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