This week, Texan immigration judge William Abbott ruled that known terrorist bomber Posada Carriles will not be extradited to Venezuela, where he is wanted for the 1976 bombing of a Cubana airlines jet which murdered 73 people. Nor, say U.S. authorities, will Posada be extradited to a third country which would be likely to extradite him to Venezuela.
This, one would think, goes against all logic. The United States government under Emperor Bush claims to be waging a "war on terror". Yet, they harbor a vicious murder that is well known and even self admitted to be a terrorist involved not only in the airplane bombing, but in other terrorist attacks on Cuba. They refuse to extradite Posada to Venezuela, a country which the U.S. has a long standing extradition treaty with; despite the fact that it was in this country that he plotted the bombing of the Cubana jet. They further refuse to extradite him to his country of origin, Cuba, or any other "third country".
The U.S. imperialists claim this is because Posada would face torture if he were extradited. This baseless claim wouldn’t fool an idiot like of the caliber of George Bush. himself considering tThere isn’t a shred of evidence to support a claim that Venezuela has been or would be guilty of any form of torture under the Bolivarian revolutionary government. No, torture has nothing to do with it.
The reasons for this blatant protection of a hardened terrorist by the U.S. authorities are to be found in the class nature of the U.S. imperialist state, which, like all states, is the instrumentaccomplice instrument of the ruling class of the society in question. The capitalist ruling class of the U.S. is simply protecting their own interests when they protect terrorists like Posada. After all, it was the CIA who helped him carry out his dirty work. Their battle against socialism in Cuba is one and the same. Those who wage war against imperialism, like the Cuban Five, are branded terrorists, while those who fight on side of imperialism are heroes and freedom fighters. Another despicable terrorists by the name of Bin Laden was once a "freedom fighter" when he waged his "holy war" on socialism in Afghanistan with CIA aid but when his attacks were later redirected against the United States even the imperialists were compelled to brand him for what he always was, a terrorist.
And on the other hand there is the Cuban Five, who were trying to stop the ultra-right terrorist groups in Miami from carrying out violent actions against the people of Cuba. Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, René González and Fernando González, acting in defense of their people, were living in Miami monitoring terrorist groups to prevent future violence. But because the U.S. government — through the CIA — has played the principal role in funding, training and arming the ultra-right Miami mafia, the FBI targeted the five Cubans instead of arresting the terrorists. They have been classed as "political prisioners" by the UN.
The "war on terror" has proved to be no more than a cover for imperialist wars of aggression in the Middle East, the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Haiti, meddling in countries internal affairs, and giving aid to despotic governments trying to crush genuine liberation movements in countries around the world. While we expect such contemptible acts from imperialism and its lackeys, we must not stand idle while it continues. The "war on terror" must be revealed for what it is a blind fold on the people to cover up imperialist machinations actions. Imperialist troops must be withdrawn from Afghanistan, Haiti, Palestine and Iraq and wherever they be found.
Canada is drawn into this mess by our own monopoly capitalists, who long ago sold out to US interests for a share of the imperialist profits. Canada is full imperialist power and a junior ally of Uncle Sam. Our country needs to make a sharp break with US imperialism and pursue a foreign policy based on peace and disarmament. Instead, Paul Martin is deep-integrating Canada into fortress America.
The YCL re-affirms its support for socialist Cuba against the barbaric embargo and against attacks perpetrated on behalf of imperialism by terrorists like Posada. We condemn all terrorism but affirm our support for the just struggles of the people of the world, many of which have been falsely labeled by imperialism as "terrorist" such as those in Columbia and the Philippines. Finally, tThe YCL demands the extradition of Posada Carriles to Venezuela where he should stand trial for his crimes!
Down with the Phony War on Terror!
Free the Cuban Five!
Long Live Socialist Cuba!
Extradite Posada Carriles to Venezuela Now!
