Cuba Kills 4 Exiles Trying to "Infiltrate" Island by Boat as U.S. “Medieval Siege” of Cuba Continues
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Four Cuban exiles were killed and six injured in a shootout with Cuban border troops off Cuba's northeast coast.
- ❖The Cuban government accused the exiles of attempting a 'terrorist infiltration,' citing weapons, Molotov cocktails, and camouflage gear found on their speedboat.
- ❖US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the US would investigate the incident independently, not relying on Cuban accounts.
- ❖The US has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba since 1962, which was significantly tightened by the Trump administration, particularly an oil blockade.
- ❖The tightened sanctions have led to a severe humanitarian crisis in Cuba, characterized by scarcity of fuel, food, medicine, and rising infant mortality rates.
- ❖Code Pink and other organizations are organizing a 'land, sea, and air humanitarian solidarity mission' to Cuba in late March to provide aid and protest US policies.
- ❖Two of the killed exiles were reportedly on a Cuban wanted list for prior criminal activities and terrorism attempts.
- ❖The US policy towards Cuba is described as an 'obsessive and diabolical quest' to change the Cuban government, mirroring historical attempts to destabilize the island.
Insights
1Deadly Infiltration Attempt
Four Cuban exiles were killed and six injured in a shootout with Cuban border troops near Santa Clara province. The Cuban government reported the exiles, originating from Florida, were carrying weapons, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof jackets, and camouflage gear, describing the incident as an 'infiltration with terrorist ends.'
Cuban government statements and media reports detail the confrontation and the discovery of weapons on the speedboat.
2US Embargo as 'Medieval Siege'
Medea Benjamin characterizes the US economic embargo on Cuba, particularly the intensified measures under the Trump administration, as a 'medieval siege.' She states that policies like the oil blockade and placing Cuba on the state sponsor of terrorism list have crippled the island's economy, leading to severe shortages of fuel, food, and medicine, impacting transportation, electricity, and healthcare, and causing a rise in infant mortality.
Benjamin's firsthand account from Cuba and her analysis of the impact of US policies, including the January 11th 'no oil, no money' directive and the state sponsor of terrorism listing.
3Contrasting Narratives on Aid
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that the Cuban communist party, not the US, is the impediment to helping the Cuban people, claiming the US is prepared to work with individuals if the government 'moves out of the way.' Medea Benjamin refutes this, calling it 'laughable were it not so tragic,' and attributes the suffering directly to US sanctions designed to create hunger and desperation.
Rubio's public statement at a gathering of Caribbean leaders and Benjamin's direct rebuttal based on her observations in Cuba.
4Historical Context of US Aggression
The Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez noted Cuba has faced 'numerous terrorist and aggressive infiltrations from the United States since 1959.' Medea Benjamin elaborates that while open-sea shootouts are rare, terrorist infiltrations are not, citing historical attempts to blow up tourist hotels and assassinate Fidel Castro, describing the actions of some Southern Florida Cubans as 'obsessive and diabolical.'
Statements from the Cuban Foreign Minister and Medea Benjamin's historical context, including a quote from the brother of one of the killed exiles.
Lessons
- Support humanitarian solidarity missions to Cuba, such as Code Pink's planned land, sea, and air mission, by joining delegations or contributing resources like solar panels.
- Contact US congressional representatives to protest current US policies towards Cuba, specifically the economic embargo and sanctions, which are described as creating a humanitarian catastrophe.
- Educate oneself and others on the historical context and current impact of US foreign policy in Latin America, particularly regarding Cuba and Venezuela, to counter narratives that blame local governments for crises caused by external sanctions.
Notable Moments
Shootout in Cuban Waters
A rare and deadly confrontation between Cuban border troops and a speedboat carrying Cuban exiles from Florida, resulting in four deaths and six injuries, marking a significant escalation in tensions.
Humanitarian Crisis Unveiled
Medea Benjamin's firsthand account of the dire conditions in Cuba due to the US embargo, detailing widespread scarcity of essential goods and services, and rising infant mortality, painting a stark picture of the policy's human impact.
Quotes
"Cuba has had to face numerous terrorist and aggressive infiltrations from the United States since 1959 with a high cost in lives, injuries, and material damage."
"His brother had fallen into a diabolical and obsessive quest to change the US government the the Cuban government a diabolical and obsessive quest and I think that characterizes US policy for the last 60 plus years."
"If they are hungry and they are suffering, it's not because we're not prepared to help them. We are. It's that the people standing in the way of us helping them is it's their communist party. That's who's standing in the way."
"What Marco Rubio said would be laughable were it not so tragic. On January 11th, Donald Trump said that no oil and no money would be going to Cuba. Zero."
"This is a tragedy. It's condemned every year by the world community... And yet it keeps going on."
Q&A
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