Attorneys : Release Posada-Carriles

An update on the "So-Called War on Terror"^TM

Luis Posada-Carriles, his attorneys, and his supporters went before a magistrate Monday. The defense requested their client be released to his family in Miami until his deportation day comes. So far, neither side has been able to find a country that will take in Posada-Carriles. Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica have denied his entry.

Cuba and Venezuela have tried to extradite him for mass murder, but a US Federal judge has blocked his extradition.

"Up until now no country wants him. I think this is political. There's a lot of political pressure. No one wants him because of the baggage," said Janet Arguello, Posada-Carriles daughter.

Baggage. Yes. It is all political baggage.

Her father has been making international headlines since May 2005. The anti-Castro Cuban militant was caught in Miami entering the United States illegally. Meanwhile, he sits in jail awaiting deportation.

Well, he may be making international headlines outside of the United States, and he may be making headlines in Miami, but I can't find an American who doesn't read this blog (there are a few) who has even heard of Luis Posada Carriles.

Cuba and Venezuela blame the former CIA operative for the 1976 deadly bombing of a Cuban jet. Posada-Carriles denies being involved.

It's not just Cuba and Venezuela. How easy it is to make Posada sound merely like some misunderstood child when we say "Cuba and Venezuela blame him." The CIA declassified and released documents that show he helped to plan the bombing.

"All of those incidents, if in fact they occurred, are irrelevant. The only incident with relevancy today is, is there a third country willing, ready and able to take Luis, and there is none," said Eduardo Soto, Posada-Carriles attorney.

Irrelevant? 76 murders irrelevant? Gun-running to terrorists irelevant? Drug running to fund terror irrelevant? Cuba and Venezuela, Eddie. Cuba and Venzuela.

Countries where Posada-Carriles might run the risk of being tortured are off limits.

Fine. Send him to Egypt or Jordan or Morocco or Bagram or Gitmo where we send plenty of other people we call terrorists without having half the evidence of their crimes that we do on Posada. Why are we supporting terror? Why???

His daughter remains hopeful that he'll be able to come home even if it's temporary. She said the stress of his situation has taken a toll on her father's health.

"He looked so old. He was so thin. He was missing teeth. He has heart problems. I wish he could spend his last years of his life with us," said Arguello.

There are 76 families who wish their loved ones could have spent the last 30 years with them.

However, she said her father remains the same person at heart. "He's an extraordinary and generous person. One who would give his shoes up to another inmate who doesn't have a pair. He's a person with a big heart," said Arguello.

Oh, please, stop.

The magistrate heard testimonies from a deportation officer and a friend of Posada-Carriles. The U.S. District Attorney's Office would only say that the request was being reviewed. A ruling could come as early as this week.

Stay tuned. You won't see it on NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN or FOX.