Serrano Criticizes Continuing Use of Military Flights to Beam Radio/TV Martí Into

Washington, DC, November 18, 2004—Today, Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY) blasted the Administration for its continuing use of Air National Guard planes to broadcast propaganda into Cuba.

“Nearly every week now, the Administration has been sending US military planes to beam TV and Radio Martí transmissions into ,” said Serrano.  “Our military is terribly overstretched, and yet the Bush administration has insisted on using our scarce military resources to beam propaganda into .  The Air National Guard exists to defend our country, not to pander to the political whims of extremists in
Miami
.”

Concerned that scarce US military resources should not, in a time of war and instability, be used to advance the Bush Administration’s politically-driven policies toward Cuba, Congressman Serrano submitted an amendment to the 2004 Defense Authorization Bill in May that sought to prohibit the use of military aircraft for the purpose of broadcasting Radio Martí and TV Martí into the island.  The amendment was nixed by the Republican leadership of the House Rules Committee, preventing the issue from coming to a vote on the House floor.   

Serrano also voiced concerns that the flights would put air national guard fliers and the delicate balance of international security in the
Caribbean
in jeopardy.  “By using military planes to beam TV and Radio Martí, we are sending a very confrontational message that is potentially dangerous,” said Serrano.  “What happens when one of these flyers strays into Cuban airspace and is fired upon or shot down?  Do we really want to face an international crisis with right now?  Is this the time to be provoking a neighbor by doing something that does nothing to help our national security?  The administration needs to seriously reconsider these flights.”

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Congressman Serrano has represented the
Bronx
in Congress since 1990.  He is the only Member of Congress from New York City on the House Appropriations Committee, and serves as the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee that funds the Commerce, Justice, and State Department that oversees the funding of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, TV and Radio Martí’s controlling agency.