“The
three documents — two cables and a diplomatic note — all relate
to the 1997 Havana hotel bombing campaign, which was masterminded by
Cuban exile militant Luis Posada Carriles and financed by members of
the powerful Cuban American National Foundation.”
“There
is nothing especially new in any of the documents, except the claim
the US Government asked the Cubans in diplomatic notes on at least
five occasions that summer (July 13, August 7 and 21, and September 5
and 11) to 'furnish all information it may have in its possession
that concretely links US persons or organizations to any of the
explosions.'”
“The
first document is an unclassified cable from the US Interest Section
in Havana to the State Department, the White House and more than a
dozen American embassies. The subject heading: 'FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS
U.S. RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSEQUENCES OF RECENT HAVANA BOMBINGS.'”
“The
note focused on statements Cuban Foreign Minister Robert Robaina had
made in Granma, the Cuban government daily newspaper, in which he
said the United States government had 'supported the recent
explosions at Havana hotels and would be responsible for whatever
consequences that arise… Robaina said that over the years the
[Government of Cuba] has given the [US Government] sufficient proof
to convict individuals of such crimes, but that US courts prefer to
listen to politicized arguments of the defense.'”
“The
cable quoted from its own diplomatic note in response: 'Clearly only
the Cuban side can be responsible for the consequences of its failure
to provide relevant information and evidence.' In a later diplomatic
note referenced in the second cable, the US again urges the Cubans to
share information and promises: 'If the Government of the Republic of
Cuba furnishes the necessary information and evidence of US-based
criminal wrongdoing, the United States Government will take the
appropriate law enforcement steps.'”
“Fast
forward less than a year later to June 1998 when Cuban State Security
finally did share the evidence it had gathered with the FBI during
three days of meetings in Havana. The FBI promised to investigate
and report back to the Cubans. Instead, three months later, they
arrested… not the terrorist plotters but the Cuban intelligence
agents who’d helped uncover their plots.”
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