Cuban court to hear jailed American's appeal

Quote:
A senior State Department official told The Associated Press that Washington has warned Cuban leaders that progress cannot be made in bilateral relations until Gross is freed

Quote:

HAVANA (AP) — A hearing before Cuba's Supreme Court on Friday offers jailed American subcontractor Alan Gross a last chance to get his 15-year sentence for sneaking communications equipment onto the island dismissed.


Gross has acknowledged illegally carrying satellite communication equipment into the country, apparently to set up an unofficial Internet platform to circumvent heavily state-controlled Web access.

His lawyer says he was only trying to help the island's tiny Jewish community. Those close to the case say the defense believes Gross should never have been convicted under a Cuban statute known as Article 91, which equates his activities with crimes against the state.

@DiscordTiger Said

nope, if it were Texas they would execute.

@Willi Said

spying, or helping jews?
spying the country dont like.

@white_swan53 Said

The way I understood the article , 'helping the Jews' is what he says he was trying to do , what he is charged with is spying.

@Willi Said

trying to get folks to overthrow the government type stuff cuba says.
hell, we got tea partyers doing that here.
but spies.....
i think we shot em at times.
or trade em for their spies.

@Willi Said

do we have any cubans so we can trade?

wow, just think.
u.s. trade with cuba

@DiscordTiger Said

nope, if it were Texas they would execute.

@white_swan53 Said

Don't quote me on this because for me it is just hear say , but I think Florida might have a few Cubans .