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Cuba Doesn't Belong on New Screening List

Al-Qaeda in Havana? This is just a 'big waste of time'

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 5, 2010 11:56 AM CST
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(Newser) – The terrorist threat from Cuba “can be measured at precisely zero,” Eugene Robinson writes, so why did it make the list of nations whose residents will get extra screening at airports? The answer is simple, and ridiculous: The US persists in considering Cuba a “state sponsor of terrorism,” along with the likes of Iran and Pakistan. That is “simply laughable.”

“There is no history of radical Islam in Cuba,” Robinson writes in the Washington Post. It has “to be among the last places on Earth where al-Qaeda would try to establish a cell, let alone plan and launch an attack.” Why? Because Cuba “is one of the most tightly locked-down societies in the world.” We should be trying to change that, not worrying about a bogus threat. Change the Cuba policy, President Obama, and stop pretending “looking for al-Qaeda terrorists on flights from Cuba is anything but a big waste of time.”

Gabino Nelson, 53, talks to a reporter after arriving from Cuba at Miami International Airport yesterday. He says he saw no changes in security checks.
Gabino Nelson, 53, talks to a reporter after arriving from Cuba at Miami International Airport yesterday. He says he saw no changes in security checks.   (AP Photo)
Cuban Americans in Miami, just returned from Cuba. They noticed no changes in security checks. Everything was normal.
Cuban Americans in Miami, just returned from Cuba. They noticed no changes in security checks. "Everything was normal."   (AP Photo)
A parade in Havana.
A parade in Havana.   (AP Photo)
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It's difficult for me to believe that Obama fails to see how insane our current policy really is. He needs to change it. - Eugene Robinson, Washington Post

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
Sphinx
Jan 6, 2010 3:21 AM CST
So you can't be a terrorist unless you're a Muslim? Timothy McVeigh would disagree. And what about Che Guevara? If he were alive today, he'd totally be labeled a terrorist. You can't base the level of threat a country is on its Muslim population.
AndJusticeForAll
Jan 5, 2010 11:27 AM CST
I have lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis, Bay of Pigs Invasion and the scooping out of bomb shelters. The latter of which we did not do as my father thought it was ridiculous as the comfort would be short-lived. We are painfully close to a half-century of snubbing this country, passed on from generation to generation. They don't present any threat except that which alkaseltzer depicted. Time to end the animosity and save some bucks from the war machine and use it constructively on the needs of folks in this country. But we have to hate someone. Thank you Eugene for speaking up. Your courageous and astute statements are always refreshing. Hope you haven't received too many "Pinko" E-mails. Goodnight Mr. and Mrs. America and all ships at sea!
foodchain11
Jan 5, 2010 7:28 AM CST
This is about appeasing cold war people and VOTES from Cuban population in FL who tend to hate Cuba and be conservative. All votes for the GOP

 
terrorism • Cuba • al-Qaeda • state sponsors of terror list • Obama administration • screening • travel restrictions • Eugene Robinson • Northwest Flight 253

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