December 17th will mark the first anniversary of Obama’s new Cuba policy of appeasement and complete surrender to the apartheid dictatorship of the Castro brothers. In return for Obama’s generous concessions, the Cuban regime has offered absolutely nothing in return, unless you want to consider the rampant increase in violent repression and the thousands of peaceful dissidents brutalized and arrested over the past year by Cuban State Security an in-kind contribution to the new relationship. In his new Cuba-policy announcement nearly a year ago, President Obama boldly proclaimed that “this is what change looks like.” One year later, we have gotten a good look at Obama’s “change” in Cuba, and there is no doubt whatsoever that except for the apartheid Castro regime, it is for the worse.
More on this somber anniversary from Capitol Hill Cubans:
One Year Later: Obama’s Cuba Policy Proves to Be Counter-Productive
A year ago this week, President Obama announced a new Cuba policy that diplomatically recognized the sole remaining dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere, unilaterally eased a series of trade and travel sanctions, and commuted the sentences of Castro agents convicted for serious crimes — including murder conspiracy — against Americans.
Meanwhile, the Castro regime promised nothing in return — a commitment that it has followed-through upon, stressing that it will “not cede one millimeter” on fundamental rights and freedoms for the Cuban people.
By all metrics, Obama’s new policy has not only proven to be irresponsible, but counter-productive.
When Obama announced that his new policy is “what change looks like” on December 17th, 2014, perhaps few anticipated that it would mean “change — for the worse.”
Yet, here are the irrefutable facts of 2015:
— There has been a historic number of political arrests. With a few weeks still to go, there have been well over 8,000 documented political arrests in Cuba throughout the year. The Castro regime will quadruple the year-long tally of political arrests recorded in 2010 (2,074) and double that recorded in 2011 (4,123). Last month alone (November 2015), there were over 1,447 documented political arrests, which is the highest monthly tally in decades.
— A Cuban migration crisis has unfolded. The number of Cuban who have entered the United States has spiked by nearly 80% compared to last year. Over 43,000 Cubans have managed to arrive in the United States during the year, while tens of thousands more are stuck desperately trying to make the journey — via Ecuador — up South and Central America. Compared to 2009, when President Obama took office, these numbers have sextupled from less than 7,000.
— Internet connectivity ranking has dropped. According to the ITU’s Measuring the Information Society Report for 2015, which is the world’s most reliable and impartial global data and analysis on information and communication technology (ICT) access, Cuba has dropped ten spots in this ranking from #119 to #129. Cuba fares much worse than some of the world’s most infamous Internet suppressors, including Zimbabwe (#127), Syria (#117), Iran (#91), China (#82) and Venezuela (#72).
— U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba have plummeted. Despite the Obama Administration’s easing of sanctions, U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba have precipitously declined by nearly 40% compared to last year — from $290 million to $160 million. In August 2015 alone, U.S. agricultural exports dropped 84% from $14.3 million in 2014 to $2.25 million, one of the lowest numbers since U.S. agricultural exports were first authorized in 2001.
— Castro has lied about terrorism without accountability. While recognizing that the Castro regime continues to harbor terrorists, the Obama Administration removed Cuba from the “state-sponsors of terrorism” list based on vague commitments, which it has failed to uphold. There has been zero progress on the ETA terrorists sought for extradition by the Spanish government or the “Top Ten Most Wanted Terrorist” sought by the FBI. Meanwhile, FARC narco-terrorists continue to enjoy luxury accommodations in Havana’s finest confiscated homes. As for the February 2015 illegal arms cache intercepted in Colombia, which was brokered by the Cuban military — mum remains the word.
— Castro has lied about political prisoners without accountability. While over 200 Cuban dissidents were being arrested on International Human Rights Day (December 10th) last week, Castro’s Attorney General told the international media that there are no political prisoners on the island. Meanwhile, most of the 53 political prisoners released in the months prior and after Obama’s December 2014 announcement have been beaten and rearrested on multiple occasions, while some have been handed new long-term prison sentences.
Continue reading HERE.
Counterproductive, yes, but to whom? Not to the people responsible for “normalization,” who knew perfectly well what it would NOT accomplish, and had no problem with what it would. Ergo, they’re not concerned that it’s been counterproductive for ordinary Cubans, because Obama’s scheme was not about them nor calculated for their benefit. Ordinary Cubans are simply background elements, like extras or bit players in a movie, more or less like live wallpaper. If anyone actually considers them, it always comes down to the usual articles of faith, like “free” health care and education, and how the noble savages are surely better off than they would be if the “revolution” hadn’t happened. In other words, the fact Cuba is a totalitarian shithole is of no more consequence than the fact Elian Gonzalez was brainwashed and turned into a propaganda robot. We have to understand that LOTS of people are at least OK with that, and many of them not only condone it but approve of it and even admire it. Shit happens.
Doesn’t Cuba’s “president” look inspiring? Like a cross between late Franco and a dried up 1950s spinster, suitably costumed in a classic Latrine pseudo-military kitsch ensemble. Still, the most distinctive feature is the natural pigment highlights, aka liver spots, which are simply stunning. The future could hardly be in better hands. But really, it’s fine, or certainly good enough for little island savages. Cue the cigar crones and the revolutionary drag queens, and freak on.