disclaimer: I'm Cuban
(I won't argue against the position that the US was doing much the same thing on the other side of the same geopolitical conflict so that the "terrorist" label was always somewhat misrepresenting the purpose of the list -- and not just Cuba's inclusion on it -- or that the initial premise of the inclusion had long ceased to be relevant. I won't even argue against the position that some of the groups Cuba backed that justified its inclusion on the list were no worse -- and perhaps even less terroristic -- all things considered, than the often US-backed entities they opposed.)
[+] (Spanish) http://www.lavozlibre.com/noticias/ampliar/1041341/moratinos...
Same here. There are lots of terrorist supporting states. The ones one the list are the ones that are US enemies. Cuba's place on the list is "political^" in that sense. Yes, they sponsored terrorism. Yes, that provides justification for inclusion according to the rules of the list. But no, sponsoring terrorism is not why they were included on the list. They were included for being enemies of the US and its allies.
^I wouldn't even call it political, unless you'd also call an invasion or declaration of war political in the same circumstances.
One man's "Terrorist" is another man's "Freedom Fighter".
The US viewed Mandela as a "Terrorist"... and Cuba viewed Mandela as a "Freedom Fighter".
In the course of history... these things happen.
Cuban support to the ANC and its armed wing, which the US considered a terrorist organization while it was actively backing the apartheid regime as a bulwark against Communism in southern Africa, was among very many instances of Cuban support for "terrorist" groups cited by US governments as evidence of Cuba's role as a sponsor of international terrorism in the 1980s.
Of course, the embargo and the sanctions related to inclusion on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list are also two entirely separate things.
???
Are you serious ???
I can't really tell whether you meant that as sarcasm ??? or if you really believe that Mandela wasn't one of the many reasons Cuba is on the list ???
Firstly, we're discussing possible reasons that Cuba was on the terrorism list... not reasons that Cuba was under embargo. So I'm confused by your conflation of the two issues at the outset.
Secondly, I should clarify that I wasn't saying all of the reasons are legitimate, quite the contrary actually. But to imply that ETA, Mandela, etc are not the reasons Cuba was on that list is plainly incorrect.
Lastly, I apologize if your comment was meant as sarcasm. It's difficult to really tell whether people are serious or not on HN these days.