Cuba; Bush's New Target

[Section 8]

http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaig...cuba/index.html

We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, view with great concern the intensifying campaign of subversion and aggression against Cuba, directed by the U.S. government.

We in the U.S. progressive and anti-war movement recognize our obligation to expose and organize against the Bush administration's plans to overthrow the government of Cuba. Under the rubric of the "war against terrorism" the Bush administration has aggressively embarked on a campaign to carry out the overturn of governments that seek to maintain independent control over their own land and resources. At stake in Cuba are the considerable social and economic gains of the people made in spite of overwhelming opposition from the government representing the most powerful country in the world.

On April 7, James Cason, chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana and the top U.S. diplomat in Cuba, declared, "all of our allies agree that their policy goal in Cuba is, ultimately, the same as ours: the rapid and peaceful transition to a democratic government characterized by strong support for human rights and an open market economy." He stated on the same day, "the Administration's top priority is to promote a rapid, peaceful transition."

Coming from a U.S. government representative, the meaning is clear: "transition" translates to overthrow.

In the wake of the war on Iraq, there is no corner of the world that is safe today from U.S. aggression. This is especially the case for Cuba, part of whose national territory remains under U.S. military occupation. U.S. diplomats have warned Cuba, along with Iran, Syria and North Korea, to "learn the lessons of Iraq."

Over the past 43 years Cuba has suffered the loss of 3,478 of its citizens from numerous acts of terrorism, invasions, assassinations, assassination attempts, biological warfare and blockade. The government of one country has perpetrated these illegal acts against Cuba: the government of the United States.

The United States government has imposed an economic and political blockade on the island nation for more than 40 years, causing $70 billion damage to Cuba's economy, and inflicting unnecessary suffering on the most vulnerable in Cuban society. The U.S. military has continued to maintain and expand its naval base at Guantanamo Bay, a legacy of colonialism. Today, hundreds of people -- including children under the age of 16 years -- are being imprisoned and interrogated by the U.S. at Guantanamo with no recourse whatsoever to due process.

Recently, a coordinated campaign of aggressions and foreign subversion against Cuba has been revealed, indicating the U.S. may be setting the stage for a renewed confrontation with Cuba.

The trial of the 75 Cuban individuals arrested in March uncovered the directing role of the U.S. Interests Section in guiding, financing, and organizing subversive actions against the Cuban government. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has funneled some $20 million in support to anti-government organizations in Cuba as a part of this counter-revolutionary campaign. After the popular revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Batista in 1959, the U.S. government has resorted to invasion, nuclear threats, biological and chemical attacks, assassination attempts and murders, C.I.A. financed and organized "opposition," and economic destabilization. For forty years the overthrow of the Cuban government has been a priority for U.S. policy makers. The Bush administration's goal is to carry out regime change and replace the Cuban government with a puppet regime. It is a testament to the popular support of the Cuban government and its ability to stand up and confront U.S. aggression that the people of Cuba have successfully repelled overt and covert attempts to recolonize their country.

Over the past seven months, a series of seven armed airplane and boat hijackings have occurred in Cuba -- an exceptionally high number in such a short time. The hijackings have together endangered the lives of hundreds of people. Thus far, the Justice Department has failed to prosecute any of the hijackers who arrived in the U.S. Despite having committed the terrorist crime of air piracy, several have been released on bail.

At the same time, the U.S. Interests Section has virtually stopped granting visas to Cubans applying for admission to the United States. Under the 1995 U.S.-Cuba Migratory Agreement, the U.S. agreed to grant 20,000 entry visas to the U.S. annually. The purpose of the 1995 agreement was to assure a safe, legal and orderly immigration process.

However, from October 2002 to Feb. 2003, the first five months of the accord's calendar year, only 505 visas were granted to Cubans wishing to enter the U.S. This fact must be understood in conjunction with the Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA) of 1966, a law which uniquely accords Cuban immigrants the right to U.S. residency and financial assistance if they set foot on U.S. soil. Cutting off legal channels for immigration while the CAA remains in effect, serves as open invitation to Cubans to immigrate illegally to the U.S. Non-prosecution of even those individuals who hijack planes to get to the U.S., means that the U.S. government is openly encouraging the most dangerous forms of terrorism against Cuba.

As a fact of international law, which recognizes the rights of states to defend their sovereignty, Cuba is exercising its legal right and responsibility to defend and protect its people against foreign government subversion, terrorism, and other forms of U.S. aggression.

In light of these developments, and understanding the real dangers that Cuba faces from the U.S. government:

1) We demand that the Bush Administration cease and desist from the current campaign of attacks on the Cuban people and government.

2) We call on the U.S. government to end its blockade against Cuba, to lift restrictions on travel, and to end its ongoing multi-faceted war against the Cuban government.

3) We further call upon the Bush Administration to free the five Cubans who are imprisoned in the U.S. for trying to stop Miami-based terrorism against their people


What the Bush administration is trying to do is horrendus. Just another greed driven ambush of a sovereign people. Imagine the lives lost the doctors from Cuba start coming. The US governments propaganda campaign is going to work sadly.

[RebelWithanAK]

Why can't you just put the link up and then write your opinion of it? It's redundant otherwise.

[Sean]

..yes I agree. It's in my thread for posting too :(

[karencv]

</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by
The United States government has imposed an economic and political blockade on the island nation for more than 40 years, causing $70 billion damage to Cuba's economy, and inflicting unnecessary suffering on the most vulnerable in Cuban society. The U.S. military has continued to maintain and expand its naval base at Guantanamo Bay, a legacy of colonialism. Today, hundreds of people -- including children under the age of 16 years -- are being imprisoned and interrogated by the U.S. at Guantanamo with no recourse whatsoever to due process. <hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>


I am not an expert on Cuba...but it was Fidel Castro who permitted/and or encouraged USSR to bring balistic missles with nukes into Cuba with the intent of terrorizing the US and its citizens...I remember getting under my desk and covering my head with my hands. As for the Naval base... we have a lease on that land and there is no reason that we should not continue to use it. Castro has had a big hand on causing the 70 billion dollars of damage to the cuban economy. If he wants it to end, he could allow the Cuban people to have an electiion to choose their leader.

[G. Adams]

1. Excuse me, look at a map of the world at the time of the missile crises. The US had nuclear weapons pointed at the USSR in W. Germany, Britain, Turkey and more. The USSR tries the same in ONE country, and Kennedy almost kills us all by putting ego first. I'm just glad it wasn't another egomaniac on the Soviet side like Stalin, but instead Kruschev, who didn't think destroying the world for the sake of whose got the bigger balls contest was worth it.

2. Castro has a big hand in that $70 billion? well he also has abig hand in producing a top, first world health service under almost third world conditions, as well as exporting more doctors around the world than the entire UN has. Not to mention ending the Batista dictatorship and turning the majority of Cubans from practically serfs into citizens.

3. Castro is stepping down next year and having an election. So there is no need to invade.

[castille]

Castro has been "stepping down and having free elections" every few years.

He has yet to actually do it.


However, I believe with the US pressuring him, he will finally get off his dictatorial butt and bring about some election! I'll be happy, even though the elections will obviously be rigged.

They call it Singaporean democracy! Its when you have free elections, then arrest all members of other parties prior to elections.

[G. Adams]

Then what is the point of the US pressuring for elections, if a result comes out in support of a continuation of current policies you will just claim it to be rigged?

[fedfem]

Good News for Cuba and the world, in my opinion. Finally, some preemptive common sense.


Excerpt:
The annual roasting of the United States by friends and adversaries alike was approved by a record vote of 179 to 3 with two abstentions. Opposing the resolution were the United States, Israel and the Marshall Islands.


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cub...=sfla-news-cuba

[RebelWithanAK]

So it's everybody in the world except the US, the US's 51st state, and a US territory. It's nigh-on comedic. Funny enough, Castro's Cuba is the most successful communist state to date, and that may have something to do with the fact that it was capitalist before they changed, unlike Russia or China. Of course, I still stand by the assertion that the biggest problem Cubans have had to face during Castro's reign was the American embargo.

[G. Adams]

But Castro will retire next year, and you can bet your arse his successor will bend over for the US, cutting all the progres they made, just as the embargo is lifted. So we'll never get to see what a socialist Cuba is like without an embargo.

[RebelWithanAK]

Not that a socialist Cuba, even with the embargo, is such a terrible thing: Twice as many doctors per capita than the US, 44 times as many college graduates and doctoral degrees as before the revolution, an increase in life expectancy of 15 years, the complete dissolution of even functional illiteracy, free education all through professional studies, and the fact that they regularly export literacy programs, health care workers, and, well, lots and lots of doctors.

Besides, what this thread is missing is an indication of what the Cuban people think of the last five decades in their country.

[indierockboy]

i fail to see justification in the us moving against cuba as a "target".

[rmnunez]

México breaks diplomatic ties with Cuba:

The Mexican government announced today the withdrawal of their ambassador to Havana, Roberta Lajous, and asked the Castro to do likewise with his ambassador within 48 hours. Mexico's Secretary of State, Luis Ernesto Derbez, made the announcement at a press conference with Interior Secretary, Santiago Creel, stating the determination had been reached due to unlawful interference in internal affairs by Cuban agents. From the presidential palace it was announced Orlando Silva Fors, Cuban charge d’affaires for political matters in Mexico, was persona non-grata and would have to leave immediately. Diplomatic ties have been degraded to Commercial Legations.

According to Creel, Mexico has information on the unacceptable activities carried out in Mexico by two Cuban agents; Jose Antonio Arbezú Fraga, and Pedro Miguel Lobaina Jiménez de Castro, both chiefs of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party’s “America” department. Creel said they entered México on April 3rd and remained there until the 9th, though Lobaina left on the 20th and returned the 22nd. As agents of the Cuban government they used diplomatic passports and never met with any Mexican federal government functionaries. However it is known that both Cubans dealt with procedures to apply existing international agreements between Cuba and Mexico which normally would be handled by diplomatic channels. Derbez concluded “the conduct by the Cubans was contrary to the friendly ties between our governments and the respect governments should have for each other in international relations.” Adding that recent Cuban government conduct “leads Mexico’s government to conclude their behaviour was a direct interference in internal matters of exclusively Mexican purview. He specified the precipitated deportation of Carlos Ahumada Kurtz (a naturalized Mexican of Argentine origin scandalously videotaped bribing Mexico City politicos), Castro’s comments on Mexico in his latest Mayday speech, plus whatever improprieties these two functionaries undertook, where inexplicable as diplomatic channels have always remained open between the two governments.

http://mx.news.yahoo.com/040503/7/171kc.html

[rmnunez]

Perú also breaks diplomatic ties with Cuba:

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;j...02&section=news

[castille]

Originally posted by RebelWithanAK, Funny enough, Castro's Cuba is the most successful communist state to date

Do you want to ask the Cuban refugees who swim across to Miami whether Cuba is a workers paradise?

However you're right. Cuba is the most successful Communist state. Its the ONLY Communist state. Hehe.

[Gorgo]

Cuba asked for the missiles because they were afraid of the U.S. destroying them, as they had been terrorizing them for years.

Originally posted by karencv, I am not an expert on Cuba...but it was Fidel Castro who permitted/and or encouraged USSR to bring balistic missles with nukes into Cuba with the intent of terrorizing the US and its citizens...

[castille]

The reason missiles were put on Cuba was because the USSR wanted a quick strike point at the US (the US has missiles in Turkey against the Soviets, so it makes sense).

Unfortunately Kennedy won the bluff and Kruschev went back to pounding his shoe on the table.

[Gorgo]

But it was something that Cuba requested, not something that was imposed on Cuba. Cuba wanted protection against being obliterated by the U.S.