Posada retracts his agreement to testify (at Santiago Alvarez's trial)

[Mika]

One terrorist washes another terrorist's back.


Posada retracts his agreement to testify
A lawyer for Cuban exile militant Luis Posada
Carriles announced he does not want Posada to
testify at his benefactor Santiago Alvarez's trial.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/14540858.htm

Alvarez, along with Osvaldo Mitat, is scheduled to go on trial later this month to face federal weapons charges, and Posada had agreed to testify on the men's behalf if needed in an effort to discredit a key witness. But Monday, Posada's lawyer, Eduardo Soto, filed a motion in federal court telling the judge in the Alvarez case that he doesn't want Posada to do it.

'It is not in the best interest of Mr. Posada Carriles to be involved in the defendants' criminal matter,'' the motion said. ''Mr. Posada therefore, respectfully places the defendants on notice that if he is called to testify, he will respectfully decline to testify, and if necessary, assert his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.'' In the motion, Soto said Posada's health is so fragile that it ``may be endangered if he is transferred to the South Florida area under such stressful circumstances.''

Soto said Tuesday that Posada had nothing to contribute to Alvarez's case and could be harmed by being associated with it.

-

The weapons case against Alvarez and his friend, Mitat, was set to begin on Monday, but has been postponed indefinitely, while the Fort Lauderdale federal judge handles another trial.

[acmavm]

1. I hope his health is bad, means he's closer to dying. He sent a lot of

innocent people to their deaths, and they weren't allowed the luxury of dying comfortably in their beds. They died violently. I hope he suffers, I hope that he's looking at the possibility of an afterlife and what that would mean to a butcher like him.

And all that hate, all the ill wishing just minimizes me. And I hate that. But I hate people (I use the term loosely here) more.

[Mika]

2. I know how you feel, acmavm

I love Cuba. I love my Cuban friends in Cuba. I have learned, by and large, Cubans have no ill will towards American people. Its the US government policy they dislike (and they know that US policy on Cuba isn't supported by the majority of Americans). Its the US gov terror ops against Cuba they dislike. Its the harboring of terrorists who have maimed and killed that they abhore. Aside from that, Cubans are very loving people. It is reflected in their infrastructure and their willingness to help other poor nations with healthcare and education. There's a lot to learn from Cuba. They have opened their doors and hearts to the American people. Its the US government that prevents the connection between Cubans and Americans.


Viva Cuba!

Abajo Bushco!

[Judi Lynn]

3. Another Miami Herald article explained who/what Mitat is:

Posted on Tue, Nov. 22, 2005
U.S. COURTPosada allies denied releaseA federal judge in Miami refused to release two close allies of a Cuban exile militant. The two face weapons charges.BY OSCAR CORRAL AND JAY [e-mail] secret cache of weapons, a fake Guatemalan passport, betrayal by a turncoat.

The U.S. government's case against Santiago Alvarez and Osvaldo Mitat, two close allies of Cuban exile militant Luis Posada Carriles, contains the kind of intrigue that turned the terrorism suspect's own life into the stuff of Cuban exile lore.

''We are seeing signals that indicate that the administration of President Bush is forgetting the promises they made to the exile community in order to cater to Castro,'' said Cuban American National Foundation President Francisco ''Pepe'' Hernandez, who was sitting outside the courtroom.

Added Brothers to the Rescue founder Jose Basulto: ``This is an action against our community and our people. There is no difference between Bush and Clinton. There is basically one party with two names. The U.S. is falling to a moral low point.''
(snip)

After the informant drove south with the weapons-filled cooler, he contacted federal agents and told them he was delivering it to Mitat. Agents followed the informant to the apartment and arrested Mitat.

''Following his arrest, Mitat made a spontaneous statement to a uniformed police officer,'' the affidavit said. ``He told the officer . . . `Unfortunately, you guys are doing your jobs and we got caught with a bunch of guns. I love the United States and would never do anything to hurt this country. These guns were not meant to be used against this country.''

AMMUNITION FOUND
On Saturday, agents went back to the 280-unit apartment complex in Lauderhill and found more than a thousand rounds of ammunition, more explosives and automatic weapons in a vault in the building management office.
Said ATF agent Matt May: ``It was a very large gun safe.''
(snip)

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:GEfkx0WByU0J:www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13229428.htm+Osvaldo+Mitat&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Showing what gives Cuban right-wing "exiles" their unique lovable quality, this article reveals how, if things don't go their way, they will turn and accuse you of being a "Castro lover:"

~ snip~
On the night of Nov. 18, on a tip from a government informant, Santiago Alvarez and Osvaldo Mitat were arrested in Miami on weapons charges. Alvarez, a wealthy real estate owner was found by federal agents to have in his Broward county apartment complex, a secret cache of weapons including hand grenades, unregistered silencers, automatic weapons with obliterated registration numbers and explosives. ATF agents found more than a thousand rounds of ammunition, more explosives and automatic weapons in a vault in the building management office.

Both Alvarez and Mitat are long-time allies of Luis Posada-Carriles, the Cuban exile militant accused by the Cuban and Venezuelan governments to have masterminded, along with Orlando Bosch, the bombing of a Cubana airlines flight from Barbados in 1976. That act of terrorism killed all 73 people on board, including members of the Cuban youth fencing team. Posada is also accused of planning a series of hotel bombings in Havana between 1997-98. Both Santiago Alvarez 64, and Osvaldo Mitat, 63, were among the five passengers aboard the fishing boat Santrina, which Fidel Castro has maintained smuggled Posada into the United States through Mexico in March. Posada is currently incarcerated on immigration charges.

On Nov. 28 at the federal courthouse, Judge Andrea Simonton refused to release the pair saying that possession of such weapons is a "crime of violence." However, she did not feel they were a flight risk due to their close Miami ties. Outside the courtroom, Cuban American National Foundation president Francisco "Pepe" Hernandez accused the Bush administration of betrayal, saying the White House is forgetting the promises they made to the exile community and are instead catering to Castro's demands.
(snip)

http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/12/1787481.php

[Mika]

4. Mitat confessed that they were violating the US's Neutrality Act.

But, as those who follow US/Cuba issues with an open mind know, the US does jack shit to enforce the Neutrality Act when it comes to Miamicubano exile terra - in fact, the US underwrites some of it.


Thanks for those links, Judi. :thumbsup:



click on the pic to find out why

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. I guess Posada doesn't want to have to answer questions

about that boat ride Santiago gave him on his yacht.

Funny, he was well enough a year ago to go for boat rides but he can't come back to Miami to testify because of his health? Sure Luis, whatever you say.