Many will surely see this as just another Bush appointee parroting the administration’s line. Nevertheless, when a Secretary of Commerce gives an opinion on U.S/Cuba policy, it merits our attention.
Not only is Carlos Gutierrez no stranger to commerce and business, but he’s a Cuban-American. He makes some simple, concise and logical comments about why the United States should not lift restrictions on Cuba.
”The question is not when will the U.S. change its policy. The question is when will the Cuban regime change its policy’.
Regarding the situation of the average Cuban worker in the “worker’s paradise”:
”…and pity the worker who dares talk openly about the need to organize and operate unions,” he told a gathering at the Council of the Americas, a group that advocates more U.S.-Latin American business engagement.
”The topics of trade, globalization and the working conditions of foreign laborers are being discussed . . . debated regularly in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “But why do labor conditions lose relevance when it comes to Cuba?”’
Read the Miami Herald article here.
Robert I almost want to call you Nostradamus as you said “Many will surely see this as just another Bush appointee parroting the administration’s line.” Did this fellow Cuban -American say he would crack down on the US for being Cuba’s #1 food and medicine supplier. Tough talk with a not so tough walk. This is all but political fluff. I don’t want the paper embargo lifted but reality is reality it does not good, never has, and never will for the cause of freedom in Cuba. We will lose face if we lift it. And for that reason its good enough for me. But the reality is that with one side of their mouth Treasury says don’t trade with Cuba while with the other trade is okay for the right people. Regrettably this will curry favor for November votes and this is all that this statement was about. Cuba is no less free today than before the statement was made nor will it be with more statements. I made my decision and I’m voting independent/3rd party. I could never be a demoncrat and the Republican party doesn’t seem to meet my needs as a Cuban American. Talk ,Talk, and more Talk.
Potato, accoding to the Dept. of Treasury, the basic goal of the “embargo” is to
isolate the Cuban government economically and deprive it of U.S. dollars. Generally speaking, selling Cuba food and medicine on a cash baisis is not counter to that goal. As far as depriving Cuba of dollars, what is Cuba’s number one source for US dollars? I’m just throwing this out for the sake of discussion, not saying I agree with it.
Ziva – You are correct, the farm sales do not run counter to what the secretary was talking about. But allowing them sends what is, at best, a mixed message about how committed the U.S. is to doing what it takes to help with the post-castro transition to democracy.
The problem with the farm sales is that they have provided an opening for embargo opponents to push for more changes that would only benefit the dictatorship, as evidenced by all the new legislation that has been proposed in Congress. The lobbying is hot and heavy for economic and other more specious concerns, i.e. “I have a right to vacation in Havana” some whine, to trump the moral clarity provided by most of the U.S.’s current policy on Cuba. (With a simple eloquence, Gutierrez provided a reminder of how “right” the the current policy is.)
American policies are far from perfect, and I favor a relaxation of some of the travel and currency restrictions, on humanitarian grounds. But what some in Congress are pushing for is much more dangerous for how it would virtually reward the dictatorship for its bad behavior.
Marc, you say you support an ease on sanctions for humanitarian purposes, but tell me, how would easing the sanctions improve the lives of average Cubans?
Marc, Lisa,
Its like this. Once while in Cuba I was taken to a store that was selling “humanitarian” hurricane relief aid, I also witnessed that our farm and medicine sales don’t end up with the public, but is used in resorts (I am told as I would NEVER go to one), dollar stores, etc, where Cubans cannot get it or do so for a great price. All these prop up the regime as they generate income. Direct (not via cuban gov’t as the catholics and others) humanitarian assistance put in the hands of the people by other religious groups and family members while it eventually may trickle down to castro does indeed alleviate the suffering of the people. My point is that Mr. Guterrez’ talk is worthless fluff and from a Cuban-American’s standpoint I am a bit insulted as he is not saying anything that will affect freedom in Cuba and is feeding the endless cycle of the Cuban American political jinetera who if he hears the right slogan will vote for whoever says the right thing. Mark my words that in the next two years we will hear “viva Cuba libre” and “someday Cuba will be free” a number of times and Florida Cubans will swoon and cheer and we will all be having this talk again and again. Quite honestly Gutierrez is doing a diservice to Cubans as he is playing the game of politics.
A sarcastic hat-tip to Bush for elevating Cubans to his cabinet that nobody has ever heard of and whose lives and careers were made outside the community which they supposedly represent. I call them “generic Cubans” who will not vex the administration with objections to its anti-Cuban policies, such as the “Wet Foot/Dry Foot” travesty or its gutting of the embargo. Perhaps the Republicans will try to foist Gutierrez on Florida as the next “Cuban” senator or governor.
Suffering of the Cuban people? How can there be suffering with free universal health care, free education, full employment, etc.?
Find a way to give your remittances to your relatives without castro touching the money and I’m all for it. Allow 10-30% to be skimmed of the top and I say sorry, ya no mas. You are personally financing your family’s jailers and torturers whether you like it or not. YOU are perpetuating their suffering. And if you and your family members in Cuba don’t see it that way, I hope they enjoy their worker’s paradise.
cheomedalla,
Sounds tough, but not very wise. My 82 year old cosuin who literally is blind in one eye, losing her eyesight in the other, has a bad heart and frail as can be. I guess she is just a commie sympathizer cause she is not allowed to leave the island and she isn’t man enough to fight fidel?
You are so far out of touch. I know what I’ll do, I’ll starve her or let her go blind or let her die, and that will surely remove fidel. Boy I needed those words of wisdom.
We cannot allow Castro to savage our families without at least trying to alleviate their suffering. I say this from the perspective of one who has no family in Cuba but who knows that all good Cubans belong to one family.
Mr. pototo, No doubt. Easy for me to say since I am not in Cuba, right? That however, misses the point.
Cubans have suffered and died since the fall of the soviet block 16 (sixteen!!) years go. They suffered with your $1 Billion/year in remittances.
Hypothetically, is it far fetched to look back at the “special period” of the nineties and conclude that without that aid, at that time, the regime would have indeed collapsed? A few years of extreme suffering in exchange for 16 years of less extreme suffering?
How are things different today? Given that we don’t know what the future will hold, ten years from now we could be saying the same thing about 2007. If we had only made the hard choices …..
Mr. Telechea, you state, “We cannot allow Castro to savage our families without at least trying to alleviate their suffering.”
I couldn’t agree more.
FYI, I have never sent a remittance. I have given some necessary assistance though. The point that you miss is compassion. I know the point, the issue is are you willing to put YOUR loved one on the altar of sacrifice? The problem is that it is easier to sacrifice the old and frail rather than let men pay the price of freedom through armed action. So we choose cowardness instead. Stopping assistance sounds tough, but keeps us from getting OUR hands dirty.
Mr. pototo,
I assure you that compassion is never out of my mind. What I wrote earlier is not easy for me to write or even think about.
I think you nailed it though:
“…are you willing to put YOUR loved one on the altar of sacrifice?”
How much is the prize of Cuban freedom worth? That is a question no one can answer for you and that you can answer for no one.
At what point is “compassion” a luxury to costly to continue to pay?