This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 72.65.80.34 (talk) at 18:28, 11 June 2006 (rv; apparently Jensbn believes he can violate 3RR with impunity now). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 18:28, 11 June 2006 by 72.65.80.34 (talk) (rv; apparently Jensbn believes he can violate 3RR with impunity now)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)José Basulto is the leader of the Cuban exile organization Brothers to the Rescue. The group, whose stated purpose was to assist Cuban emigrant rafters fleeing from the country, has entered Cuban airspace on numerous occasions and dropped anti-Fidel Castro leaflets which reached Havana. Basulto is considered a terrorist by the Cuban government.
Since the Cuban Revolution, Basulto participated in various activities intended to subvert or overthrow the Cuban government. He was trained by the CIA in intelligence, communications, explosives, sabotage and subversion in Panama, Guatemala, and the United States. He was later placed back into Cuba, posing as a physics student at the University of Santiago to help prepare the ground for the Bay of Pigs Invasion. In 1961, under CIA sponsorship, Basulto infiltrated Cuba for a commando operation intended to sabotage a missile site, a mission which was ultimately aborted. In August 1962 he took a boat to Cuba and fired a 20mm cannon at a hotel, though nobody was killed in the incident. In the 1980s Basulto flew medical supplies to the Nicaraguan Contras which were embattled with the Castro-allied Sandinista government.
Ever since the Cuban government shot down the planes, Basulto has sought to have criminal and civil charges pressed over the matter. He was awarded a $1.7 million judgement in January of 2005. On May 24 of that same year, Basulto announced a one million dollar reward for information leading to the indictment of Raúl Castro on drug charges or charges related to the shooting of the Hermanos planes. ""It would throw a wrench in the machinery," Basulto said of a possible indictment.
Notes
Information from the 2001 Cuban spy trial, referred in The Miami Herald, March 13, 2001.
See, for example, Granma International, December 13, 2005.
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