the balls to steal Castro's MiG
2011-09-26 23:30:20.412318+02 by 
Dan Lyke 
 5 comments   
 
As reported by this MeFi entry, in 1991, Orestes Lorenzo Perez defected from Cuba to the U.S. in a MiG-23, and then launched a large publicity campaign in order to get his wife and sons out. Raúl Castro, then Minister of the Armed Forces, said "If he had the balls to steal one my MiGs, then he can come back and get his family himself!" So he did.
 
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comments in descending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re:  made: 2011-10-03 03:59:14.831493+02 by:
jeff
   
It would definitely make for a good movie script...
#Comment Re:  made: 2011-09-29 21:33:24.983558+02 by:
ebwolf
   
Meuon: At the time the guy defected, the Cuban government's official position was 
anyone with a visa could leave the country:
The Cuban government publicly promised that any Cuban with a visa 
would be allowed to leave the country, and Lorenzo had hoped the government would 
want to avoid creating a scandal by keeping his family.
#Comment Re:  made: 2011-09-29 03:02:30.467677+02 by:
meuon
   
I have issues with this meme. How do you leave your wife and kid behind, even with the intentions to get them out later? It's a risk proposition I can't comprehend. The risk being injury or death to the family left behind because of your actions.  Great story, interesting actions by many parties. 
 
#Comment Re:  made: 2011-09-28 20:10:13.228911+02 by:
Dan Lyke
   
Yeah, seemed a little light, I'd love to know more about how he arranged the rendezvous, but thought it was worth a little spy-thriller reading.
#Comment Re:  made: 2011-09-28 01:35:41.117433+02 by:
concept14
   
Thanks for this inspiring story.