A 1999 National Intelligence Estimate and other previous reports and statements by U.S. government officials had accused Havana of developing biological weapons—a claim that the Cuban government has consistently denied.

Cuban government representative Luis Fernández told the press in March 2002—when Washington first publicized this charge—that the accusation was a “big lie and a big slander.” He noted that the Bush administration had produced no evidence to back up its claim.

Cuban officials have also explained that Washington maintains the largest stockpile of biological and chemical weapons of any county in the world, and it has used them against the people of Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba. Havana released a statement April 28, 1997, for example, providing evidence that the biological agent Thrips palmi was dropped from a U.S. crop-dusting plane the previous October, devastating crops in western Cuba.

U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control Richard Bolton had said in 2002 that Cuba had an “offensive biological war research and development effort,” and that it provided “dual-use biotechnology to other rogue states.”

“Dual-use” technology is the term imperialist powers use for facilities that could be used to produce a range of products, from vaccines to lethal chemicals.

Bolton’s “evidence” in 2002 was that Cuba has advanced biotechnology research and production facilities and that Cuban president Fidel Castro has visited countries Washington considers “rogue states,” including Syria and Iran.

“Administration officials said that the new assessment had been prepared at the request of the State Department for a report it will be making to Congress and that it had adopted tougher standards because the past assessment on Iraq had been proved wrong,” the Times said.

Leaving the door open for new slanders against Cuba on this charge, the article quotes an unnamed “intelligence official” as saying: “There is still much about Cuba that is cause for concern, including the production and export of dual-use items and cooperating with countries on the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism.”

It is true that Cuba has made significant advances in biotechnology and medical research. The Cuban government exports many vaccines and other fruits of this work around the world. The Times article acknowledged the accomplishments of Cuba’s work in this field, stating that Havana “has a major drug and biotechnology program…that has been widely praised by scientists and physicians.”  
 
 
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