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Subscribe to RSSAmerican contractor Alan Gross has been imprisoned for three years in Cuba for smuggling satellite equipment to the country's Jewish community. NBC's Michael Isikoff reports.
HAVANA, Cuba — Three years after he was arrested in Havana, jailed American contractor Alan Gross is asking the U.S. government to sign a "non-belligerency pact" with Cuba as a first step toward negotiating his release, according to a Cuba policy analyst who just visited him.
Peter Kornbluh , right, stands with Alan Gross, in a picture taken on Kornbluh's iPhone by a guard during his visit to the Havana prison where Gross is being held.
Peter Kornbluh, a Cuba specialist at the National Security Archives, a nonprofit research center in Washington, met with Gross for four hours on Wednesday at the military hospital in Havana where the contractor is being held. He said Gross appeared "extremely thin" — he has lost over 100 pounds since his arrest —and dispirited.
"He’s angry, he’s frustrated, he’s dejected — and he wants his own government to step up" and negotiate, said Kornbluh. "His message is that the United States and Cuba have to sit down and have a dialogue without preconditions. … He told me that the first meeting should result in a non-belligerency pact being signed between the United States and Cuba."
Gross' comments appear to represent a new tack in an aggressive public relations campaign to win his freedom. His supporters have planned a candlelight vigil outside the Cuban interests section in Washington D.C., on Sunday and the U.S. Senate is poised to take up a resolution Monday demanding his release, Gross’ wife, Judy, has also become increasingly critical of the U.S. government for not doing more to demand that her 63-year-old husband be allowed to return home.
Jose Luis Magana / AP
Judy Gross at her home in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 29.
"He feels like a soldier in the field left to die," she said at a press conference in Washington last week.
Gross, who worked for an Agency for International Development contractor, was arrested by the Cubans on Dec. 3, 2009, and accused of smuggling sophisticated satellite and other telecommunications equipment into the country to give to the island’s tiny Jewish community. Gross has said he was only trying to increase Internet access in Cuba. But he was convicted by a Cuban court in March of last year for crimes "against the independence and territorial integrity of the state" and sentenced to 15 years.
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Last month, Gross and his wife filed a $60 million lawsuit against the U.S. government and the contractor he was working for, Development Alternatives, charging he was used as a "pawn" in a U.S. government program to change the Castro regime and never advised about the dangers he faced bringing high tech satellite transmission equipment into Cuba. (The State Department, of which AID is a part and which has repeatedly called for Gross’ release, declined comment. Development Alternatives has released a statement saying it has "no higher priority" than bringing Gross home.)
Kornbluh, who has advocated closer U.S.-Cuba dialogue, was in Havana last week to attend a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Cuban missile crisis. He was granted permission to visit Gross by Cuban officials. (The Cubans so far have denied all news media requests to meet with him.) He said Gross was most upset about being unable to return home to see members of his family who are ill, especially his 90-year-old mother in Texas who has cancer.
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Ever since U.S.-backed Cuban President Fulgencio Batista was forced from power by rebels led by Fidel Castro in 1958, the relationship between the two nations has been fraught with difficulties.
"He really wants to see his mother, who is quite old and infirm,” said Kornbluh. When Kornbluh had his photo taken with Gross, the contractor held up a photo that read: “Hi Mom.” When he asked Gross what he wanted to get out of the lawsuit, the contractor replied: “I want to see my wife and I want to see my mother."
To accomplish that, Gross is seeking to nudge the Obama administration, according to Kornbluh. Gross knows that his freedom "is going to depend on his government negotiating in good faith with the Cubans," said Kornbluh. "His message to Barack Obama is: I’m fired up and ready to go. Where are you at this moment?"
Michael Isikoff is NBC News' national investigative correspondent; NBC News producer Mary Murray also contributed to this report.
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So is the new policy for the US Government going to be go save every idiot from themselves when breaking other soverign nations rules? If we start with this guy, how many million more idiots are out there that we will have to do the same for upcoming? Then where does it end -- do we only get people out of jail or does the US Governement also fixing driving tickets or others silly offenses they were fined for?
He and other contractors go the dangerous countries for 2 reasons: First is tho make a name for themselves such as reporters and the 2nd is to make MONEY. He took a chance and lost. That is what happens when you make a tyrant/dictator mad!
i can't imagine anyone in the U S government thinks the policy towards Cuba has done anything but insure Castro's survival since the 50's. so what's to lose? even the ability of Cuban refugees to influence presidential elections is gone now.
He did not work for our government but rather a private contractor who attempted to sneak high tech communications equipment into Cuba. Had he contacted our government and been misguided I would think our government might have an obligation to help him - BUT HE DIDN'T! He did not declare this equipment on entering their country as a foreigner at their check-in. I think he knew a lot more than he his claiming. Cuba, like all other countries, has a right to decide what and who they let into their country. Too many times, Americans think they can break their laws based on private beliefs and the hope that our government will bail them out if they get caught. Wasn't his mother old and aging when he took his chance? So he tried and he lost. Sounds like it is all between he, his company and the Cuban authorities. Americans have to begin showing motre respect for the soverinty of other countries if we expect to be respected ourselves.
In my 47 years of life as an American citizen, I have never seen anyone in the government or the media justify the half century of economic sanctions against Cuba. Why is this treated as a classified secret? Some people believe that doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity. That myth should have prompted someone in the know to put out something that makes sense of this enduring policy of the cold war (with Russia, which used to be called the Soviet Union back in the old days). American policy with China was to simply ignore the red in China and do business with them. The Chinese, who are by nature capitalists, could not build factories fast enough to enrich American corporations so to employ impoverished Chinese citizens. I think its high time that the American government took a new hard look at Cuba. Its a large island with plenty of natural resources, a very habitual climate and the perfect venue to expatriate those who demand to secede from this country.
#1: we need to be trading with Cuba ... the cold war ended in the last centruy
#2: if the US Govt sent him, they should get him out ... but, if he was a US agent, he would keep his mouth shut
#3: if he is a private agent, breaking laws in other countries, US Govt should do nothing beyond visits
- we can not support ideological idiots trying to make a point
How old was Gross in 1963, maybe he was on the grassy knoll.
Obama, c'mon - Negotiate with Cuba. Make a decision & be a hero. It's been over 50 years since we recognized Cuba as a legitimate country regardless of their politics. FREE GROSS NOW!!!
That's because we have a girly-man for a president and the men of this country are daily losing their intestinal fortitude. No one knows how to standup for whats right . They cower under public opinion. There is only one rule book. I've learned through the history of our country that one man can change the world. I wish he would stand up becuse ourleadership is found wanting. When you cave in to China and and question Isreal You've got a problem. How can this man expect to get help from his own country when they can't help theirselves
They wouldn't even go to war with Iran over the kids who walked over the border and were arrested!!
Now they refuse to take bold action to overturn the travesty of penalties against a guy who did nothing but smuggle some communications equipment into Cuba!!
Plus the "QUESTION ISRAEL" problem mentioned by gphinney - just because Netanyahu wanted to start a war for the US to fight (which his senior military advisers recommended against).
AND they caved in to China somehow (gphinney didn't explain this but perhaps not starting a war over Tibet - not starting a trade embargo against our largest creditor? Something bad anyway).
Sissies!
Is there any reason US should NOT sign a non belligerency agreement with Cuba? What, is there another Bay of Pigs in the works? If not, normalize relations and get the guy home. He and his family have suffered enough.
He should have kept his butt at home - he chose to go there. Let him rot.
So an under educated technical support worker from the midwest is aware of the Cuban laws governing internet use but this gentleman isn't. How f***ing stupid do you think the American people are anyway? One of these days we are going to get fed up with all this propaganda you stuff down our throats and we are going to Emit ( for the sake of decency) all over the ever loving, stinkin' media and their politicos. Its time for an American Revolution!
Let him rot there. He's old enough to know Cuba is no friend of the U.S.. Now he's going to sue the U.S. for his own stupidity? The U.S. is better off without him. Of course under the current administration it's another excuse to bow down and lick the boots of another dictator.
Gimme a break! You're a f*****g dodo.
I love it!
What was this guy thinking when he even accepted the job to go to Cuba knowing full well what the political climate was. It's like these American hikers visiting the foothills of Afghanistan and Iraq and wondering why they were kidnapped. HELLO, ANYBODY IN THERE ? The US government WILL NOT make any deal with the Cuban government because if they did then you would see kidnappings rise of American Citizens by 500 percent all over the world. He should have done his homework before accepting the job in Cuba and now with this lawsuit against the US government he certainly won't be made a priority that's for sure.
He asked where the prez was at the moment? Well, I think he played golf with Clinton today at a airforce base. I shot a 77 today and I sure hope they had a decent round also. I hear the weather down cuba way is nice this time of the year, but those peskey commies can be a buzz kill. Good luck Mr. Gross, you're gonna need it.
sounds like somones cruisin for a bruisin. let that dude go. sealteam6 is still warmed up. it aint worth it. ur gonna look stupid and people are gonna get hurt. be kind helpfull and happy its fun
The US government owes this man NOTHING. He went there on his own - at his own risk. It is not up to our govt to bail him out now. He can rot - he is there by his own choice.
I've lost track of why the U.S. still has not normalized relations with Cuba. They are not a threat. They have nothing we need. They are moving away from communism. If the U.S. normalized relations it would do nothing but help both countries. I suspect it's all about ego now.
Suing US government for $60 million? Gotta be kiddding - his wife is not going to create a lot of freinds in Washington. Besides, he should ask his Jewish friends in Israel and AIPAC for his release since he went to help the Quban Jews...
He's locked up because he got caught the good thing about it he will be saving social security money
Unless I am misreading the "flavor of the month news", isn't someone "manufacturing political tensions/preassure" on the American governement", to force the exchange of Mr. Gross, for 5 spies, already found guilty, for their part in contributing to the shooting down 2 unarmed civilian airplanes, with of 4 Cuban Americans in it, while air patrolling the waters between the Keys and Cuba, looking for people fleeing by boat the Communist Isle???
Did Clinton do anything to punish Castro for the senseless 4 murders or, perhaps that day, he was entertaining Monica in the Oval Office, while Hillary was taking a nap in the White House...
Truly and Honeslty simpathize and feel sad for Mrs. and Mr. Gross but, the Cuban Spies must stay put, where they are. It is called American Justice!
The judge in the case of the five Cubans admitted that she couldn't find any ties between the shooting down of the Cessna planes and Gerardo Hernandez. But the five Cubans were tried in Miami, where they stood no chance of being judged fairly, the US government paid hundred of thousands of dollars to "journalists" before, during and after the trial to create a climate of fear for the jury. We all know how non-threatening and non-violent the Miami right-wing Cuban-Americans can be.
Angry, frustrated and not happy with our government? Hey!! Get him back to the US. He's one of us(Angry,frustrated and not happy with these republicans in the House of our government.
All joking aside, I hope he's released soon.
This man will get the same legal rights and reprensentation in Cuba as did Saddam Hussein recieved by the Bush administration in US occupied Iraq. If the shoe fits...How ironic.
Obama is on Vacation, he can not be bothered by this insignificant American.
Would be nice if we could completely normalize relations with Cuba. Then very likely this guy would be freed as a good will gesture. Why aren't we normalizing relations anyway?
This guy broke the law in sovereign nation with whom we have no diplomatic relationship. F--k him! He could've been shot without a second thought by the Cubans and he's very lucky he wasn't. He knew the risks and all of sudden this is everyone else's fault. Screw him.