CU: Liberals condemn U.S. on leftist movements (in Habana at anti-terror conference)

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 6/4/05 | Vanessa Arrington - AP

[NormsRevenge]

HAVANA (AP) - Hundreds of intellectuals and politicians from Latin America's left gathered for an anti-terror conference in Cuba, but they never talked about al-Qaida, focusing instead on their own shared nemesis - the U.S. government.

For decades, participants said, the United States was behind efforts to suppress leftist movements in Latin America, from the backing of the region's violent, right-wing military dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s to current meddling in the politics of liberal-led countries.

The policy, they said, has emerged again with the current handling of a Cuban militant wanted in Venezuela for an airliner bombing - the issue that spawned the conference, originally a three-day event that host Cuban President Fidel Castro extended to run a fourth day Sunday. The event was aimed at drumming up international support for the extradition of the militant, Luis Posada Carriles.

"In reality, we are fighting for the independence of the hemisphere, for the end of the dominance over our hemisphere," Castro told the audience.

Among the speakers were the ex-Salvadoran guerrilla leader Shafick Handal, former Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel.

Posada, a former CIA operative and naturalized Venezuelan, has devoted most of his life to overthrowing Castro's government.

Venezuela wants to try him on murder charges for the bombing of a Cubana Airlines plane that exploded after taking off from Barbados, killing 73 people. Posada is accused of plotting the attack while in Caracas and escaping from a Venezuelan prison in 1985 as prosecutors were preparing to appeal his acquittal. He has denied any link to the bombing.

The U.S. government last month rejected Venezuela's request for Posada's provisional arrest - a first step that could lead to his extradition - on grounds of insufficient information. The 77-year-old Posada, who had denied wrongdoing in the plane bombing, is due to have an immigration hearing in the United States on June 13.

The case has provoked outrage in the region, where some accuse the administration of President Bush of hypocrisy in its war on terrorism.

"What is the reason they're protecting this terrorist?" asked Waldo Leyva, a Cuban writer. "This guy is the bin Laden of Latin America!"

Cuba also accuses Posada and three others of trying to assassinate Castro in 2000 during a presidential summit in Panama. They were arrested and convicted of lesser chargers, then pardoned last August by Panama's outgoing president.

[NormsRevenge]

AP Photo/JORGE REY

President Fidel Castro attends an anti-terrorism conference in Havana, Cuba, Saturday, June 6, 2005. For decades, participants said, the United States has been behind efforts to suppress leftist movements in Latin America, from the backing of the region's violent, right-wing military dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s to the current meddling in the politics of liberal-led countries. The policy, they said, has again reared its head with the current handling of a Cuban militant wanted in Venezuela for an airliner bombing _ the issue that spawned the conference, originally a three-day event that host Castro extended to run a fourth day Sunday.

[inquest]

Hundreds of intellectuals and politicians from Latin America's left gathered for an anti-terror conference in Cuba, but they never talked about al-Qaida, focusing instead on their own shared nemesis - the U.S. government.

AP's bias shows through again. If a right-wing group had gathered for an anti-terror conference that focused on Communist countries, the AP would have said that they "gathered for what they called an 'anti-terror' conference". They never would have uncritically accepted the group's own description of what the conference was about.

[NormsRevenge]

A supporter of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, dressed as the devil, shouts during a march against terrorism in Caracas May 28, 2005. Chavez on Monday condemned as 'negative' the United States' rejection of an initial attempt by his government to extradite a Cuban exile accused of bombing an airliner. Chavez repeated a warning made just over a week ago that he would review relations with the United States, Venezuela's biggest oil buyer, if Washington did not agree to the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles. Photo by Howard Yanes/Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

A man dressed as iconic guerilla fighter Che Guevara takes part in a protest in Caracas May 22, 2005 for the U.S. to extradite a Cuban exile wanted in connection with the bombing of a Cuban airliner in 1976. President Hugo Chavez said Venezuela would review its ties with the United States if Washington fails to extradite Luis Posada Carriles, a Cuban exile, it wants to try for bombing an airliner three decades ago. (Howard Yanes/Reuters)

[wagglebee]

I wonder if Jimmy Carter was there. (and no, I am NOT being sarcastic)

[Dallas59]

I just asked my roommate if all Spanish speaking people were dumb...He left the room without saying anything...

[popdonnelly]

I am so sick and tired of liberals and the American Left, I don't really give a damn about anything they have to say.

[moog]

That guy looks kind of horny.