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Marco Rubio Urges Cubans To Create Change Through Discreet CIA Partnership
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Rubio urged Cubans to form a discreet partnership with the CIA to topple Cuba's government. He framed it as seeking 'positive change' amid Trump threats to deploy warships recently.
One story. Different accounts.
The Guardian“seemed to mistakenly use the word ‘discrete’, meaning separate, rather than ‘discreet’, meaning private or secret.”
Fox News“Rubio's message explicitly encouraged Cubans to work with the U.S. intelligence agency”
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Rubio urges CIA link
Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cubans to “seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discreet partnership with the CIA.” Rubio made the appeal in a post on X that framed the moment as a response to “The disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few.”
President Donald Trump told a rally in Florida that U.S. warships could “pass Cuba” on their return from Iran and that “we’re gonna send Marco Rubio in to finish up the job.” Trump said the ships would stop “about 50 yards off the coast” and that “They’ll raise up their hands,” before Rubio would be sent to negotiate.
Trump, CIA, and mockery
Cuban deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio mocked the appeal on X, writing, “Now the United States is resorting to public recruitment for the CIA.” Carlos Fernandez de Cossio added, “There must be a great deal of desperation or misery within the agency for it to be forced to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste.”
The Guardian described Rubio’s post as urging Cubans to act “now is the time” moments after Trump told a Friday rally in south Florida that US warships could intervene in Cuba on their way back from the Iran war. The Guardian also quoted Rubio’s wording, “The disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few; seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete [sic] partnership with the CIA,” and said the diplomat seemed to use “discrete” rather than “discreet.”
Sanctions and next steps
The U.S. Department of State announced a fresh round of sanctions on September 18, designating 11 key actors within Cuba's economic and security apparatus.
The State Department said the latest action targeted “four state-run enterprises” exploiting Cuba's nickel reserves, “four military entities” engaged in military research and development, and “three senior military officials.”
The Hill said Rubio’s post came after Trump suggested the U.S. could take military action in Cuba at a rally in Fort Myers, Fla., where Trump said, “We’ll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran.”
The Hill reported that Rubio said last month that Cuba was a “failed state,” and it noted that it remained unclear whether Trump planned to follow up on threats of military action against Cuba.
