Babalú Blog

Yleem Poblete and Jason Poblete in National Review:

Call Cuba to Account

Obama should implement LIBERTAD as Congress intended.

This week marks the 18th anniversary of the downing of two U.S. civilian planes by the Cuban military over international waters. On February 24, 1996, Cessnas flown by members of the organization Brothers to the Rescue were patrolling north of Havana for Cuban refugees, who risked life and limb at sea in makeshift craft in search of freedom. Cuban fighter pilots in Russian MiGs encircled the planes and attacked. The planes disintegrated. Killed were three Americans: Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., and Mario de la Peña, along with U.S. resident Pablo Morales.The killing of Americans once again brought home the true nature of the Cuban regime. The political repercussions were felt in Washington, D.C. Until then, the Clinton administration had thought, as the Obama administration thinks today, that the U.S. could negotiate with the Cuban government. But facing the political embarrassment of the downed aircraft, Clinton reversed course and signed the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act (LIBERTAD), which had bipartisan support. It was as far as the Clinton administration was willing to go in taking a hard line on Cuba.

Implementation of LIBERTAD, also known as Helms-Burton, was haphazard at best. The air attack was soon forgotten. A mere two years after it, many had turned their focus to easing sanctions and expanding relations with Havana. That effort continued despite the arrest of the Wasp network of Cuban spies in 1998, the expulsions of Cuban “diplomats” for espionage, and the arrests of Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Ana Belén Montes in 2001, and, more recently, of State Department officials Kendall and Gwendolyn Myers for spying for Cuba. These are just the ones we know about.

The trend toward engagement and appeasement of the Cuban dictatorship has worsened under President Obama. His national-security team has eased economic sanctions in several key areas without demanding or securing any concessions whatsoever from Havana. This is backwards. Like Iran and North Korea, Cuba is a regime that calls for a firm hand, not a velvet glove.

In his first inaugural address, President Obama said, “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” The rhetoric does not match up with the action. The Obama administration has not only given an economic lifeline to this pariah state but also lent it diplomatic legitimacy. The president chose a widely publicized event to make his point and shook dictator Raúl Castro’s hand. Meanwhile, back in the island gulag, the crackdown against pro-democracy advocates has intensified; American citizen Alan Gross was taken hostage in December 2009 and is still being held in a Cuban prison.

U.S. law and policy are supposed to isolate the Cuban government economically while supporting the Cuban people. Cuba desperately needs sanctions eased to secure more dollars and access to the global financial system. The U.S. has an opportunity to leverage that need to press for true democratic change and advance U.S. interests. The Helms-Burton law provides a clear roadmap. Easy? No, but not impossible, if the political will exists.

In LIBERTAD, Congress called on the president to fully enforce, through the Departments of State and Justice, existing regulations and deny visas to Cuban nationals who represent or are employees of the Cuban government or of Cuba’s Communist party. Unfortunately, such travel continues essentially unfettered. The regime uses both diplomatic and unofficial cover to spy on the United States and make business deals that contravene U.S. law and policy.

Continue reading HERE.

Garrincha in Yahoo Noticias:

“… and also to blame for the coup d’etat is Uribe, Marc Anthony, Daddy Yankee, the Pentagon, CNN, Miami, Cher, the American embassy, the Spanish dictionary, Madonna, Chino and Nacho, Arjona, Marco Antonio Solis, Chiquinquira…”

“When will he finish so we can head out to the carnival?”

This IS the carnival.”

“Thanks, Jon! We KNEW we could STILL count on you!”

For obvious personal and professional affinities one-time G-2 chieftain and head of Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior (secret police) Ramiro Valdes (seen above with Venezuelan butt-boy Nicolas Maduro) was one of Che Chevara’s closest associates in Cuba. Ramiro Valdes, in fact, was Che’s 2nd in command at the La Cabana killing fields.

An excerpt from Che Guevara-hagiographer Anderson’s current piece in the New Yorker:

“But video footage shows that the shootings were, in fact, the work of members of the Venezuelan police and plainclothes agents working with them. (The police also operated in apparent tandem with militiamen from radical colectivos who operate out of the city’s slums and also attacked protesters.) Maduro has acknowledged that members of the Intelligence Service infiltrated the protests, and dismissed its director in response to the video evidence of policeman firing shots at demonstrators.”

No mention of the 120,000 free barrels of Venezuelan oil flowing daily to the regime co-founded by his idol (Che Guevara.) No mention of the thousands of intelligence and police “specialists” who essentially run those repressive functions in Venezuela, trained the colectivos  and were sent by the regime his idol co-founded. Anderson (who wrote his Che hagiography while living in Cuba and in conjunction with the Stalinist regime’s propaganda ministry) gets in and out of Cuba essentially at will, probably on his “journalist” visa.  Here’s Anderson’s lonely mention of Cuba:

“Strenuous efforts should now be made by Latin America’s most able diplomats—including those from Cuba, which has a key advisory role in Venezuela. Diplomats in Washington need to help, too.”

“Key advisory role.” Got dat? Yes, kinda like Reinhard Heydrich’s “key advisory role” in Czechoslovakia in 1942.

In other words, according to Che Guevara’s hagiographer, Cuba’s diplomats are “very able,” and really function no differently than those of,say,Mexico or Peru. And apparently have no role and nothing to gain from the jailing, torturing and murdering of Venezuelan protestors yelling “Cubanos Go Home!”

(Che Guevara hagiographer Jon Lee Anderson delights Yaoni Sanchez with a gift of flowers at literary festival in Colombia last month.)

“I have yet to find a single credible source pointing to a case where Che executed ‘an innocent.’ ( Jon Lee Anderson)

Le RRRONCA!!!

Fergus Hodgson in the PanAmPost:

Miami Panel: “Cubans Will Fight to the End in Venezuela”

Recently-Boosted Military Presence Testifies: “They Need the Money”

As protesting Venezuelans seek to oust the Chavista regime, they have more to overcome than just their fellow countrymen. Among the foreign groups colluding with the regime, including Iranians and the FARC from Colombia, Cuba is the closest and most important ally.

Given the heightened crisis over the past few weeks, this close relationship compelled the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami to gather a panel on Tuesday evening. Before an audience of 40 attendees, they put forward a variety of possible scenarios and then weighed the implications for Cuba and options for the United States.

Although the panelists — including institute scholars and Susan Kaufman Purcell of the Center for Hemispheric Policy — covered a lot of ground in their two hours, they all agreed that the Cuban regime is extremely dependent on Venezuela and will do all it can to maintain that relationship. Estimates for various aid flows from Venezuela to Cuba went as high as US$13 billion annually, which equates to more than $1,100 per individual on the island and far in excess of the average salary of $240-360.

“This has nothing to do with ideology,” Pedro Roig explained; “it has all to do with corruption” — in reference to both the Cuban parasitism and that of other foreigners embedded in the government, in particular the military. Roig estimates that Cuba has between 7,000 and 8,000 full-time military personnel in Venezuela right now, a boost of approximately 2,000 in just the past few days. If one includes Cubans working in other professions, but still with military training, his number jumps to 30,000.

The Cuban regime has been through these challenges before, Brian Latell recounted, and will be well aware of how to handle the situation — even if the size of this uprising has caught them by surprise. At one time, Chile, Grenada, and Nicaragua all had leaders who were solid allies of Cuba and then fell from power, and Venezuela is “vastly more important.” The panelists speculated that Cuba may even resort to recruiting troops from allies such as Ecuador and Bolivia.

Continue reading HERE.

Via The Miami Herald:

Former Cuban revolutionary Huber Matos is dead

Huber Matos, a revolutionary commander under Fidel Castro who later became an exile in Miami, died Thursday. He was 95.

Matos died of a massive heart attack, his family said in a statement. He was taken to Kendall Regional Hospital on Tuesday.

Matos assisted Castro in winning the revolution in 1959, but became disillusioned with the Cuban government.

Via Capitol Hill Cubans:

Similar to their Cuban counterparts, these courageous women marched through the streets of Caracas today demanding the respect for human rights and freedom.

Via Notes from the Cuban Exile Quarter:

Caracas, February 17, 2014

His Holiness
Pope Francisco
Supreme Pontiff

With deep admiration and full of humility, I ask your blessings to the people of Venezuela in moments of profound difficulty for all Venezuelans hit by the most severe economic crisis, by insecurity accompanied by unleashed impunity and the loss increasingly accelerated of our freedoms for all Venezuelans, especially those of us who have contrary thoughts to those who govern today.

I am writing this letter from the underground and within a few hours of appearing before the manipulated justice of my country, which has issued an arrest warrant attributing against me the crimes of murder and terrorism, for the simple fact of having called our people to exercise our right to protest as it is protected in our Constitution and the fundamental rights of free men. This situation of persecution and criminalization of protest has affected hundreds of youth who have been detained, tortured and subjected to unfounded processes that seek to plant fear and limit the voice of millions of Venezuelans who promote change.

I have taken the audacity to write these lines because I am convinced, as millions are in Venezuela , that your voice , your guidance and your blessing to our people at this time can make a profound impact on the next destination of our country.

A few years ago I had the opportunity to talk with the Polish leader Lech Walesa, who I asked what was the most decisive event in his years long struggle that culminated with the fall of communism, his response was immediate and very precise: The visit and the message of John Paul II to Poland.
I understand that the historical circumstances are very different , but like the twilight years of communism in Europe, now in Venezuela we are living in times of deep despair and hopelessness, a word, a sentence, a message from you I’m sure could make a significant impact, the encounter of our people with peace, liberty and democracy.

Chances are when you read this letter I will already be jailed on the orders of Nicolas Maduro; a situation that I ‘m willing to take on if in something it contributes to awaken our people on the need to together make a change.

With the mere fact that you read these lines and keep a place in your heart for the Venezuelan people will give us immense strength to move forward, guided by the teachings of Christ our Lord.

Benediction,
Leopoldo López Mendoza

Original handwritten text in Spanish:

Via the Latin American Herald Tribune:

Cuban Dissidents Promoting Group to Negotiate with EU on Rights

MADRID – Representatives of different Cuban opposition movements on Wednesday reached an agreement in Madrid to promote a group that will act as a “channel for dialogue” with international institutions like the European Union.

“In the face of the seemingly inevitable bilateral accord between Cuba and the EU, we’re trying to propose that a demand for human rights be present in the negotiations,” said blogger Yoani Sanchez during the presentation of the accord at Madrid’s Casa de America.

Besides Sanchez, signatories include Guillermo Fariñas, a representative of the Patriotic Union of Cuba; Juan Felipe Medina of the Christian Liberation Movement; Elizardo Sanchez, of the Cuban Human Rights and National Reconciliation Commission; Manuel Cuesta Morua, of the Arco Progresista group; Berta Soler of the Ladies in White and journalist Reinaldo Escobar.

The representatives all attended the negotiation sessions and presentation of the document in Madrid except for Cuesta Morua, who did not receive permission to leave the communist island, and Fariñas due to injuries he suffered during his latest stint under arrest, Escobar said.

Also signing the text were 10 representatives of the opposition outside Cuba.

EU foreign ministers on Feb. 10 approved launching negotiations on a dialogue and cooperation agreement with Cuba to deepen bilateral relations.

Berta Soler noted that her organization is fighting “not for economic and immigration change, but mainly for the respect for human rights,” saying that the negotiations between the EU and Cuba are causing “concern.”

Russian spy ship docked in Havana? Apparently most journalist or experts can’t figure it out, even though Inspector Clouseau would have no problem figuring it out. Well, let’s see, the FREEDOM FIGHTERS are out in the streets in Venezuela, and maybe could it be that the dictator of Cuba is preparing for civil disobedience in Cuba? Venezuela and Cuba could both tumble down by the hands of it’s own people? Look what happened in the Ukraine!

No… No…NO…Alfredo…it’s strictly about the bases

Cuba’s apartheid Castro regime — the very same brutally repressive dictatorship “Cuba Experts” and Castro lobbyists in the U.S. breathlessly declare to be reformed and constantly insist is a friend of the U.S. — just welcomed one of Russia’s spy ships into Havana.

Via AFP in Yahoo News:

Russian spy ship docked in Havana

Havana (AFP) – A Russian warship was docked in Havana Wednesday, without explanation from Communist Cuba or its state media.

The Viktor Leonov CCB-175 boat, measuring 91.5 meters (300 feet) long and 14.5 meters wide, was docked at the port of Havana’s cruise ship area, near the Russian Orthodox Cathedral.

The Vishnya, or Meridian-class intelligence ship, which has a crew of around 200, went into service in the Black Sea in 1988 before it was transferred seven years later to the northern fleet, Russian media sources said.

Neither Cuban authorities nor state media have mentioned the ship’s visit, unlike on previous tours by Russian warships.

The former Soviet Union was Cuba’s sponsor state through three decades of Cold War. After a period of some distancing under former Russian president Boris Yeltsin, the countries renewed their political, economic and military cooperation.

The ship is reportedly armed with 30mm guns and anti-aircraft missiles.

Its visit comes as isolated Havana’s current economic and political patron, Venezuela, is facing unprecedented violent protests against President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

Cuban President Raul Castro’s Communist government is the Americas’ only one-party regime.

Some may think it odd that Russia would be all the way on this side of the world when they are so busy dealing with all the turmoil currently taking place in their own backyard, but actually, it makes perfect sense. Russia is now planning on building military bases in Latin America’s glorious bastions of Stalinist dictatorships: Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Why not send a spy ship over to scope out some possible locations?

Via MercoPress:

Russia with plans for military bases in Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela

Russia is planning to expand its permanent military presence outside its borders by placing military bases or seeking permission for navy ships to use ports in a number of foreign countries, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday. The list includes Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Seychelles, Singapore and several other countries

Shoigu in remarks carried by Russian news agencies also revealed that the military was also conducting talks with Algeria and Cyprus. He said that it was essential for the Russian navy to be able to call at their ports to service its ships.

Shoigu said Russia was also talking to some of those countries asking them to allow long-range bombers to use their air bases for re-fuelling.

President Vladimir Putin has launched a massive military modernization program and sought to demonstrate Russia’s global reach by sending navy ships to the Mediterranean, Latin America and other areas.

Russia according to Ria Novosti already has similar arrangements with Armenia, Tayikistán, Kirguizistán and Syria. Likewise in the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine, Russia has the outpost for its Black Sea fleet.

The fugitive Ukranian former prime minister Viktor Yanukovich was a close ally of Russia and President Putin his main support.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) takes the Senate floor and delivers a speech denouncing the tyranny and repression of the dictatorships in Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba:

“This is the moment to point out that Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro’s abuse of his fellow citizens is intolerable to the United States. If he wants better relations with us, he should start by listening to the demands of his own people. He should lift the cloud of censorship that he is using to isolate Venezuelans from each other and from the rest of the world. And the United States should do all it can to help the people of Venezuela as they choose a different path, a path of freedom and prosperity, that will return this one-time enemy to its traditional role of our partner and friend. It would benefit them, it would benefit us, and it would benefit the world.”