From: "Tanj" 

What puppet masters are you hypothesizing?

There is a group in Miami who decided to make the child a centerpiece for
propoganda against Cuba (some of which may be factual, nevertheless clearly
a political force) and a lever to keep getting attention.  Yes, you could
call them puppet masters.  The family are not alone in this group, there is
enough organization around it to keep up a round the clock encampment
complete with press and non-family players.  Their friends extend as far as
Washington and various parts of the national media.

Then you could say there is the group that formed in opposition, has no
particular liking for having the first group attempt to hold foreign policy
hostage (literally), with effects that will continue for years and affect
the whole country not only in dealings with Cuba.  These include Washington
incumbents, various different parts of the national media, etc.

So they dicker with the Miami puppeteers for 5 months or so, at no stage of
which have the Miami group had the law on their side except winning
occasional delays thru local (elected) judiciary (who, amazingly for being
elected, have nevertheless handed them defeats or delays, never
vindication) and where there has never been a delay awarded in the matter
of custody.  At some point the incumbents decided that the hostage holders
were simply standing on air, no legal standing to hold the hostage, and had
been for weeks.

So they decided to end the farce.  Swiftly, with 5 minutes warning that the
agents were on their way (yes, they were told), and then another 3 minutes
from the time the agents knocked at the door (yes they did knock, and yes
with a warrant, before breaking the door down since it was not opened).
Perhaps they could have used less force.  Perhaps they could have realized
that with 5 minutes warning the family would stage the handover with a
photographer nicely positioned.  But then, hindsight is perfect.

Sure, you could call it a puppet show.  But the Miami group set the stage.
I for one see no reason for them to have demand control over an issue of
national foreign policy dressed up as concern for their hostage.  They have
much more political clout than the average bunch of citizens anyway, let
them continue to exercise that lawfully through their representatives.
They've been pretty damn effective at walling off Cuba for 40 years and
getting liberal and special rules for Cuban immigration and refugees.  Its
not like noone is listening to them.

- Tanj

"Bill Mattox"  wrote in message
news:3905aba1$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> On the contrary, I have been paying very CLOSE attention. That's why I am
> focused on the puppet masters behind the scene rather than the show
itself.
>
> You, my friend, are the ones being manipulated here.
>
> "Tanj"  wrote in message
news:390536a6$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> > They have tested this.  What do you imagine the last 2 weeks have
> > demonstrated?
> >
> > If you have been observing this and were in any doubt that the Miami
group
> > had no intention of yielding the boy short of force, you simply have not
> > been paying attention.

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