Briefing on the Status of the Posada Carriles Case

by Wayne S. Smith

On December 7, the Center for International Policy, the Washington Office on Latin America and the Latin American Working Group hosted a briefing on the Hill on the status of the case of Luis Posada Carriles, a Cuban exile terrorist being detained in the United States on the minor charge of illegal entry – despite all the massive evidence of his involvement in various acts of terrorism.

Peter Kornbluh of the National Security Archive led off by presenting various declassified CIA and FBI documents detailing Posada Carriles’ involvement in the 1976 bombing of the Cubana airliner with the loss of 73 innocent lives, and various other acts of terrorism. In other words, Kornbluh pointed out, the U.S. Government has abundant evidence of Posada Carriles’ crimes. Venezuela wants to try him for the 1976 bombing and has asked for his extradition. Why is the United States only holding him on the charge of illegal entry and why has it refused to deport him to Venezuela?

Click here to read full briefing.