Kucinich Urges Terrorist Be Returned To Venezuela

On April 17, 2007, U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) sent a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzáles, advocating the immediate return of Cuban-exile Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela to be tried for his acts of terrorism.

Posada Carriles is a CIA-trained operative implicated in a series of terrorist incidents, including the bombing of the Cubana Airlines civilian airliner that killed 73 people on October 6, 1976. 

In November 2000, Posada Carriles was arrested in Panama for preparing a bomb to explode in the University of Panama’s Conference Hall, where Fidel Castro was scheduled to deliver a speech. 

“The United States must cooperate with the global community to further the protection of our citizens from terrorists. Posada Carriles should be tried for his crimes and will be if extradited to Venezuela. Releasing Posada Carriles would be a grave mistake,” Kucinich said.

“Not only is there a likelihood that he would evade prosecution in the United States and elsewhere, but the United States will be sending the wrong message to the international community. The United States has stated that it will not tolerate the harboring or encouragement of terrorists. We must ensure that this government follows the policies it expounds.”

The letter to Gonzáles can be found at the Kucinich Web site at:

http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=62722