Worked with President Clinton, and the British and Irish governments,
as well as parties in Northern Ireland, to restore the 1994 IRA cease-fire and
promote a political solution to the more than a quarter-century long sectarian conflict.
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I'm surprised Dodd and Kennedy are going along with Sinn Fein to kiss Castro's commie behind.
Sinn Fein leader risks furor with Cuba visit--[Exceprt] …The trip is planned to commemorate Cuban solidarity during the celebrated 1981 IRA hunger strike at the Maze prison. Ten strikers died in what became a major embarrassment for the British government over demands that IRA prisoners be given political status.
As well as meeting Castro, the Sinn Fein delegation will unveil a monument in memory of the hunger strikers.
Analysts say the visit is part of an attempt to improve Adams' international standing while peace talks drag on with the British government. The IRA has lately come under increased international pressure for dragging its feet over decommissioning its weapons, a key element of the peace process.
In October Adams made a similar visit to South Africa, where he met with former President Nelson Mandela. During that visit he also unveiled a sculpture on Robben Island to commemorate those who have died on hunger strikes in Northern Ireland and South Africa.
Analysts, however, say the merits of visiting Cuba are harder to see.
The trip will only serve to refocus debate over Sinn Fein's alleged involvement with left-wing Colombian guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, often known by its Spanish abbreviation, FARC. One of the three IRA suspects jailed in Colombia was Sinn Fein's unofficial representative in Havana, Niall Connolly.
Connolly and two others, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan, were accused of training FARC fighters in explosives and urban terrorism. Sinn Fein initially denied that Connolly belonged to the party. But Adams later confirmed that an internal investigation revealed Connolly had been working in Havana for a senior Sinn Fein executive, though without the party's formal approval.
Republican members of Congress are aghast over the political timing of the visit. This week, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said: "I've told Gerry for some time I think it's a mistake to go. It undercuts Sinn Fein's argument for human rights. Castro is a flagrant violator of human rights."
The House International Relations Committee is conducting an inquiry into links between FARC and the IRA with a view to holding hearings. The committee is looking into allegations that the IRA has had a four-year connection to the Colombian group, during which time some 30 high-ranking IRA members have visited Colombia. [End Excerpt] ----More at link.