Obama’s Shameful Eagerness to Appease Dictators Has No Bounds

WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement after the Obama Administration announced the Cuban regime's removal from the state sponsors of terrorism list.

"Once again, President Obama has demonstrated that his eagerness to capitulate to dictators has no bounds. Today, the administration has jeopardized U.S. national security by choosing to absolve the Castro dictatorship of its dangerous anti-American terrorist activities across the globe. The Castro regime's extensive espionage activities, shoot-down of unarmed civilian aircraft in international waters, assistance to the Maduro regime in oppressing the opposition and subverting Venezuela's democratic institutions, harboring members of terrorist organizations such as the FARC and ETA, harboring fugitives from U.S. justice including terrorists Joanne Chesimard and William Guillermo Morales, and weapons smuggling in violation of international sanctions are just a few of the Castro regime's links to terrorism. The facts clearly show the Castro regime continues to be a state sponsor of terrorism. This is just another shameful concession to the Castro regime. Fortunately, most sanctions against the Castro regime are codified in U.S. law and can only be lifted by the U.S. Congress, when free, fair elections are scheduled, independent labor unions, political parties, and the press are legalized, and all political prisoners are freed.

"According to reports, the President has pressured the intelligence and foreign policy communities to ignore the dangerous activities of the Cuban dictatorship so that he can provide another gift to an enemy of the United States and put Americans at even greater risk. I am alarmed by his endless concessions to not only the Castro regime, but also numerous enemies of the United States, such as Iran.The longsuffering Cuban people, who continue to struggle for the realization of human rights and democracy in Cuba, and the American people, living with an aggressive anti-American dictatorship 90 miles from our shores, deserve much better from the President."

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