Say their names: Armando Alejandre, Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales. Killed on February 24, 1996 with the active assistance of the Wasp Network.
Olivier Assayas is a talented filmmaker who with Edgar Ramirez once made a powerful film about international terrorism that is worth seeing, unfortunately that film is not the 2019 film Wasp Network that has been correctly described as a "disappointingly muddled spy saga," and something to skip.
This is one case where reality is much more dramatic and engaging then what appeared on the screen, because the film was based on misinformation provided by the Castro regime to portray the WASP network in a positive light, and to do this non-violent movements Brothers to the Rescue, and the Democracy Movement had to libeled, their significance downplayed, and linked to violent groups with sketchy actors.
Meaning that at a time when a popular and broad based non-violent movement was gaining strength in the Cuban diaspora the film engages in an act of schizophrenia. The main spies featured in the film Juan Pablo Roque and Rene Gonzalez infiltrate Brothers to the Rescue and the Democracy Movement and attempted to get close to their respective leaders Jose Basulto and Ramon Saul Sanchez.
We do not see Ramon Saul Sanchez in the film, although he is mentioned, but we do encounter a version of Jose Basulto that bears no resemblance to the man I've been acquainted with for over 25 years, and had the privilege to briefly interview and take part in a panel discussion on nonviolence with both men.
The film repeats Castro regime falsehoods about both groups trying to link them to violent movements, but the reality is that they were collaborating with The King Center in the early 1990s and organized a non-violence teach in at Florida International University. The film includes footage of former Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina (now defenestrated) defending the shoot down of the two civilian planes in February 24, 1996 and towards the end Fidel Castro making the case for his regime engaging in espionage on American soil.
The Wasp Network repeats the Castro regime's line that they were just spying on Cuban exile groups, and implies that there were only ten of them in the network. The reality is that there were over 40 operatives, and they were also targeting American military bases, Congressional offices, and were engaging in active measures to manipulate elections.
The film lightly mentions the Ochoa Affair, and touches on its political aspect of liquidating General Arnaldo Ochoa, a popular general among the ranks, who was executed in 1989, but fails to mention the Castro regime's extensive involvement in drug trafficking.
However it guts the film of what would have been powerful elements that would have provided clarity not to mention drama and pathos to the film and explained the overflight of Havana by Brothers to the Rescue but this would have necessitated putting on film the July 13, 1994 ""13 de marzo" tugboat massacre when agents of the Castro regime sank a tugboat six miles off the coast of Havana and actively caused 37 men, women, and children to drown.
One year later on the anniversary of the killings, and with the bodies never recovered, a flotilla of exile boats tried to reach the spot where the tugboat rested with their remains to hold a service for the dead. The lead boat Democracia had its hull crushed by Cuban government gunboats, and turned back. At that moment Brothers to the Rescue that had been flying overhead changed course and flew over Havana dropping the leaflets that read "Comrades No. Brothers." This outraged the Castro brothers and they began plotting their revenge which they carried out seven months later.
It would have been much more interesting to learn about the other activities carried out by the Wasp Network and what they were planning when captured by the FBI.
The Wasp Network had planned to burn down a airport hangar, first terrorize then send a mail bomb to kill a CIA agent living in Bal Harbour identified as Jesus Cruza Flor, and provided material intelligence that assisted in the shoot down of two civilian planes on February 24, 1996 killing four. This came out during their trial. Gerardo Hernandez, the head of the network was convicted of murder conspiracy and espionage and condemned to a double life sentence.
This would have been a much more interesting and powerful film and not the muddled and confused propaganda film that is now playing on Netflix and is slow moving and unwatchable. Worse yet, the film does not identify the four men killed in the shoot down or the persons who flew with Jose Basulto that day and made it back. It also downplays and cleans up the communications of the Castro regime's pilots as they shot down the two planes, and attempts to portray Basulto in a negative light. A more accurate breakdown of what happened is available here.
The three planes did not over fly Havana and the two planes shot down did not enter Cuban airspace. The one plane that allegedly entered a mile into Cuba's airspace briefly while flying a search and rescue pattern with the other two planes that were farther out was Jose Basulto's. The film shows the MiGs flying by the Brothers to the Rescue planes which did not happen in real life. There was no warning.
International organizations recognized that Armando Alejandre, Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales were murdered by agents of the Cuban government on February 24, 1996 when they were blown out of the sky by air-to-air missiles fired by a Cuban MiG. This was a criminal conspiracy organized by an outlaw regime.
Remember and say their names: Armando Alejandre, Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales. Killed on February 24, 1996 with the active assistance of the Wasp Network.
In the meantime go see Assayas's 2010 film Carlos, that explores the life of a terrorist trained by the Castro regime, but give Wasp Network a pass.
Below is a transcription that was translated that gives you a more accurate idea of what this spy network was really up to.
Transcribed and translated excerpts from seized diskettes:
[…]
DHo-101 (E) CMA (Disk 17).wpd
This is one case where reality is much more dramatic and engaging then what appeared on the screen, because the film was based on misinformation provided by the Castro regime to portray the WASP network in a positive light, and to do this non-violent movements Brothers to the Rescue, and the Democracy Movement had to libeled, their significance downplayed, and linked to violent groups with sketchy actors.
Meaning that at a time when a popular and broad based non-violent movement was gaining strength in the Cuban diaspora the film engages in an act of schizophrenia. The main spies featured in the film Juan Pablo Roque and Rene Gonzalez infiltrate Brothers to the Rescue and the Democracy Movement and attempted to get close to their respective leaders Jose Basulto and Ramon Saul Sanchez.
We do not see Ramon Saul Sanchez in the film, although he is mentioned, but we do encounter a version of Jose Basulto that bears no resemblance to the man I've been acquainted with for over 25 years, and had the privilege to briefly interview and take part in a panel discussion on nonviolence with both men.
The film repeats Castro regime falsehoods about both groups trying to link them to violent movements, but the reality is that they were collaborating with The King Center in the early 1990s and organized a non-violence teach in at Florida International University. The film includes footage of former Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina (now defenestrated) defending the shoot down of the two civilian planes in February 24, 1996 and towards the end Fidel Castro making the case for his regime engaging in espionage on American soil.
The Wasp Network repeats the Castro regime's line that they were just spying on Cuban exile groups, and implies that there were only ten of them in the network. The reality is that there were over 40 operatives, and they were also targeting American military bases, Congressional offices, and were engaging in active measures to manipulate elections.
 |
| Ten captured spies |
However it guts the film of what would have been powerful elements that would have provided clarity not to mention drama and pathos to the film and explained the overflight of Havana by Brothers to the Rescue but this would have necessitated putting on film the July 13, 1994 ""13 de marzo" tugboat massacre when agents of the Castro regime sank a tugboat six miles off the coast of Havana and actively caused 37 men, women, and children to drown.
It would have been much more interesting to learn about the other activities carried out by the Wasp Network and what they were planning when captured by the FBI.
The Wasp Network had planned to burn down a airport hangar, first terrorize then send a mail bomb to kill a CIA agent living in Bal Harbour identified as Jesus Cruza Flor, and provided material intelligence that assisted in the shoot down of two civilian planes on February 24, 1996 killing four. This came out during their trial. Gerardo Hernandez, the head of the network was convicted of murder conspiracy and espionage and condemned to a double life sentence.
This would have been a much more interesting and powerful film and not the muddled and confused propaganda film that is now playing on Netflix and is slow moving and unwatchable. Worse yet, the film does not identify the four men killed in the shoot down or the persons who flew with Jose Basulto that day and made it back. It also downplays and cleans up the communications of the Castro regime's pilots as they shot down the two planes, and attempts to portray Basulto in a negative light. A more accurate breakdown of what happened is available here.
The three planes did not over fly Havana and the two planes shot down did not enter Cuban airspace. The one plane that allegedly entered a mile into Cuba's airspace briefly while flying a search and rescue pattern with the other two planes that were farther out was Jose Basulto's. The film shows the MiGs flying by the Brothers to the Rescue planes which did not happen in real life. There was no warning.
International organizations recognized that Armando Alejandre, Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales were murdered by agents of the Cuban government on February 24, 1996 when they were blown out of the sky by air-to-air missiles fired by a Cuban MiG. This was a criminal conspiracy organized by an outlaw regime.
Remember and say their names: Armando Alejandre, Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales. Killed on February 24, 1996 with the active assistance of the Wasp Network.
In the meantime go see Assayas's 2010 film Carlos, that explores the life of a terrorist trained by the Castro regime, but give Wasp Network a pass.
Below is a transcription that was translated that gives you a more accurate idea of what this spy network was really up to.
Transcribed and translated excerpts from seized diskettes:
DAV-118 (E) RTF (AIRPORT.DIR)
WORK DIRECTIVES FOR OPERATION “AEROPUERTO”
1-. THE IDEA OF THE OPERATION:
SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING THE ESSENTIAL IDEA OF THE OPERATION WAS FOR
A-32 TO JOIN WITH THE ILLEGAL CENTER THAT WAS BEING DIRECTED BY A-4 AND
WAS FUNCTIONING IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
2-. OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
THE FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE OF THE OPERATION
IS TO ESTABLISH S/A A-32 IN KEY WEST FOR THE PURPOSE OF PENETRATING AND
OBTAINING INFORMATION ON THE NAVAL AIR STATION LOCATED IN THAT CITY.
ALSO, TO MAKE CONTACTS WHICH CAN PROVIDE US
WITH MILITARY, POLITICAL , BIOGRAPHICAL AND OPERATIONAL INFORMATION AS
AS TO STUDY COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATIONS EXISTING IN THE AREA AND
CARRY OUT STUDIES ON THE OPERATIONAL SITUATION OF ROADS, MAINLY IN KEY
WEST.
3-. PARTICIPANTS
A-32 WILL BE THE MAIN PARTICIPANT AND HE WILL BE DIRECTLY UNDER I.O. A-4.
WORK DIRECTIVES FOR OPERATION “GIRÓN.”
1-. IDEA OF THE OPERATION
Reviewed by: LS Salomon
Declassified by: KMDJr / RJG
Cred. #10517
11/27/00 1
[…]
DHo-101 (E) CMA (Disk 17).wpd
OPERATION “PICADA’
OBJECTIVES:
1.-) TRY TO IMPEDE THE CONSUMPTION OF
INTENTIONS OF THE OPERATION P.A.L. (PAN, AMOR Y LIBERTAD) OF THE
COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATION BROTHER’S TO THE RESCUE.
2.-) AFFECT AND DISCREDIT THE IMAGE OF SAID ORGANIZATION.
ACTIONS TO BE DEVELOPED:
1.-) PERFORM THE OPERATIONAL SITUATION
STUDY OF THE HANGAR AT THE OPA LOCKA BASE WHERE THE ORGANIZATION KEEPS
AND OPERATES THEIR PLANES.
2.-) THE POSSIBILITY OF BURNING DOWN THE
WAREHOUSE OF THE COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATION, AND AFFECT THEIR
PLANES, MAKING IT SEEM LIKE AN ACCIDENT, NEGLIGENCE OR SELF DAMAGE.
KEEPING IN MIND THAT THIS PLACE MAY BE
SECURED AND THAT IN CASES LIKE THESE, INVESTIGATIONS ARE PERFORMED,
RUMORS WILL LEAK THAT BASULTO AND HIS PEOPLE CAUSED THE DAMAGE
THEMSELVES TO COLLECT THE INSURANCE AND GET MORE MONEY FROM THEIR
CONTRIBUTORS.
3.-) ATTEMPT TO DISABLE THEIR EQUIPMENT AND
TRANSMISSION ANTENNAE ON LAND, THE ONES THEY USE TO COMMUNICATE WITH
DURING THEIR MISSIONS, MAKING IT SEEM LIKE NEGLIGENCE.
NOTE: THESE THREE POINTS WERE REQUESTED OF CASTOR VIA RADIO MESSAGE. IT HAS TO BE DETERMINED WHAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN.
4.-) ANALYZE WITH CASTOR IF HE COULD INFORM
US AHEAD OF TIME (DETERMINE PRECISE TIME) WHEN THE BROTHER’S TO THE
RESCUE PLANES WILL BE TAKING OFF, WHO IS IN THEM AND IF THEY ARE GOING
TO LAND AT A SPECIFIC PLACE. WHAT PERSONNEL KNOWS THIS INFORMATION
BEFOREHAND. AT SOME POINT, CAN IT BE DETERMINED WHO PROVIDED THIS
INFORMATION.
5.-) ACCORDING TO THE FEATURES OF THE
PLANES, THEIR SECURITY SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE HANGAR WHERE THEY ARE
LOCATED, IF AT ANY SPECIFIC MOMENT HE COULD HIDE SOME TYPE OF MATERIAL
AND KEEP IT THERE WITHOUT BEING DETECTED. WHAT SIZE WOULD THAT MATERIAL
HAVE TO BE
OPERATION PARALLELO:
THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS OPERATION IS TO DEVELOP A SERIES OF ACTIONS AGAINST CIA AGENT JESUS CRUZA FLOR.
THESE ACTIONS WOULD BE:
1.-) PHOTOGRAPH OR VIDEO TAPE HIS HOUSE, LOCATED AT:
1440 S. BAYSHORE DR.
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33131
TELEPHONE (305)358-0762
2.-) ONCE THE HOUSE IS PHOTOGRAPHED, MAKE VARIOUS THREATENING TELEPHONE CALLS (TWO OR THREE) CONCERNING HIS NEARING EXECUTION.
THESE CALLS WOULD BE AT DIFFERENT HOURS AND
DIFFERENT DAYS. TRY TO USE THE EQUIPMENT (CALLED SCRAMBLER OR SOMETHING
SIMILAR) TO CHANGE THE VOICE. PHONE BOOTHS SHOULD BE SELECTED THAT
ALLOW A QUICK EXIT OUT OF THE AREA. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE MEASURES IS
AGAINST A CIA AGENT AND HE COULD HAVE CALLER ID TO FIND OUT THE
TELEPHONE NUMBER THAT IS CALLING AND THE ADDRESS WHERE IT IS LOCATED. ON
THE OTHER HAND, KEEP IN MIND THE REST OF THE SECURITY MEASURES THAT
SHOULD BE TAKEN IN THE BOOTH, SUCH AS FINGERPRINTS, HAIR, ODORS, SALIVA,
DRESS, THAT THERE BE NO PERMANENT PERSONNEL IN THE AREA TO RECOGNIZE
THE CALLER. DO NOT LEAVE THE CAR WHERE IT CAN BE OBSERVED, THE DURATION
OF THE CALL. DO NOT RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS ASKED.
3.-) PREPARE AN ALLEGED BOOK-BOMB (BOOK,
CABLE, BATTERIES, PLASTIQUE, ETC., AND SEND IT VIA EXPRESS MAIL. KEEP IN
MIND TO WRAP THE BOOK IN A PROTECTIVE PAPER, WHICH IF THE ENVELOPE IS
PASSED THROUGH THE X-RAY MACHINES, IMPEDES THE DETECTION OF WHAT IS
INSIDE, AND THEREFORE IT WILL NOT BE ROUTED THROUGH THE MAIL.
KEEP IN MIND TO OBTAIN THE ENVELOPE, AS
WELL AS THE POSTAGE, MANY DAYS IN ADVANCE AND SELECT A BUSY PLACE. USE A
SPECIFIC CAMOUFLAGE.
STUDY THE MAILBOX WHERE THE PACKAGE WILL BE
DEPOSITED, AS WELL AS THE TIME IT WILL BE DEPOSITED. ANALYZE HOW YOU
WILL GET OUT OF THE AREA.
DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS KEEP THE SECURITY
MEASURES IN MIND, SUCH AS THE ONES MENTIONED BEFORE, GIVING SPECIAL
ATTENTION TO FINGER PRINTS DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
EVALUATE THE POSSIBILITY OF USING MANOLO TO MAKE THE CALL, THE TOPOS TO DEPOSIT THE ENVELOPE AND A-4 TO PREPARE THE BOOK-BOMB.
--------------
FEBRUARY 1, 1994
CONTACT AGENDA WITH 0-4 “ESELIN”
Reviewed by: LS Salomon
Declassified by: KMDJr
MM-#10517
9/24/00 2-6
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