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BREAKING: US Removes Cuba From State Sponsors Of Terrorism List
The United States has officially removed Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, a State Department spokesman said Friday.
Secretary of State made final decision to rescind #Cuba’s designation as State Sponsor of Terrorism, effective 5/29. http://t.co/BtYymJY45L
— Department of State (@StateDept) May 29, 2015
“The rescission of Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism reflects our assessment that Cuba meets the statutory criteria for rescission,” said State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke. “While the United States has significant concerns and disagreements with a wide range of Cuba’s policies and actions, these fall outside the criteria relevant to the rescission of a State Sponsor of Terrorism designation.”
Cuba had been on the list since March 1, 1982. The Washington Free Beacon pointed out the nation’s addition to the list was due to their support of several terrorist organizations, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
In December, President Obama exchanged three Cuban spies for an American hostage and announced plans to “normalize” diplomatic relations with the communist island nation. Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro met at the Summit of the Americas in Panama last month, where the 44th president described their conversation as “candid and fruitful.”
The recommendation to take Cuba off the list was made last month by the State Department. Both Cuban senators, Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., slammed State’s endorsement at the time.
“The Castro regime’s utter disregard for international security standards should not be rewarded with continued concessions from the United States, and any decision to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism must have close scrutiny by the Congress,” Menendez said.
Rubio said removing Cuba from the list “sends a chilling message to our enemies abroad that this White House is no longer serious about calling terrorism by its proper name.”
The Florida senator is currently seeking the Republican presidential nomination.
h/t: BBC News
Is this a blow to American foreign policy? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
This post originally appeared on Western Journalism – Equipping You With The Truth
Source: http://www.westernjournalism.com/breaking-us-removes-cuba-from-state-sponsors-of-terrorism-list/
