[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 61 (Tuesday, May 14, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2429-H2430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CUBA'S DEVELOPMENT OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to a recent 
statement by the Bush administration confirming Cuba's development of a 
biological warfare program and the possible transfer of this knowledge 
to other rogue nations.
  Mr. Speaker, Cuba is designated by the State Department as one of 
seven nations who sponsor international terrorism. However, since the 
collapse of the Soviet Union many Americans make the mistake of 
believing that Cuba is no longer a threat to our national security.
  Recent votes here in the House have reflected this shift in public 
perception. Just 3 weeks ago we voted on a motion to instruct conferees 
on the farm bill to include a provision that would lift part of the 
trade embargo to allow for public financing of agricultural trade with 
Cuba. I opposed this motion because I feel that it is short-sighted to 
lift economic sanctions when the Cuban government has done little to 
prove their worthiness of an economic partnership with the United 
States.

[[Page H2430]]

  In fact, Mr. Speaker, Fidel Castro shows only his open hostility to 
the United States by pursuing biological warfare research. He has what 
are considered to be the most sophisticated biomedical capabilities in 
Latin America. Cuba stands as one of the few developing nations who 
plays a significant role in drug and biotechnology activities.
  Mr. Speaker, there is evidence that Cuba is experimenting with 
anthrax, as well as a number of other deadly pathogens. Some experts 
believe that Cuba is even capable of making genetically modified germ 
weapons that are able to defeat vaccines and antibiotics.
  Unfortunately, the possibility that a rogue nation only 90 miles from 
our shores is producing biological weapons is not the worst of our 
problems. Mr. Speaker, intelligence officials have evidence that Cuba 
may be selling its bioterrorist knowledge to other nations hostile to 
the United States.
  Last year, Castro visited Iran, Syria and Libya, three nations that 
occupy spots on the State Department's terrorism list, along with Cuba 
and three nations that are currently attempting to develop weapons of 
mass destruction. During his visit to Tehran University, Castro stated 
that together Iran and Cuba could ``bring America to its knees.'' An 
unnerving thought when we consider that Cuba is closer to the United 
States mainland than Washington, D.C., is to my home in New Jersey.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time that we put the debate about Cuba and the 
Castro regime into the proper perspective for the American people. Too 
often people are only willing to see the economic benefit of trade with 
Cuba and lifting the trade embargoes. They do not understand that by 
lifting the embargo, without agreements by Castro to stop biological 
weapons production and without commitments on human rights or civil 
liberties, that we are giving Castro exactly what he wants.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time we see Castro and his regime for what they 
really are, a continued threat to the security of the United States.

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