Americans react to the indictment of Castro: Nobody wants a war with Cuba

The indictment appears to be primarily a tool of diplomatic pressure. It gives Trump a pretext for a Venezuela-style capture operation. But with the White House already engaged in a war with Iran, few believe that military action is imminent.

Republicans are cheering Raúl Castro’s indictment, while Democrats are staying silent, leaving criticism entirely to progressive circles and think tanks. The Justice Department has unsealed the indictment against the former Cuban president and five other defendants: conspiracy to kill US citizens, destruction of aircraft and four counts of murder.

The events date back to February 1996, when two civilian aircraft belonging to the Cuban-American group Brothers to the Rescue – which was patrolling the Florida Straits in search of refugees – were shot down by Cuban fighter jets in international waters. The attack killed four people, two of whom were US citizens.

The announcement was made on Wednesday, May 20 by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at Miami's Freedom Tower, a historic site that symbolizes the Cuban exodus to Florida. The choice of date was no coincidence: May 20, 1902 marks Cuba’s declaration of independence and the birth of the Cuban........

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