Cuba upholds 15-year sentence for US contractor

[rabs]

(AFP) – 2 hours ago

HAVANA — Cuba's high court on Friday upheld a 15-year sentence imposed on US contractor Alan Gross, jailed since his arrest in late 2009 on accusations of espionage, according to an official statement.

The rejection of Gross's appeal is sure to anger longtime foe Washington, where US government officials have called for his immediate release, and further undermine the gentle rapprochement between Cuba and the United States since President Barack Obama entered the White House.

Gross, 62, was arrested in December 2009 for bringing satellite phones and equipment to the communist island's Jewish community while working as an independent contractor for a democracy-building program funded by the US Agency for International Development.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court's chamber for crimes against the state "issued a final decision in rejecting a challenge by the US citizen," according to a statement posted on the Cubadebate (www.cubadebate.cu) official website.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hazQ-VMzJU4znLnxF85z3hVGPAgw?docId=CNG.c08d50927e48321e5e784e1f7b45cbbc.361

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A quick and simple solution: Obama offers the Cuban Five for Gross. End of episode.

But then there are the gusanos Rubio, Illeana, and Ditzy-Balart so that will never happen.

[Judi Lynn]

1. You're so right. The answer is in his hands. How about sending Ileana, Rubio, and D-B's to Cuba?

Could put them in a cigarette boat, or simply fly them back whence they came. No doubt there'd be a big turnout to greet them, and thank them for all the help they've been over the year to their fellow man/woman in Cuba.

Thanks for the news on this.

[flamingdem]

2. Ha ha! That would be great

I read somewhere that the satellite phones he was accused of handing out were in fact computers that could transmit without detection and would be considered suspiciously in any country.

The US should trade this guy for the Cuban 5, they've done it with other countries.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Really! Didn't know. Thanks for the details. n/t

[flamingdem]

4. I can't find it now but it was written by John McAuliffe who

has posted here a couple of times. It was in comments about an article about releasing USAID funding. I'll run across it again probably.

Yes, that made me think .. this was the information that came out in the trial.

[Peace Patriot]

5. At least a couple of lies in this article...

"Gross, 62, was arrested in December 2009 for bringing satellite phones and equipment to the communist island's Jewish community while working as an independent contractor for a democracy-building program funded by the US Agency for International Development."

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The Jewish community denied any connection to Gross. I suppose they could have been lying, but nobody has said they were, and it should be reported in any "news" allegation that he was delivering this equipment to "the Jewish community." I don't know the details of the trial evidence but, as far as I know, Gross and the U.S. State Department are the only who have asserted this. There is no corroboration. And it smells of a cover story.

The USAID is not a "democracy-building program." It is an arm of the CIA and its funds are used to support rightwing/fascist/corporate causes all over Latin America.