Alan Gross’s Improbable Tales on 60 Minutes

[polly7]

by Matt Peppe / November 30th, 2015

In a dramatic segment on CBS News’ 60 Minutes titled “The Last Prisoner of the Cold War,” former United States Agency for International Development (USAID) subcontractor Alan Gross tells of horrifying experiences in captivity: “They threatened to hang me, they threatened to pull out my fingernails, they said I’d never see the light of day.”

The opportunistic Gross, who earned more than $500,000 from his work for USAID, undoubtedly understands that he could cash in on the American public’s preconceptions of Cuba by dramatizing his experience there. Perhaps this occurred to Gross during his imprisonment, when he told a second cousin that “when he comes back he’s going to have a big book deal.” One might even venture to guess his 60 Minutes interview might be an audition for such a pay day.

“Since the year 1959, there has not been one single case of extra-judicial execution, enforced disappearance or torture,” stated Maria Esther Reus, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Cuba, in the Cuban government’s presentation to the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of the U.N. Human Rights Council. “The prison system constitutes an example of Cuba’s humanism. Cuba has developed programmes that are directed towards transforming prisons into schools. The goal is to ensure that human beings who have served their sentences are fully reintegrated into society.”

Gross’s Covert Mission

In a memo to DAI, Gross wrote that the “ICTs Para la Isla pilot project” was designed to “lay a practical groundwork (emphasis in original) that will facilitate and enable the better management of larger-scale and more comprehensive transition-to-democracy initiatives.” Therefore, Gross’s mission was clearly political, rather than humanitarian. His professed mission to help Jewish groups was merely a cover for his clandestine activities on behalf of a government whose official policy for more than half a century has been the replacement of the Revolutionary government in Cuba.

Gross’s Detainment and Treatment By Cuban Authorities

Gross was held not in a regular prison but in a military hospital for the duration of his detainment. Cuban authorities not only took pains to ensure Gross was granted appropriate medical care, but were extremely accommodating to allow him time with his wife Judy.

It seems unlikely that Gross was abused or mistreated while serving his sentence. According to the Associated Press, Gross’s lawyer Jared Genser said Judy “arrived in Cuba on September 5 (2012) and was allowed to visit her husband on four days, three at the military hospital and once at a guarded home near the capital. He said there is no sign that Gross is being ill-treated.” He also told the AP “(Gross) is being treated fine.”

Gross, who suffered from arthritis, lost significant weight while held in confinement and developed a mass in his shoulder. He was treated by Cuban medical staff, and there is no evidence poor conditions contributed to his medical issues.

New York rabbi and gastroenterologist Elie Abadie was allowed to visit Gross in the military hospital, where he determined “through the exam he personally performed and also through the extensive information supplied by the team of Cuban doctors who have attended (Gross)” that Gross was in a good state of health.

Full article: http://dissidentvoice.org/2015/11/alan-grosss-improbable-tales-on-60-minutes/

Sick. The article does describe torture ........... but in Guantanamo Bay.

[Judi Lynn]

1. I'll bet the people who sent him to do his underhanded crap also have prompted him

to turn his experience into another propaganda opportunity.

If he lied, and of course he did, about his purpose in going there, claiming he didn't know it was wrong, then he's still lying, to the bitter end.

No pity for this clown. He's simply an operative.

Returning later to study the information you provided.

Just hearing he's trying to exploit his bogus adventure even now is disgusting.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Now I get it! Have just finished this article, and must save this for future reference.

The author has sent us some much needed illumination on this completely misrepresented crime, and by god, we need it.

I surely wish Gross' cousin had publicized what his cousin Alan shared with him about the big book in his future. That would have been hilarious.

A few FACTS acknowledged during these years would have put things in perspective, wouldn't you think? No more room for trolls to operate in when everyone actually knew the score on this slithery scheme, and weren't left in the dark about it.

Speaking of facts, here's something our own "patriotic" corporate "news" media didn't feel necessary to ever share with the citizens of our country:

The U.N. Special Rapporteur himself noted in his latest report that the U.S. government had not allowed him access to the Guantanamo Bay detention center. Additionally, he has not been granted access to visit U.S. federal and state prisons.

At last, the sun rise. Jesus H. Christ on a pogo stick.

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It should be very interesting reading Alan's big opus, don't you think? Can't wait to see what this man has to say about his nightmare in the dungeon.

Thank you for this great information.