Rep. Adam Smith Critiques U.S. Policy Toward Cuba

On CNN’s “News Central,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s approach to Cuba, suggesting it treats the island as a nation that can be easily dominated, which he claims violates international law.

Co-host Boris Sánchez pointed to a CBS report revealing that the Department of Justice aims to indict Raul Castro for his involvement in the 1996 shooting down of a humanitarian flight, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including three Americans. He emphasized that an international commission determined the aircraft was over international waters at the time. Although CNN has not verified any recordings implicating Castro, references have been made in the past, notably by the Miami Herald.

Smith responded, “There are a couple of aspects to this issue. While I’m not familiar with the specifics, I believe it’s reasonable to hold people responsible for such crimes. But that’s not the same as attempting to starve the population of a country. We need to investigate that issue thoroughly. And if it’s confirmed that a crime occurred, accountability is necessary. However, let’s not overlook the fact that we’re currently involved in operations that lead to countless deaths in Latin America without Congressional consent, claiming we’re acting for legitimate reasons. We have to respect a rules-based international system; we can’t create a set of rules that applies to us while expecting others to follow a different standard.”

He added, “My critique of Cuba policy doesn’t stem from wanting accountability for crimes where evidence exists. It’s more about treating Cuba as if it’s a country to be crushed and dominated, which goes against international law. We aren’t fully considering the ramifications of our actions.”