Posted on 01/07/2018 11:52:42 PM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
Sen. Marco Rubio pushed back Sunday against comments from a Republican colleague that the United States has found no evidence of “sonic attacks” in Cuba.
The Florida Republican charged the attacks were a “documented fact.”
In a series of tweets Sunday, Rubio dismissed comments by Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a longtime advocate for improving ties with Cuba, stating that any U.S. official briefed on the mysterious events in Havana “knows full well that while method of attack still in question, that attacks and injuries occurred isn’t.”
“It’s a documented FACT that 24 U.S. govt officials & spouses were victims of some sort of sophisticated attack while stationed in Havana,” Rubio tweeted.
Flake said Saturday that he has seen no evidence that American diplomats who suffered health symptoms while in Havana were “attacked,” according to the Associated Press.
After meeting with high ranking Cuban officials, Flake said classified briefings from U.S. officials had given him no reason to doubt Cuban officials who said there was no evidence any health symptoms were a result of an attack.
Rubio countered calling it impossible “to conduct 24 separate & sophisticated attacks" on U.S. government personnel without Cuban officials knowing.
The back and forth between the two senators sets up a potentially explosive hearing Tuesday at a highly anticipated Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing chaired by Rubio. Members are expected to press State Department officials for more answers about the mysterious events.
The Trump administration has already pulled much of the U.S embassy staff from Havana and expelled 15 of their Cuban counterparts working in Washington.
The State Department continued to call it an “attack” on Sunday despite not knowing the source or cause of the events.
“The investigation is ongoing,” a State Department spokesperson said. “The State Department continues to be deeply concerned about the safety and security of our personnel. We continue to remind the Cuban government of its obligations under the Vienna Convention to take all appropriate steps to protect our diplomats.”
He wouldn’t even make a competent bell boy let alone manger.
Rubio just campaigned for Flake!! Then Flake made his retirement speech two days later...lol
Flake, living up to his name, and it isn’t “snow”.
When an employee is fired, they are escorted out of the building so they can’t do damage on their way out. We need something similar for senators who announce retirement.
At least one of the local TV stations in Miami was promoting Jeff Flake’s pro-Castro comments this week.
Miami media hatred for conservatism and America First policies is rampant.
The “Brown Sound”?
It’s very alarming to me that Flake is VP Pence’s BFF in government. The man should be treated as a serious enemy of the people.
I’m glad Rubio is saying this.
This theory about “nothing happened” as Flake said was said in the Guardian about a month ago as well.
Nowhere is lobbying more clear than with this Cuba issue.
US ranchers and I assume farmers, really are selling goods down there, so, because of this, some Americans are for this “normalization” of relations. I disagree with the new Cuba relations but I see others point-of-view on this.
first I have even heard that claim.
haven’t seen any deviation from Pence. not worried.
first I have even heard that claim.
haven’t seen any deviation from Pence. not worried.
The State Department has a list of tourists who stayed intargeted hotels that were also victims. One is my neighbor.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.