Leverage? Change? Unlikely.

From The Washington Post:

Addled by Fidel

By Eugene Robinson

"... People, we have no leverage in Cuba. If we had any, we'd have managed to move the Cuban government an inch or two toward democratic reform in the past five decades. ..."

Click here for the full story.

I used to think the embargo was an unarguably stupid policy. After all, it's been almost 50 years since it was first implemented, and it has had a very minimal positive impact (if any). It has given Castro a scapegoat with which to blame Cuba's relatively poor economic periods.

Recently however, after reading articles in the news, talking with friends, many who have lived on the island, I started to re-evaluate my hardline stance on ending the embargo. After all, the term "leverage" has been thrown around by Obama almost as much as "change." I started thinking maybe there was some merit to keeping the embargo, especially given Obama's recent policy changes, which included lifting travel restrictions for Cuban Americans with family on the island, allowing for US citizens to help pay the cost of owning and operating a cell phone, and removing restrictions on trade for US telecom companies. Maybe he could somehow leverage the embargo with the Cuban government to get them to release political prisoners, or maybe allow freedom of speech (and thought...)?

But after reading this article, I'm again wondering if we are really just fooling ourselves into another 50 years of inaction.

Recently, Castro has been quoted as saying that we (the US) should lift the embargo... but I don't think that's what he actually wants. He's bluffing. He's calling us out. Because he surmises that Obama isn't going to do it. Because if Obama lifted the embargo, the ball would be in Cuba's court. The onus would be on the Castro brothers. What's holding Cuba back know? Certainly wouldn't be America, los imperialistos. I feel like I'm starting to just rewrite the article... go read it for yourself.

And don't hold back... share your thoughts!!

From The Washington Post:

Obama Lifts Broad Set Of Sanctions Against Cuba

Barriers for U.S. Relatives And Telecoms Struck Down

By Michael D. Shear and Cecilia Kang

Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, April 14, 2009; Page A01

White House officials said the decision to lift travel and spending restrictions on Americans with family on the island will provide new support for the opponents of Raúl and Fidel Castro's government. And they said lifting the ban on U.S. telecommunications companies reaching out to the island will flood Cuba with information while providing new opportunities for businesses.

Click here for the whole story.

Things Obama and others should think about in the push to end the embargo

From Foreign Policy:

Think Again: Engaging Cuba
By Nestor Carbonell
Posted April 2009

Why dealing with the Castro regime is a fool's errand.

“It’s Time for the U.S. to Reach out and Engage the Castro Regime.”
Watch out! Before embarking on any attempt at rapprochement with the Castro regime, U.S. President Barack Obama would be wise to review his predecessors' experiences.

Key Quote:

“The Embargo Allows the Regime to Blame the U.S. for Cuba’s Problems.”
Who cares? The Castros have never needed help in coming up with reasons to blame Yankee imperialism or the CIA for any criticism or discontent on the island. Dissidents are constantly being accused of serving the enemy (the United States). Even Spain -- a staunch Castro supporter -- was recently lashed by the ailing ruler for helping the "genocide empire" with its anti-Cuba policy.

Click here for the whole piece.

Abuse of prison reporter brought to light by fellow inmate

From CUBANET via The Miami Herald:

Independent journalist said placed in solitary confinement

CUBANET

CAMAGUEY, Cuba, April 9 (Roberto de Jesús Guerra, www.cubanet.org) – Imprisoned independent journalist Jorge Alberto Liriano Linares was placed in solitary confinement at the Cerámica Roja prison and beaten by guards, according to a telephone call made Wednesday by common prisoner Lázaro Molina. Molina said the guards had seized writings made by Liriano Linares of injustices occurring in the prison. Molina made the remarks to Centro de Información Hablemos Press (CIPRESS), one of the independent new agencies in Cuba. Liriano Linares has continued to smuggle his news reports out of the prison.

Cuba travel photo essay

From Foreign Policy:

Photo Essay: So You Want to Visit Cuba?

By Andrew Polk

As the United States eases travel restrictions, Cubans are ready to cash in.

Andy García's keynote address at Raíces' GenerAcción conference

On April 3, 2009, actor, director, producer, musician, and de facto cultural ambassador Andy García delivered the keynote address of Raíces de Esperanza's 6th annual Cuba conference, titled "GenerAcciónRDE: Generation in Action".

The video, which was shot by a member of FIU's Free Cuba Foundation (a Raíces affiliate organization), is embedded below. It is in several parts, but we've made a playlist, so if you start it, it should transition automatically from part 1 through 12 (a large chunk of the subsequent Q&A session is included.



More video from the UMCC is on the way, so stay tuned...

Click here for coverage of the keynote address from The Miami Hurricane.
(Photo by Hurricane staff)

The New York Times on Raúl's government shakeup

From The New York Times:

In Cuba, Change Means More of the Same, With Control at the Top

By IAN URBINA

Published: April 5, 2009

HAVANA — When President Raúl Castro of Cuba began one of the biggest government shakeups in decades early last month, he explained the move simply as an attempt to streamline the government.

Conrado Hernández surreptitiously recorded conversations with two Cuban officials during parties at his ranch in Matanzas.

But the firing of a half-dozen top functionaries — including the surprising firing of two internationally prominent ministers — showed that under Mr. Castro, politics and decision-making are likely to remain as centralized and tightly controlled as they were under his brother, Fidel.

Key Quote: “Politics here is a sport whose spectators are all blind,” said a man as he swept up litter along the seaside Malecón and who, like most people interviewed, did not want to be quoted by name. “Everyone knows things are happening. No one is sure what. So you stop trying to watch.”

Click here for the whole story.