OPINION & EDITORIAL
Time for U.S. to reconsider Cuba policy
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Also by Josh Moskowitz:
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- Planted articles hurt Iraqi democracy (December 14, 2005)
- DeLay's tactics catch up with him, finally (April 15, 2005)
- Iran key concern for Israel (January 26, 2006)
- Journalism out in jeopardy (April 25, 2005)
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- U.S. needs to lift Cuba embargo (February 8, 2002)
- No, seriously, we want a baseball team (April 28, 2006)
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by Josh Moskowitz
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Upon learning of Cuba's victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic's semi-final, a sense of inescapable irony passed over me. Guaranteeing itself a spot in the championship game against Japan, Cuba had managed to not only handily defeat its foe on the field but emerge victorious over those hoping to foresee its demise off the field as well.
Prior to the first pitch of the much-anticipated Classic, the Treasury Department refused to allow Cuba to participate because of economic sanctions the United States has implemented against Communist Cuba over the last four decades. The government relented only when the Major League Baseball's commissioner's office and Players' Association reached a deal with Cuba that would send all of its profits from the games to victims of Hurricane Katrina. In securing the deal, the government was assured that not a single dollar received by Cuba from the games would be granted to Fidel Castro's regime.
Ironically, after Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in late August, Cuba graciously offered to send more than 1,000 doctors and 36 tons of medical supplies to various Southern communities. Cuban physicians have been internationally recognized as among the most experienced and qualified in emergency relief, chiefly due to the prevalence with which hurricanes hit Cuba.
Largely indicative of its zero-tolerance policy towards its southern neighbor, the Bush administration refused to acknowledge Cuba's selfless and generous act. Its silence spoke volumes, indicating the administration's growing isolationist stance towards the communist country.
Hoping to secure the support of Florida's estimated 833,000 Cuban American residents in 2000, most of whom ardently oppose Mr. Castro, President Bush publicly acknowledged his desire to step up enforcement of the Trading with the Enemy Act. The Act, which makes it illegal for U.S. visitors to spend money when traveling in Cuba, was rarely enforced prior to Mr. Bush's first election victory.
Within Mr. Bush's first year, the Treasury Department issued 766 civil penalties to travelers; in the last year of the Clinton administration, 188 fines were imposed. One individual, Cevin Allen, 56, scattered his missionary parents' ashes at the Cuban church they helped found and was fined $7,500 upon his return to the United States. In another case, a number of medical students, unable to afford the exorbitant costs of U.S. medical schools, were forced to leave Cuba over fears that U.S. authorities would jail them, fine them thousands of dollars or revoke their citizenship for studying medicine on the island.
There is little doubt that Castro's Cuba employs a state apparatus intent on eradicating dissent, property ownership or individualism. There is little doubt that Cuba remains an impoverished, isolated, totalitarian nation 40 years after its revolution demanded equality and justice for all. There is also little doubt that American students and visitors would not be of great help in continuing to plant the seeds of reform and change many Cubans already share.
While President Bush has eased restrictions on humanitarian assistance to Cuba by religious and non-governmental organizations, he must also come to see student travel to Cuba as a similar form of aid. With a foreign policy guided by the implementation of democracy abroad, Mr. Bush should urge American students to study abroad — sharing with their professors and classmates the foundations and precepts our government was built upon. American influence, in a country ripe for reform, would go a long way in fomenting democratic change when Mr. Castro finally perishes.
Josh Moskowitz (jmoskowitz@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in political science and journalism.
Valentin Prieto (March 23, 2006 @ 1:21pm):
Josh,
I mean no disrespect, but this article has nothing new to offer with regards to opinion on US/Cuba policy. It is naive and superficial. If you want to learn about and understand the "why" of US policy towards Cuba, you need to interview some of those 833,000 Cuban exiles. You might also look into the apartheid system in place in Cuba regarding foreigners, whether students or sex tourists. You might also look into fidel castro's record on trade, whereupon youll learn that he owes the Russians about 18 billion and another 14 billion to other trade partners. Easing of sanction clearly paves the way to allow for US goods to be "sold" to the castro regime on credit, as opposed to on a cash basis as it is now. When castro undoubtedly defaults, as history has proven time and again tht he will, guess who will be subsidizing the toursim industry in Cuba? the American taxpayer. Because if you think, for one moment that all the commodities sent to Cuba are used for the Cuban people, youre in for a big surprise.
Anonymous (March 23, 2006 @ 6:31pm):
Contrary to popular belief, Cuba's system of government is highly democratic. The Cuban National Congress is a highly responsive representative body, and believe it or not, Fidel Castro is elected to his position every eight years. As for American students being able to expand the minds of democratically inclined Cubans in preparation for a post-Castro Cuba, any Cuban worth their salt knows that pre-Castro Cuba was a place of extreme social and racial inequality and illiteracy. Pre-Castro Cuba was an island deprived of control of 75% of its land and resources due to the land grab made by U.S. companies after the Spanish-American War. Pre- Castro Cuba was not a good place for most Cubans. Not to say that Cuba with Castro is a perfect place. Anyone who lives in Cuba or has been to Cuba will tell you that. However, under Castro a number of social policies and programs have been enacted that make Cuba a shining example of progress in the developing world.
If nothing else can be said for Castro's Cuba, one must admit that with programs that guarantee that no child goes hungry, that everyone has access to free education and healthcare, and policies that show a national commitment to eradicating racial and gender inequality, Americans might have just a little something to learn from Cubans.
Anonymous (March 23, 2006 @ 6:37pm):
Cuban society is a very strange thing, but in all regards it is what it is. Much of the country has been thoroughly defined by this embargo, including the structuring of the economy and travel restrictions. Much also has to do with the undeniable fact that the US has sought repeatedly to annex Cuba and assassinate Castro. There is also the anomaly of having lived under Batista, who was propped up by the US. Don't think the Cuban people forgot how life was then. Castro and Batista may both be dictators, but Castro at the very least pretends to care about the people, which is something that can't even be said for some democratically elected Western leaders.
Things are obviously still bad there, but keep in mind that the US started the blockade to prevent Cuba from developing economically, lest there be a successful implementation of socialism next door. Compared to most developing countries, Cuba is remarkably well off. Still not the utopia Fidel and Che were trying to create, but not as bad as much of Latin America.
Many of the "exiles" in fact came to this country before Castro even declared victory. For sure there is not a giant chain of crudely-constructed rafts leaving Havana for Miami. Many of the exiles in fact came here during the 30's, back when we supported rightist dictators, and that group is largely leftist. (and I don't mean Democrats either) The rest largely came here during or shortly after the revolution, and this was the brunt of the capitalist class. The reason they're not welcomed back, amongst the attempted coups and assassinations and successful terrorist plane hijackings, is that they are an active threat to the social gains that the people fought so hard to achieve. I don't think it's any worse than the treatment non-capitalists here received for the past 150 years.
And compare your exile figure to the number of immigrants that come here every year from Mexico and elsewhere.
And about the embargo. It's not just that we want to keep US dollars out of Fidel's hands--in fact, the dollar is no good there. We intend to prevent Cuba from having any trade partners, with the threat of force and sanctions. No European country that wants to do business with the US can have anything to do with Cuba. Any foreign CEO with a child studying in this country better not either--the kid can be forcibly expelled and deported. It's not about freedom, that notion was disproved before the revolution even began. We have sought nothing (and this goes for globalization in general) other than forcing our will upon others for the economic benefit of our already-rich.
True, things are not the greatest there, but this is not out of line with the development of most countries in the region. It's also hard to develop an economy when the US is actively trying to infiltrate and destroy you with its bogus embargo.
Lastly, the people do love Fidel. Recently, 200,000 Cubans marched through the streets to Revolution Square, to hear Hugo Chavez speak for 2 hours, and then Fidel for another 3. Our own president can't even give a press conference, let alone be a dynamic speaker. We have 200,000 show up to protest Bush, not to see him speak. And the people were holding Soviet and Cuban and Venezuelan flags, holding posters of Che Guevara. The revolution is still very much alive there, and it is still of the people.
Anonymous (March 23, 2006 @ 7:06pm):
Josh,
Very good article, I think americans are the only people banned from visiting one of the most beautiful countries I have been to. We could all disagree with Castro's regime, but you cant stop loving cuba and their people.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts,
Carlos
Anonymous (March 23, 2006 @ 8:21pm):
The Cuban embargo which has been in effect for over 40 years has not worked, does not work and never will work. Perhaps if we resume trade and travel relations to Cuba, the result will be like the fall of the Berlin wall. For every move that the Bush administration makes, Castro makes a counter-move, that is just as effective. The "rabid" anti-Castro Cubans do NOT speak for all Cuban-Americans.
Anonymous (March 24, 2006 @ 10:04am):
Hello Josh,
I applaud your knowledge about U.S./Cuba policy and encourage you to learn more. Not from Valentin, but on your own and from those living IN Cuba as opposed to the unwelcomed Cubans and U.S. lackeys living in Miami and elsewhere.
After the smoke of U.S. propaganda clears, you will see Cuba for what it really is. A beautiful island nation whose government cares more about its people than it does profits. You will see that the 60 Billion dollars the U.S. embargo has cost Cuba could have gone to repairing its infrastructure and improving the living conditions of its population. You will also learn that Cuba harbors no terrorist organizations such as Alpha 66 in Miami, nor does it create a psuedo Cuban organization under the illusion of actually speaking for the Cuban people.
The American based Cuban American National Foundation was created by idiot president Ronald Reagan and has since propagandized a steady stream of anti-Castro policy, which former Cuban Capitalist swallow raw with a shot of Mojito.
The recent revival in Cuba, with the help of China and Venezuela is a testiment to what the Cuban Revolution could have acheived over 40 years were it not wounded by the Monroe Doctrine of the United States.
While its true Cuba owes close to 40 billion with the collapse of the Soviet Bloc, the United States owes TRILLIONS and keeps dragging itself into more debt. Yet Mr. Prieto is focusing on Cuba's debt.
Well I ask you Mr. Prieto. Why aren't you concerned about the 400 Billion spent in Iraq? Why aren't you concerned the American Red Cross has yet to distribute the $2 Billion it raised in Katrina relief?
Why is there no mention of the U.S. going back on its word to donate proceeds earned by the Cuban National Baseball Team to victims of Katrina?
Mr. Prieto, it sounds to me like either you are an advocate of American Hypocracy, or unlike Mr. Moskowitz, who has demonstrated researching Cuba, you merely "Parot" what you've heard, or are programed to say against Fidel.
Long Live The Leftist Revolution Sweeping Latin America. They've had enough of American style democracy and is finally seeing the correct course of action. The Cuban Way!!!
Anonymous (March 25, 2006 @ 8:16am):
The Miami Cubans hold a distorted opinion of Fidel Castro. If you campare Castro and his policies to Fulgencio Batista as well as the dictators preceding him, and their policies, Castro looks like an angel, and his policies to improve the lives of working poeple in Cuba look fairly successful , considering the mighty efforts on the part of the U.S. to frustrate these efforts. Any criticism of Castro's policies must be made in the light of our history, since 1898 of trying to dictate economic and political conditions in Cuba and the humiliation we have imposed on Cuba ever since we wrote their constitution including the Platt ammednment of 1898 (or 1899?) and in light of the many acts of terrorism we have committed such as poisoning cuban herds of swine and flocks of turkeys, fire-bombing sugar can fields, poisoning piles of raw sugar awaiting export, bombing a civilian airliner, bombing Havana and several hundred attempts to assasinate Castro. Castro was right to nationalize the huge United Fruit hldings and other very large estates and give the land to former tenant farmers We saw medical clinics and schools in rural Cuba in 2003 and found these all an improvement in conditions over what we've read of Batista's (U.S. supported) dictatorship.
Anonymous (June 7, 2006 @ 6:34am):
It fills me with constant regret to read comment after comment of the blind, ill informed prejudices of the writers of these articles. Those individuals, products and puppets of a quasi democratic society.
It is not correct to label the country of Cuba a Totalitarian state. If it were there would be no forms of expression, no rights for the society, no elections etc, etc.
If I may point out some interesting, essential facts about the 1993 Elections to the National Assembly.
The Cuban elections were the occasion for a massive show of resistance and unity in face of the US blockade.
99% of the electorate voted
7% of the ballots were spoiled.
Of the 589 deputies, 80% of them were elected for the first time. Their average age is 43.
77% are men and 23% are women
59 of the deputies are peasants or agricultural workers.
46 are industrial or manual workers.
23 are trades union leaders.
25 are intellectual, artists and journalists.
29 are teachers and specialists, 10 are secondary and university student leaders.
If it were a Totalitarian system, why is it also that Castro's position as the country's President is decided by parliament and that members of his government are also voted in by parliament?
Electoral candidates are not chosen by small committees of political parties. Indeed, no political party, including the Communist Party, is permitted to nominate or campaign for any given candidates. Instead the candidates are nominated individually by grass-roots organisations and by individual electors. When a person is nominated, no election campaigning is permitted; instead, his or her biography and other personal attributes are posted in public places. The successful candidate is chosen by secret ballot. The Electoral Law of 1992 stipulates that delegates to the municipal and provincial assemblies and the 601 deputies to the National Assembly are all elected by popular suffrage using a secret ballot. The Head of State and the Council of State are elected from among the deputies.
Once elected, a delegate or deputy has to inform electors about his or her work and, as in other countries, can be contacted by people in the constituency.
Unlike the case in other states, which invariably criticize Cuba for being 'undemocratic', voter turn-out in Cuba is high. In April 2005, 97.7% of electors came out to vote for their deputies to the municipal assemblies.
In the fall of 1995, [Jesse] Helms, head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act. One section of the bill, which has no basis in international law, would allow Cubans who fled after Fidel Castro took power in 1959 and later became US citizens, to advance claims in US courts on property nationalized by the Cuban government. They could even sue foreign nationals and companies which have indirectly benefited from the use of their former property.
The major beneficiaries of this legislation would be the people who most successfully plundered Cuba under the Batista dictatorship which Castro overthrew: Florida-based sugar barons, cattle ranchers and distillers.
This is no coincidence. Among those drafting the Helms legislation was Nicolas Guitierrez, who sits on the board of the Miami-headquartered National Association of Sugar Mill Owners of Cuba and whose family had 100,000 acres of land expropriated by Castro, and Ignacio Sanchez, a lawyer for Bacardi Rum Co., which has long been seeking a means to sue Pernod Ricard, a French firm which distills rum in Bacardi's old plant in Santiago de Cuba.
For 38 years Cuba, a small nation of 11 million people has been subjected to sustained interference in its internal affairs by the United States.
It has suffered military aggression and economic hostility in the form of a trade blockade and the continued presence of a US Navy and Marine base at Guantánamo on Cuban territory.
The US Government in:
1990 - Set up and funded a TV station, TV Martí, to beam US propaganda at Cuba in contravention of all international broadcasting agreements,
1992 - Introduced the Torricelli Law which attacks Cuba' trade with third parties,
1996 - Introduced the Helms-Burton Law aimed at sanctions against countries, foreign companies and individuals who invest in Cuba.
The US's aim in stepping up the blockade is to isolate Cuba, strangle it economically and create the conditions for external intervention.
US hostility to Cuba has increased despite SIX specific UN General Assembly resolutions, passed with overwhelming majorities and almost no opposition, demanding the total, immediate and unconditional lifting of the US blockade. The Helms-Burton Law has been condemned by almost every country in the world as an illegal and unacceptable extension of US law outside its territory.
In terms of international opinion, the USA once again stands alone; Cuba has the support of the majority of countries represented in the UN, unlike America.
As citizens and voters in an 'alleged' democracy you also stand alone when you vote for these policies and fail to stand up against your succesive administrations 'hegemonic', 'double standard' international foreign policy.......unless of course you agree with them.
Mind you I wouldn't demonstrate either, I mean would you really want to be arrested and detained indefinitely with no right to trial or legal representation? But if it's your only way to visit a country rich in so many other ways other than perhaps your own definition, then I'll support you.
Personally I'll sit that demo out, I think I'll stay at home and watch da TV and eat Popcorn & Pizza, hey man, I heard about a new one, Marshmallows on Pizza, yeah, it's totally awesome......!
