.
The Bush administration is working on rules to implement the legislation,
which also will allow the government to begin subsidizing food and medicine
sales to Iran, Libya, North Korea (news - web sites) and Sudan.
The government has licensed a U.S. shipper, Crowley Liner Services of
Jacksonville, Fla., to transport food and agricultural goods to Cuba. Two U.S.
companies have signed agreements to sell agricultural products to Cuba in
exchange for sugar revenue, according to the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic
Council. The companies' names and products were not disclosed.
In her public appearances, Veneman has emphasized the importance of trade to
the long-term health of agriculture and has said the administration would push
to lower trade barriers. The one notable exception to that policy is with Cuba.
President Bush (news - web sites) made clear during his campaign that he
would not change U.S. policy toward Castro's government unless free elections
are held and political prisoners are freed. Cuban-Americans in Florida, which
was pivotal in Bush's election last year, strongly supported his candidacy.
"Policy makers need to take a long, hard look at our approach to
Cuba,'' said Michael Siegel, a spokesman for Sen. Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat
who wants to end the embargo. "It serves only to hurt the Cuban people and
punish U.S. businesses who otherwise might be able to trade and benefit from
openings in the Cuban market.''
Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., who sponsored the last year's law, hasn't
decided whether to try to liberalize the financing restrictions, said spokesman
Rob Neal. The restrictions were put into Nethercutt's bill after he introduced
it.
"We're trying to deal with what's realistic,'' Neal said. "We want
to be able to give the Cubans a chance to make some purchases.'' Whether that's
possible, he said, will be dictated by Congress' mood on the issue.
The U.S. International Trade Commission said in a recent report that the
overall impact of the embargo on the United States is small, but some American
business interests, including wheat and rice farmers, would particularly benefit
from ending the sanctions. Citrus and vegetable growers would be hurt by
competition from Cuban products, the report said.
The embargo costs the United States $658 million to $1 billion in sales, or
about 17 percent to 27 percent of Cuba's imports, the report said.
On the Net:
Cuba (English-language version):
http://www.cubaweb.cu/Cub-ing/index.asp
Cuban American National Foundation:
http://www.canf.org/englishnews/index.htm
International Trade Commission:
http://www.usitc.gov
U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council:
http://www.cubatrade.org/
Cuba To Aid Dominicans for Pan Am
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic 27 (AP) - Cuba plans to assist the
Dominican Republic, which has been struggling with preparations for the 2003 Pan
American Games.
Top Pan Am officials have accused Dominican organizers of mismanagement, and
local legislators have questioned whether the country can afford to hold the
event.
On Jan. 19, the Pan American Sports Association voted to allow the Dominican
Republic to keep the games.
Cuba will send more than 30 technicians and advisers, with the first 20
officials to arrive Thursday to assess preparations, Jose Joaquin Puello,
president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, said Tuesday.
Ten Cuban doctors will also soon arrive to train 70 doctors in sports
medicine and help assemble additional medical staff, he said.
Puello returned Tuesday from Cuba, where he met with President Fidel Castro
(news - web sites). Castro also agreed to allow Dominican officials to use
Cuba's new laboratory for testing athletes for drugs, Puello said.
Cuba will pay the advisers' salaries, though the Dominican government will
provide lodging, food and transportation, he said.
Canada (1999), Argentina (1995) and Cuba (1991) staged the three previous
Pan Am Games.
Alleged Cuban Spies on Trial
By Catherine Wilson, Associated Press Writer
MIAMI, 27 (AP) - The deadly 1996 shootdown of two U.S. civilian planes came
after Cuban MiG pilots were told they were "authorized to destroy,'' an
aviation expert testified Tuesday at the trial of five alleged Cuban spies.
A transcript of Cuban cockpit tapes, translated from Spanish, was put into
context by Charles Leonard, a former federal crash investigator and veteran
pilot called by prosecutors.
The command to destroy was attributed to "U.P.,'' for unknown person.
Leonard concluded the words came from someone on the ground in Cuba.
"U.P. was giving instruction and authorizations at critical times,''
Leonard said. "U.P. is the dominant figure and the controlling figure in
the exchanges.''
A pilot and co-pilot were in the MiG 29 that fired the missiles and a MiG 23
was nearby. Afterward, U.P. said: "Congratulations to both of you.''
Four people, including three U.S. citizens, were killed when the two planes
were shot down in international airspace between Florida and Cuba by the
missile-equipped MiG. The Cessnas were owned by the Miami-based Cuban exile
group Brothers to the Rescue.
Accused ringleader Gerardo Hernandez could face a life sentence if convicted
of murder conspiracy in the shootdown. The other four defendants are not charged
directly in the 1996 case.
The five all are accused of trying to infiltrate U.S. military bases and
Cuban exile groups. The defense says the men never got any U.S. secrets and fed
information about terrorist activities by exiles to the FBI (news - web sites).
Defense attorneys also say the MiG attacked the two U.S. planes in
retaliation for a recent series of Cuban airspace intrusions by pilots with the
Miami group and only after the Cuban government warned that the planes were at
risk of being attacked.
Leonard said Cuban air traffic controllers had flight plans for the U.S.
planes and were in radio contact with them, but the attacking MiG made no
attempt to intercept or radio the planes before firing.
Letterman's Jokes Annoy CBS Boss
By David Bauder, Ap Television Writer
NEW YORK, 27) - David Letterman (news - Y! TV Coverage) has always made fun
of his bosses on the air - but this time one of them isn't laughing.
CBS chief executive Leslie Moonves said Tuesday that Letterman has carried
his jokes about Moonves' recent trip to Cuba "a little longer than I'd
like.
"Some of it is funny and some of it isn't,'' said Moonves, a frequent
target of the "Late Show'' host's barbs.
Some industry trade publications recently reported that Moonves joined a
group of other entertainment executives on a jaunt to Cuba, where they met with
communist leader Fidel Castro (news - web sites).
Letterman quickly picked up on the story. Along with mocking Moonves, he
frequently poked fun at General Electric executives when he worked at NBC, which
is owned by that corporation.
On Monday's show, Letterman had a skit, "Lunch with Les and Fidel.'' A
character portraying Castro said, "Les, throughout the decades, to insure a
strong dictatorship, I have starved my countrymen and tortured and murdered my
political opponents.''
The Moonves character answers: "The Bette Midler show was my idea.''
Moonves, in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, said his negative
review comes more because he doesn't think many viewers know who he is or care
about his trip to Cuba.
"I'm more concerned about whether it is funny or not than whether it is
about me,'' Moonves said.
But Moonves said that "Dave is Dave.'' And he said he didn't mind that
Letterman was also taking frequent potshots at "Survivor II (news - Y! TV
Coverage),'' the network's most popular prime-time program.
A spokeswoman from Letterman's show had no comment about Moonves' remarks.
Letterman has found some of his other humor touching nerves recently. The
soft drink company that makes Dr Pepper was not amused when Letterman, on a Dec.
20 episode, referred to the soda as "liquid manure.''
Dr Pepper's makers weren't placated by Letterman's insistence that he was
only joking, and complained to CBS' advertising department.
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