The Washington Times.
EDITORIAL • March 15, 2001
A little known case, involving 14 alleged Cuban spies charged with
trying to infiltrate U.S. military bases and exile groups, has been described by
U.S. officials as the largest Cuban espionage operation uncovered in the United
States in decades. One of the defendants, Gerardo Hernandez, is charged also
with conspiracy to commit murder. The evidence of the trial points to a
cold-blooded plot by Cuban officials to infiltrate the Brothers to the Rescue
group in order to shoot down and kill members involved in a Brothers' flight
mission. The spies were tragically successful.
Radio messages from Havana, submitted as evidence in the trial, show
that Cuba decided on Jan. 29, 1996, to use lethal retaliation against the
Brothers' rafter missions. In February 1996, the Cuban regime repeatedly warned
its agents to avoid flying with the Brothers, particularly from Feb. 24 to Feb.
27. On Feb. 24, the following conversation between a Cuban MiG pilot and his
Cuban commander took place:
"Target lock-on, authorize us! . . . It's a Cessna 3-37 . . .
That's the one! Authorize us, damn it."
"Fire."
"We got him, damn it! We got him! . . . The other one destroyed!
Fatherland or death, damn it! The other one down, too!"
Cuban MiGs pursued and shot down two Cessnas, flown by Brothers to the
Rescue members, who were flying in international air space, resulting in the
death of Carlos Costa, Mario de la Pena, Armando Alejandre and Pablo Morales.
Thanks to their spies, the Cubans knew full well the Cessnas were unarmed and
unthreatening.
Despite the Clinton administration's requisite rhetoric claiming
outrage and a determination to seek justice, the White House failed to initiate
criminal proceedings against the Cubans for this premeditated, murderous act.
The on-going trial demonstrates that the Clinton administration had a
preponderance of evidence to use against the Cuban regime, but failed to act.
And a U.S. District Court found the Cuban government guilty and liable for
damages. With a new American administration, perhaps justice for the victims and
their families will finally be meted out. Attorney General John Ashcroft should
review the case and determine whether a federal grand jury should be convened.
Messrs. Alejandre, de la Pena and Costa were all U.S. citizens. Mr.
Morales was a lawful U.S. resident and Vietnam veteran. America should demand
justice on their behalf.
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