No traitors in Washington D.C.

Iroel Sánchez

June 8 is Jurist Day in Cuba. On that date Ignacio Agramonte, a hero of the first Cuban war of independence from Spain, graduated law in the University of Havana.

Agramonte left the comfort of a city profession to go to the countryside and confront the Spanish army soon after the first Cubanwar broke out to break with colonial domination. Adored by his subordinates, Ignacio Agramonte died young but he had time to instill in his men a high sense of discipline and loyalty. In just five years of military life he created a legendary group, the Cavalry of Camaguey. With this he performed feats that Cuban children still learn early in their schools: the rescue of Brigadier Julio Sanguily.

Informed by one of his officials that Sanguily had been captured by an enemy column, Agramonte chose 35 combatants and left to rescue him armed with machetes. In the vanguard of his troop there was a U.S. citizen who would also make history in Cuba: Henry Reeve. The Cubans, less in numbers and in weapons achieved their goal. It is said that Reeve was one who shone in hand to hand combat with a fellow from his country called “The Prussian” who was a tracker for the Spanish troop.

With this action Agramonte set the principle in the Spanish troops that no comrade was abandoned regardless of the difficult circumstances.

This was repeated by Fidel when during a stormy night one of expeditionaries from the Granma yacht fell into the sea; he did not continue until the comrade was found and rescued.
I don’t know if U.S. leaders close to “The Prussian” knew of Cuban history and particularly actions by Agramonte and Henry Reeve, particularly the expeditionaries of the Granma. Those actions towards Cuba seem to indicate are not guided by their relations with those, such as the “rayaditos” (traitors) – a Cuban militia paid by Spain
against the independence fighters – they are just told what they think the employers want to hear.

It is well known that the government of the United States has hired rayaditos in Cuba, often authors of bloody events.

On May 1 of 2013the Cuban government presented to the UN Council of Human Rights a document that lists the deaths of 3 478 men, women and children as a result of terrorist actions planned in the United States, most by Cubans under the service of Washington. This same document explains that 2 099 Cubans have been left physically handicapped as a result of these same actions.

Unfortunately it is not water under the bridge. Just a month ago Cuban authorities informed the arrest of four persons, from the south of Florida, who intended to carry out terrorist actions in Cuba. In the past the U.S. government trained and assigned funds for these actions that today, apparently does not finance, but tolerates them. Under the  same policy five Cubans were captured and condemned for gathering information on these terrorist actions. Three still remain in jail.