The Obama Administration's decision to remove the Castro regime from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism was the subject of an entirely favorable report on MundoFox. Unlike Spanish-language rivals Univision and Telemundo, in its coverage MundoFox ignored bipartisan criticism of the administration’s highly controversial move, and inexplicably only featured the administration’s and Cuban regime’s point of view on the subject.
In reporting on the Obama administration’s decision, MundoFox solely featured comments by Raúl Castro and his supporters in Cuba, parroting and citing the position of Castro and his counter-allegations that Cuba has been the victim of terror by the U.S.
FIDEL CASTRO: Until victory, always.
...
EDUARDO BLANCAS: and Raúl Castro affirms that they have been victims of the embargo, and terrorism as well.
RAUL CASTRO: The facts show that Cuba has been victim of multiple terrorist attacks.
EDUARDO BLANCAS: It is believed the U.S. will soon be able to open an embassy in Cuba, because the island is no longer on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
Blancas failed to inform viewers that Obama’s latest concession to the Castro regime was severely criticized by top U.S. congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle, including Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Senator Robert Menéndez (D-NJ) and several prominent human rights activists.
Obama Administration critics point to the Cuban regime’s trafficking of weapons to North Korea, in violation of the United Nations embargo; safe havens provided by the Castros to Basque terrorists, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and several U.S. fugitives on the island, some of which were previously detailed in a U.S. State Department report on terrorism released prior to the administration’s recent review and about-face on the matter.
Despite human rights reports indicate an increase in repression since Obama’s rapprochement with the Castro regime, in his report MundoFox’s Eduardo Blancas declared that “times has changed. That old communist Cuba led by Fidel Castro seems to need new impetus and last December’s meeting between President Obama and Raúl Castro seems to be bearing fruit.”
Relevant portions of the referenced Noticias MundoFox segment are below.
Noticias MundoFox 05/29/2015 5:30 P.M.
English Translation:
ROLANDO NICHOLS, ANCHOR: The United States removes Cuba from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism. The measure represents a step towards the reestablishment of relations between both nations. What implications does this have for Cubans on the island and abroad? The report with Eduardo Blancas.
FIDEL CASTRO: Until victory, always.
EDUARDO BLANCAS: 23 years had to go by for Cuba to leave the list of countries that sponsor terrorism…
….
Times have changed. That old communist Cuba led by Fidel Castro seems to need new impetus and last December’s meeting between President Obama and Raúl Castro seems to be bearing fruit. Besides, the rapprochement lets a human side of the island be seen.
ADOLFO YAÑEZ, CASTRO SUPPORTER: Cuba has been always affected by terrorism. It has not sponsored, it has not put bombs anywhere. Therefore, it didn’t deserve to be on that list.
EDUARDO BLANCAS: One of the biggest problems of being on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism is that Cuba doesn’t have credit with the United States and it has to pay in cash and single payments. As an example of how difficult the situation is, almost all the rice consumed on the island comes from the U.S. and Raúl Castro affirms that they have been victims of the embargo, and terrorism as well.
RAUL CASTRO: The facts show that Cuba has been the victim of multiple terrorist attacks.
EDUARDO BLANCAS: It is believed the U.S. will soon be able to open an embassy in Cuba, because the island is no longer on the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
Español Original:
ROLANDO NICHOLS, CONDUCTOR: Estados Unidos saca a Cuba de la lista de países promotores del terrorismo. La medida representa un paso hacia esa reanudación, no, de relaciones entre ambas naciones. ¿Qué implicaciones tiene eso para los cubanos de la Isla, así como en el extranjero? El informe con Eduardo Blancas.
FIDEL CASTRO: Hasta la victoria siempre.
EDUARDO BLANCAS: Tuvieron que pasar 23 años para que Cuba saliese de la lista de países que apoyan el terrorismo…
…
Los tiempos han cambiado. Aquella vieja Cuba comunista con Fidel Castro al frente parece necesitar nuevos bríos y la reunión de diciembre entre el Presidente Obama y actual líder cubano, Raúl Castro, parece estar dando resultados. Además, un acercamiento deja ver un perfil humano de la Isla.
ADOLFO YAÑEZ, PARTIDARIO DE CASTRO: Cuba ha sido siempre afectada por el terrorismo. No ha patrocinado, no ha puesto bombas en ninguna parte, por lo tanto no merecía estar en esa lista.
EDUARDO BLANCAS: Uno de los problemas más graves de pertenecer a la lista de países que apoyan el terrorismo es que Cuba no tiene crédito con Estados Unidos y tiene hacer todos sus negocios en efectivo y de un solo pago. Solo un ejemplo de lo difícil de la situación es que casi el total del arroz consumido en la Isla proviene de Estados Unidos y Raúl Castro asegura que ellos han sido víctimas del embargo y también del terrorismo.
RAUL CASTRO: Los hechos demuestran que Cuba ha sido víctima de múltiples ataques terroristas.
EDUARDO BLANCAS: Se cree que en poco tiempo, Estados Unidos podría abrir una embajada en Cuba pues Isla ya no está en la lista de países que apoyan el terrorismo.
