| Nobody despises communism more than I, but the | | | | there only hurts their relatives in Cuba. As our own |
| other day I wondered out loud why the U.S. does not | | | | Senator John Sununu puts it, "I have supported, |
| consider opening normalized trade with the tiny island | | | | because of the importance to personal freedom, |
| nation of Cuba. The fellow sitting next to me furrowed | | | | allowing people to travel to Cuba. I'm willing to take that |
| his brow as if I had said something obscene and | | | | stand."But Bush remains unmoved and any possibility |
| hissed, "hey, in case you haven't noticed, Cuba is | | | | of opening up trade or at least travel with Cuba |
| Communist." I responded that in case he hadn't noticed, | | | | seems as remote as ever. The Bush administration |
| "so is China and Vietnam" (with both of whom we are | | | | has declared Cuba one of a few "outposts of |
| now positioning ourselves for permanent normal trade | | | | tyranny"remaining in the world, and seems interested in |
| relations). I also added that since we were in the | | | | only doing those things designed to destroy Fidel |
| process of opening up relations with our new "friend" in | | | | Castro's fragile economy. John R. Bolton, as |
| the Mideast, Libya, perhaps it was time we consider | | | | undersecretary of the U.S. State Department, went so |
| the matter of Cuba. Indeed, as Fidel Castro begins his | | | | far as to identify Castro's government as part of |
| journey into the archives, his brother, Raul recently | | | | America's "axis of evil," highlighting the fact that Castro |
| stressed that Cuba remains open to normalized | | | | visited several U.S foes, including Iran and Syria. But |
| diplomatic and trade relations with the United States | | | | are the Cuban people "evil doers?" Just what kind of |
| putting an end to the trade embargo the US has | | | | military threat do they pose to the U.S.? This is 2006, |
| imposed for over four decades.The State Department | | | | not 1961.Apparently Communist China presents no |
| offered a response to Raul: Assistant Secretary of | | | | such problems, potential or real, notwithstanding its |
| State Tom Shannon reiterated Washington's terms for | | | | dismal record on human rights and unfair trading. In |
| lifting the embargo and said the administration would | | | | what only can be termed "diplomatic extortion," North |
| work with Congress to lift the embargo ''and begin a | | | | Korea and Iran seek economic enhancements and |
| deeper engagement with the Cuban state if the | | | | concessions before they will agree to even discuss |
| government frees its more than 300 political prisoners, | | | | relaxing their respective nuclear build ups. And in May |
| respects human rights, allows independent political | | | | 2006, the U.S. announced it would restore full diplomatic |
| parties and creates a pathway towards elections.'' | | | | relations with Libya after a 25-year hiatus, |
| Since 1961 the US Government has initiated various | | | | notwithstanding the Lockerbie bombing. "The Libya |
| policy measures against Cuba which have had a | | | | Model" is now pointed to as an example intended to |
| considerable economic impact on the island; policies | | | | show the world what can be achieved through |
| designed to remove the leadership and to encourage | | | | negotiation rather than force when there is goodwill on |
| Cuba to undertake political change towards a | | | | both sides. That's truly great, but why can't we take |
| multi-party electoral process.The most significant of | | | | the lead and create "The Cuba Model." We seem to |
| these measures was the embargo and subsequent | | | | tread cautiously when it comes to the big guys but |
| Helms-Burton Act of 1996 which tightened the terms | | | | when we deal with Cuba, the administration seems to |
| of the embargo.Open trade between Cuba and the | | | | bare its fangs somewhat disproportionately.At any |
| US would be mutually beneficial, particularly in Florida | | | | rate, Cuba has achieved reasonable economic |
| and the Southern states. In 2005 Cuba exported $2.4 | | | | relations with most Latin American countries and |
| billion, ranking 114 of 226 world countries, and imported | | | | enjoys improved relations with the European Union |
| $6.9 billion, ranking 87 of 226 countries. Its major export | | | | countries which have begun began providing aid and |
| partners are the Netherlands, Canada and China; major | | | | loans to the island. China has also become a new |
| import partners include Venezuela and Spain. Cuba's | | | | source of aid and support. What exactly is holding us |
| major exports are sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical | | | | back from considering doing the same? The need to |
| products, citrus, coffee and skilled labor;imports include | | | | get Jeb Bush re-elected? The perception, possibly |
| food, fuel, clothing, and machinery.If trade relations | | | | false, that most Cuban Americans want nothing to do |
| were relaxed, opportunities for American business | | | | with with their native land?This island nation is a |
| would abound. We would be extremely competitive in | | | | country with great economic potential and sparkling |
| nearly all sectors in Cuba, including repair and | | | | possibilities. Let's end the duplicity and hypocrisy......let's |
| expansion of physical infrastructure, housing | | | | take the lead and begin to unlock the potential that |
| construction, agriculture, mining, developing financial | | | | would have tremendous and lasting benefits for both |
| service networks, telecommunications, transportation, | | | | Americans and Cubans.".... The vast majority of us on |
| light industry manufacturing and, of course, tourism. As | | | | the island who oppose the [Cuban] Government |
| well, Cuba would offer an excellent market for all | | | | believe that a dialogue and a relaxation of tensions |
| types of U.S. Products. Moreover, the Cuban people | | | | between the United States and Cuba would better |
| would come to see the benefits derived from | | | | facilitate a transformation. The Helms-Burton Act |
| capitalist-inspired industrialism. Give them a taste of | | | | makes it very difficult for the United States to take |
| how we do things and they might want a real bite. | | | | part in such a dialogue." Elizardo Sanchez, Leading |
| What better way to achieve solid relations. If given the | | | | Cuban dissident, New York Times Op Ed, April |
| opportunity (and like China and Vietnam), Cuba's | | | | 1997"The growth of the world economy depends on |
| adherence to ideological orthodoxy might become less | | | | world trade. The growth of world trade depends on |
| important than economic development as a national | | | | American leadership. And America will lead -- toward |
| priority .Spurred by the growing interest in potential | | | | freer trade, toward wider and more lasting prosperity |
| product demand in Cuba, a growing number of free | | | | for ourselves and for the world." President George W. |
| marketers in Congress, backed by lawmakers who | | | | Bush, May 29, 2001Ted Sares, PhD, is a private |
| represent agribusiness, have tried each year since | | | | investor and entrepreneur who lives and writes in the |
| 2000 to water down (or erase) regulations preventing | | | | beautiful and secluded White Mountain area of |
| Americans from travelling to Cuba. Four times the US | | | | Northern New Hampshire with his wife, Holly and Min |
| House has adopted language lifting the travel ban, and | | | | Pin, Jackdog. He writes a bi-weekly column for a local |
| in 2003 the Senate followed suit. However, each time | | | | newspaper and is a regular contributor to the NH |
| President Bush, in his typical single-minded | | | | Business Review. He specializes in columns, articles, |
| stubbornness and conscious of Florida's anti-Castro | | | | essays, op-eds, and short stories. Many of his works |
| voters (his brother, of course, is Governor of Florida), | | | | are widely published.His works focus on issues and |
| has threatened to veto the bill. Faced with this threat, | | | | themes dealing with socio-political topics, business and |
| Congress has dropped its attempt to lift the travel ban. | | | | economics (in which he advocates a free market |
| In May, Bush followed the recommendations of | | | | approach to capitalism), patriotism, and matters dealing |
| hard-line Miami Cuban exiles and even tightened | | | | with individual freedom.They are frequently inspirational |
| restrictions further. However, many Cuban-Americans | | | | in nature and sometimes reflect the Objectivist |
| don't agree with these latest changes. They say limiting | | | | philosophy of novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand. Ted |
| travel, restricting the amount of goods people can bring | | | | is also a boxing historian and a member of the Boxing |
| to their relatives and cracking down on money sent | | | | Writers Association of America. |