Gov. Richardson on Cuba-US Relations (or lack there of)

To Cuba NM Guv shows luv

The governor of the North American state of New Mexico, William Richardson, has spent the last week in Havana, selling New Mexican agricultural produce and possibly doing advance work for a changeTM in US foreign policy toward Cuba.

Here Richardson awkwardly connects with the Official Historian of the City of La Habana, Eusebio Leal. The small crowd of hangers on stand approvingly.

Miami as City-State

Rather than a semi-integrated ethnic enclave, Miami is an autonomous community with its own political preferences and overarching moral economy. As such, when it comes to matters pertaining to Cuba, ideological bias and social conformity against Cuba are inescapable elements.

So says a sociologically oriented friend of the court brief to the US Supreme Court.

The US Blockade

Forty-seven years ago, President Kennedy initially erected the economic embargo that prevents commerce and travel to Cuba—and it has only stiffened with the ensuing US administrations. Depriving the island of its closest and most optimal trading partner has forced the Cuban government and its firms to incur the extra costs of buying and selling goods and services farther afield. Cuba can neither import needed medicine and scientific supplies, exploit the natural market for its tourism industry, nor often send its scientists, artists, and athletes to participate in events held in the US. In addition to the human suffering, the blockade has cost Cuba more than $86 billion over the course of its implementation.

Although limited agricultural cash sales to the island are now permissible, the US continues to lose out on over $3 billion per year due to the blockade. Its imposition divides families and impinges on US citizens’ constitutional freedoms to travel.

The Five Heroes

In the 1990s, as the Cuban state endeavored to build up tourism to fill the economic void left by the disappearance of Soviet supports, enemy exiles began a terrorist campaign targeting tourists. Cuba deployed counterterrorists to infiltrate South Florida groups and uncover criminal plots to bomb the island’s tourist facilities. The US caught and, in 2001, convicted five Cuban agents for conspiracy. Since then the “five heroes” have become widely celebrated in Cuba as revolutionary martyrs. The emphasis on their espionage as counterterrorism co-opts the terms of the US “war on terror” to wage a moral struggle for their release from US prisons. Currently, the US Supreme Court is deciding whether to hear their appeal, which contends that the trial venue of Miami did not ensure an unbiased jury. The case is the only judicial proceeding in US history to receive condemnation from the UN Human Rights Commission.

Unfrequented Frequencies: 2% of Cubans tune to US propaganda broadcasts

Citing an inconclusive telephone poll done by a third country research firm, the GAO guesses that 2% of Cubans watch TV Martí or listen to Radio Martí.

Most foreign media consumption occurs through clandestine satelite dishes.  People will install the dish on their roof and have somebody in the US purchase the service.  Sometimes the person with cable will hook up his neighbors' televisions for a small fee--but they are forced to watch whatever channel the hub subscribor chooses--often Miami's Univision station known as Channel 23.

US Supreme Court might hear Cuban 5 case

The "five heroes" convicted of spying on civilian terrorist plotters in Miami were tried and sentenced in the impossibly biased enclave community of Miami, FL. They are appealing that the venue did not afford a fair trial. Will the Supreme Court hear the case?



It only takes 4 justices in favor for the court to agree to hear the case. If it does not hear the case, Obama might consider trading the five Cubans for political prisoners in Cuban jails. At which point the five heroes would become instant political bigwigs in Cuba--for their mugs are plastered across the land. Young martyrs--whats not to like?

Fidel says Barack losing virginity

So who is doing the screwing?

I Am (Uncle) Sam meets Yo Sí Puedo

A great gringo actor does mediocre journalism with Hugo Chávez & Raul Castro--but gets inadvertent scoop that Cuban president considers Guantanamo Bay a "neutral place".

Why would Raul Castro propose Guantanamo Bay as a neutral locale to meet with Obama?

Doesnt Cuba maintain claims of full legal possession of the entire island?

It seems to me that implying Guantanamo as neutral is tantamount to conceding Cuba's sovereign right to the area and saying its OK for the US military to continue to occupy it.

Explanation eludes.

Socialized Rewards

The mode of incentives in revolutionary Cuba has tended to center around benefiting groups rather than individuals; from rewarding productive workplaces with communal bonuses (shop-wide vacation and recreation subsidies) to rewarding entire provinces that perform well (medically or economically speaking) with special events (such as the 26th of July festivities).

In keeping with this socialist tradition, Cuban airport authorities celebrated the arrival of the year's two millionth tourist--not by singling out one lucky winner--but by flagging the entire plane and letting all passengers partake in the prizes.

The revolutionary ethic has been extended to the visiting capitalists.

Castro Mummified!

For those interested in US-Latin American relations, it is useful to study the rigorously-conceived party platforms of the Democrats and Republicans.

In their final platform, the Republicans have committed 374 words to Latin American affairs. The Democrats 241 words.

Since the Latin American policy sections of these platforms are so lengthy and complicated, I have provided brief summaries below.

Elefantes:

* God and buying stuff connects people.
* The war on drugs = the war on terror
* Fidel Castro is a mummy.
* Expanding freedom is based on free market principles (and occasional bank bailouts).
* The US appreciates Canada for its valuable trade (and being willing to take our friendly fire in Afghanistan).
* Mexico and Colombia are so awesome they are worth mentioning.
* The free trade agreement with Colombia is being obstructed only by Democrats and people that want to keep their jobs.
* Colombia deserves to buy our stuff since they have been so brave (in killing their union members and journalists).
* Hugo Chavez is a clown.
* We do Cuban people a favor by staying out of their island and giving them free teevee.
* Evo Morales is a neural net processing cyborg.
* Cuban immigrants are like aborted fetuses: they should be safe, legal, and rare.
* We want to continue our strictly long distance relationship with Latin Americans.


Burros:

* The 2008 Democrats proudly will use JFK's 47-year old strategy for dealing with Latin America.
* Diplomacy should be like gay marriage.
* The Americas should have more self-esteem than to be Anti-American.
* Mexico and Colombia are awesome. And so is Brazil!
* Cuba should be free and sovereign and follow our orders.
* If Cuba does as we say, we will formulate moves toward becoming prepared to consider taking steps to initiate talks on beginning preliminary relations with Cuba.
* Haiti is like so permanently screwed.

Here are the unabridged Latin America sections from the platforms, just so you can see that Im not making any of this up.


Strengthening Ties in the Americas
Faith and family, culture and commerce, are
enduring bonds among all the peoples of the
Americas. Republicans envision a western hemisphere
of sovereign nations with secure borders,
working together to advance liberty and mutually-beneficial
trade based on sound and proven free
enterprise principles. Our relations with our immediate
neighbors, Canada and Mexico, are grounded
on our shared values and common purpose, as well
as our steadily increasing trade. We pledge to continue
this close association and to advance mutually
beneficial trade agreements throughout Latin
America, promoting economic development and
social stability there while opening markets to our
goods and services. Our strong ties with Canada and
Mexico should not lead to a North American union
or a unified currency.
Two factors distort this hemispheric progress.
One is narco-terrorism, with its ability to destabilize
societies and corrupt the political process. In an
era of porous borders, the war on drugs and the
war on terror have become a single enterprise.
We salute our allies in the fight against this evil, especially
the people of Mexico and Colombia, who have
set an example for their neighbors. We support
approval of the free trade agreement with Colombia,
currently blocked by Capitol Hill Democrats and
their union boss supporters, as an overdue gesture of
solidarity for this courageous ally of the United
States.
The other malignant element in hemispheric
affairs is the anachronistic regime in Havana, a
mummified relic from the age of totalitarianism,
and its buffoonish imitators. We call on the nations
of Latin America and the Caribbean to join us in
laying the groundwork for a democratic Cuba.
Looking to the inevitable day of liberation, we
support restrictions on trade with, and travel to,
Cuba as a measure of solidarity with the political
prisoners and all the oppressed Cuban people.
We call for a dedicated platform for transmission
of Radio and Television Marti into Cuba and, to prepare
for the day when Cuba is free, we support the
work of the Commission for Assistance to a Free
Cuba. We affirm the principles of the Cuban
Adjustment Act of 1966, recognizing the rights of
Cubans fleeing Communist tyranny, and support
efforts to admit more of them through a safe, legal,
orderly process.

Recommit to an Alliance of the Americas
We recognize that the security and prosperity of the United States is fundamentally tied to the
future of the Americas. We believe that in the 21 st century, the U.S. must treat Latin America
and the Caribbean as full partners, just as our neighbors to the south should reject the bombast
of authoritarian bullies. Our relationship with Canada, our long-time ally, should be strengthened
and enhanced. An alliance of the Americas will only succeed if it is founded on the bedrock of
mutual respect and works to advance democracy, opportunity, and security from the bottom-
up. We must turn the page on the arrogance in Washington and the anti-Americanism across the
region that stands in the way of progress. We must work with close partners like Mexico,
Brazil, and Colombia on issues like ending the drug trade, fighting poverty and inequality, and
immigration. We must work with the Caribbean community to help restore stability and the rule
of law to Haiti, to improve the lives of its people, and to strengthen its democracy. And we must
build ties to the people of Cuba and help advance their liberty by allowing unlimited family visits
and remittances to the island, while presenting the Cuban regime with a clear choice: if it takes
significant steps toward democracy, beginning with the unconditional release of all political
prisoners, we will be prepared to take steps to begin normalizing relations.

Missile crisis warship showdown exaggerated

So a book says...

I would say that the missile crisis WORSHIP shodown has been exagerated.