How Should the Cuban People Enter the Naval Base ?Reader comment on: To Free Cuba, Turn Guantanamo into a New Ellis Island Submitted by David Weinkrantz (United States), Jul 20, 2021 17:46 Cactus Curtain is a term describing the line separating the naval base from Cuban-controlled territory. After the Cuban Revolution, some Cubans sought refuge on the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. In late 1961, Cuban troops planted an 8-mile long, 10-foot wide barrier of Opuntia cactus along the northeastern section of the 17-mile fence surrounding the base in order to prevent checkpoint evasion when moving between the base and Cuba proper. This was dubbed the Cactus Curtain, an allusion to Europe's Iron Curtain. The curtain forms part of a "no man's land" that encircles the base. This area is complete with perimeter patrols, outposts featuring sandbags, and watchtowers, and has been complemented with barbed wire fences, minefields, and cacti. Apart from the cacti, both U.S. and Cuban troops erected, maintained, and otherwise manned these defenses, primarily to prevent checkpoint evasion and possible invasion from the other side. Cuban troops placed some 55,000 anti-personnel and anti-tank land mines across the "no man's land" around the perimeter of the naval base, creating the second-largest minefield in the world, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. How Should the Cuban People Enter the Naval Base? Note: Comments are moderated by the editor and are subject to editing. The Future of Capitalism replies: Maybe airlift Hamas in from Gaza to the Cuban side to dig tunnels! Other reader comments on this item
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