First - Cuba is free to buy U.S. goods now, but because of their sorry track record of unpaid bills owed to other countries, we want cash, not U.S. taxpayer backed loans. The average Cuban never truly benefits from foreign trade, as these goods are funneled through Castro's tourism business which caters mainly to Canadians, French and Germans. Jobs in this tourism industry are given to communist members in good standing. Others are paid by Castro with pesos for labor reimbursed in dollars to Castro by foreign companies. His cut is 90%. This access to subsidized imports allows Castro to export terrorism and anti-American assistance around the world.
Second - Sally Grooms Cowal, former president of the Cuba Policy Foundation headed Youth for Understanding, housed Elian Gonzalez in Washington D.C. after the raid called by the Clinton Administration and carried out by Janet Reno's Justice Department. He was held there and Ms. Gooms Cowal was assisted in his care by an entourage sent by Castro before his return to Cuba. She has since left as president of that group, having been bankrolled in her new endeavor, the Cuba Policy Foundation by Smith Bagley of the Reynolds Tobacco Company and a strong support of pro Castro efforts.
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Third - Otto Juan Reich, Bush's recess appointment as Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs, was denied a Senate hearing by Christopher Dodd, who chose to smear an honorable man unable, under the rules of nomination, to speak in his own defense. Dodd, a fan of Manuel Noriega, needless to say has a strong affinity for Castro and an intense dislike for Otto Reich. Reich has had to deal with serious matters neglected and left to drift under the Clinton administration. Due to this inattention to foreign policy in this hemisphere, many of our neighbors to the south are experiencing economic and political strife. Castro has been grooming Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela. They have developed a strong communist bond and are currently setting that oil rich country up as the center of Anti-American anti-capitalism in this region. Colombia has been fighting the FARC terrorist group that attacks and kidnaps civilians while training terrorists from around the world. Chavez and Castro are supporters of this large paramilitary, narcotics bankrolled, terrorist organization operating in our region.
Colombia 'Worried' FARC Crossing Into Venezuela
FARC: A Terrorist Regime Waits in the Wings
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Don't subsidize a tyrant --Miami Herald *** While the embargo restricts most U.S.-Cuba trade, it does not impose a humanitarian burden. Cuba frequently has bought wheat from Canada, rice from Vietnam, and medicine from Europe, Asia and Latin America. Donations of food and clothing and the licensed sale of U.S. medical products are permitted.
The real cause of Cuba's hardship is not the embargo but the state's Soviet-style economy. Traditional exports such as sugar cost the regime more to produce than they sell for on the global market. Tourism brings in hard currency but not nearly enough to provide for Cuba's needs. Debt payments are so uncertain that major trade partners often must extend new loans.***
Friends of Fidel--Washington Times *** Louisiana rice and Illinois wheat producers should not assume that selling to Havana is synonymous with getting paid. U.S taxpayers should be wary. Mr. Castro desperately needs credits and subsidies, and Washington is being pressured to provide them.
If the United States begins to subsidize trade with Cuba estimated at $100 million a year five years from now, U.S. taxpayers could be holding, or paying off, a $500 million tab. That´s real money.
Before extending Mr. Castro credit, grain growers should visit any street corner in Manhattan and observe a game played there. Called three-card monte, it consists of convincing the player that he knows exactly where the card carrying his money is. Until it disappears. In this game, the gambler takes his own chances. Where trade with Mr. Castro is concerned, the U.S. taxpayer will be left holding the losing card. ***
U.S. embargo of Cuba remains strongly in place, U.S. official says *** Gutierrez said the Bush administration's mission is ``to see a rapid, peaceful transition to a free and democratic Cuba,'' and that the embargo is a key component of U.S. strategy to do that.
``The United States has not changed any rules . . . or moved in any way to encourage these sales,'' Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez's statements were part of a Bush administration effort to dispel speculation that the food shipments scheduled to begin arriving in Havana this month could lead to more permanent trade relations between the two nations.***
Not all that many years ago, I heard about a decades-old U.S. escrow account with millions of dollars of embargoed payments owed to Cuba's telephone company (owned by the state) for long distance telephone calls made to Cuba. I wonder if that pot of cash has been freed up now.
When I lived in the islands, I talked to several tourist that had visited Cuba. They talked about the wonderful warm Cuban people. Because of Castor's control none of the tourist money helped the people, they wouldn't go back.
Would this really help our small farmers? Is this just more to the large guys that just got a windfall farm bill?