Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hinted at the possibility of redesignating Cuba as a state sponsor of terror and called Havana “evil” in an interview with Bloomberg published on Tuesday.
Last week, several reports said the Trump administration is considering putting Cuba on the terror list as a last-minute move that could hobble Joe Biden’s plans to move closer towards normalization with Cuba. President Obama removed Cuba from the list in 2015.
“We don’t get out in front of decisions that will be made on designations, but the world knows Cuba’s evil hand in so many places,” Pompeo said when asked if the designation was likely.
He went on to cite Cuba’s support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration often blames Cuba for Washington’s failed regime change effort in Venezuela.
“We’ve been working to create democracy for the people of Venezuela for our entire four years, and it is Cuban efforts, Cuban security operations, Cubans controlling the security apparatus inside of Venezuela that has inflicted massive pain on the Venezuelan people,” Pompeo said.
The reality of the Trump administration’s Venezuela policy is that Juan Guaido, who the US recognized as president of Venezuela, never had wide support in the country. The military remained loyal to Maduro, and coup attempts failed miserably. It’s not clear if Cuba actually has much of a military presence in Venezuela.
“It is completely appropriate for us to consider whether Cuba is in fact sponsoring terrorism,” Pompeo said. “And if so, just like any other nation that is providing material support to terrorists, they too should be designated such and treated in a way that’s consistent with that behavior that they’re undertaking.”
Throughout his term, President Trump has reversed Obama’s efforts to normalize with Cuba by reimposing restrictions on travel, investments, and exports of Cuban liquor and cigars.
Does this person really believe that President Trump will be still an officer of the US after January 20, 12 pm ET?
I`m not sure whether Pompous was born an idiot or he has just practised for a long time.
The goal is to “hobble Joe Biden’s plans to move closer towards normalization”. Trump doesn’t have to be in office. Just like Iranian sanctions hobbling any attempt to rejoin the JCPOA.
That can be achieved with an Executive order
Why not have a Ron Paul style free trade with Cuba? Why do we need to regime change Cuba/Ven? I dont get it.
Cuban Americans and other Latinos pick sides. Is that all it is, catering to those voters?
No one believed that. They were just playing a game for influence over the GOP.
After the stupid riot at DC, I expect the GOP is dead, which might be a good thing. Poverty and war just isn’t very appealing.
Man, that riot was ugly. I don’t think the GOP is dead, just some its members.
It didn’t look like a big deal other than the bombs. I think idiots were lured in basically. Similarly, it did look like Pelosi had her house painted to frame antifa, bc paint wasnt on brickwork.
It’ll be used as a pretext to curtail liberties in the US now.
The greater concern, which could be good for ending the empire, is the economy is weakening. So, we might all see a reduction in living standards. Most people dont seem able to consider doing without a car, or without a/c or new clothes or a fancy cell phone. But we might have to choose between high living and the empire.
Sure. Duck Dynasty rioting doesn’t bring the fear of BLM rioting. And they were lured into DC by Trump. For several weeks. I believe “wild” was one of his descriptions of the impending rally. So we can also thank Trump for the curtailing of our liberties.
I’m just angry he gave us almost nothing in foreign policy. Day 1, we should have brought the troops home. A lot of effort was put in to support him. He was spied upon but didn’t try to reform the surveillance state. He talked with Rand Paul but changed nothing.
Even now he could have a big impact just by pardoning Assange and Snowden.
I’d feel worse, but I talk with Biden supporters all the time who tell me ridiculous things that Biden will do for them. They want better healthcare and a focus on the US. Not what they’re getting! But Biden could be an improvement in some foreign policy areas.
I do believe getting Trump into office was worth it, but I expected more. He did some good, but time to turn the page. The genocides at least need to end. I assume many are dying in Venezuela from having so little, even if it’s not nearly as bad as Yemen.
The goal with Trump was to make the system work for Americans. To do that, we needed to cut foreign policy. That didn’t happen.
So, what’s going to happen instead is a socialist flop, with a great deal of money wasted, but the foreign policy gets cut anyway. Whatever works. It’s obvious the current spending can’t continue, but people are going to try until they can’t. Argentina style.
Amazing, he doesn’t even mention his supporters who died in the event. And it very much looks like he’s not even considering pardoning Assange and Snowden. He’s looking at pardoning a rapper instead…
On some level, he probably means well. Trump just has no idea what’s going on. He’s not cut out for politics. He gets some things, but it just doesn’t come together.
A classic case of the school yard BULLY
This great news maybe it will stop the evil Cubans from sending Medical teams and Teachers to countries truly in need./s
Why are we really against Cuba And Ven? I dont get it.
Amerikas powers to be don’t like any country that will not bow down to Amerika and sell out their citizens.
I guess that is it. It’s annoying though. I mean we work like crazy to get Trump elected, and he changes nothing.
A recent article, posted on the front page here, claims China’s threat to America is ideological:
https://palladiummag.com/2020/12/14/chinas-real-threat-is-to-americas-ruling-ideology
Maybe part of the conflict is religious-like, over warped ideology. Personally, I see the US and China as of the same kind, just differing degrees. I get that money is made from promoting an ideological justification for the empire, but it is curious why the US can’t pick and choose where to intervene, as opposed to attempting intervention everywhere at once.
Pompeo probably had a slow day at his office and was looking for something to do.
“We’ve been working to create democracy for the people of Venezuela for our entire four years, and it is Cuban efforts, Cuban security operations, Cubans controlling the security apparatus inside of Venezuela that has inflicted massive pain on the Venezuelan people,” Pompeo said.
As compared to the help we give the Venezuelans with our pain free sanctions. Someday this putrid piece of dog dung will run for president using his time as SOS as a selling point. Hopefully Karma happens along before then that results in a deservingly painful ending.
Has there been a less pleasant oaf in this position as US Chief Exceptionalist Hypocrite? Im strugging to think of one and there have been plenty of candidates.