Bachmann Says Hezbollah Could Be Planning Missile Site in Cuba

Based on unsubstantiated reports in an Italian newspaper, GOP presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann warned Wednesday that the United States could be facing another Cuban Missile Crisis, but from Hezbollah, the Middle Eastern terror group.

There's reports that have come out that Cuba has been working with another terrorist organization called Hezbollah, Bachmann said in a speech Monday in Iowa. And Hezbollah is looking at wanting to be part of missile sites in Iran and, of course, when you are 90 miles offshore from Florida, you don't want to entertain the prospect of hosting bases or sites where Hezbollah could have training camps or perhaps have missile sites or weapon sites in Cuba. This would be foolish.

It is believed the Minnesota congresswoman was referring to a report in a conservative Italian newspaper that has not been found to have any merit, but that the Huffington Post pointed out has been cited on a few American blogs, The Daily Mail reported.

According to the Italian daily, Hezbollah is presently preparing to establish a base in Cuba with a budget of more than $500,000.

U.S. / Cuba Relations Issue

Bachmann's comments are timely, as they coincide with politicians and celebrities urging President Barack Obama to consider opening trade again with Cuba. Or, at very least, begin to move that way.

Last week, during the Republican debate, Bachmann went after New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson after he suggested that he would allow charter flights between the U.S. and Cuba.

According to the State Department's Web site, there are four nations that are state sponsors of terror. Cuba is one of those nations. We would never have flights between the United States and Cuba. It's a state sponsor of terror, Bachmann said.