It's tempting to lead with the zany news item about prisoner exchanges manufactured by, whom else, the Cuban American quintet (in Congress), but I'm going to start today's clips on a high note instead, and share with you a stirring op-ed featured in yesterday's edition of Roll Call, penned by Brigidier General John Adams and David Jones:

"U.S. reconciliation with Germany took about a decade after that terrible war introduced words such as “genocide” and “Holocaust” into the global vocabulary and claimed the lives of more than 400,000 U.S. military personnel.

U.S. reconciliation with Vietnam took 20 years after Americans were stunned by news footage of men and women clinging to helicopters making their flight to freedom from rooftops in Saigon. In an act of political foresight, President Bill Clinton, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and then-Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) skillfully navigated the emotional wreckage left by that war and its 58,000-plus U.S. casualties and restored diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1995.

This not only produced an invaluable economic and diplomatic presence for our nation in Southeast Asia, but enabled Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to visit Hanoi in July to commemorate the 15th anniversary of normalization and to express our concern about the human rights record of our former adversary on its own soil.

If we can reconcile with Germany and Vietnam, why not with our neighbor Cuba? Why cling to our failed Cuba policy with its self-isolating diplomacy and unilateral embargo? Our current policy hurts two groups the most: the Cuban and American people. Why don’t we replace it with forms of peaceful engagement that have a proven history of success?"

Continue reading "Bogus Cuba Prisoner Swap Rumor Swirls Amid Hopes for Travel, Golf in Cuba" »

Photo credit: AFP

As we await news of a potential easing of U.S. travel rules for cultural pursuits in Cuba, it looks like the Cuban government may be loosening things on its end as well. El Nuevo Herald reports that some unlikely Cuban artists will make their way to perform in Miami this fall: rap duo Los Aldeanos, and Silvito el Libre (son of Silvio Rodriguez, who played Carnegie Hall early this summer) will give a concert November 13 at the Miami Dade Auditorium. FundArte and Charity Unlimited are organizing their concert.

Cuban filmaker Alejandro Moya "Iskander", who's in Miami this summer editing a documentary about the two rappers who comprise Los Aldeanos, points out that even though you won't hear the duo on Cuban radio or find their CDs in stores, their underground rap is nonetheless very popular in Havana. Ever Chavez, director of FundArte, describes their lyrics as "honest" and "angry", which he says "reflects their situation. They've been censured, and have seen their shows shut down in their country."

Gisela Hidalgo, from Charity Unlimited, tells El Nuevo Herald, "It's a step forward in the cultural exchange that should exist between the two cities [Miami and Havana], and people-to-people. Five years ago, a grupo like Los Aldeanos wouldn't have been allowed to leave Cuba."

Whether you're a fan of Los Aldeanos or Silvito el Libre or not, this is good news indeed. It shows Havana being pragmatic or fair, or both, and it's just one more indication that we're no longer dealing with Fidel Castro's Cuba. It's time for our policy to reflect that fact, by reaching out to Cubans in and out of government, to build the kind of trust and understanding - including honest disagreement - that we've been missing for decades.

AP Photo/Estudios Revolucion, Cubadebate

Fidel Castro is back indeed, and talking about his near-death experience to La Jornada. And, while taking in a dolphin show at Cuba's national aquarium (he seems pretty fond of the aquarium, doesn't he?), Fidel's undoubtedly been talking about about other life and death subjects - Israel, Iran and what Obama will or won't do in a potential nuclear standoff - with American journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, noted Israel expert, and author of a recent article in The Atlantic, The Point of No Return, which Fidel read with intense interest and excerpted for readers in his August 25th reflection. Why they took in the show at the aquarium is frankly beyond me. But I find it interesting that Adela Dworim, president of Cuba's small Hebrew Community, was with them. I'm hoping that Mr. Goldberg might have gained some insight on his trip into the case of Alan Gross that hasn't yet come to light?

Thanks to the tireless new clippers at Cuban Colada for translating this part of the La Jornada interview of Fidel Castro, concerning the internment of gay Cubans in labor camps in the 1960's. Castro called it "a great injustice," and said he assumed the responsibility for it, having not paid attention to what was going on at the time, what with the Cuban missile crisis, bay of pigs, exploding cigars and such on his plate:

"We had so many and such terrible problems of life or death [...] that we didn't pay enough attention to it. [...] It's like when the saint sins, right? It's not the same as when the sinner sins, no?"

And, Babulu blog highlights a comment from the Ladies in White's chief spokeswoman, Laura Pollan, in this excerpt of a Catholic News Agency story:

Distancing herself from the recent criticism of the Church in Cuba and its role in the release of political prisoners, Laura Pollan, spokeswoman for the Women in White, stated that “In Cuba there is no better mediator” than the Catholic Church, because it is an institution without a political agenda.

In case you were wondering how that went over with Babalu readers, here's a sampling:

Continue reading "Cuba News Roundup: Fidel Castro, Jeffrey Goldberg, and Laura Pollan" »

If the laws governing travel to the island can not be changed, how is it that they were amended in June 2004?

by Carlos Lazo

Several years ago I posted an on-line petition calling for freedom to travel to Cuba. One signer, Carlos Lazo, wrote me that he was a Cuban living now in the US and frustrated by the difficulty of returning to see his teenage sons. Ironically, he was a member of the National Guard due to serve in Iraq. Under restrictions introduced by the Bush Administration in 2004, Carlos was blocked at the last minute from visiting the boys during leave from the combat zone. His case dramatized for the media the inhumanity of a policy that limited family reunions to once every three years and was taken up by Senator Byron Dorgan and other members of Congress. Carlos just sent me this take on the debate over the prospective relaxation of travel restrictions by President Obama.

In recent days,four Cuban-American Representatives and one Senator wrote a letter to President Barack Obama, urging him not to change U.S. policies toward Cuba. According to the odd logic put forward by these people, laws regarding the island are and were created already by the U.S. Congress. Therefore, any change in this regard would undermine "significantly the foreign policy objectives and security of America." In the epistle, the legislators added that the Helms-Burton Act codified the embargo on Cuba and it cannot be modified by the President. According to the letter, irremovable are also "all restrictions on travel" to the island.

I would like to remind these lawmakers that in June 2004, then-President George W. Bush imposed cruel and inhumane travel restrictions against the Cuban residents in the United States and our families in Cuba. At that time none of them addressed the White House to say that the embargo was untouchable, and therefore new restrictions on travel to the island would also be legally questionable. Paradoxically, these politicians now want to apply a double standard to the issue of traveling to Cuba. What they did not ask of George W. Bush yesterday, they demand from Barack Obama today. It is not a coincidence that some of those who tear their hair out today were the developers and architects of these inhumane measures against our families. Others of them maintained a cowardly silence or complicity.

The fact that hundreds of thousands of Cuban Americans can freely visit our loved ones on the island nowadays is largely due to the political will of President Barack Obama. Neither the Diaz-Balart brothers, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Albio Sires, nor Senator Bob Menendez have ever lifted a finger to legislate with humanity and common sense in terms of U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba. Suffering, confrontation, revenge and a visceral hatred toward the Cuban people: this is the only legacy that these so-called representatives can be proud of. Certainly they do not represent new generations of Cuban Americans who want to see a significant and tangible change in the U.S. policy toward our country of origin.

President Barack Obama is preparing to promulgate new regulations affecting some or all of twelve categories of non-tourist travel, including visits for educational, cultural and other people-to-people purposes. This is a positive step but could be done timidly or boldly. Timidly means just returning to Clinton era case-by-case applications for specific licenses, an expensive, time consuming and energy diverting process for both the applicants and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Boldy means granting general licenses that do not require applications. This was the approach chosen last year for Cuban American family travel and for Americans wishing to sell agricultural products.

In truth, it is time to eliminate all restrictions on travel to Cuba for all Americans. It is time for the U.S. policies toward the island to be guided by compassion and wisdom. Decisions regarding these policies should be taken in Washington, D.C. and not in Miami. However, only the Congress has the power to restore to every American the right to travel.

Obama can help the process by endorsing pending travel and trade legislation and confirming he will sign it, an important break with veto threats in the Bush era. He needs to accelerate the implementation of strategies that prioritize the welfare of the peoples of Cuba and the United States. At the same time, our President should say No! to the inconsistent claims of a group of known self-interested politicians.

Carlos Lazo is an activist for lifting the travel restrictions to Cuba. Currently he works as a combat medic sergeant in the Washington State National Guard. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Center for Democracy in the Americas (CDA), based in Washington.

Continue reading " The Lack of Memory of Cuban-American Congress Members" »

How about a few Friday funnies this week?

AP's Will Weissert reports from Havana that Cuba's government is ending cigarette rations for the elderly.

Several years ago, authorities fazed out for cigarette rations for everyone under 55. (Think of it like how Joe Miller, Sarah Palin's pick for incumbent Republican Lisa Murkowski's Senate seat, explains his stance on phasing out social security: "it's absolutely critical that the government keep its contract with the seniors that are currently dependent" on it.)

"I'm insulted because it's another thing they are taking away from us," one retiree, Angela Jimenez, complained, noting that she'll be forced to quit smoking because of her pension is too small to pay full price for cigarettes. "I don't know how far they're going to go with this."

Pretty far, I'd guess. Last year, the Cuban government began what seemed inevitable, the end of the ration booklet, by taking potatoes and peas off of the ration booklets. But then no other items were eliminated - until now.

On the brighter side, if Governor Bill Richardson gets his way, disgruntled pensioners like Jimenez could find green chilis and salsa in their ration books before the year is out. Earlier this week Richardson told Andrea Mitchell he's not an Obama administration envoy, but rather he's just back in Cuba to sell the spiciest stuff - "chili, salsa and green chilis" - that New Mexico has to offer. Now, elderly ex-smokers, with their seasoned taste buds might actually take to the stuff. I'm just not so sure about the rest of the Cuban population. Cuba is not exactly known for spicy cuisine. (It's not really known for its cuisine, actually.) About the spiciest ingredient one is likely to find in Cuba is the mustard you get on a Cubano sandwich.

Let's hope the governor has better luck springing Alan Gross from jail than he will feeding green chilis to the Cuban people.

Now, while Richardson told CNN he welcomes the Obama administration's expected loosening of Cuba travel rules, five Cuban American lawmakers took their concerns to the President last week. The lawmakers wrote:

"We are deeply troubled that such changes would result in economic benefits to the Cuban regime and would significantly undermine U.S. foreign policy and security objectives."

Writing on Foreign Policy magazine's Shadow Government blog today, Jose Cardenas, a staunch defender of the embargo, offers some unwitting comfort to them:

Continue reading "Bill Richardson and Jose Cardenas: Did They Really Say That?" »

Bill Richardson at Havana press conference (Photo by Enrique de la Osa, Reuters)

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and the Reuters coverage of him in Havana, are to be commended for providing the more accurate context necessary for resolving the Alan Gross problem. Instead of a frustration, his case can become a facilitation of progress in bilateral relations:

The arrest of Gross in December had soured and slowed apparent rapprochement moves by Obama toward Castro's government, seeking to defuse a half century of hostility.

Gross, who was in Havana on an assignment contracted by the U.S. Agency for International Development, has not been formally charged but Cuban officials said he was suspected of spying and subversion. They said he had been illegally distributing satellite communications equipment.

The Obama administration said he was not spying but was trying to help the Cuban Jewish community hook up to the Internet.

Cuba has long accused the United States, which maintains a 48-year-old trade embargo against the Caribbean island, of actively backing internal dissidents and Cuban exiles in efforts to undermine and destabilize its socialist system.

"I believe Alan Gross is a good man who may have made some mistakes. I think he is innocent," Richardson said.

He said he hoped the case would be resolved soon, but added, "I don't want to get into what soon is."

Despite the Gross case, Richardson said the atmosphere between the United States and Cuba was "the best I've seen in years" and that both governments deserved credit for taking positive steps.

He cited Cuba's recent decision to release 52 of its estimated 150 political prisoners and Obama's expansion of travel opportunities for U.S. citizens.

A couple of days earlier, Richardson told Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC

I hope the administration does move ahead with those easing of the travel restrictions, possibly others. I think that makes a lot of sense. It's good for the United States.

We need to get involved here. There's enormous potential for investment, but easing the travel ban is a way that Americans of all stripes, of all types can -- can visit the island. President Clinton did that. It moved in a good way the relationship. And hopefully, this will happen soon by the Obama administration. But like you, I've just seen these press reports, and again my hope is that they happen soon...

Continue reading "Clearing Away the Underbrush" »

Templo Beth-Shalom in Havana, Cuba (Photo credit: Anya Landau French)

by Arturo Lopez-Levy

A version of this article, "In Cuba, a Hostage of International Brinksmanship," appeared in today's Jewish Daily Forward, the online home of the weekly Forward.

Alan Gross, a Jew, an American, a U.S. AID contractor, has sat in a Cuban prison for more than eight months. Jews, whose entire history is bound together by stories of exile and return, captivity and freedom, mourn his confinement and long for his release. Cubans who have been weary bystanders for decades in the games of brinkmanship between their government and ours know a political pawn when they see one. Concerned policy makers in Washington have now taken a hostage of their own; some have made their votes on legislation to end America’s failed and feckless ban on travel to Cuba contingent on Gross’s release. None of this is likely to shorten his hard experience living under the “hospitality” of Cuba’s government.

Why is Gross in prison? While the U.S. has intervened in Cuba to control its government or shape its system for more than a century, this story has more recent roots. The Bush administration produced two reports in May 2004 and July 2006 about how to “liberate” Cuba. The reports recommended a package of irresponsible measures to move the moderate and independent activities of Cuban civil society toward the regime change strategy envisioned by Section 109 of the Helms-Burton law. The U.S Congress approved an annual budget of tens of millions to use U.S agency for International Development contracts for this purpose – an approach that has continued under the Obama Administration.

Most sympathies among Cubans on the island for Alan Gross are based on the idea that he is a victim of a policy promoted by hardliners in the exile community - which profit from hostility between the two countries. Gross was not arrested because he is Jewish, nor is it likely that he was detained because of his alleged activities in helping the Cuban Jewish community with technology, which already had a computer lab, e-mail and access to Internet before he arrived to Havana on his several visits. As a recipient of one of these U.S. AID contracts, Alan Gross was perceived by Cuba’s government as a participant in the asymmetric political war between the U.S and Cuba; a promoter of regime change caught in enemy territory.

Continue reading "Freeing Alan Gross: First Do No Harm" »

Photo: US Chamber of Commerce/Ian Wagreich

While Congress is on recess this month, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is working to get Cuba legislation on its agenda when members return in September. Last week, following a New York Times report on changes the Obama administration is expected to make to U.S. Cuba travel rules, the Chamber's Maria Medrano teed up the Chamber's expectations for such a move:

"President Obama’s moves to broaden the scope of travel--as much can be done by executive action—should send a clear signal to Congress that the administration is open to, and has done all it can, to expand engagement with Cuba. These actions by the administration and legislation currently in Congress indicate we are on the brink of changing our strategy toward Cuba. After 50 years of a failing policy it shouldn’t be so hard to make this final leap and lift the travel ban for the good of the Cuban people."

But just to make sure Congress got the message, the Chamber's top lobbyist, Bruce Josten, sent a letter yesterday to the Foreign Affairs Committee, in whose court the bill now sits.

"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, urges you to schedule a mark-up of H.R. 4645, the “Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act.

It is time to end the unproductive preoccupation with an aging and moribund communist regime, and begin to lay the groundwork for a U.S. role in the future of Cuba. Recent moves in both Havana and Washington indicate that the time is right to adjust U.S. policy toward Cuba in favor of a strategy that will encourage positive change on the island.

Because of the need to reform U.S. policy toward Cuba, the Chamber urges the Committee to report this legislation to the full House swiftly and without amendment so that the House can consider and approve this measure in the very near term."

Continue reading "U.S. Chamber Renews Call for Action on Cuba" »

Image available: http://archive.catholicherald.co.uk/images/articles/a0000429.jpg

The Cuban Catholic Archdiocese announced today the expected release of six more Cuban political prisoners, bringing the total number of prisoners released by the Raul Castro government since July to 32.

Secretary Clinton has expressed the United States government's willingness to receive some of the recently arrived political prisoners from Spain. But as reporters encountered at yesterday's Daily Press Briefing at the State Department, it's complicated. It's one thing to grant an asylum request to someone who would otherwise be persecuted if you don't grant asylum, it's quite another to grant such a request to someone who no longer actually needs it.

Further complicating the situation is that the wet-foot dry-foot immigration policy - a sort of Green Card fast-track for Cubans who manage to slip into the U.S. illegally (which is significantly easier from just 90 miles away) - might not apply to these ex-political prisoners. Why? Because the only reasonable way to make it in to the U.S. from Spain is to fly in on an airplane, which authorities won't permit you to do without a visa (and there's usually a long line for those). So, the newly-released Cubans may have to make do in Spain for some time yet.

Meanwhile, the editors of the Catholic Church's lay newspaper have issued a forceful response to a group of more than 100 Cuban dissidents, who sent a letter to Pope Benedict to protest the Cuban Catholic church's "regrettable and embarassing" intervention with the Cuban government on behalf of Cuban political prisoners. The signers fault the Church for accepting "forced exile" for the prisoners, which, with families in tow to Spain, they write, amounts to an "exodus".

Continue reading "More Prisoners Released as Cuban Catholic Church Responds to Critics" »

Photo credit: Darkwind

They say timing is everything. But in U.S.-Cuban relations, timing is often nothing more than a missed opportunity. Everyone has their own theory about these things. Back in 1996, analysts thought it was a most opportune moment for improved relations. The Helms-Burton Act was stalled and President Clinton appeared to have no intention of signing it. And then Cuban migs shot down two civilian aircraft that Cuba claimed had violated its airspace. (The group that sent the planes on their mission that day, Brothers to the Rescue, claim they did not violate Cuban airspace that day - though indeed they had previously, even overflying and leafletting Havana.) It might have been an opportune moment, but it turned out not to be.

And then there were the early 2000's, when a Republican-controlled Congress repeatedly bucked its President, voting to end enforcement of the decades old travel ban on Cuba. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee even voted out a bill to lift the ban outright. U.S.-Cuban agriculture ties were at their tightest, and U.S. Cuba food export fever was at its highest. But President Bush had committed to embargo supporters, and his veto threats ensured that House and Senate leaders yanked Cuba reforms out of every bill they rode along. And then in 2003, with Congress leading the charge for U.S. policy reform, Cuban authorities rounded up 75 dissident activists and sending them to jail for collaborating with the U.S. enemy. It could have been a transformational moment, but it turned out not to be.

And then of course, in 2006 and 2008, Democrats swept through Congress, and won the presidency. The new president was even on record as opposed to the U.S. embargo of Cuba, and campaigned on a foreign policy that would win back the respect of the world. Though Cuba policy seemed such obvious low-hanging fruit, the new administration and Congress failed to grasp the opportunity, particularly in the midst of crushing domestic and international crises and larger priorities like healthcare legislation. Meanwhile, Fidel Castro fell gravely ill in 2006, retired from sight and from the presidency in Cuba, and his more pragmatic brother officially took the reins in 2008, broaching topics and raising criticisms of the Cuban system never discussed under the elder Castro's watch. It should have been the long awaited breakthrough moment, but it turned out not to be.

And here we are in 2010.

Continue reading "Hope Springs Eternal in US-Cuban Relations" »