Bet You Didn’t Kno How Much Was Going On

News Bits from the World Palenques


Compiled from Granma
MEDELLIN, June 3.—Venezuela’s foreign minister demanded the US arrest the fugitive Luis Posada Carriles, wanted in the bombing of a Cuban airliner in 1976, slaughtering all 73 on board. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Madura made the demand during the Plenary Session of the Organization of American States in Medellin, Colombia on June 3. Maduro asked to speak after Washington’s ambassador to the OAS spoke, alleging that the United States condemns terrorism.
“That is why we are once again requesting, formally, right here, the capture of terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, who is a fugitive from justice wanted for terrorist attacks,” Maduro said.
This past May 8 marked one year since the definitive liberation of terrorist Luis Posada Carriles in the United States.
Addendum. At that time, the ruling of Judge Kathleen Cardone threw out the charges brought against Posada by the U.S. government. The terrorist had been accused solely of committing fraud and lying to the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement authorities in order to obtain naturalization in the US. The judge said at the time, “The realm of this case is not, as some have suggested, terrorism,” she wrote. “It is immigration fraud. Terrorism, and the determination as to whether or not to classify an individual as a terrorist, lies within the sound discretion of the executive branch.”
The U.S. government has not charged Posada for his acts of terrorism even though it has all the evidence based on its longstanding relationship with him, along with what Cuba has provided since 1998.
Paradoxically, it was Judge Cardone herself who, in one of her initial rulings, highlighted the fact that he is a dangerous terrorist and even listed part of the string of crimes committed by this sinister individual.
Judge Cardone noted Posada’s participation in some of the most repugnant actions of the 20th century. The long list includes the Iran-Contra scandal, the bombing of Cubana Airlines Flight 455, the detonation of bombs in Havana tourist sites in 1997 and plans to assassinate President Fidel Castro in Panama, in 2000.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounces the conspiratorial inaction by the United States government and the protection given to Luis Posada Carriles by the administration of George W. Bush.

ROME, June 5.—The UN Summit on Food Security: The Effects of Climate Change and Bioenergy concluded at midnight on Thursday with the commitment of heads of state and government, ministers and other representatives to assume the urgent task of guaranteeing foodstuffs and eradicating hunger as ongoing national policy. In spite of the observation by a number of countries of the South that the document lacks substantial aspects in terms of placing responsibility on the Western powers for the current serious situation, there was a consensus of support for the FAO in its undertaking to achieve world food security.

from Al Jazeera
BAGHDAD, June 7.—Thousands of Iraqis have taken to the streets in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, denouncing a proposed deal that would keep US troops in Iraq beyond 2008. Protesters set fire to a US flag and to an effigy of George Bush, the US president, following weekly prayers on Friday. This story was reported in June 7 in Al Jazeera which also has an excellent article on Obama.