[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S3943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CUBAN BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Madam President, I call to the attention of 
the Senate a shocking Associated Press story that was filed yesterday 
afternoon. I have not had a chance to read the papers today, so I don't 
know in which papers it was printed. This is a headline:

       U.S. Official Says Cuba May Be Helping Rogue States With 
     Biological Weapons.

  I am going to read the first two paragraphs of this AP story:

       The Bush administration said yesterday it believes Cuba has 
     at least a limited offensive biological warfare program and 
     may be transferring its expertise to other countries hostile 
     to the United States.
       We are concerned that such could support biological warfare 
     programs in those States, said U.S. Under Secretary of State, 
     John Boland.

  This is of grave concern to the Nation. If the Bush administration 
has hard evidence that Cuba is exporting biological weapons to our 
enemies, then the Bush administration should not just be making 
speeches about it. They ought to be planning an action in consultation 
with the Congress under the War Powers Act as to what to do about 
exporting biological agents to our enemies in this war on terrorism.
  This would be absolutely unacceptable. What will the action be? That 
is where the consultation ought to be going on with Congress as to what 
the administration is planning. Don't make a speech that the AP story 
says was made to the Heritage Foundation. But, instead, let us talk 
about what the means are of stopping the exports of biological weapons 
and biological agents that would be going from Cuba to other terrorist 
states which are clearly out to do ill will to the interests of the 
United States.
  Could it involve something more other than stopping the exports of 
biological weapons? Yes, it could. But that is what the planning ought 
to be about instead of just making speeches to think tank foundations.
  I think this is a matter of gravest concern. Certainly, we have 
suspected, since Cuba is on our list of terrorist states, that this 
kind of activity might be going on. But, if it is, under the 
Constitution there ought to be consultation with the appropriate 
committees about any plans to protect the interests of the United 
States and not the Assistant Secretary of State making a speech to the 
Heritage Foundation.
  I wanted to call this to the attention of the Senate. It has 
apparently not gotten much attention up to this point. I think it is of 
grave concern to the United States. It is clearly in the interest of 
the United States, if these weapons of mass destruction through 
biological agents are being produced or researched in Cuba, that it be 
stopped forthwith, and certainly any export to other countries that 
would do us harm should be stopped dead in its tracks.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LUGAR. Madam President, I commend the distinguished Senator from 
Florida for his statement. The whole area of weapons of mass 
destruction is one of interest to me and to many Senators. Very 
clearly, the war against terrorism contemplates that we will be 
vigorous in trying to find the al-Qaida and other associates. But at 
the minimum, we must make certain they do not have access to materials, 
laboratories, or weapons of mass destruction, which would be 
catastrophic, whether it be from Cuba or countries in the Middle East, 
the Far East, Africa, or wherever.
  Many of us have commented--including the distinguished Senator from 
Florida--about the worldwide extent of their war effort. The President 
has commented that it may be a long war for that very reason. I commend 
him for his statement.
  I am hopeful the relevant committees have been informed. Perhaps the 
leadership of the Senate has been informed. But if not, that should 
occur quickly.

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