CNS News. By Jim
Burns. Senior Staff Writer. September 21, 2001
www.CNSNews.com - (CNSNews.com) - Cuba and the United States are holding
sporadic talks on terrorism in the wake of the September 11 attacks on New York
and Washington, but those discussions, however brief, are being conducted
against a backdrop of pro-terrorism, anti-American rhetoric by Cuban dictator
Fidel Castro.
A special report detailing the Castro regime's ties to international
terrorism and its links to Middle Eastern extremists has been released, along
with a warning to not turn a "blind eye," on Castro.
The Center for a Study of a National Option, a think tank affiliated with
the Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Directorate in Miami, based its findings on
international news coverage of Castro and testimony from "experts" on
the matter.
It accused him of harboring international terrorists in his pursuit of
forming an "anti-Western front."
During a May trip to Iran, Castro was quoted by numerous Middle Eastern news
agencies as saying "Iran and Cuba, in cooperation with each other, can
bring America to its knees. The U.S. regime is very weak, and we are witnessing
this weakness from close up."
During that same trip, the Iranian Press Service quoted Castro as saying, "Iran
and Cuba reached the conclusion that together they can tear down the United
States."
On Qatar television last year, he said, "We are not ready for
reconciliation with the United States, and I will not reconcile with the
Imperialist system."
The study also noted Castro's march through Havana earlier this year with
the grandson of former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini to mark the anniversary
of the Iranian revolution, describing it as further evidence of Castro's efforts
to support terrorism against the U.S.
The report concluded that the United States should keep a sharp eye out on
Castro's Cuba in this current war against terrorism.
"Turning a blind eye to Castro on the eve of the 'first war of the 21st
century' would be tantamount to ignoring the Nazi and Fascist alliance with
Japan the day after Pearl Harbor. The enemy is 90 miles south of Key West. And
he does not hide his hatred for us," the report said.
Meanwhile, U.S. authorities are reportedly looking into possible links
between the hijackers and three Afghans arrested in the Cayman Islands.
Two weeks before the hijackings, an anonymous letter sent to a Cayman
Islands radio station warned that the three might be involved with bin Laden in
preparing "a major terrorist act against the U.S. via an airline or
airlines," according to the Times.
The day after the attacks, U.S. officials arrived in the Caymans to pick up
evidence gathered by Cayman and British investigators in their yearlong probe of
the men.
The men reportedly claimed to have boarded a ship in Turkey bound for Canada
and were put ashore in a small boat in the Caymans.
Police officials in the Cayman Islands said they believe the men entered the
Caymans from Cuba using passports issued by Pakistan. | 
