But He's Our Terrorist
Jose Posada Carriles, a man most Latin Americans despise as a murderous terrorist, is now happily living in the United States. A federal judge recently threw out a government indictment in his immigration case because the government's case was so badly handled. Ironically, the outcome is being celebrated by many anti-immigration forces in the US. Why? Because although Mr. Posada is a terrorist, he's our terrorist, and that apparently makes him untouchable.
Rosa Brooks, who's rapidly becoming one of my favorite columnists, provides a neat survey of Mr. Posada's history in today's Los Angeles Times:
I'm talking about a man who was — until 9/11 — perhaps the most successful terrorist in the Western Hemisphere. He's believed to have masterminded a 1976 plot to blow up a civilian airliner, killing all 73 people on board, including teenage members of Cuba's national fencing team. He's admitted to pulling off a series of 1997 bombings aimed at tourist hotels and nightspots. ...
The Cuban-born Posada was trained by the CIA at the School of the Americas in 1961. From Venezuela, he later planned the successful 1976 bombing of a civilian Cuban jetliner (apparently with the knowledge of the CIA). He was arrested for the crime, but he escaped from a Venezuelan prison before standing trial.
Posada later aided Ollie North's illegal efforts to get arms to the Nicaraguan Contras, tried repeatedly to assassinate Fidel Castro and was behind a 1997 string of Havana hotel bombings. Recently declassified U.S. government documents suggest that, throughout most of his career, Posada remained in close contact with the CIA. [Emphasis added]
With credentials such as Mr. Posada's, especially his connections with the CIA, it isn't hard to figure out why his immigration case wasn't prosecuted by the A-Team or why charges of terrorism haven't been brought. He won't be deported, much less sent to Guantanamo Bay for "questioning." He isn't Islamic, which is all that apparently matters in the Global War On Terror.
The hypocrisy is stunning.
Rosa Brooks, who's rapidly becoming one of my favorite columnists, provides a neat survey of Mr. Posada's history in today's Los Angeles Times:
I'm talking about a man who was — until 9/11 — perhaps the most successful terrorist in the Western Hemisphere. He's believed to have masterminded a 1976 plot to blow up a civilian airliner, killing all 73 people on board, including teenage members of Cuba's national fencing team. He's admitted to pulling off a series of 1997 bombings aimed at tourist hotels and nightspots. ...
The Cuban-born Posada was trained by the CIA at the School of the Americas in 1961. From Venezuela, he later planned the successful 1976 bombing of a civilian Cuban jetliner (apparently with the knowledge of the CIA). He was arrested for the crime, but he escaped from a Venezuelan prison before standing trial.
Posada later aided Ollie North's illegal efforts to get arms to the Nicaraguan Contras, tried repeatedly to assassinate Fidel Castro and was behind a 1997 string of Havana hotel bombings. Recently declassified U.S. government documents suggest that, throughout most of his career, Posada remained in close contact with the CIA. [Emphasis added]
With credentials such as Mr. Posada's, especially his connections with the CIA, it isn't hard to figure out why his immigration case wasn't prosecuted by the A-Team or why charges of terrorism haven't been brought. He won't be deported, much less sent to Guantanamo Bay for "questioning." He isn't Islamic, which is all that apparently matters in the Global War On Terror.
The hypocrisy is stunning.
Labels: Hypocrisy
posted by Diane at 3:38 AM
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