Terrorism Undefined?

The recent War on Terrorism has been unique in many ways. Not only is it the first War against a concept. A concept, by the way, that will never be defined. To define the concept would find the proverbial pointing finger with three other fingers pointing back at us.

Amy Goodman's recent coverage, May 9th, 2005, of the Luis Posada case is remarkable. With the help of Louise Ann Bardach, NY Times, and Richardo Alaron, President of the Cuban National Assembly, Amy establishes the context of Luis Posada's ideology, training, history, and connections.

Luis Posada, born in Venezuela, trained in Fort Bennings, Georgia at the School of the Americas, CIA Operative in the 1970's, a very high profile anti-Castro anit-communist warrior. Convicted in Venezuela of involvement in the first bombing of a commercial airliner, killing all 73 on board. Luis miraculously escapes to El Salvador to immediately join Ollie North's staff in the Iran Contra scandal. Luis eventually becomes Security Advisor to both El Salvador and later Guatamala. Luis is seeking asylum in the US. His supporters believe that we owe him due to his anti-Castro anti-communism service and his connections in the USA.

The present concern is will the USA grant him asylum or not. But there is a much larger overriding concern and what is unique and remarkable about this situation is that it will force the USA to explore the "backside" of the Patriot Act. The Cat is out of the Bag, what happens when the USA is involved, trains, supports and/or is complicit with terrorists and/or terrorist acts.

This is the first pre-9/11 high profile case where the facts are well established, and association and support by anti-Cuban anti-communist forces in Florida, Miami and the US Federal Government, Venezuela, Cuba are well known and documented. This poses many questions.

How will those that aided and supported and participated in the terrorist act be viewed? The current policy is that those that aid and support are also guilty.

Will the USA decide that since it is pre-9/11 that will be evaluated differently?

How will this affect those living in the USA on political asylum from the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa that were associated with what we now define as terrorism?

Could it go as far as how do covert USA operations relate to terrorists acts?

The bottom line is that this case offers the USA yet another opportunity to look in the mirror to see if we are fully dressed.