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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 6, 1993                   TAG: 9301060309
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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LAWLESSNESS OK FOR OUR FRIENDS

RECENTLY an airliner was hijacked from Cuba. The pilot was welcomed as a national hero, and the people who wanted to stay in the United States were received with open arms.

The message in this event is clear. It is another example of the double-standard policy of the U.S. government, which consistently acts in an unlawful manner in favor of certain people while unjustly condemning any fault in others. Cubans are welcomed, but Haitians are sent back. Hijacking is terrorism except when our friends do it. China has "most-favored nation status" while Cuba is boycotted and our citizens are forbidden to visit there.

This is lawlessness in its worst form - covered over with justifying lies. It seems that Cuba is being targeted at this time, and the people there have every reason to be afraid of such a government. I hope U.S. citizens will become aware of what is being done in our name. THOMAS H. CLEARY ROANOKE

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