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U.S. Reviewing Cuba, Cyberattacks - May Seek To Indict Castro
Associated Press ^

Posted on 03/06/2002 1:46:55 PM PST by Asmodeus

Wednesday, March 6, 2002
Associated Press
U.S. Reviewing Cuba, Cyberattacks

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration has begun a review of Cuba policy that will include an assessment of whether Cuba can disrupt U.S. military communications through the Internet, a senior official says.

That issue will be examined along with others to determine Cuba's potential to damage U.S. interests, the official said.

The senior official, asking not to be identified, said Cuba's involvement in international terrorism also will be part of the review.

In addition, the administration is examining the possibility of seeking an indictment against President Fidel Castro in the 1996 shootdown by MiG jet fighters of two Miami-based private planes near Cuban air space, the official said.

Thus far, the centerpiece of President Bush's Cuba policy has been support of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. But the official's comments suggested the administration has a more proactive agenda in mind for countering Castro.

A year ago, Vice Adm. Thomas Wilson, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told a congressional hearing that that Cuba has the potential to use ``information warfare or computer network attack'' to disrupt ``our access or flow of forces to the region.''

Wilson declined to discuss the matter further in open session, and the administration has not commented publicly on the subject since then. The senior official said Cuba's ability to engage in cyberattacks is part of the policy review. Castro has dismissed Wilson's comments as ``craziness.''

Richard Clarke, the White House technology adviser, said in testimony in February before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee, that the United States could respond militarily against a foreign government in the event of a cyberattack.

``We reserve the right to respond in any way appropriate: through covert action, through military action, any one of the tools available to the president,'' Clarke said.

He said Iran, Iraq, North Korea, China, Russia and other countries already have people trained in Internet warfare. He did not mention Cuba.

Cuba is on the State Department terrorist country list, a designation based on ties Cuba maintains with other countries on the list, including Iraq, and the haven Cuba provides for foreigners linked to alleged terrorist organizations.

As a result of the policy review, the Cuba section of the next State Department terrorism report, due next month, may add to the rationale for keeping Cuba on the list.

Castro argues that Cuba has been the victim of a Miami-based terrorism campaign that dates back 40 years and has claimed, he says, thousands of lives.

As for the embargo, Bush has said he will oppose ``any effort to weaken sanctions against the Cuban government until it respects Cubans' basic human rights and civil rights, frees political prisoners and holds free and democratic elections.''

But there is strong sentiment in the Congress to lift restrictions on travel by Americans to Cuba. The worst nightmare of pro-embargo stalwarts is the specter of Americans filling Cuba's tourist hotels and, in the process, leaving behind hundreds of millions in dollars for Cuba's cash-starved government.

The senior official raised the possibility of a presidential veto if the travel restrictions are eased. At present, travel is permitted by journalists some other categories of Americans who have a professional interest in Cuba. But tourism has been barred for years.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 03/06/2002 1:46:55 PM PST by Asmodeus
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To: Asmodeus
Think EMP.
2 posted on 03/06/2002 1:51:38 PM PST by steveegg
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To: Asmodeus; Cincinatus' wife
Sounds like a bargaining chip.
3 posted on 03/06/2002 1:56:10 PM PST by flamefront
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To: steveegg
Wow! I was just saying the other day we need to stop Castro and his band of commies.
4 posted on 03/06/2002 1:56:45 PM PST by TLBSHOW
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To: TLBSHOW
Ditto...wanna watch America freak? Call Cuba what it is President Bush...An Axis Of Evil.
5 posted on 03/06/2002 1:59:23 PM PST by My Favorite Headache
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To: Asmodeus
In addition, the administration is examining the possibility of seeking an indictment against President Fidel Castro in the 1996 shootdown by MiG jet fighters of two Miami-based private planes near Cuban air space, the official said.

Another act the wimpy Clinton Administration didn't do anything about.

6 posted on 03/06/2002 2:00:20 PM PST by #3Fan
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7 posted on 03/06/2002 2:06:39 PM PST by theophilusscribe
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To: Asmodeus
Ignoring the school-of-hot-air journalistic fluff/propaganda that comprises 98% of this article, I think the news is that Bushie may have found a way to get Castro out of the loop and open up Cuba. Let's hope.
8 posted on 03/06/2002 2:09:29 PM PST by PoisedWoman
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To: Asmodeus
Any chance that we could get France placed on that list?
9 posted on 03/06/2002 2:13:19 PM PST by Righty1
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To: PoisedWoman
Hopefully. The man is scourge.
10 posted on 03/06/2002 2:15:30 PM PST by DJ88
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To: Righty1
Re: France.....I make a motion to put France on that list. Anyone want to second that motion, say "AYE". ;-)
11 posted on 03/06/2002 2:16:22 PM PST by DJ88
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To: Asmodeus
--if he uses those same words with china, I'll be even more impressed.
12 posted on 03/06/2002 2:21:33 PM PST by zog
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To: PoisedWoman
I am trying to be a good American so as to prevent my computer from being used from evil outside forces. On that point, I installed Zone Alarm (2.5?)last night.

Can anyone give me advice on configuring Zone Alarm within my system which includes a cable modem hooked up to a 2Wire wireless router? The first few minutes I had Zone Alarm on I blocked three pings from 2Wire - I'm note sure if they should be pinging me or not. I was also worried that I might need to leave Zone Alarm off so my cable modem will work, or if I need to somehow allow my cable modem provider access somehow. What I didn't want to do was to leave Zone Alarm on and get a call from my wife telling me to "come home and fix the computer cause this Zone Alarm thing keeps coming on".

BTW I ran a port probe application per the suggestion of someone else on this board and got 2 Stealths and 5-6 Blocks, with Zone Alarm on or off.

As you can see I'm not real well versed but would sure appreciate any advice. I'm a good boy I have donated to FR already.

Freedomlover

13 posted on 03/06/2002 2:25:36 PM PST by freedomlover
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To: Asmodeus
It is about time that Castro, brother Raoul, and their Havana University revolutionary strategists (i.e., violence and terror are needed for communist political advancement) hit the public anti-terrorist "Must Be Remedied" List.
14 posted on 03/06/2002 2:41:15 PM PST by Bronco Buster
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To: Asmodeus
Bump!
15 posted on 03/06/2002 2:43:54 PM PST by Bogie
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To: Asmodeus
Castro, Warden of Prisoner Elian.
16 posted on 03/06/2002 3:02:43 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: Luis Gonzalez;MiamiFreePress
I wanted to make sure you both saw this.
17 posted on 03/06/2002 3:04:49 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: DJ88
I make a motion to put France on that list. Anyone want to second that motion, say "AYE". ;-)

They already are part of the Axis of Evil!

I saw that on ... uh... Saturday Night Live last week,...oh never mind.

18 posted on 03/06/2002 3:07:45 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: steveegg
ABSOLUTELY!!!! EMP zapping of Cuban facilities is the way to go.
19 posted on 03/06/2002 3:17:50 PM PST by father_elijah
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To: DJ88
AYE!!!!!!!!!!!

All opposed?...

The "Ayes" have it.

20 posted on 03/06/2002 3:19:55 PM PST by steveegg
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