Personas elocuentes en discursos politicos

[YAUTIAPR]

Como somos muchos los que preferimos el castellano al "Inglish", quise poner las personas que saben dar buenos discursos politicos y son elocuentes cuando hablan y cuando escriben en castellano. Como somos latinos nos gustan los discursos largos, interesantes y honestos. Entre los que
admiramos, ademas de nuestros lideres del PIP, estan los
cubanos, entre ellos se encuentra Ricardo Alarcon,.pero por accidente encontre esta pagina, buscando a otro de mis favoritos, Norm Chomsky en español. De todos modos en castellano o en inglés Ricardo Alarcon es muy elocuente. Aqui va el primer ejemplo de un escritor,digamos "bilingue" (falta la diéresis, excuse moi por no deshacer el diptongo). Este es un foro en "English" pero creo son gringos y cubanos exilados interesado en la politica gringa que impacta a Cuba.


CUBA vs. TERRORISM
September 13th, 2002

Ricardo Alarcón, the President of the Cuban Parliament, was present at the launching of this website on September 13th, 2002, and participated in this forum answering questions put to him by the many people that visited http://www.antiterroristas.cu :

Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada: For those of you awaiting my response to your questions, please be assured that I will answer each and every one put to me - even after the inauguration of this website is over.
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Nicholas Barry: The war on terror was first undertaken by Reagan, as a substitute for the Cold War -- that is, as a vehicle for scaring the public and thus marshalling support for programs contrary to the public's interest -- foreign campaigns, war spending in general, surveillance, and so on. Now we are seeing a larger and more aggressive attempt to move in the same direction. Does the problem that we are the world's foremost source of attacks on civilians auger complications for carrying through this effort? Can the effort be sustained without, in fact, a shooting war?
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Alarcón: Unfortunately, Cuba has a lot of experience in terms of having to defend itself and preventing terrorists acts organized from abroad against our country. During the past 43 years, we have managed to do this thanks to the participation of the people that support a government whose policies respond to the interests and needs of the overwhelming majority. The war and the use of military force is not the solution to the problem of terrorism.
It is necessary and possible for governments, civil societies and people from all over the Planet who unanimously reject terrorism to unite in a common front. Terrorist groups, which account for a minor part of the population, would be totally isolated and would not receive support from anyone. But, in order to accomplish this, governments should be required to adopt effective measures against all forms of terrorism and against all terrorists regardless the causes and motivations they may argue to try to justify their actions.
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Camilo PF: I am a "Marielito" and already living in Miami, Hero's Day was declared because of Dr. Bosch, the one who planted the bomb on the Cuban airliner and who has been speaking in different media outlets. Did you know that? What do you think?
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Alarcón: Yes, I did. I think it's shameful that Orlando Bosch, who blew up a civil airliner while in flight and who also committed other crimes with bombs and rockets in the U.S., walks a free man and that five Cubans are in prison for having tried to prevent crimes like Bosch's. The radio and newspapers in Miami continue publishing daily statements and announcements by Bosch, and other of his kin, about the new acts they are planning. For example, his confessed commitment to terrorism against Cuba published in the Miami Herald on August 22nd last year. He reiterated this on June 16th this year in the Diario de las Américas, which published a document he had previously read on Radio Mambí on June 6th.
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"Nose Nada": Explain why you have the site and why you chose to announce it on such an important and solemn day for the free world?
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Alarcón: We have been publicizing this site since September 2nd. September 11th is a very important day for the entire world and not just for part of it.
Cuba has condemned, from the very outset, the atrocious terrorist attacks suffered by the people of the United States on 9/11. It is not just a strong and absolute position officially taken by the government, but by all Cuban people as well.
Cuban solidarity on this issue is profound and sincere, since nobody can feel deeper the suffering caused on 9/11 than can Cubans, This is because Cuba has suffered more terrorist acts and for a longer period of time - 43 years - than anyone.
I lived in New York for fourteen and a half years and have been visiting the city for fully half my life. I feel great pain for the many, many friends I have there. I was in New York on the 11th September 1974 when the terrorist group Omega 7 was created. I take this date to also remember the 11th September 1973 in Chile and the coup d'etat, which included the bombing of the presidential palace, planting terror in the population with the assassination of thousands of people.
Between 1974 and 1979, Omega 7 exploded bombs at the Cuban Mission in New York as well as at other Cuban offices in Manhattan. No one was ever arrested for more than 60 acts of terrorism in which US citizens were killed and many other lives put at risk.
On the 11th September 1980 my friend Félix García was assassinated in full daylight on Queens Blvd. Those who ordered his death walk the streets to this day planning new crimes.
On the 12th September 1998 five Cubans were arrested for the only "crime" of working to prevent and avoid these kinds of terrorists actions against Cuba that have also caused the deaths, as I said, of US citizens.
"All men are created equal," says the most famous document in US history. This means that everyone has the right to life and we should all fight together against those who seek to kill - wherever they may be, whoever they may be and for whatever motive they may have. Nobody should be imprisoned for seeking to save lives at the great risk of their own.
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Ken Bradstreet: If these five individuals were proved to have carried out the espionage charges against them, on what does their government base the accusation of unjust imprisonment?
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Alarcón: Not one of them had the accusations of espionage proved against them - or anything resembling that. It is the first time in the history of the United States that someone has been condemned as a "spy" without witnesses or evidence or any kind of material proof brought against them. No "secret" documents taken, no recruits, nothing. Top military personnel and official experts called onto the witness stand testified that, on the contrary, the evidence presented indicated absolutely no espionage activity.
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Peter Filderman: If Cuba has been the victim of so many terrorist attacks, why is it not cooperating with the United States since September 11th? Why is it not part of the Anti-Terrorist Coalition?
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Alarcón: Both before and after September 11th, Cuba has on numerous occasions attempted to cooperate with the United States by passing along precise information on terrorist groups that operate freely on US territory against Cuba, as well as information, when we have it, on plans made by others against the United States - specifically an assassination attempt planned against former President Reagan. Cuba has laws on its books that very severely punish terrorism in any form and against whomever without exception. We have ratified all international treaties on this and cooperate with the United Nations Security Council in the application of it's Resolution against terrorism. Conforming to this Resolution, the Cuban government proposed a bilateral cooperation agreement with Washington that the State Department has completely ignored.
Soon after September 11th, we submitted to the United States, upon request, all information that we had - although this was logically scarce, for unlike Washington, Cuba never had a relationship of any type with the Taliban regime nor with al-Qaeda and therefore there was little we could contribute. At the same time as immediately condemning the September 11th attacks, Cuba put its airports at the disposal of those who may need them and offered medical help to the United States. Fidel Castro called for a broad and real antiterrorist coalition to include all political, religious, intellectual and social forces. However, the Bush administration preferred to go to war - a position we consider erroneous and unjustified.
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Gary Solomon: For how long were these five men spying for the Cuban Government?
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Alarcón: They never spied. The laws of the United States define such a crime as "to obtain or to try to obtain secret information from the government of the United States with the express purpose of causing damage to the United States." During the trial no evidence or witness was presented to indicate such an act was ever carried out or even attempted. On the contrary, several witness - including retired military personnel of high rank, as well as Government experts - testified they had not found any proof of espionage after examining the documentation presented by the Prosecution. It should be noted that two of the Cubans - René González and Fernando González - were not accused of anything that related to alleged espionage and the other three were not accused of spying but of "conspiracy to commit espionage."
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Gennaro Carotenuto: Dear Mr President, September 11th was two days ago. Except for the newspapers "Liberazione", Italy, "Der Standard", Austria, and "The Independent", England, the international and European media ignored the Chilean event completely. Had it not been for the end of the Ken Loach film "September 11th", starring Vladimir Vega, a former political prisoner, I found almost no mention of such an important and dramatic event in Chile, which was a clear instance of state terrorism. Once more we are witnessing an attempt to hide historical memory from the people. The authors of "antiterroristas.cu" have taken the opposite direction by trying to systematically publish valuable information so the phenomenon known as state terrorism - from the Condor Plan to the failed coup in Venezuela - is exposed in its full dimension.
However, and here's my question, how do you envision from your post and from Cuba the struggle between the single-minded big media conglomerates and the alternative media that, although quick to act, account for minimum ratings compared to the avalanche of commercial TV?
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Alarcón: Thank you for your comments.
It is a hard and difficult struggle. In 1969 Brzeziniski had already anticipated the power that the media would acquire in "manipulating the feelings and controlling reason" by operating on isolated individuals. Preventing isolation, connecting, and organizing itself is the big challenge for the alternative media. That demands creativity, something people will never renounce. "Que no haya soledad" (Away with Isolation) as the Silvio Rodríguez song goes.

Gennaro Carotenuto: Mr. President, many signs indicate that new forms of state terrorism are risking the democratic system in Latin America at a crucial moment of crisis of the neo-liberal model.
From those murdered in Buenos Aires to the failed coup in the Bolivarian Republic, the plan Colombia itself, the list of signs is worrying. What is the position and the perception from Cuba, especially concerning the need to break the isolation that the island is being pushed into by such policies?
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Alarcón: I don't think Cuba is isolated. I'd rather say that the U.S. policy toward Cuba is more isolated and so is the model imposed on the [Latin American] continent. There is another danger: resorting to force and the return to a more repressive regime as the economic crisis and social revolt intensify.
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Lucia Newman: Do you think it is possible to win what the president of the American Lawyers Guild calls "the political struggle" in favor of the five Cubans before the second stage -"the legal struggle," that is, the appeal process - begins?
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Alarcón: The political struggle will be won as the truth about the case is, I trust, known.
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Francisco Aruca: Dr. Alarcón, generally the Cuban government has accused the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF), or people linked to it, of being committed to terrorist actions against Cuba. What is the situation now after the CANF divided?
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Alarcón: Neither of the two CANF wings has renounced terrorism against Cuba and both contain known terrorists who are still active. In fact, we now face two CANFs committed to terrorism. What happened was a case of fission.
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Anya Landau, Center for International Policy: Does Cuba continue to support the peace process in Colombia? How does the FARC fit into the process?
Alarcón: Yes, we continue to support the peace process in Colombia. We maintain contacts with the government of Colombia and are prepared to contribute to that goal, which of course depends on the Colombian participants involved. The government of that country has recognized our commitment to peace in Colombia.

Anya Landau, Center for International Policy: What is the Cuban position on the violent tactics used by independence groups like the ETA, IRA and FARC?
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Alarcón: Cuba has always condemned and opposed terrorism of any kind and believed in peaceful political resolution of international conflicts.

Anya Landau, Center for International Policy: "Did Fidel Castro really tell an audience in Iran in May 2001 that Cuba and Iran could 'bring America to its knees?"
Alarcón: Fidel Castro did not say that. He has never used such language. On the contrary he has praised America and the American people time and again.
That invented phrase was a complete fabrication of the Cuban American National Foundation that nobody else has sustained.
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Thomas Larkin: Isn't embargos a form of terrorism? This is especially true with a nation that has a low GNP. It is even worse when it is a large and powerful nation against a small nation whose only threat is a political system that provides for more of its poor.
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Sidney, from Raleigh (North Carolina): Do you believe that these five Cubans were given every legal guarantee during their trial?
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Alarcón: For 17 months the five Cubans were held in solitary confinement. The trial was held in Miami in a completely hostile environment, which was aggravated by an intense propaganda campaign stimulated by the Attorney General's office. The supposed evidence was classified as "secret", enabling the government to edit, select and manipulate it at will. The Defense was denied the right to present a number of documents and witnesses, and those who did testify received threats quite openly in the courtroom. The jury was subjected to coercion in the very courthouse itself - even the judge complained of this. The Cubans were condemned and sentenced - which is currently under review by the Court of Appeals - and the requests of the Defense to see the so-called "evidence" has still not been granted some four years later.
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Manuel Alberto Ramy. Radio Progreso Alternativa: President, terrorism generally uses violence? How could one go separate of the other? Is there a legal norm universally accepted and compulsory to all countries?
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Alarcón: There is not a legal norm accepted by every country. Cuba has insisted in the UN that a definition should be found, but I think there is a basic consensus about some aspects of terrorism such as the use of violence or the violence threat against defenseless people to obtain certain demands by the terrorists. Wars for independence or the resistance against the Nazi involved violence, but they cannot compare to a bomb in a Miami theater or the barbaric act of 9/11, terrorist acts, indeed.
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Nils Andrey: The people of the US were deeply affected by what happened on September 11th and the threat of new terrorist attacks and seek the cooperation of the world to punish those responsible. We're tired of just declarations against terrorism. Is Cuba ready to act, to cooperate with the United States in this?
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Alarcón: We are doing everything we can. On September 11, that very same morning, we opened our air space. We offered our airports for any plane heading to the United States that could not land there because the American airports were closed as a result of the attacks. We also offered humanitarian medical assistance, if necessary. When the United States informed us that they were going to use Guantánamo base, in Cuba, to accommodate prisoners who were captured and accused of terrorism, we accepted. We have facilitated the considerable increase in air traffic that has taken place to and from that area of the Cuban territory as a result of their transfer there. We have publicly stated that on the very improbable event that one prisoner might escape into territory under Cuban jurisdiction, we would return him to the US authorities. Likewise we have offered our cooperation to ensure adequate sanitary conditions on the base.
We have made the proposal, and we stand by it, for bilateral cooperation in the struggle against terrorism. We have presented other proposals through the diplomatic channel, but I would not like to elaborate on them because as of now they have a restricted character.
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Nils Andrey: Thank you for the rapid reply. I have another:
According to Cuba there are a number of terrorist groups that are allowed to act from US territory - do they just do so against Cuba? Are other countries also targeted?
Alarcón: But not only against Cuba. On September 4th, a week ago, Rodolfo Frometa, leader of terrorist group Comando F-4, announced in a press conference plans against Venezuela and threatened Brazil. That person is a confessed and convicted terrorist. In 1994 he was arrested while trying to purchase from an FBI undercover agent C-4 explosives, anti-aircraft rocket launchers and anti-armor weapons. On this occasion, he was "sentenced" in a plea agreement to one year of house arrest. On March 27th, 2001, during the trial against the five Cubans, Mr. Frometa offered detailed information, as a witness, about the terrorist activities of groups Comando F-4 and Alpha-66. The outcome of the trial surely stimulated him to continue carrying out acts against Cuba and extend their terrorist activities against other countries.
And also against the United States: dozens of attacks have taken place on US territory and in Puerto Rico - the majority of which have been committed with impunity. Orlando Letelier was assassinated along with a US citizen Ronni Moffit by a car bomb placed in Washington DC. Those who committed this act live in Miami freely and have even made public comments about this. Noone was charge with the killings for which Carlos Muniz Varela of Omega 7 in Puerto Rico took responsibility. These crimes have caused great losses of lives and property to people living in the US.
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Albert A. Fox, Jr. President, Alliance for Responsible Cuba Policy: There are many rumors in Washington, DC and Florida that Cuba has secret training grounds for al Qaida terrorists. Could you please comment?
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Alarcón: I have never heard such a ridiculous accusation before. Cuba does not have and never has had any connection with al-Qaida. It is a fact that it was the CIA that helped create and train them. By the way, the 9-11 hijackers were not trained here, but in the U.S.
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Tracey Eaton, The Dallas Morning News: There are fugitives from the USA in Cuba. Some have been condemned for homicide and the United States wants Cuba to return them to their country to confront the charges. Is there a possibility of a prisoner exchange - the Miami Five for the US citizens in Cuba?
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Alarcón: Cuba and the U.S. have had a bilateral extradition treaty that was ignored and killed de facto by the U.S. since Jan.1, 1959, before Fidel Castro descended from the Sierra Maestra Mountains. The U.S. began receiving with open arms each and every Batista fugitive. Since that time, the U.S. has never sent back any criminal from Cuba.
We have proposed specific draft bilateral cooperation agreements on terrorism, drug trafficking, and illegal migration that may cover that area. The U.S. has refused even to consider our proposals.
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Nelson Valdes, New Mexico: 1) It has been said that the Cuban government never officially requested U.S. authorities that criminals and torturers who fled Cuba in 1959 be returned to the island. What happened in relation to this?
2) Terrorist acts against Cuba by, or sponsored by, U.S citizens are unknown in the United States. Can you provide details about the first US citizens who participated in terrorist acts in Cuba?
3) Even though Fidel Castro mentioned in a speech that the FBI was given information concerning Cuban-born individuals living in the U.S. who had been involved in terrorist activities, this information is not public domain. Is it possible to have access to it?
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Alarcón: Nelson, I can assure you that the MINREX (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) files with the diplomatic notes requesting the return of the criminals plus attached proofs -including court sentences given to these individuals before 1959- are so bulky that can cover the distance from here to New Mexico. Dr, Roberto Agramonte, Cuba's first Foreign Minister in 1959, devoted a considerable part of his tenure to this respect.
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David Christian: I recently read an interview in which Noam Chomsky claimed that Cuba was the country against which the most terrorist acts had been committed. Is this true? If so, why has its government not sought to cooperate with the United States' authorities to avoid these acts?
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Alarcón: Mr Chomsky's statement is true if one takes into account the terrorism against Cuba that has been perpetrated from overseas against the island. Especially as those that attack us have the backing of a country as powerful as the United States. Numerous declassified official reports and documents have been published that thoroughly prove this. And has been taking place since 1959.
Concerning the cooperation, this is precisely what we have been trying to do for the last 43 years via numerous diplomatic requests that have almost all been turned down by Washington. This is why we have found the need to take our case to the United Nations - the most recent instance being in 1992 at the Security Council when I was the UN Ambassador. At that time we made specific requests in an attempt to obtain the cooperation of Washington to put a stop to the terrorist activities of Orlando Bosch, Luis Posada Cariles and the so-called organization, Brothers to the Rescue.
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Nestor Rius: In what stage is the appeal process at the Court of Atlanta and what possibilities do the five Cubans have? My name is Nestor Rius. I'm a journalist with AIN and I would also like to know if I could publish your answer in a news wire. Thank you.
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Alarcón: The Court of Atlanta establishes a calendar for the parties to present their arguments. The Court needs first to receive the file of the trial held in Miami. This file has not yet been sent from Miami because the problem concerning the supposed "evidence" that is still kept secret has not been solved.
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Ricardo Sánchez: Mr. President, it is known that Cuba has repeatedly expressed, as you just indicated, its desire to cooperate with the U.S. in the fight against terrorism.
If the U.S. State Department accepted your cooperation, what measures would such cooperation entail? Would it only concern the exclusive situation of both nations?
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Alarcón: We have submitted to the U.S. a draftproject for bilateral cooperation to fight terrorism that would establish concrete measures to avoid and punish any terrorist activities. The Security Council resolution approved by a U.S. initiative after 9/11 asked member nations to do exactly what we have proposed. If every country did the same it would be very difficult that terrorist actions occurred anywhere.
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Anthony Boadle: What role has Otto Reich played in relation to terrorist acts against Cuba?
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Alarcón: Otto Reich has old and close relationships with the worst anti-Cuban terrorists, in particular with Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada Carriles. From his post in the State Department, which he got thanks to the influence of the extreme right wing in Miami, one should suppose that he is supporting their actions as he's always done.
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Francis: There has been much talk about whether or not espionage took place. But the most important point, especially here in Miami, was the murder they committed against four young Brothers to the Rescue pilots.
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Alarcón: Your question touches on a very important point, which is the violation of the defendants' right to have the trial moved to a city other than Miami. The right to a change of venue is normally granted to any defendant. The prejudice and hostility against Cuba in Miami is well known and well documented. One only need recall the Elian Gonzalez case, the bombs, the insults and the threats against those attending concerts by Cuban artists. That's why the Latin Grammy awards had to be moved to Los Angeles.
Amid this climate, the Prosecutor introduced the murder accusation -by the way, not against the five, but only against Gerardo Hernandez- and unleashed a campaign of propaganda and mobilizations, which intensified the prejudice and hostility.
It would take a lot of time to explain the long history of provocations and violations committed by Brothers to the Rescue. I just want to say that what occurred that day was an action by the Cuban government that was justified and legitimate, in defense of its sovereignty and on which it had previously and publicly issued warnings. Neither Gerardo nor any of the other four had anything whatsoever to do with this action.
In addition, this accusation against Gerardo was never proven. The prosecution itself acknowledged as much in writing when the court's proceedings concluded and it tried to modify the original charges, In this document, among other things, the prosecution openly recognized that "in light of the evidence presented in this trial, this presents an insurmountable hurdle for the United States in this case, and will likely result in the failure of the prosecution on this count."
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Anya Landau, Center for International Policy: What can you tell us about the Havana hotel bombings in 1997? Specifically, are there active terrorist cells operating in Cuba?
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Alarcón: If you want additional details you can read the New York Times front page interview with Posada Carrilles on 12 and 13 of July 1998. He ordered and organized those bombings that wounded some people and killed a young Italian.
Obviously I don't know about their activities but according to what they openly announce in Miami and the explicit recognition of the US government during the trial of the five, the Miami terrorist groups are very active in trying to operate in Cuba.

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Journalists in the Website Opening: I'm an American and I worry constantly since 9-11. I have two small children and worry about them because of clear threats to our safety. I have no time to worry about 5 Cubans here. We have a lot of other prisoners. I think this is something between the US and Cuban governments and has little to do with 9-11.
At first glance I like your website.
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Alarcón: I understand your concern but the problems between Cuba and the US since 1959 have had EVERYTHING to do with terrorism with both Cuban and US residents being the victims. These five Cubans are in prison for fighting against Cuban exile terrorist groups that freely operate in Miami.
The best homage to the victims of the horrendous 9/11 attack would be to eradicate all manifestations of terrorism.
During the trial of the five Cubans, it was clearly demonstrated that the Florida authorities protect terrorists and punish those who fight against them within the US.
For example, the US government petitioned that in addition to his sentence of the 14th December 2001, that the following be included in Rene Gonzalez' sentence:
"As a further condition of supervised release the defendant is prohibited from associating with or visiting specific places where individuals or group such as terrorists, members of organizations advocating violence and organized crime figures are known to be, or frequent."
Rene Gonzalez, a US citizen, was convicted exclusively for penetrating terrorist groups in Miami in order to uncover their plans and prevent their crimes. For doing so, he was condemned to 15 years in prison and the addition prohibition against acting against these groups. The government, according to the sentence, knows who the terrorists are, knows where they are but does nothing against them. On the contrary, it protected them from Rene Gonzalez.
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José Pertierra: Dear Mr Alarcón,
Thank you for spending your time with us. I would like you to comment on the reasons the government of the USA justified its denial of a visa to Adriana Pérez. With your knowledge of international law, I ask that you comment on the violations of international rights that the US has committed by depriving Gerardo Hernández a visit by his wife.

What possibilities do you see in the appeal? To my way of thinking the fundamental problem of the trial is that the anti-Cuban environment that exists in Miami necessarily contaminates any jury selected there. The US government itself has recognized this in a recent case involving an agent of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Sincerely
José Pertierra
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Alarcón: Dear Mr Pertierra
Adriana was granted a visa, and with her passport arrived at Houston airport where she was held for 11 hours before being sent back to Mexico.
There are norms of International law, and the specific norms relating to the treatment of prisoners prohibit "cruel and unusual punishment", as does the United States Constitution. This case is obviously cruel and unusual. Gerardo and Adriana have been condemned never to see each other again.
As far as the appeal is concerned, if the judicial system is to work then the trial should be annulled for the numerous procedural violations that took place along with the very severe penalties for supposed crimes that were never proved to have been committed. The jury was contaminated and was also the object of pressure, which the judge herself acknowledged. The recent case of the INS agent proves that the government knows and recognizes that a fair trial in Miami is inconceivable.
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Michael Richardson: We all know that, despite several calls by independent factions for peace, Cuba and the United States aren't, shall we say, the, er, best of friends. What about relations between other nations? What ties does Cuba have to other nations and is there any attempt at gathering support in conjunction with them to stop terrorism, at home (wherever home may be to anyone) and abroad?
Thank you,
____________________________________________________________
Alarcón: Cuba has normal relations with practically every other country on earth, the US is the exception. With a number of those countries - including some close US allies - we cooperate and work together in fighting terrorism.
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"Que Tal": Some simple questions: Is there an oficial Cuban government website? Or is this the best place to find official information on government perspectives relating to various issues, including that of it's perception on terrorism?
Also, is there information on how to get in touch with government figures? For example, her in the USA any person can write to the White House or a member of Congress via e-mail or regular mail. Does this option exist for Fidel Castro or government officials? Gracias
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Alarcón: The Cuban government receives messages through many routes - including personal contacts - and are replied to by those who receive them.

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Rosa Mari Pesquera: I know of the manipulation that the government of the United States carries out every time it commits an injustice - doing everything to hide its real role. It speaks of democracy and justice and at the same time hides it's hand in murder. In Puerto Rico we have the cases of Santiago (Chagui) Mari Pesquera, my brother and son of Juan Mari Brás (the well-known independence leader), Carlos Muñiz Varela (a Cuban who defended a policy of openness with the government of Cuba), Angel Rodríguez Cristobal (who fought to rid the island of Vieques of the US Navy), and more, who were assassinated with the complicity and participation of federal agents. None of these cases have been solved and the FBI refuses to provide information it has in its control. (For more information, see: http://www.verdadyjusticia.org )
Initiatives such as this Forum are positive sources to create consciousness and confront the United States with its own terrorist acts.
Rosa Mari desde Puerto Rico
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Gennaro Carotenuto: Mr President, Allow me to reflect on the unique nature of this event (forum).
According to popular thought you are one of the leaders of the so-called "Tropical Gulag" - a bloody, communist dictatorship that does not respect human rights and the freedom of opinion and the press.
Yet you, the President of the Parliament, are answering both comfortable and uncomfortable questions from people that have not been screened. Frankly, in no Western Democracy would this be possible.
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Ileana Luis, Nueva York: Buenos días compañero Ricardo Alarcón. It is a pleasure and an honor to participate in this Forum with you. My name is Ileana Luis and I am a member of the Casa de las Américas in NYC.
The object of this message is to let you and Cuba know that although far from our country there are those of us that defend you. We fight for the release of the five courageous Cubans and will not rest until we achieve this - just as we did with Elian from here, as José Martí put it, "in the belly of the beast".

These five Cubans give us energy to continue the fight to defend our homeland. No matter the dirty campaign carried out by the right wing here versus their fight against terrorism - the more world opinion learns about their case, the more it allies itself to the struggle for their freedom.
On September 12th we had a Forum in New York in the same voice with many other countries. It is a lot of work but not impossible and we will continue until justice has been done.
I do not want to go without inviting you to visit our modest website that we built to inform the world from here of the truth about Cuba and correct the disinformation that is disseminated by dirty propaganda against our country and its brave people. It also has a corner dedicated to the Five.
The address is: http://www.cubasocialista.com

Un abrazo revolucionario,
Ileana Luis
¡¡¡HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE!!!
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What makes good political discourse? The quest for truth!

YautiaPR
Patria o Muerte
Venceremos!

[La_Bambina]

Originally posted by YAUTIAPR
Como somos muchos los que preferimos el castellano al "Inglish", quise poner las personas que saben dar buenos discursos politicos y son elocuentes cuando hablan y cuando escriben en castellano. Como somos latinos nos gustan los discursos largos, interesantes y honestos. Entre los que
admiramos, ademas de nuestros lideres del PIP, estan los
cubanos, entre ellos se encuentra Ricardo Alarcon,.pero por accidente encontre esta pagina, buscando a otro de mis favoritos, Norm Chomsky en español. De todos modos en castellano o en inglés Ricardo Alarcon es muy elocuente. Aqui va el primer ejemplo de un escritor,digamos "bilingue" (falta la diéresis, excuse moi por no deshacer el diptongo). Este es un foro en "English" pero creo son gringos y cubanos exilados interesado en la politica gringa que impacta a Cuba.

What makes good political discourse? The quest for truth!

YautiaPR
Patria o Muerte
Venceremos!

Imperialismos el nuevo libro de Chomsky sitúa a EEUU como jefe mundial del terrorismo de estado
Miguel Mora
Solidaridad.net

A todo el mundo le interesa acabar con el terrorismo. Bien, hay una manera muy sencilla de conseguirlo: dejar de participar en él. No digo que eso lo arreglará todo, pero sí una gran parte?. Ésta es la idea que sostiene Poder y terror (RBA), el último libro de Noam Chomsky (Filadelfia, 1928). A través de una entrevista y varias charlas recientes, el lingüista y activista revisa el sangriento currículo de agresiones cometidas en nombre del capitalismo democrático (Afganistán, Irak, Irán, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia, Palestina...), sitúa a su país como el líder mundial del terrorismo de Estado y refuta la teoría preventiva: ?Lo hacemos nosotros: es contraterrorismo, guerra justa. Lo hacen ellos: es terrorismo?.

"A todo el mundo le interesa acabar con el terrorismo. Bien, hay una manera muy sencilla de conseguirlo: dejar de participar en él. No digo que eso lo arreglará todo, pero sí una gran parte". Ésta es la idea que sostiene Poder y terror (RBA), el último libro de Noam Chomsky (Filadelfia, 1928). A través de una entrevista y varias charlas recientes, el lingüista y activista revisa el sangriento currículo de agresiones cometidas en nombre del capitalismo democrático (Afganistán, Irak, Irán, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia, Palestina...), sitúa a su país como el líder mundial del terrorismo de Estado y refuta la teoría preventiva: "Lo hacemos nosotros: es contraterrorismo, guerra justa. Lo hacen ellos: es terrorismo".

La memoria de un historiador; el vigor y la valentía de un joven activista; la inteligencia y la solidez moral de un sabio profesor; la facilidad y la precisión para sintetizar la información del lingüista avezado. Ésas son las armas de Noam Chomsky, que una vez más sale a luchar contra los molinos de viento y canta las verdades del barquero, las que casi nadie en Occidente quiere oír.

Por la simple vía del recuento de las atrocidades de los últimos 50 años, el profesor del Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT) hace en su nuevo libro, editado en EE UU poco antes de la invasión de Irak, un alegato por la paz, la justicia y la democracia. Chomsky empieza reconociendo el privilegio que es poder decir lo que piensa (una "perogrullada" que suele costarle ataques furibundos), y define el 11 de septiembre como "un espanto atroz". "Pero todos sabemos que no era nada nuevo. De esa misma manera han tratado las potencias imperialistas al resto del mundo durante cientos de años".

El ataque a Nueva York y Washington fue histórico, añade, "pero no por la magnitud ni la naturaleza de la atrocidad, sino por quiénes fueron las víctimas. Si repasamos la historia, los países imperialistas han sido básicamente invulnerables. Se cometen cantidad de atrocidades, pero en otro sitio, siempre en otro sitio".

Primera idea: la hipocresía al juzgar a las víctimas: "Las nuestras cuentan, las de ellos no". Chomsky cita al "filósofo favorito de Bush (Jesús)": "Hipócrita es quien se niega a aplicarse la misma vara que aplica al prójimo". Eso no sólo rige para los políticos, también para los intelectuales: "Estados Unidos fue el único país dispuesto a dar apoyo incondicional a las tremendas atrocidades terroristas cometidas por Turquía en el sureste del país. Millones de kurdos fueron arrancados de su casas, miles de pueblos fueron destruidos, hubo decenas de miles de muertos que, antes de morir, sufrieron toda clase de bárbaras torturas. Clinton hacía llegar una avalancha de armas (...). El hecho de que los intelectuales occidentales puedan ver todo esto sin decir una palabra es un testimonio admirable de lo disciplinada que es la gente bienpensante".

Chomsky establece la correlación entre las ayudas militares y económicas que concede EE UU, las violaciones de los derechos humanos y la apertura de esos países a la inversión multinacional. Los más favorecidos son Israel ("la base militar de EE UU en Oriente Próximo, con 34 años de ocupación brutal de Cisjordania, cientos de miles de muertos y 50.000 torturados a costa de los contribuyentes estadounidenses"); Turquía (que emprendió su lucha antiterrorista "con armas estadounidenses en un 80%"), y Colombia (miles de abogados, periodistas, campesinos y luchadores por los derechos humanos asesinados, la tierra baldía a causa de la fumigación indiscriminada, más privatizaciones que en ningún otro país para que llegue la inversión de las corporaciones, y una división paramilitar que es, en realidad, "la sexta división del Ejército colombiano").

Pero Bush no ha inventado nada, dice Chomsky: la "agresión abierta" marca la política exterior estadounidense de forma declarada al menos desde el Gobierno de Reagan, y hoy continúa igual, incluso con viejos líderes de esa batalla al frente, como Donald Rumsfeld, entonces enviado a Oriente Próximo, y John Negroponte, embajador en la ONU de Bush y en aquel momento cerebro de la guerra en Nicaragua.

Chomsky repasa también de manera implacable el registro de las violaciones de la Convención de Ginebra y el uso del veto por EE UU en la ONU. Y desvela alguna trampa lingüística, como la del "proceso de paz" de Israel y Palestina: "Durante los últimos 30 años de ?procesos de paz?, EE UU no ha hecho más que socavar la paz y bloquear cualquier posibilidad de acuerdo diplomático".

Aunque el abuso de poder no es patrimonio de Estados Unidos, afirma también el autor de El miedo a la democracia, que recuerda la represión colonial y da escalofriantes citas, favorables al exterminio de "árabes recalcitrantes" -Churchill-, "negros" -Lloyd George- e "indígenas argelinos" -ministro de Guerra francés-.

Falsa devoción

La conclusión es que la primera potencia mundial utiliza la coartada de exportar su "devoción por la democracia" (técnica de propaganda que, según Chomsky, roza lo grotesco y copia la que usaban los nazis en los países que ocupaban), para controlar a todo el que se desmanda. Ya sea vía guerra económica (Haití, Cuba); tradicional y biológica (Vietnam, Corea, Colombia...), o sólo tradicional (América Central -"donde Estados Unidos acabó con la Teología de la Liberación"-, Cisjordania, Timor Oriental... El origen de esa violencia, sostiene, es la fundación de EE UU: "¿Por que vivo aquí?", se pregunta. "Porque unos cuantos fanáticos fundamentalistas religiosos de Inglaterra vinieron a estas tierras y comenzaron a exterminar a la población indígena. Luego los siguieron muchos otros y exterminaron al resto de la población indígena. Y no fue cosa de poca monta, fueron millones de personas".

Pero junto al crítico demoledor aparece el Chomsky optimista: "Estamos mejor que hace 30 o 40 años. La población del país está muSolidaridad.net cho más civilizada que entonces y el fenómeno va en aumento. El activismo de los años sesenta y el despertar que supuso condujeron -por primera vez en la historia de Estados Unidos- a un cambio sustancial: el exterminio empezó a formar parte de la conciencia general".

Eso, agrega, "impone ciertas restricciones a la violencia de Estado. Y no hay otra vía. No hay fuerza exterior capaz de restringir la violencia del más poderoso de los Estados, sea Estados Unidos o cualquier otro. Las restricciones deben venir de dentro".

Acusado de apología

Sin caer en demagogias ni en paranoides teorías conspirativas, tirando con perspicacia de casos históricos, citas oficiales y documentos desclasificados, Chomsky sigue siendo un agitador imprescindible. En el libro cuenta que escribió su primer artículo político a los 10 años, en febrero de 1939, "después de la caída de Barcelona" a manos de los nacionales. Ahora, con 74 años, su voz suena con más fuerza que nunca en su país ("un día me invitaron incluso a hablar en televisión", dice con ironía), lo cual le ha valido para ser acusado de apología del terrorismo. "Es la manera infantiloide de verlo, es justo lo contrario", se defiende en la entrevista con John Junkerman, codirector con el japonés Takei Masakazu del documental Power and terror, del que surgió el libro: "Es una cuestión de sensatez. Se trata de que no podemos alegar el terrorismo de los débiles sin enfrentar también el innombrable pero mucho más desproporcionado terrorismo de los poderosos contra los débiles. Si a uno le da igual que haya futuros ataques terroristas... pues está bien, no prestemos atención a las razones. Pero si uno está interesado en evitarlos, no hay más remedio que buscar esas razones. Y es lo contrario de hacer apología del terrorismo".

[AnotherRican]

I find it amusing to see lefties applauding the "integrity" of the Cuban puppet quoted. In my days of growing up on the island, I noticed university students from the UPR and the FUPI going over to Cuba to get "trained" and then coming to P.R. to foment violence and plan bombings. It is a known fact that Cuba financed and trained terrorists to export their Commie revolution all over Latin America. I would call Cuba pivotal in creating terrorism. Notice the trashing this Alarcon puppet does of the US in subtle ways. I am amazed that folks like Yautia can swallow that kind of propaganda so easily. In the US we can have opposite opinions. In Cuba you get shot if you call Fidel a thug and a demented freak. In our country we have such a wonderful freedom that even wacky ladies like Yautia can call G.W. a monster and nobody shows up at her door to take her away. What a great country. It permits bona-fide fruitcakes to say things and believe in things as Yautia does.

Now watch her get pissed off and run away while cursing us for telling her the truth in her face.

Originally posted by La_Bambina

[/b]

[La_Bambina]

Originally posted by AnotherRican
I find it amusing to see lefties applauding the "integrity" of the Cuban puppet quoted. In my days of growing up on the island, I noticed university students from the UPR and the FUPI going over to Cuba to get "trained" and then coming to P.R. to foment violence and plan bombings. It is a known fact that Cuba financed and trained terrorists to export their Commie revolution all over Latin America. I would call Cuba pivotal in creating terrorism. Notice the trashing this Alarcon puppet does of the US in subtle ways. I am amazed that folks like Yautia can swallow that kind of propaganda so easily. In the US we can have opposite opinions. In Cuba you get shot if you call Fidel a thug and a demented freak. In our country we have such a wonderful freedom that even wacky ladies like Yautia can call G.W. a monster and nobody shows up at her door to take her away. What a great country. It permits bona-fide fruitcakes to say things and believe in things as Yautia does.

Now watch her get pissed off and run away while cursing us for telling her the truth in her face.

Anotherican, well what about the "School of the Americas?" You want to talk about trained terrorists, well what about all the U.S. interventions in Latin America and all the overthrowing of governments who democratically voted for their president, well I guess the U.S. has a different definition of "democracy".

As I have clearlr stated on a number of occasions, I don't care for Fidel or much for the cuban government but what the U.S. is doing now adays is not any better. I do believe that the U.S. is a great country like you say though, because in what other country can you have a mentally retarded brain damaged person like Bush as president? Now that's what I call equal rights!!!!! USA, what a country? Chao!

[AnotherRican]

Originally posted by La_Bambina
Anotherican, well what about the "School of the Americas?" You want to talk about trained terrorists, well what about all the U.S. interventions in Latin America and all the overthrowing of governments who democratically voted for their president, well I guess the U.S. has a different definition of "democracy".

Bambina... it seem that you lefties parrot each other. You almost quote verbatim what Camano the Che lover has said. I have never said that the USA is a saint. But next to the fruitcakes like Berrios, Bras, and Fidel, the USA is a saint. The fact is that the US has done more for democracy than any other country... maybe imperfectly but you don't see Russia, China, France, or even Great Britain doing as much. I would say your argument does not hold water.

As I have clearlr stated on a number of occasions, I don't care for Fidel or much for the cuban government but what the U.S. is doing now adays is not any better. I do believe that the U.S. is a great country like you say though, because in what other country can you have a mentally retarded brain damaged person like Bush as president? Now that's what I call equal rights!!!!! USA, what a country? Chao!

Bambina, you are removing all doubt with respect to projecting yourself as a mind-controled person. You are simply parroting what many other lefties and the lefty media is saying about Bush. The same was said of Ronald Reagan and yet history has proven that he is one of the best presidents of the US in that he helped bring down the atheistic, abusive, human rights violating, repressive dark forces of the Evil Empire of the USSR. He did more for getting Gorbachev to embrace the dismantling of the old rusty Soviet machine. Bush has done more against terrorism than any world leader. You are safer because of him. You simply are listening too much to the folks who hate his guts. I'm sorry to hear that you don't think for yourself. Most of what you hear about Bush in attacks are fabricated, exagerations, and lies.

[Nacionalista]

AnotherRican, here again you are talking well away from your leage. In other words, you don't know what are you talking about.

I was an instructor in SOA for six years when it was located in Fort Gulick, Panama.

What in the hell are you talking about training terrorist?

In that case the whole US Army are terrorist because we trained those latin-americans troops the same way as our US Army troops.

Now, if these latin-american troops took their training and used it for terrorism, that was their call.

You don't have the right to acused the SOA of terrorism when their students used the training for other purposes.

I find that very insulting on myself, as an ex-instructor of the SOA.

I refuse to believe a statehooder follower is talking like that. The USA is trying to train latin-american armies to use Democracy. Your statement shows a disapprove of that.

[La_Bambina]

Originally posted by AnotherRican
Bambina... it seem that you lefties parrot each other. You almost quote verbatim what Camano the Che lover has said. I have never said that the USA is a saint. But next to the fruitcakes like Berrios, Bras, and Fidel, the USA is a saint. The fact is that the US has done more for democracy than any other country... maybe imperfectly but you don't see Russia, China, France, or even Great Britain doing as much. I would say your argument does not hold water.

Bambina, you are removing all doubt with respect to projecting yourself as a mind-controled person. You are simply parroting what many other lefties and the lefty media is saying about Bush. The same was said of Ronald Reagan and yet history has proven that he is one of the best presidents of the US in that he helped bring down the atheistic, abusive, human rights violating, repressive dark forces of the Evil Empire of the USSR. He did more for getting Gorbachev to embrace the dismantling of the old rusty Soviet machine. Bush has done more against terrorism than any world leader. You are safer because of him. You simply are listening too much to the folks who hate his guts. I'm sorry to hear that you don't think for yourself. Most of what you hear about Bush in attacks are fabricated, exagerations, and lies.

¿Por qué odian a Estados Unidos?
Por Roberto Torres Collazo

Una de las preguntas que surgió inmediatamente en Estados Unidos despues del doloroso y trágico ataque terrorista del 11 de Septiembre fue: ¿Por qué nos odian?. Una de las respuestas mas notable fue: "Por que en Estados Unidos tenemos libertades, grandes valores y democracia". La mayoría de los estadounidenses y muchos Latinos, también, no conocen la historia de la política exterior de Estados Unidos que nos puede ayudar a dar una respuesta adecuada y entender los ataques terroristas contra Estados Unidos el S-11.

Entender no significa justificar el terrorismo. Para entender es necesario describir brevemente algunos elementos de la política exterior del gobierno de Estados Unidos en el Siglo XX. Es sabido en el Mundo que Estados Unidos ha apoyado dictaduras y gobiernos no elegidos electoralmente en el Medio Oriente para asegurar sus grandes reservas de petroleo y su hegemonía política. El conflicto israelí-palestino, ha sido apoyado unilateralmente en lo económico por Washington, tolerando los ataques desbastadores de las máquinas de guerra israelí contra el pueblo palestino. Arábia Saudita es ocupada por una base militar estadounidense en territorio sagrado del islamismo, donde están situadas las ciudades santas Meca y Medina.

A partir de 1991, en la guerra contra Irak y a raíz del embargo impuesto por Estados Unidos han muerto 500 Mil niños. Medeline Allbright, entonces ministra de Relaciones Exteriores del Ex-Presidente Clinton dijo cínicamente al respecto: "Es un precio alto qu estamos dispuestos a pagar". Como si estuviera hablando de lavadoras, autos o televisores. En 1998 fuerzas militares estadounidenses destruye una fábrica de suministros farmaceúticos en Sudan como represalia por los ataques a las embajadas de Estados Unidos en Tanzania y Kenya, alegando que era una fábrica de armas químicas. Meses mas tarde el gobierno de Estados Unidos reconoce que no habían evidencias de producción de armas químicas. Los ataques a Yugoslavia y la primera ocupación del Siglo XXI contra Irak han divido los pueblos, ha creado desconfianzas, resentimientos, indignación en el Mundo y secuelas de sufrimientos de mujeres, niños, ancianos, enfermos y discapacitados.

Esa política exterior de Estados Unidos no se limitó a el Medio Oriente, también Latinoamérica. Por ejemplo, en 1940 la Marina de Guerra tomó ilegalmente terrenos de Vieques, Puerto Rico, para ensayos militares con sus aliados en detrimento de la salud, ecología y desarrollo de todo un pueblo. El gobierno estadounidense apoyó militar y económicamente atraves de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia (CIA, por sus siglas en inglés) golpes de estados como en Guatemala (1954), Brasil (1964), República Dominicana (1965), Chile (1973) e invadió aún con la desaprobación de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas a Granada (1983) y Panamá (1989). En los años 80' la Corte Internacional de la Haya vigente ese tiempo y los Obispos de Estados Unidos, condenaron las intervenciones de Estados Unidos en Nicaragua atraves e grupos armados en Honduras y Costa Rica, donde murieron miles de civiles durante toda una década.

Todas esas intervenciones militares, económicas y políticas de Estados Unidos nos pueden ayudar a entender los trágicos sucesos del S-11. La política exterior que ha producido millones de sufrimientos, dolores, muertes, asesinatos, desaparecidos, torturas y pobreza en muchos países, que se han convertido en el peor de los casos con el tiempo en cultivo de odios, venganzas, rebeldías y ataques terroristas. El ataque del S-11 fue contra los símbolos de poderes financieros y militares de Estados Unidos, fue producto de su política exterior que pocos conocen su historia, no fue contra los valores y libertades de Estados Unidos. Jamás Estados Unidos mereció los ataques terroristas del S-11, pero para evitar futuros dolorosos, tristes y más muertes a manos de terroristas, se hace necesario la respuesta del amor sin estereotipos, seguir apostando por el diálogo en igualdad de condiciones con el Mundo, la tolerancia hacia otras religiones, valores y estilos de vida, procurar entender otras culturas, la negociación, la iniciativa, sincera solidaridad, respetar las soberania de los pueblos, justicia para los paises pobres y reconocer que todos y todas somos hijos e hijas de un solo Dios, en consecuencia; todos somos hermanos. A riesgo de parecer simplista, todas estas propuestas se resumen en una palabra, que es el antídoto al odio: Amor. Dice san Juan: "El que dice 'Yo amo a Dios' y no ama a su hermano, es un mentiroso", I de san Juan 4,19-20 y Jesús señaló: "Porque si ustedes aman a los que los aman, ¿qué mérito tiene?, ¿no actuan así los malos?" Mateo 5,46-48.

* El autor es educador y residente en Boston.

Pinochet, Trujillo, Somoza, Castro, Noriega, Bin Laden, Saddam y otros son creaciones de tus amos Anotherican. Ellos mismos lo reconocen pero el PNP lo niega. Son hoseadores y metiches en asuntos que no son de su incumbencia, y para terminar son dictadores, ya que sin consultar al pueblo invadido le meten a uno de los suyos ahi a la canona o a una marioneta lacaya al servicio de sus intereses economicos y para meter su dizque democracia fatula! Nada mas con el testigo! Bueno, Colorin colora'o, este cuento se ha acaba'o, Chao!