President Barack Obama has written his support to remove Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list following the recommendation of the U.S. Department of State, but congressional lawmakers have issued mixed responses to the decision.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said the White House's decision "sends the wrong message" to Cuba and the other countries on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list, which includes Iran, Sudan and Syria.

"How can we say Cuba is not a State Sponsor of Terrorism when the Castro regime continues to harbor dozens of other American fugitives: cop killers, plane hijackers, bomb makers, arms traffickers?" Menendez said in a statement. "For Cuba to be removed from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, it must demonstrate changed behavior through verifiable actions, not empty rhetoric. Cuba remains as repressive today as ever and is undeserving of this potential newfound designation."

Menendez said the Obama administration's decision sends messages to groups such as Basque terrorists in Spain and FARC members in Colombia to seek support from Cuba.

"Well, the decision made by the White House [on Tuesday] is a terrible one, but not surprising, unfortunately," said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a Cuban-American.

Rubio said Cuba should have remained on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list, and the White House's decision "sends a chilling message" that the Obama administration "is no longer serious about calling terrorism by its proper name."

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Obama needs to provide proof that Cuba's government has changed their ways.

"Cuba must prove it is willing to change its behavior before the United States takes a single action to remove it from the list of state sponsors of terror," continued Cruz. "Fidel and Raul Castro have a decades-long track record of violent hostility towards our nation. It is dangerous and reckless to use a terrorist designation as a negotiating tool, as their regime continues to support and harbor terrorists who have murdered Americans. We need better than a promise of future change; Cuba needs to prove it. And, until Cuba does, any discussion about changing its terrorist designation should be off the table."

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., claimed the Obama administration has "jeopardized" U.S. national security.

Diaz-Balart said in a statement, "The facts clearly show the Castro regime continues to be a state sponsor of terrorism. This is just another shameful concession to the Castro regime. Fortunately, most sanctions against the Castro regime are codified in U.S. law and can only be lifted by the U.S. Congress, when free, fair elections are scheduled, independent labor unions, political parties, and the press are legalized, and all political prisoners are freed.

As Latin Post reported, the U.S. State Department conducted a review to determine Cuba's future on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list. Secretary of State John Kerry has notified Obama that the review recommended to remove Cuba from the list. Kerry instructed Obama, by law, to notify Congress about the decision to rescind Cuba's label. According to the certification of recession report, the Obama administration stated the Cuban government has not provided any support for international terrorism during the last six-month period and the island's government "provided assurances" it will not support international terrorism acts in the future.

Since Obama announced the U.S. policy changes towards Cuba on Dec. 17, government officials from both countries have met in hopes to renew diplomatic ties and reopen embassies, but discussions on Cuba's place on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list were a different matter. The Obama administration reiterated that the renewed talks should not include Cuba's place on the terror sponsor list, and that the U.S. State Department would review and consider the island's placement on it.

__

For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

Related