US deals major blow to Cuban regime with indictment against Raul Castro

The U.S. is preparing to indict 94-year-old Raul Castro for the shooting down of two Brothers to the Rescue planes, an incident tied to charges dating back about 30 years. The action is framed as retaliation against the Castro regime and as a potential legal basis for further U.S. intervention, similar to prior steps taken in Venezuela. The U.S. president has not ruled out a diplomatic agreement with the Cuban government, with the indictment dependent on a grand jury finding the accusations viable. Independent investigations by the UN and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights indicate the incident occurred in international waters, making it an attack on defenseless civilians rather than a self-defense operation. The crew members died after the planes were shot down.

"At 1.00 p.m. local time (PDT), the Department of Justice will, barring a major last-minute surprise, indict 94-year-old Raul Castro on charges that date back 30 years: the shooting down of two planes belonging to the anti-Castro organization Brothers to the Rescue. It will be Washington's retaliation against the strongman of the Castro regime. And if history repeats itself, the moment when Washington believes it will have the legal basis necessary to intervene on the island as it did in Caracas, although experts have questioned the legitimacy of that operation."

"Meanwhile, the U.S. president has not ruled out a diplomatic agreement with the regime. Only one formality remains before charges against Castro can be filed: a grand jury must find the accusations viable. Castro was defense minister at the time the planes were shot down. All four crew members died after being shot down Armando Alejandre, 45; Carlos Costa, 29; Mario de la Pena, 24; and Pablo Morales, 29 and, according to independent investigations by the UN, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and other bodies, the incident unquestionably took place in international waters."

"That made it an attack on defenseless civilians, not as Cuba claimed at the time an operation carried out over the island's territory as a legitimate act of self-defense. The filing of charges, which will be handled by Department of Justice prosecutor Jason Reding Quinones of the Southern District of Florida who"

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