Cuba USA
- Cuba-us Relations: The View From The Other Side
by John Kirk and Stephen Kimber source axisoflogic President Barack Obama went on television to declare the United States was unilaterally ending America’s “outdated approach [to Cuba] that, for decades, has failed to advance our interests.” So...
- The White House National Security Agenda For Obama’s Visit To Cuba
by Arnold August source Global Research Ben Rhodes, Assistant to Obama and Deputy National Security Advisor, provides crucial input into the new tactical road map for Cuba policy regarding Cuba–US relations. Rhodes, who is also officially the speechwriter...
- Cuba-the United States : Seven Key Points
by Sergio Alejandro Gómezsource Granma Although talks between the U.S. and Cuba are in themselves a milestone for two countries which have lacked formal ties for more than 50 years, they only mark the beginning of a much longer and complicated process....
- The New Challenges Opening Up. Cuba - Us
By Esteban Morales translation Cuba - Network in Defense of Humanity Early in 2009, when the Barack Obama administration had begun, we spoke of his strategy of a policy towards Cuba. Some thought that it was just a bit of the same; we did not see it...
- Barack Obama Has Enough Margins To Maneuver To Make The United States Congress End Some Economic Sanctions
by Salim Lamranisource Opera Mundi translation Cuba - Network in Defense of Humanity Barack Obama has enough margins to maneuver to make the United States Congress end some economic sanctions that have been rejected by a large part of the international...
Cuba USA
Cuba - USA: The White House Talks about Obama´s Cuba trip again
by: Dr. Néstor García Iturbe.
A CubaNews translation.
On December 26, from Honolulu, where the Nobel Peace Prize-awarded President was spending his Christmas holidays, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodestold reporters that Obama's trip to Cuba would be decided in a couple of months.
He further said that it would be at a time when the relationship process was irreversible; when they considered Cuba had improved in the treatment of human rights and when "the communist country" allowed private companies to do business.
He added that Cuba had to give its citizens greater access to information and the Internet.
The key issue determining whether or not Obama would travel to Cuba –according to Rhodes– is whether his trip would help improve these points.
We recall that one of Obama’s statements –when the speculation about the trip began– was that he would meet in Cuba with those who have expressed their opposition to the Revolution and are fighting for freedom of expression.
The US media considers that this would be a historic journey that could serve to pressure Cuba to make reforms (Reuters, article by Jeff Mason, Edited by W Simon.) Remember that: pressure Cuba.
Surely the announcement of the trip was made by the Deputy National Security Deputy because this is not just any ordinary visit: this is a visit to the only country officiallydeclared ENEMY of the United States after Obama signed a presidential proclamation in which Cuba was included under the Trading with the Enemy Act.
It is clear that Cuba –with its position in the international arena, particularly in Latin America– is endangering the national security of the United States, which is governed by the Monroe Doctrine.
Mr. Ben Rhodes expressed some ideas –I don’t know if they are his own– that indicate total ignorance of the situation in Cuba; the state of relations between the twocountries and international norms for the establishment of diplomatic relations.
He argues that the visit of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning President will be made at a time in which they consider the process of re-establishment of relations isirreversible. Perhaps this advisor has not read the speeches of our President Raul Castro who has explained that this process has two stages: restoration andnormalization. We are in the first stage; the second has not yet begun.
Moreover, whether the process is irreversible –or not– will be decided by the outcome of the US presidential elections, because some of the presidential candidates have argued that if they win they will break diplomatic relations with Cuba. Cuba’s interests must also be taken into consideration when discussing this matter.
What could Mr. Rhodes advise Obama to help the process be irreversible, if that is really what he wants?
Primarily, he should advise Obama to consider the points Cuba raised to begin the process of normalization. The chief executive has powers that he has not used to reduce the blockade to a minimum, should Congress refuse to lift it.
The president could instruct the agencies under his command to suspend all actions representing interference in the internal affairs of Cuba. He could prevent giving more funds than those authorized for the State Department to sponsor the opposition in Cuba. He could order the Office of Broadcasting for Cuba to shut down Radio and TV Marti. He could order USAID to stop the recruitment of journalists, as contractors, to travel to Cuba and contact opponents of the Revolution.
If, in compliance with US laws, it is required to fine a bank or a financial company for doing business with Cuba, he could instruct that the fine not be hundreds of millionsof dollars. The law could be enforced with a much smaller fine, if Obama so ordered it.
He could also submit for Congressional approval, the annulment of the Treaty of Relations between the Republic of Cuba and the United States of America, signed in Washington on 29 May 1934, which confirmed the presence of the United States Naval Base in Guantanamo, as first agreed in the Treaty of 1903.
In a recent article, I suggested other conditions to be met by the Nobel Peace Prize-winning President to be welcomed in Cuba –if not as a friend at least as a neighbor. I will not repeat them here.
Apart from all the above, it is not enough that Obama deems his visit to Cuba beneficial for the United States, it is also essential that Cuba deems inviting him beneficial.
- Cuba-us Relations: The View From The Other Side
by John Kirk and Stephen Kimber source axisoflogic President Barack Obama went on television to declare the United States was unilaterally ending America’s “outdated approach [to Cuba] that, for decades, has failed to advance our interests.” So...
- The White House National Security Agenda For Obama’s Visit To Cuba
by Arnold August source Global Research Ben Rhodes, Assistant to Obama and Deputy National Security Advisor, provides crucial input into the new tactical road map for Cuba policy regarding Cuba–US relations. Rhodes, who is also officially the speechwriter...
- Cuba-the United States : Seven Key Points
by Sergio Alejandro Gómezsource Granma Although talks between the U.S. and Cuba are in themselves a milestone for two countries which have lacked formal ties for more than 50 years, they only mark the beginning of a much longer and complicated process....
- The New Challenges Opening Up. Cuba - Us
By Esteban Morales translation Cuba - Network in Defense of Humanity Early in 2009, when the Barack Obama administration had begun, we spoke of his strategy of a policy towards Cuba. Some thought that it was just a bit of the same; we did not see it...
- Barack Obama Has Enough Margins To Maneuver To Make The United States Congress End Some Economic Sanctions
by Salim Lamranisource Opera Mundi translation Cuba - Network in Defense of Humanity Barack Obama has enough margins to maneuver to make the United States Congress end some economic sanctions that have been rejected by a large part of the international...