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