Cuban Patrol Gunboat in US Coast Guard Custody Just Off Of Key West

Eyewitness & Local Radio | February 7, 2003

[Elle Bee]

Four Cubans dressed in camo have just been taken into custody by the US Coast Guard just off Key West.

Cuba says they've stolen the boat

Looks like a few more people fed up with the Peoples Republic of Cuba

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[Elle Bee]

Heard anything

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[xzins]

And if the 4 in camo were infiltrating, then what do we call it?

[csvset]

Return them to Cuba so they can be with their father (Fidel), by gunpoint if need be. /bs mode

[dennisw]

Since they don't touch US land they are sent back to Cuba. But in this case perhaps not...

[dawn53]

Evidently they did touch ground.

From another thread:

Four Cuban coast guardsman defected Friday, docking their patrol boat at a Key West resort, walking into town and surrendering to a police officer, authorities said.

[hchutch]

That's good. We should not send ANYONE back to Cuba until Castro is at room temperature.

Hmm... I wonder if we get to keep the gunboat.

[Quilla]

They're probably upset that Rumsfeld grouped in with the German-weasels.

[Guillermo]

If they were infiltrating, I think they'd look pretty silly in "camo".

[hchutch]

Agreed. Looks like a theft-and-defection to me.

How much does a Cuban gunboat go for?

[American Soldier]

I don't know much about maritime operations, but does it say something bad about our defenses if a Cuban boat is able to casually drive up and dock on an island where there is supposed to be a Coast Guard presence as well as a Naval Air Station?

[Elle Bee]

We got to keep the crop duster which flew over last month ..... it was auctioned and the proceed went to the familes of the pilots which were splashed by the Cuban Air Forue while we were under Comrade Clinton

the plane went for about 8k ..... and Key West tacked on 18K for 'security'

Look Here:

Key West Says No to War with Iraq ~ Useful Idiots Alert

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[ez]

I wonder if they were they carrying any UAV's? (unmanned aerial vehicle)

[gunnrmike]

Who would Want it!

[Luis Gonzalez]

What?

They walked away from all that free education and medical care?

/sarcasm

[ez]

I don't know much about maritime operations, but does it say something bad about our defenses if a Cuban boat is able to casually drive up and dock on an island where there is supposed to be a Coast Guard presence as well as a Naval Air Station?

A recon mission to see how close they can get to the coast?

[Luis Gonzalez]

There are thousands of boats leaving and returning to the Keys daily.

You think we can track one boat in particular?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Might make a nice pleasure yacht... provided the weapons systems are left on board ;0)

[hchutch]

I recall the Canadians once sold a frigate a few years back and forgot to remove a missile launcher. ASROC, IIRC.

That created a HUGE mess, since those things are usually sold "as is."

[xzins]

Hardly.

2 reasons.

1. Geneva/Hague says that those wearing uniforms are subject to laws of land warfare. Those in civies are considered spies and can be treated as such.

2. Clandestine insertion would make sense with cammies and then change to civies once safely on US soil.

[Elle Bee]

What do they know the Hyatt is not the place to stay

Four Cuban Coast Guardsman defect in Key West, Fla.; still in uniform, they approach an officer

Four Cuban Coast Guardsman defect in Key West, Fla.; still in uniform, they approach an officer
AP | 2/07/03 | TERRY SPENCER

Posted on 02/07/2003 6:21 AM PST by kattracks

By TERRY SPENCER
The Associated Press
2/7/03 8:56 AM

MIAMI (AP) -- Four Cuban coast guardsman defected Friday, docking their patrol boat at a Key West resort, walking into town and surrendering to a police officer, authorities said.

The men, dressed in their military uniforms, approached Officer Matt Dorgan at about 4 a.m. and told him they wanted to surrender, Key West police spokeswoman Cynthia Edwards said. One man had a Chinese handgun holstered to his side, which he allowed Dorgan to take.

Officers searching their boat docked at the Hyatt Marina Resort found two loaded AK-47 machine guns along with ammunition. The boat was still flying a Cuban flag.

"They were happy to be here and were compliant with all of our requests," said Officer Tara Koenig, a Spanish-speaking officer Dorgan called for assistance.

She said the men told her they had been on patrol about 1 a.m. when they decided to defect.

"My impression is that it was a last-minute decision," Koenig said. "They were patrolling, talking about living at the poverty line when they said 'You know what, the United States is only 90 miles that way.' So they set the heading on their boat, terminated communication with Cuba and headed straight here."

Edwards said the men were taken to the Monroe County jail, where they will be turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. An INS spokesman did not immediately return a call Friday.

Cubans who make it to U.S. soil are usually allowed to remain in the country, while those intercepted at sea are generally returned to Cuba.

The men's patrol boat has been turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard spokeswoman had no immediate comment and it could not be determined if the U.S. military had been tracking the men before they arrived at Key West.

No one answered the phone at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington on Friday morning.

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