Country Reports on Terrorism 2008
The State Department just released this year's report on terrorism, and after all the speculation Venezuela was not labeled a state sponsor (see here for my previous poll, where only 1/3 thought it would not be, though others believed it will be next year). Ecuador received praise, while Bolivia "showed new potential as a possible site for terrorist activity" because a number of terrorist groups "were thought to be present" there. That is the worst type of passive tense, similar to "it is argued" because it is attributed to no one.
Back to Venezuela, the State Department admitted it had no hard evidence: "It remained unclear to what extent the Venezuelan government provided support to Colombian terrorist organizations." However, the entire thing was not worded as strongly as I expected. Perhaps the State Department understood that such wording would immediately be used to Chávez's benefit.
In short, nothing much has changed. Cuba is still on the list because, well, we always put Cuba on the list.
7 comments:
Cuba is still on the list because, well, we always put Cuba on the list.
Yeah, what the hell is that about? Love 'em or hate 'em, there isn't a lick of evidence that Cuba supports terrorism.
"The Government of Cuba provided safe haven to members of ETA, the FARC, and the ELN. It maintained close relationships with other state sponsors of terrorism such as Iran and Syria."
All true.
If those sorts of criteria make a country a "state sponsor of terrorism" then so be it. A bunch of U.S. allies will therefore need to be added for consistency.
It maintained close relationships with other state sponsors of terrorism such as Iran and Syria.
Oh, so now "close relationships" (whatever that means) with Iran and Syria make you a "state sponsor of terrorism." By that completely vague standard, you could put, like, half the world on the "state sponsor of terrorism" list. Pure genius, Paul.
Greg, you're right. A bunch of allies should be on the list, but are not for pragmatic reasons. The secret ingredient for making the US shitlist is overt hostility to us, alongside the support for terrorism.
Anyway, just because we don't add everyone, doesn't mean those already on the list shouldn't be on it.
"The peoples and governments of Cuba and Iran can bring America to its knees."
~Fidel Castro in Teheran. May, 2001
"Oh, so now "close relationships" (whatever that means) with Iran and Syria make you a "state sponsor of terrorism."
Do you have even a shred of intellectual honesty? The other part of that quote mentioned the safe haven for other terrorists like the FARC whom your master embraces with loving arms.
"Pure genius, Paul."
How about putting a little creativity into your insults?
Greg, you're right. A bunch of allies should be on the list, but are not for pragmatic reasons. The secret ingredient for making the US shitlist is overt hostility to us, alongside the support for terrorism.
Anyway, just because we don't add everyone, doesn't mean those already on the list shouldn't be on it.
Oh, I see. So here we have an explicit endorsement of a system of double standards and arbitrary assessments as to what constitutes state sponsorship of terrorism.
Why does that not surprise me, Paul?
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