Terrorist nations: Syria, Sudan, Iran and… Cuba

On April 30, the U.S. State Department made public its annual list of countries that back or abet terrorism. There are only four countries included, and Cuba was left on again this year. Iran, Syria and Sudan join the Caribbean island on the list.

But some point to a softening of report’s language as yet another sign of Washington’s willingness to reconsider its Cuba policies. After all, the public statement acknowledges that Cuba “no longer actively supports armed struggle in Latin America and around the world.” The United States is keeping the country on the list because in 2008, Havana “continued to provide safe haven to several terrorists.”

Tehran and Havana have decried the designations on the list; Fidel published a reflection saying that Obama, “a man whose talent no one denies, should be ashamed of himself.” And of course, the U.S. track record internationally detracts from its credibility, as Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez pointed out. “We do not recognize any political or moral authority on the part of the United States… to certify good or bad behavior,” he said.