*No Peace for Cuba* *- Havana Times.org - http://www.havanatimes.org -*
Posted By *the editor* On November 17, 2010 @ 3:52 pm In *Opinion,leftcol1*| *1 Comment <http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=33082&print=1#comments_controls>* *By Alberto N Jones* ** <http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33083> [1] Woman Power. Photo by Ivana Beluzec HAVANA TIMES, Nov. 17 On April 6, 1960, Lester D. Mallory, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, wrote in an internal memorandum: The majority of Cubans support Castro The only foreseeable means of alienating internal support is through disenchantment and disaffection based on economic dissatisfaction and hardship .every possible means should be undertaken promptly to weaken the economic life of Cuba. Mallory proposed a line of action which makes the greatest inroads in denying money and supplies to Cuba, to decrease monetary and real wages, to bring about hunger, desperation and overthrow of the government. A commercial, economic and financial embargo was imposed on Cuba in October 1960, which became a near total embargo on February 7, 1962, after US citizens and corporations properties were nationalized in Cuba. My oldest daughter Isabel Maria was born on February 27, twenty days after this infamous law was enacted. Seven months later, on October 22, Isabel Maria, her mother and I were huddled in our dark home in Guantanamo, waiting for the nuclear conflagration to begin, in the worst military crisis in our lives. Since, every possible reasons, real or imaginary have been invoked and presented by all subsequent US administrations, as a justification for keeping the embargo in place: - Because of the loss of properties and the US refusal to accept reasonable compensation offered by Cuba. - Because Cuba declared itself Socialist. - Because of the presence of nuclear missiles in Cuba - Because Cuba was accused of exporting revolutions to Latin America - Because of Cubas military interventions in Africa. - Because of a lack of open, free multi-party elections and Human Rights violations. - Because of a lack of freedom of speech and for holding political prisoners. - Because Cuba is on a list of terrorist nation, etc. etc. *An ever moving finish line* In order to support these arguments and to continue to move the finish line, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent by the US State Department, through front Foundations to create an enormous propaganda machine around the world, geared to distort the image of Cuba and their leaders, weaken all of its institutions through man-made, financed and directed subversive groups, massive Radio, TV, literature and film barrage and by providing safe haven to known terrorists on US soil. <http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33084> [2] Corner of Life. Photo Ivana Beluzec Legally, these measures were enforced through different mechanisms such as expelling Cuba from the OAS, opposing invitations by western Europe governments of high ranking Cuban officials to visit their country, creation of exclusive anti-Cuba laws such as Peter Pan, Cuban Adjustment Act, Wet Foot/Dry Foot, the Office of Cuba Asset Control, Trading with the Enemy, Cuban Democracy Act, Helms-Burton Act and many more. Cuba on the other hand has responded to these attacks, by raising this issue at every international conference, symposium, political gatherings, UN, Caricom, SELA, ALBA and other institutions, where they have denounced the crippling effects this suffocating measure have had on the lives, wellbeing and development of an entire nation. Over time, this message has permeated the powerful financial barrier the United States have erected around the world, to shield this despicable act. All institutions aforementioned and others, have condemned this genocidal imposition on Cuba and the United Nations General Assembly have denounced and called for its repeal for nineteen consecutive years, which the United States have arrogantly ignored. Across the United States, more and more counties, cities, states, committees, congressmen, senators, businesspeople, humanitarian groups, religious organizations, academic, research institutions, jurists, medical and other reputable institutions, have all decried and demanded the US government rescind these draconian measures and take concrete steps for normalizing its relations with Cuba. *The Hope Obama Kindled* During his presidential campaign and after being elected president, Barack Obama embodied a glimmer of hope, which led millions around the world to believe that the fossilized, antagonistic US-Cuba relations would be addressed differently. Change had been the motto of his campaign. Twenty two months after assuming the presidency, the only visible change in the US-Cuba dispute has been restoring Cuban-Americans travel rights, as it was during the Bill Clinton era and by allowing unlimited family visits and cash remittances. Notwithstanding, that the presidency of Barack Obama held the majority in Congress and in the Senate, many of the measures he proposed, lacked his vigorous, uncompromising defense, which led the extreme wing of the Republican party, pundits, radio and TV personalities, to assume his amicable, non-combative character as a sign of weakness, by openly questioning his citizenship, accusing him of being a Muslim and declaring war on each of his initiatives or bills presented by the Democratic Party, slowly eroding his support base and authority. On November 2, 2010, after governing a nation that had been turned over to him by the worst president in recent memory, an economy on the verge of collapse and a demoralized citizenry, Barack Obama was being blamed for everything that was wrong by an enraged society that had been bombarded for months with every possible degrading lies and scare tactics provided by hundreds of millions of dollars of political campaign funds. <http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33085> [3] Cuban hug. Photo Ivana Beluzec The loss was shattering in the US Congress, Senate, Governorship, Mayoral, councilmen, everywhere. At noon on November 3, a near teary eyed Barack Obama described the electoral results as humbling, apologetic and expressing his willingness to work closely with the incoming Republican leadership. By surrendering and expressing regrets for doing the right thing, president Barack Obama have sent a clear message to those of us, who had placed our hopes and faith in him, who trusted his administration would be different, willing to sit down and extend a hand to those countries with whom the United States government had a rocky relation. For those Cubans sharing a birthday with my daughter Isabel Maria and millions more who were born before or after her, this is a chilling admission of continuity, that nothing will change and that the only thing that matters to them, is the president political survival. *Ultra-Right make big gains in Congress* Compounding everything that was said before is the sad reality that a handful of ultra-right-wing Cuban-Americans groups, those in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, have successfully crafted a powerful lobbying network that closely mimics the Israeli lobby and its impenetrable stranglehold on every decision of the US government. The method applied by the Cuban PAC (Political action committee) is simple and effective. They receive millions of dollars from the US government for the purpose of subverting and overthrowing the Cuban government. A small portion of that is dedicated to its original goals. The rest of whatever is not embezzled among its leadership is widely disbursed among members of Congress and the Senate of both parties. By contributing, most of the time ridiculous sums of money, they are able to buy the conscience and allegiance of these politicians, for whenever their vote may be necessary to support or oppose anything related to Cuba. Proof of the above, are the Torricelli Bill and the Helms Burton Act, which was written and rammed through the US Congress and Senate by people who live in New Jersey, North Carolina and Indiana, neither of which have anything in common with Cuba. Most of us remember, the terrible US-Cuba relations during the Reagan and Clinton administrations, because of a bunch of ultra-right wing, reactionary individuals such as Otto Reich, Roger Noriega, Negroponte, Diaz-Balart, Ros-Lethinen, Menendez, Perez Roura and Jorge Mas Canosa, pushed back all hopes of improved relations between both countries for decades. Come January 2011, the prospects of US-CUBA relations are worse than ever. In addition to rabid Marco Rubio heading to the US Senate and ferocious David Rivera to Congress, Ileana Ros-Lethinen will become the Chair of the all powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, from where no bill with hints of improving US-CUBA relations, will ever see the light of day. Never before in the past fifty years, had the hard line, right-wing Cuban-American political lobby been in a better position. They are in the drivers seat and with full control of events. Once again Cuban-Americans in south Florida are beginning to pack their bags, gassing-up their yachts and are assigning themselves positions, they intend to occupy in new the Cuban government. *Other influencing reasons* Are the reasons described above, sufficient for keeping the embargo in place for fifty years? Can the Cuban people endure another 48 years of this wasting, eroding war of attrition imposed upon them by the US Government, which is enforced by their henchmen in the Cuban-American community or worse, allow them to take over the country? Or could it be that the real reasons for the embargo have not been made public? The prevailing thought in the 19th Century was the Manifest Destiny, by which, the Anglo-Saxon race felt they was destined to expand across the north American continent from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific ocean. President James K Polk (1795-1849) is noted for his foreign policies successes. He threatened war with Britain over the Pacific Northwest, then backed-down and split the ownership with Britain. <http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33092> [4] Drive through the life. Photo: Ivana Beluzec When Mexico rejected the American annexation of Texas, Polk led the nation into a sweeping victory in the Mexican-American war, followed by the purchase of California, New Mexico and Arizona. In the summer of 1848 Polk authorized Romulus M. Saunders Ambassador to Spain the purchase of Cuba for 100 million dollars, which in todays money is an equivalent of 2.5 billion dollars, which was of great interest to southern slave owners. The Platt Amendment of 1901, stipulated a host of conditions for the withdrawal of US troops remaining in Cuba after the Spanish-American war of 1898: - Cuba would not transfer land to any power other than the US. - Cuba could not contract any foreign debt without guarantees that interest payments could be met. - Cuba would allow US intervention in Cuban affairs when the US deemed necessary. - Cuba was prevented from negotiating treaties with any country other than the US. - Cuba could not allow any foreign power or powers to obtain by colonization or for military or naval purposes, lodgment in or control over any portion of Cuban territory. - Cuba was restricted in the conduct of foreign policy and commercial relations. - Cuba boundaries would not include the Isles of Pines. - Cuba also agreed to sell or lease to the US, lands necessary for coaling or naval stations at specified points to be agreed upon, leading to the Guantanamo Bay lease. <http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33087> [5] The game is over. Photo: Ivana Beluzec After President Teddy Roosevelt withdrew federal troops from the island in 1902, Cuba signed the Cuban-American Treaty in 1903 by President Tomas Estrada Palma, who once favored outright annexation. Is additional evidence needed, to establish the real motives behind this 200 years yearning of Cuba becoming another star on the United States flag? If all Cubans, wherever they are and whatever differences they may harbor, fail to come together at this crucial moment in history in defense of our country and the Cuban government does not introduce new policies and strategies, replacing those that for fifty years have been unable to dislodge the embargo and do its outmost to fend off this life and death threat to our sovereignty, it is a real possibility that our countrys name will be added to those of Guam, Palmyra Atoll, Virgin Islands, Wake Island, Midway Island, Puerto Rico and others. ------------------------------ 1 Comment (Open <http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=33082&print=1#> | Close<http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=33082&print=1#> ) 1 Comment To "No Peace for Cuba" *#1 Comment* By *Al* On November 17, 2010 @ 10:51 pm fantastic article- but .. The US cannot have dealings with a Communist country such as Cuba !! They have to spend their time offering olive branches and huge government contracts to those symbols of democracy like China, Iraq , Saudi Arabia and North Korea. Its amazing this arrogance has gone on for so many years. If the UN cannot be more representative than this, it should be dissolved. it should never be held ransom by one nation , no matter which side of politics it is . ------------------------------ Article printed from Havana Times.org: *http://www.havanatimes.org* URL to article: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=33082* URLs in this post: [1] Image: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33083* [2] Image: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33084* [3] Image: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33085* [4] Image: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33092* [5] Image: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33087* ----------------- *Cubans Becoming Less Human* Posted By *the editor* On November 17, 2010 @ 7:48 pm In *Lead Articles,Opinion,Yusimi Rodriguez* | *1 Comment<http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=33140&print=1#comments_controls> * *Yusimi Rodriguez * <http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33141> [1] Relaxing. Photo by Matthew Siffert HAVANA TIMES, Nov. 17. We dont have yellow journalism in Cuba; and we dont we need it. Every day we hear the sensationalized details concerning some armed robbery or a rape. These days people are talking about a daring bus holdup. Some will say it happened on the P-15 bus, while others will insist that it occurred on the P-3 or the P-1. The rumor mill fills the hole left by the official press, which reports absolutely nothing in this respect. Accuracy cannot be expected. But whats certain is that as we approach the end of the year holidays, theres always an increase in crime, and the recent announcement about mass layoffs across the country has contributed to worsening the situation. Its becoming frequent that whenever a group of people get together to socialize and chat, someone will immediately start telling a story concerning a violent crime that they witnessed or heard about. And since no one likes to be outdone, someone else will then follow that up with their own story. Everybody seems to have one, and so do I. Mine is not as spectacular as an armed bus assault or a Hollywood-style robbery of a currency exchange store in broad daylight. My story is a simple unarmed assault of a woman to snatch her gold chain. What was interesting is that this incident didnt occur in the dark pre-dawn hours along some deserted street, but around 9:00 in the evening. Whats more, it was at a fairly crowded bus stop located in front of a 24-hour bakery in which all the workers are men (or at least 99 percent of them). <http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33142> [2] Thinking About Making Lunch. Photo by Nina Hooker Out of all the people waiting at the stop, no one intervened. The bakery workers sprang into action, but it was to lock all the doors and windows of their place. Everyone watched the woman struggling with the man as she as she got slapped around and punched, and finally lost her chain. In fact, this assailant could be described as considerate; he could have raped and even killed her without anyone coming to her aid. I know people who have traveled to other countries to study or to live outside of Cuba for good. They always make comments like: People wont help you there, even if youre dying, or if you faint in the street, no one comes up to up to see whats wrong, and people dont look at each other in the eyes, no one will offer their seat to an elderly person, if youre getting your butt beat up in the street, people will simply lock their doors. Once abroad, people miss the human solidarity characteristic of Cuba. But is seems that soon there wont be anything to miss. This is the country where the neighborhood Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) were created; a nation where people united to reject verbally (and with blows) the enemies of the Revolution (meaning those people who left the country at the beginning of the Revolution and in the 1980s). This is a land where many were willing to give their lives completing internationalist missions. Yet those same citizens doing night-watch duty today as *cederistas* (CDR members) on their blocks, can stand motionless before any attack on a defenseless human being. And theyre within their rights. No one will put them in jail for not helping a person in difficulties. When any background check is carried through a CDR on some citizen, they wont ask the president of that chapter if the individual is capable of intervening when someone is assaulting a woman. What they have in mind is whether that individual is an active member of the Committee, if they participate in voluntary work days and if they do CDR night-watch duty. People dont want problems. No one is willing to risk being killed or hurt for a woman stupid enough to go around with an attractive necklace. People always point the finger saying things like who told her to put that jewelry on, or who told her to be walking around so late at night and who had her to go out with so much money. <http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33143> [3] Havana kids. Photo: Noelia González Casiano Its the same old story of the blame ending up being placed on the victim. Others say that the police are the ones who should take care of such problems, since thats what theyre paid to do. And they are right. But is the value of a human life then equal to a police officers wage? As Ive said before, Im not brave; however, I dont know if I could sleep after having seen a man assault a woman and myself not having at least tried to throw a rock at him. Could it be that due to the differences generated by the dual currency and unequal access to new luxuries (like cellphones, video games and entry into hotels), combined with the uncertainty of the countrys future, we are acquiring the traits of savage individualism? The streets are dangerous and it scares me. But those who scare me the most arent the ones who commit the crimes, but those who simply watch. Whats next? Laughing about whats happening? Participating? Weve climbed into the drivers seat of save yourself if you can. Very soon, instead of chanting like the Young Pioneers affirming We will we like Che, we will begin shouting: We are becoming less human. **** ------------------------------ 1 Comment (Open <http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=33140&print=1#> | Close<http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=33140&print=1#> ) 1 Comment To "Cubans Becoming Less Human" *#1 Comment* By *Al* On November 17, 2010 @ 11:23 pm I hate to hear stories such as this. I have vacationed in Cuba since 1984 , and have seen many changes , most of which have been positive. I hope that the troubles and stresses that are causing some of these negative social events will ease and life becomes better for all brotherhood and socialism- it should be hard to separate the two. ------------------------------ Article printed from Havana Times.org: *http://www.havanatimes.org* URL to article: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=33140* URLs in this post: [1] Image: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33141* [2] Image: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33142* [3] Image: *http://www.havanatimes.org/?attachment_id=33143* [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:laamn-unsubscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:laamn-subscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:laamn-dig...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:laamn-ow...@egroups.com?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:la...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/la...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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