Trump Regime to Designate Cuba a State Sponsor of Terrorism?

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

According to the State Department, "state sponsors of terrorism have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism."

The definition applies to the US, NATO, Israel, and their imperial partners — excluded from the State Department's list.

Syria was falsely designated a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, Iran in 1984, and North Korea in November 2017 — the only nations now listed this way.

Iran and North Korea never attacked against another country.

Syria hasn't done it since the October 1973 Yom Kippur War against Israel, along with Egypt and other Arab countries.

Will the Trump regime falsely designate Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism during his final few weeks in office? More on this below.

Since Fidel Castro liberated Cuba from US-supported fascist rule in 1959, he and subsequent ruling authorities prioritized peace, stability, cooperative relations with all nations, and respect for rule of law principles.

The island state's main exports are doctors, teachers and goodwill. 

Many thousands of its doctors and other medical staff provide pro bono healthcare services in about three-worths of world community countries — a policy Fidel began in 1961.

It's in stark contrast to endless US wars by hot and other means against invented enemies, state terror at home and abroad, and disdain for democratic principles it's intolerant toward domestically and worldwide.

No nation in world history caused more harm to more people over a longer duration than the US.

None more greatly risk possible nuclear war that could doom us all if launched.

Cuba operates by a higher standard. Because it's been free from US control since Fidel refused to sell his soul to Washington, it's targeted for regime change.

Dark forces in the US want the country transformed a vassal state, pro-Western puppet rule replacing its sovereign independence.

In early December, Trump regime Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs acting assistant secretary Michael Kozak falsely expressed US "support for the Cuban people."

Under the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List, Cuba Restricted List, and sanctions war, the Trump regime hardened US policies against the country — to harm Cubans, not support them. 

Imposed in 1962 under the 1917 Trading With the Enemy Act (TWEA), unlawful US embargo on Cuba remains in place.

TWEA prohibits trade with nations at war with the US. 

Since WW II ended, no nations attacked or threatened the US militarily.

No legal authority exists for applying TWEA to US/Cuban relations.

Obama's dubious "new course on Cuba" concealed dirty business as usual, an effort to return the country to US client state status.

Trump hardened toughness on Cuba after taking office. Throughout his tenure, he waged war on the country by other means — by illegal sanctions and other dirty tricks.

Hostile US policies toward independent nations aim to undermine their economic, industrial, and technological development — along with wanting their people suffocated.

A failed agenda against all targeted nations, it continues to be hard-wired US policy by both right wings of its war party.

In June 2017, Trump's National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) on Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba called for hardening it.

Numerous hostile actions followed, including more sanctions, travel restrictions, and other policies aimed at depriving the country of revenue to harm its economy and people.

Pre-election 2020, Trump announced cancellation of what he called "the Obama/Biden sellout to the" island state — aiming to win support from Cuban nationals in Florida.

Attorney Lawrence Ward said his action made it nearly impossible for Americans to visit Cuba — other than to be with family members or for humanitarian reasons, adding:

His action "will have some minor impact on the Cuban government and Cuba's economy, but there's a fair argument that (it's) more symbolic and political given that the United States stands nearly alone in its sanctions (on) Cuba."

According to DNC hispanic media director Enrique Gutierrez, private citizen Trump sought to do business in Cuba. Will he again when no longer in public office? 

According to the NYT on Tuesday, Pompeo may designate Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism, a "proposal" prepared by the State Department for this purpose.

If implemented, Biden/Harris could reverse it but not easily. It would require a formal review that could take months.

While the White House hasn't commented on the proposal, Dem House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks slammed it, saying:

It aims "to put handcuffs" on Biden/Harris. 

Former Dem deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes called re-listing Cuba "complete nonsense. Cuba is not a state sponsor of terrorism."

In 2015, Obama/Biden removed the island state from the State Department's list of sponsors of terrorism it never should have been on — nor other falsely designated countries this way.

Trump and hardliners surrounding him intensified sanctions war and other hardline policies on China, Russia, Iran, and other targeted countries to make things hard to undue when Biden/Harris take over.

Is falsely designating Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism the next shoe to drop?

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My two Wall Street books are timely reading:

"How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion, and Class War"

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"Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity"

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