Blackmailing the U.S. government

LUIS Posada Carriles’ defense attorney, announcing that his client was formally withdrawing his application for political asylum in the United States, said that “he knows a lot ... and if he talks it could hurt the FBI, the CIA and the government in general.” That kind of statement has a name: blackmail.

Matthew J. Archambeault, Posada’s lawyer, later added that his client would not continue testifying because “He may step into sensitive areas that could harm the security of the U.S. government or other countries.”

As demonstrated with his statements to the New York Times several years ago, Posada’s threats could have a paralyzing effect, given that they range from drugs-for-arms deals by the U.S. government in Central America to the conspiracy to assassinate former President Kennedy.

The most recent events of the immigration hearing taking place in El Paso, Texas confirm the progression of negotiations between the White House and representatives for the international terrorist.

Eduardo Soto, Posada’s main defense attorney from Miami, told El Nuevo Herald in that city on August 29 that his “mysterious absence” from the immigration hearing was explained by negotiations with Washington “through a high-ranking official.”

Soto revealed that an agreement had almost been reaching providing for U.S. government protect of Posada under the International Convention Against Torture to guarantee that his client would not be sent to Cuba or Venezuela. In exchange, he would withdraw his petition for asylum.

Posada’s hearing is taking place at an immigration detention center in El Paso, Texas. Prosecutors have asked for a new hearing beginning September 26.