Posted on 09/08/2008 9:07:24 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
HAVANA (AP) - Cuban dissidents sent U.S. President George Bush a letter asking him to temporarily suspend some of the sanctions against the island so aid may be sent following hurricane Gustav.
"We ask you that, at least for two months, you lift the restrictions of the embargo that concern the relations between the exiled Cubans and those who live in the island," read a letter signed by Martha Beatriz Roque and Vladimiro Roca on behalf of a small group called Agenda for the Transition.
The dissidents asked for permission to send money and packages and for Cuban-Americans to travel to the island to have physical contact.
Hurricane Gustav damaged some 100,000 dwellings and forced the authorities to shelter some 400,000 people, in addition to causing considerable damage to the electric-power system and telecommunications.
"Knowing the Cuban government's instransigence in accepting aid from your country, we are appealing to the highest authority there to request that American non-governmental organizations be allowed to come to the aid of this region," further stated the letter, [copies of] which were sent to foreign media and [Cuban] President Raúl Castro.
Consulted by AP, Roque indicated that the letter was delivered on Wednesday afternoon to the Office of United States Interests in this capital, and officials confirmed to her on Thursday that the White House already received it.
For five decades, Washington has maintained a harsh embargo against Cuba in order to force a change in the Communist-government system and support dissident movements.
Things are getting worse for Cuba now that Ike is battering the island. In any event, the dissidents are wisely asking for help from American NGOs rather than the U.S. government itself.
Even if Bush does that, no way the Cuban government will allow it. They need that embargo to keep them in power.
I feel bad for the Cuban people..
I hope Gitmo is OK.
” I feel bad for the Cuban people.. “
So do I. We should absolutely do it; going the NGO route is a good idea. The cruel irony is that, if Michael Moore was on the boat with a bullhorn, they might accept the aid; but since that might make the USA look good, he’d never do it. Also, that would result in actually helping people, something that interests MM not at all.
courtesy ping
I feel bad for the Cuban people.
“I don’t ... let Communism take care of them, isn’t that what they “voted” for?
If they had any guts they’d have overthrown Castro decades ago.”
Easier said from the comfort of your own chair. Cuba has had a peculiar way of taking care of dissentors.
So do I,,,, but perhaps it is like Jefferson said " a revolution very few years is good",,,,, it has been about 45 years in Cuba.
Supposedly the best nationalized health care, but now they need help.
Michael Moore and the libs will talk alot, but not show,, that is a given.
“I don’t ... let Communism take care of them, isn’t that what they “voted” for?
If they had any guts they’d have overthrown Castro decades ago.”
Now is not the time to come to the aid of Cuba in any way. Let Russia, which has said it plans on renewing its ties to Cuba take care of them. We should stay out of this as there is nothing to be gained at all from shelling out our taxpayers’ money on Cuba. Russia and Cuba will be making trouble for us again shortly as Russia attempts to stick it to us through its surrogate Cuba. Let Russia sink its oil money that it has made off of us into aiding Cuba after the hurricane. Geez, what are we, a bottomless pit? What fools we are. Compassion that kills, .... us.
Agreed. Putin and Chavez are supposed to be rolling in oil money. Let them pay for aid to Cuba.
The money would go to the Castro family. It would not be distributed.
Let Sean Penn go down there and bail out the water with Dixie Cups.
I didn’t say give them aid. I said it is easier for people in a position of safety to make bold statements of overthrowing repressive regimens. Standing up at the wrong time can be hazzardous to one’s health (Hungary ‘56 Tiannemen Square).
I have thought for years that a good hurricane might be destabilizing enough to help topple Castro. Then, I’d help them.
Talk to Castro.
Quite an "exposé" for the Cuban Communist newspaper Granma, don't you think?
Get off your high horse and learn some history before you speak. My uncles were shot in 1963 fighting for freedom in Cuba in the Escambray.
If you don’t care about that why don’t you study some history and learn that some of your freedom was bought by Cubans who raised funds for the American Cause during the Revolutionary War, including funds for that small and insignificant battle of Yorktown?
http://xenophongroup.com/mcjoynt/spain01.htm
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