Administration Shifting Cuba Policy

[Judi Lynn]

Administration Shifting Cuba Policy
By LARA JAKES JORDAN , 08.07.2006, 03:12 PM

The Bush administration is preparing to ease immigration rules for a limited number of Cubans following Fidel Castro's handoff of power, focusing on reuniting families who have relatives in the United States.

At the same time, draft documents obtained Monday also describe plans to discourage any mass migration from Cuba to the United States. The plan would crack down on smugglers and refuse U.S. entry to Cuban government officials who have engaged in human rights abuses. But it would make it easier for some Cuban doctors to move to the U.S.

While stressing that any policy shift was not yet final, administration officials said the changes could be announced as early as this week.

"Taken together, they promote safe, legal and orderly migration, while they also support the Cuban people in their aspirations for a free and prosperous society," says a draft copy of Homeland Security Department talking points obtained by The Associated Press.
(snip/...)

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/entretech/feeds/ap/2006/08/07/ap2932327.html

[Kutjara]

1. So we'll suck the talented people out of Cuba and leave the rest to rot?

It's no secret that, in spite of an embargo that has made it difficult or impossible for Cuba to import the latest theraputic drugs, Cuba has a far higher cancer survival rate than the US (or indeed most other Western nations). In true Cuban fashion, they have used their intelligence, first-rate educational system and legendary ingenuity to develop treatments and cures that have nothing to do with big Pharma.

It's inevitable, therefore, that we'd seek to deprive Cuba of its doctors and research scientists, so that we can either use their knowledge for our own benefit or, more likely, neutralize them.

There appears to be no level to which we will not stoop.

[Judi Lynn]

3. That's a cynical, conspicuous attempt by Bush to steal from the Cubans.

It costs them a great deal to finance the educations of these doctors and scientists upon whom they depend to bring their skills to help the society itself, and to maintain an admirable level of health care, unequaled in the Western Hemisphere.

I hope the doctors are as dedicated as it appears they are. There have been occassional ones who responded to seduction attempts by the Cuban "exiles" in the States, but most of them really seem interested in HEALING, as hard as that is for a lot of Americans to grasp. Hope it will continue long into the future.

[Robbien]

5. Yes, these Cuban doctors do seem to really want to help

Or at least the majority of them seem to want to do so. They have willinging gone to so many countries that need them so desperately. Of course there probably are a few of the Republican types who will come to the US chasing the almighty dollar. We will hear much of them soon I wager.

[MrPrax]

6. But in all fairness...

Western governments and corporations are pro-actively 'headhunting' medical staff from all over the Third World...especially acute (and immoral) in Africa where they do have a large medical crisis.

That's what we do -- we constantly 'raid' underdeveloped countries, take their professional class and then create 'technical' dependencies through NGOs...part and parcel of 'soft' imperialism that too many Progressives endorse.

If the US is deploying it as a political tactic -- so what...would it make any difference if doctors left simply out of economic bribes provided by the world's elite countries. In Ghana, a country with one of the lowest rates of doctor to population, has MORE Ghanese doctors working in New York city that they do in the entire country?

It's a problem that should be consistently dealt in a number of cases IMHO

[flobee1]

2. preparing to ease immigration rules

while at the same time "plans to discourage any mass migration from Cuba"

in other words-only if you have money to burn
They dont want Cuban's to come over that want a shot at the American dream, They want the ones that already have it-the rest can stay behind.






And 10-20 years from now the administration will be shocked and stupified that we have another "terrorist" county that "hates america for its freedom"

[Judi Lynn]

4. Administration Shifting Cuba Policy

Administration Shifting Cuba Policy
By LARA JAKES JORDAN , 08.07.2006, 03:12 PM
Updated: 1 hour, 48 minutes ago

CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush says he hopes Cuba takes a democratic turn, but it's up to Cubans living on the island to decide.

Speaking to reporters at his Texas Ranch, Bush said he had no special knowledge about President Fidel Castro's health beyond what the Cuban government has reported publicly. Cuba's vice president has said Castro would return to work in a few weeks.

Bush says America wants the Cuban people "to choose their own form of government." He adds that he was talking about those currently in Cuba, not exiles. He says Cuban-Americans can decide later whether they want to return.
(snip/)

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/entretech/feeds/ap/2006/08/07/ap2932327.html

[movonne]

7. And they can be just like us with our free elections...get a few

diebold machines and freedom will be on the march..everything except free medical, and fix the schools so that their 90% educated turns into 40% and rich..

[Say_What]

8. Writers Galeano & Benedetti Back Cuba (signed by 8 Noble prize winners)

Montevideo, Aug 7 (Prensa Latina) Prestigious Uruguayan writers Eduardo Galeano and Mario Benedetti ratified their demand to the US government Monday to respect Cuban sovereignty, and called to halt any new aggression against Cuba.

Both Uruguayan intellectuals signed the document “The Sovereignty of Cuba Must Be Respected” together with more than 400 personages from all over the world.

Referring to the announced US plans to “aid” the people of Cuba, Eduardo Galeano told Prensa Latina that it is neither good nor necessary to perfume the rose, and called on others to sign the document, already signed by eight Noble prize-winners.

Benedetti said that the content of the document was outstanding, and also called for people to sign it.

http://www.plenglish.com/NewsSection.asp?Section=ENG_Cuba&start=&end=&button=1&language=EN

[Judi Lynn]

11. Tremendous people. They've got Bush's number, too.

From the article:

The signatories rejected Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez´ pronouncement that this is the moment for a true transition toward democracy, as well as White House spokesman Tony Snow´s offer of humanitarian, economic and other aid to the people of Cuba.


Film directors, writers, social leaders and activists said it is not difficult to imagine the nature of the "assistance" considering the US administration´s current aggressive foreign policy.


Due to increasing threats against the integrity of a nation, and the peace and security of Latin America and the world, we call on the government of the United States to respect Cuba"s sovereignty and prevent an aggression at all costs.

[Say_What]

16. Cuba: Take Action! Say Hands Off Cuba!

There was a Cuba Policy: Reminder to call White House today, 9am - 5pm EDT on the CubaNews board and this has been repeated the last few days. Here's some info about it as I believe it is probably ongoing. Letter to editors and talk radio help too and there's a form letter below.

Dear Cuba Policy Advocates:

We are sending this reminder to call the White House today with a message of
"hands off" Cuba. The correct number to call for the White House comment line
is: 202.456.1111. Its hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT. When I
called, I was able to speak with a live person to leave my message.

See message below for details and a suggested message. Please call.

Thanks,
Mavis Anderson
Claire Rodriguez
LAWG


August 4, 2006

Dear Cuba Policy Advocates:

Yesterday a group of organizations that work on Cuba policy decided to
cooperatively send out an action alert in response to recent events in Cuba.
Some of you may receive this alert several times. We feel that now is the time
for all of us to work together to make our voices heard in Washington. We urge
you to take at least one of the below actions.

Best,
Mavis and Claire, LAWG
www.lawg.org


Cuba Action Alert: The U.S. Should Pledge to Refrain from Interference in Cuba's
Internal Affairs, and Allow U.S. Citizens to Engage Cooperatively with Cuba

For the first time in 47 years, Cuba is undergoing a transfer of political
power, as Fidel Castro has temporarily turned the reins of government over to
his brother, Raul and other leaders of the Government. No one knows whether
Fidel Castro will recuperate from his illness and return to office, or whether
Raul Castro and his leadership team will continue in power.

But we do know this: the future of Cuba should only be decided by the Cuban
people themselves-those living in Cuba, without interference by the United
States or others.

The Bush Administration has set criteria for what an acceptable post-Fidel
Castro government in Cuba should look like, and has committed funds to encourage
a transition to such a government in Cuba. This is wrong. The United States
should not interfere in any way in Cuban internal affairs. Not only is it
improper for the United States to take actions that interfere with Cuba's
sovereignty, but these actions are likely to be counter-productive.

In the past, groups within the hard-line Cuban-American community have taken
provocative and belligerent actions to destabilize the political situation in
Cuba. U.S. authorities should take every appropriate step to prevent these
groups from launching any hostile or provocative actions from U.S. soil.

At a time when events are unfolding in Cuba, we are missing an incredible
opportunity for Americans to engage directly with Cubans. Under current policy,
U.S. citizens have very little contact with people and institutions on the
island. Cuban Americans have nearly lost all access to their own family members
on the island. Student study-abroad programs have been all but eliminated.
Visits to the United States by Cuban cultural groups and academics have been
sharply curtailed. And new restrictions have reduced contact between religious
groups in Cuba and their counterparts in the United States. To understand and
relate to developments in Cuba, the administration should permit U.S. citizens
to engage with Cuba, through travel and trade, rather than continuing a failed
policy of isolation.


ACTION: Please Call the White House Comment Line TODAY (202-456.1111) with the
following message:

Our government shouldn't interfere in events in Cuba. Instead, we should let
U.S. citizens travel, trade, and interact with the Cuban people. I urge the
administration to make a public statement that the United States will not
interfere in Cuba's internal political process. I urge the administration to
allow U.S. citizens to exercise their right to travel to Cuba and trade with
Cuba.


ACTION: Please Write a Letter to the Editor of your Local Newspaper

Here is a sample you may use for starters, but putting it in your own words
based on your own experience is best. Remember, every letter counts. They don't
have to be perfect. They just have to be written and mailed.

Your name
Your address (they will only print your city and state, but want your full
address)
Your telephone number

Letters Editor
Your local paper and address
Date

Dear Editor:

At a time when events are unfolding in Cuba has written on this topic, if there has been one], it is especially unfortunate
that U.S. citizens have so little contact with people and institutions on the
island. Contact between Cuban Americans and their family members on the island
has been sharply reduced. University study abroad programs have been all but
eliminated. Visits to the United States by Cuban cultural groups and academics
have been sharply curtailed. And new restrictions have reduced contact between
religious groups in Cuba and their counterparts in the United States. To
understand and relate to developments in Cuba, the Bush Administration should
permit U.S. citizen to engage with Cuba, through travel and trade, rather than
continuing a failed policy of isolation.

As someone who has had the privilege of traveling to Cuba through XXXXX someone interested in U.S.-Cuba relations], I urge the Bush Administration to
refrain from taking any measures that are intended to interfere in Cuban
internal affairs.

In the past, groups within the hard-line Cuban-American community have taken
provocative actions designed to destabilize the political situation in Cuba.
U.S. authorities should take every appropriate step to prevent these groups from
launching any hostile or provocative actions from U.S. soil.

The future of Cuba should be decided by the Cuban people themselves-those living
in Cuba, without interference from the United States or others.

Sincerely,

Your Signature


ACTION: Please Call-in to Radio Talk Shows to Bring up the Issue of Cuba

Check your local listings for opportunities.


Now is the time for all of us to work together to make our voices heard in
Washington to ensure that the Bush Administration respects Cuba's sovereignty
and international law, and promotes peace by refraining from interference in
Cuba's internal political process.

Sincerely,

Mavis Anderson and Claire Rodriguez, Latin America Working Group (LAWG)
Alvaro Fernandez, Cuban American Commission for Family Rights
Delvis Fernandez Levy, Cuban-American Alliance Education Fund (CAAEF)
John McAuliff, Fund for Reconciliation and Development
Marilyn McKenna and Gary Cozette, Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin
America (CRLN)
Ruben Rumbaut, Emergency Network of Cuban American Scholars and Artists for
Change in U.S.-Cuba Policy (ENCASA)
Wayne Smith, Center for International Policy (CIP)
Melinda St. Louis, Marty Hooper, Erik Cooke, and Patrick Leet, Witness for Peace
Sarah Stephens, Freedom to Travel Campaign
Geoff Thale and Elsa Falkenburger, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
Silvia Wilhelm, Puentes Cubanos

[Say_What]

9. Cuban Emigres Also Wish Fidel Recovery (not Gusanos)

Scroll down main page...

<clips>

Havana, Aug 7 (Prensa Latina) Several groups of Cuban émigrés living in the US send good wishes to Fidel Castro to recover soon from his recent surgery, and expressed confidence in the continuity of the Revolution, it was reported Monday.

Andres Gomez, director of the digital magazine Areito and head of the Antonio Maceo Brigade, both based in Miami, told a news conference that many Cubans, including the organizations that make up the Alianza Martiana Coalition, such as Alianza Martiana (individually), the Alliance of Workers of the Cuban Community, and the Jose Marti Cultural Association, want Fidel Castro to get well.

Gomez added that among those concerned about the evolution of the Cuban leader´s health are the members of the Association of Christian Women in Defense of the Family and the Negra Hipolita Bolivarian Club of Miami.

The joint news conference to inform on a petition for Cuba released by world renowned personages was attended, besides the Miami-based Cuban-American activist, Roberto Fernandez Retamar, president of the Havana-based Casa de las Americas, and Belgian theologian Francois Houtart.

http://www.plenglish.com/NewsSection.asp?Section=ENG_Cuba&start=&end=&button=1&language=EN

[Say_What]

21. BBC Interview with Andres Gomez

<clips>

I came to Miami with my family in 1960, when I was only 13. We were forced to leave Cuba because the Revolution was in its radical stage, and a US invasion was expected soon - something that actually happened in April 1961.

I belonged to an upper middle-class family from Havana which had been affected by revolutionary laws.

We were a large group: parents, brothers, uncles, cousins... We all left Cuba thinking that our absence was going to be temporary. We believed that the Cuban government would be overthrown but, as we all know, that didn't happen. The US-backed invasion was defeated.

So we stayed in Miami. Some of my relatives have died here without seeing Cuba again.

My first years in the US were traumatic. Not only because we were in a foreign country, but also because we had no money left.

It was a difficult time, especially for the older members of the family who had to take underpaid jobs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4789052.stm

[Sapere aude]

10. Cubans but not Mexicans right?

[Judi Lynn]

12. Absolutely! Did you ever hear of the benifits offered to Cuban immigrants?

They are available to only Cubans, and no other nationalities. They include instant legal status the moment the immigrant steps onto American soil, instant access to a green card, work visa, social security, taxpayer-financed Section 8 housing, food stamps, welfare, medical treatment, financial assistance for education, and more.

They are not rounded up and returned. A Haitian and a Cuban can climb out of the water on the same beach at the same time and they will deport the Haitian.

Hundreds die annually trying to get across the border into the States annually from Mexico, coming from Mexico, and points south. Others die in great numbers trying to make the 700 to 900 mile trip from Haiti in old boats, and the Dominican Republic, etc., and they will be deported if they are caught if they survive the trip.

Some Haitians have made the trip to Cuba, instead, and settled there.

No, the government wants to lure Cubans here, and they have to lay out advantages they refuse to everyone else. If these benefits were open to others, you can see we would have been overwhelmed with a flood of people as soon as they created a doors-open with BENEFITS policy to other countries. By the way, I have heard these BENEFITS are not available to Native Americans.

[Say_What]

13. Pandering to Gusanos in GusanovilleMiami and their corrupt pols

this is election year ;-)


Peace! S_W

[Say_What]

14. U.S. Asked to Not Interfere in Cuba

<clips>

Leftist intellectuals and human rights activists from around the world pleaded with the United States on Monday not to interfere with Cuba while Fidel Castro recovers from intestinal surgery.

Many of the 400 signers of the open letter are from Latin America, and numerous Nobel Peace laureates are listed, such as former Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and activist Rigoberta Menchu of Guatemala.

Announcing the letter at a news conference, leading Cuban writer Roberto Fernandez Retamar said Cubans are convinced that Castro's handover of power to his younger brother and defense minister, Raul Castro, is only temporary.

"In a few months, we'll have him back with us," Retamar said.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/08/07/international/i131104D36.DTL

[Judi Lynn]

15. Very impressive article from Anita Snow. I guess this means they'll

be reassigning her to Afghanistan!

I think a lot of people are going to be opening their minds to the subject of Cuba now and at other news-making moments, just as so MANY, MANY AMERICANS started cramming on the subject when Elián Gonzalez was kept hostage by his distant relatives in Miami, once they realized there is something WIERD about this situation that they didn't understand!

It's truly something you have to do yourself, too, isn't it, Say_What? There's nothing people can tell you that you'll understand until you personally start doing your own research, and paying attention. That's just the way it works.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Salvaging Washington’s Cuban Train Wreck, Council on Hemispheric Affairs

Salvaging Washington’s Cuban Train Wreck
Monday, August 7th, 2006

With Fidel Castro temporarily transferring his authority to his brother Raúl a number of days ago, the instability that could accompany any significant shift in the Castro regime is now under close review in Washington. The best that President Bush and Secretary Rice are able to do is exhort the leaders to turn to democracy. But such exhortations are small change compared to what is at stake in the game that is being played out in the Caribbean. Cuba, after years of malign neglect by one U.S. president after another, once again has landed on U.S. radar, but maybe too late. The relatively subdued nature of the words uttered from Crawford by President Bush and Secretary of State Rice were welcomed. Of course the explanation for this was that U.S.-Cuban policy, dating back to the Eisenhower administration, through Kennedy, Reagan and Clinton to this day, was spawned by the Cold War and Washington’s inability to make the transition to a time when old hatreds should exist no more, because they were no longer needed.

In response to what could prove to be only a short interregnum in Fidel’s rule, the U.S. has adamantly refused to change its position of non-negotiation with Havana, insisting that the advent of Raul won’t lead to any fundamental re-examination of the more than four-decade old embargo.

Why? Because after almost 50 years of attempting to asphyxiate the Cuban economy and strangle it politically, it is Washington that is on trial in Latin Amerca and Fidel Castro who has been welcomed throughout the hemisphere as a somewhat shelf-worn Socrates, but Socrates nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Washington at its hypocritical best is prepared to follow a policy of constructive engagement when it comes to negotiating with Iran and North Korea, or earlier with Libya, Vietnam, and China; but Cuba under Castro will never have its day. Such a stance reveals the shallowness of Bush administration policy towards Cuba. As former Secretary of State Madeline Albright put it, the ethical difference between China and Cuba, when it comes to democracy and basic guarantees, is $200 billion a year in trade in Beijing’s favor. Apparently that buys a lot of immunity when it comes to Washington’s pro-forma human rights zealotry.
(snip/...)

http://www.coha.org/2006/08/07/salvaging-washington%e2%80%99s-cuban-train-wreck/

[Say_What]

20. OUCH!!!

Man, did Birns hit this on the head.

On edit: I'll be interested to read how North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) weighs in as well.

From the article:

The ancient U.S. embargo against Cuba has not isolated Havana as much as it has shaken confidence throughout the region that Washington is capable of providing responsible and mature leadership. Although it later turned out to be illusory, the hope was that even a tiny softening of relations between Havana and Washington could have been sparked by several long overdue personnel moves within the State Department; such as the appointment of Thomas Shannon to succeed a widely reviled ideologue, Roger Noriega, who himself had taken over after the forced departure of Otto Reich, as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemispheric Affairs. These should have marked the end of the hard-line anti-Castro duo, whose brashness and authoritarian manner have done so much damage to U.S. regional ties. But sadly, their replacements like Shannon, would-be theatrical empresario Michael Parmley, who otherwise is the head of the U.S. interest section in Havana, where he faithfully endeavors to out trump his comedic predecessor, James Cason, now U.S. ambassador to Paraguay, in the latter’s efforts to provoke confrontations between Cuban dissenters and the government, and professional Cuba basher Caleb McCarry, have been vending the same old snake oil.

The Bush administration needs to take inventory of how destructive its current regional policy is when it comes to advancing authentic U.S. hemispheric interests. It has in the past allowed right wing elements of the Miami exile community to exercise a virtual veto power over U.S.-Cuba relations, while showering its exile front groups and their pet projects with hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds, despite the disgracefully negligible results they have achieved. Breaking that linkage will be necessary if any fundamental shift to a rational policy of advancing well thought-out U.S. national interest is to occur.

Whatever Fidel Castro’s personal fate, recent events should serve as a wake-up call to the Bush administration: the embargo must end, because it has proven to be too costly, too ineffective, and too damaging to fundamental links with a Latin America for which Washington is fast losing its awe and thunder.

[Judi Lynn]

18. Cuba officials laud smooth-handling of health crisis

Cuba officials laud smooth-handling of health crisis
Mon Aug 7, 2006 4:19pm ET

By Anthony Boadle

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban officials mocked the United States and other opponents on Monday for hoping Fidel Castro's transfer of power would provoke an uprising against communist rule on the island he has controlled for nearly five decades.

A member of the Cuba's state council said a peaceful transfer of power to Castro's younger brother had begun, and Cuba's vice-president said the veteran revolutionary himself was talking about returning to the helm in weeks.

"All those who have been dreaming ... that something terrible would happen in Cuba, that people would take to the streets, that there would be great instability, the door slammed on them," National Assembly head Ricardo Alarcon said.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-08-07T201916Z_01_N01421207_RTRUKOC_0_US-CUBA.xml



Ricardo Alarcon, and Ricardo Alarcon with Republican Denny Rehberg and Democratic Senator Max Baucus.

[Judi Lynn]

19. U.S. may ease Cuba immigration rules

Aug. 8, 2006, 1:26AM
U.S. may ease Cuba immigration rules
Possible shift in policy, which would reunite some families, could come this week

By LARA JAKES JORDAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is preparing to help reunite some Cuban families with relatives already in the United States as part of a limited easing of immigration rules following Fidel Castro's handoff of power.

At the same time, draft documents obtained Monday describe proposals to discourage smugglers trying to sneak immigrants into the U.S. from Cuba, in hopes of impeding any mass migration. In addition, the plan would refuse entry to Cuban government officials who have engaged in human rights abuses but make it easier for some Cuban doctors to move to the U.S.

While stressing that any policy shift was not yet final, administration officials said the changes could be announced as early as this week.

"Taken together, they promote safe, legal and orderly migration, while they also support the Cuban people in their aspirations for a free and prosperous society," says a draft copy of Homeland Security Department talking points obtained by the Associated Press.

The new rules are being considered three months before elections in which Florida's governorship and at least one U.S. House seat in Florida are considered in play. Many Cuban immigrants live in the state.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4100928.html