
Former Cuban President Fidel Castro died over the weekend at age 90. Among the tributes that rolled in were those from one-time violent national liberation groups like the African National Congress and Northern Ireland’s Sinn Fein, and leftist revolutionary movements like the FARC, which saw Castro as a fellow anti-imperialist revolutionary and champion.
Former Provisional Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff Gerry Adams, who has been Sinn Fein President since 1986 and is currently a member of the Irish parliament, will attend Castro’s funeral. Adams said of Castro:
I have good memories of meeting with Fidel. He was very conversant with Irish history and good friend to the Irish people and an admirer of our armed struggle, especially the hunger strikers of 1981.
The United States in 1982 placed Cuba on its list of state sponsors of terrorism, in part due to the Castro government’s provision of safe haven to Basque separatists and links to revolutionary movements across Latin America, including the FARC in Colombia. Cuba was removed from the list last spring as part of the Obama administration’s move to restore diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba.
President Elect Donald Trump responded to the initial news of Castro’s death with a characteristic tweet:
Fidel Castro is dead!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2016
This was followed early this morning by another characteristically Trumpian tweet:
If Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/American people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate deal.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 28, 2016
Now on to this week’s look back.
- Nov. 27, 2009 — Russia: Derailment of Moscow-St. Petersburg train kills 26, injures 100. Evidence of an explosive device is found, but no claim of responsibility.
- Nov. 28, 2002 — Kenya: Three suicide bombers drive a vehicle into the front of the Paradise Hotel in Mombasa, killing 15 ans wounding 40. Several groups, including Al Qaeda make conflicting claims of responsibility.
- Nov. 30, 1989 — Germany: Red Army Faction is suspected in the assassination of Alfred Herrhausen, head of Deutsche Bank AG.
- Dec. 1, 2001 — Israel: Two suicide bombers detonate explosives in a mall, killing 10 and wounding 120. Hamas claims responsibility.
- Dec. 2, 1983 — Spain: Basque group Iraultza bombs eight US facilities in Spanish Basque territory to protest American involvement in Central America.
- Dec. 3, 2009 — Somalia: Man dressed in a burqa detonates bomb at a graduation ceremony for doctors in Mogadishu, killing three government ministers along with 16 others. Al Shabaab claims responsibility.