Home > Cuba-U.S. Policies Pave Way for Military Intervention

Cuba-U.S. Policies Pave Way for Military Intervention

by Open-Publishing - Friday 2 July 2004
5 comments

By Anthony Boadle

Tightened U.S. restrictions on travel and funds
Cuban-Americans can send relatives in Cuba are causing "despair, anger
and pain" in the United States and on the communist-run island, Cuba’s
government said on Thursday.

National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon said rules toughening the
U.S. embargo, which went into effect on Wednesday, were aimed at
destroying Cuba’s socialist society by paving the way for direct
military intervention.

"This would be a return to capitalism in its most brutal form, under the
yoke of a foreign power," said a statement approved by the assembly,
which meets just twice a year.

Alarcon warned Cubans that nationalized property would be privatized,
small farmers evicted by former landowners and the social security,
welfare and education systems dismantled.

Under the new U.S. curbs, Cuban-Americans living in the United States
can visit relatives in Cuba only once every three years instead of
annually, and for no more than 14 days.

They will only be allowed to spend $50 a day on the island, among other
measures to limit cash remittances to direct family members that the
Bush administration says are aimed at denying the Cuban government funds
and hastening the end of communism.

"There is despair, anger and pain in many families here and over there,"
Alarcon said in a speech to the legislature.

Thousands of Cuban-Americans rushed to visit Cuba to see relatives in
the weeks before the curbs went into effect.

Visits to Cuba by most American have long been barred under a
four-decade-old trade embargo, but the more than 1 million Cuban
Americans had traveled more freely.

The White House measures, which critics say were designed to win votes
in the staunchly anti-Castro Cuban community centered in Florida, which
gave President Bush a narrow victory in the 2000 presidential election,
angered many Cuban-Americans.

President Fidel Castro, 77, said Bush was ill served by his advisers in
adopting "cruel and foolish" restrictions that were unpopular in Florida.

"Bush was badly advised in taking measures that run counter to his
political interests," Castro told reporters on Wednesday night at a
reception for Argentine businessmen.

"Rest absolutely assured that whatever they (the U.S. government) do
against us will fail," said the Cuban leader, who has been in power
since a 1959 revolution.

Bush’s strategy — announced May 6 — includes increased funding of
dissidents and broadcasts of anti-Castro propaganda from a military
transport plane off the island. HAVANA (Reuters)

Forum posts

  • Ok, so the policies of the US don’t make too much sense and will not prevent Castro from buying all the Champagne and caviar he wants and may need for those happenings with his left wing friends. But; isn’t pathetic to hear Ricardo Alarcon whining for American welfare? Does he wants the whole country of Cuba on AFDC (Assistance for poor families and children)?

    I thought the revolution was proud, independent and self-sufficient. It seems, really, they just can’t survive without the remittances from those they exported to the US, not long ago, as "social scum."

    As for the US invading Cuba; how much wishful thinking can one article stand?

    • first of all let me introduce my self my name is Euclides iam a cuban- american at times not to proud about the american part when it comes to dealing with cuba because i should have the choice to travel when i want to cuba just like the chinese or north koreans witch are communist also and who wrote this article must be on drugs or has a second grade level to provide a self sufficient independent country has nothing to do with politics you need funds.Second of all as a citizen of AMERICAi i give funds to this country right by contribution of taxes if everyone stop paying taxes lets see with out funds how grate this country would be then!Bush is not counting on my vote in November to show him thathe is scum he gets to see his family every dayof the week but prohibitsme payihg his salary from seeing my family once every 3 years i hope he drops dead.After the elections if he wins ,Also he talks about human rights wake up we in CUBA may torture but not sexualy assult prisoners poor sick bastards runing the military i would hate to see the military try to invade CUBA there uniforms would consist of plain under wears and knee pads for the USA soldiers ashame to see such hate againstcuba by america because the GREAT COUNTRY USA CANT acomplish what cuba be able to do under a EMBARGO READ MY LIPS FREE HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION FOR EVERY ONE i would like to see america try this then again wishful thinkingwill as an CUBAN AMERICAN I HOPE cuba changes when they are ready not when AMERICA WANT THEM TO DO SOAND IF THIS HAPPENS HOPEFULY CUBA IS RUN BY CUBANS AND THE ISLAND DOEST BECOME A pupet to the usa like before CASTOR GOOD NIGHT!

    • Have you ever heard of something called spelling and punctuation?

      Is this the "free education" you are referring too?

      Education and Health care is something way to valuable so as to just give it away as a monopoly to any government.

      Ideas such as yours have not accomplishments; except if you count Chernovyl.

      Take care,

  • welfare?

    you stupid idiot amerikan

    go to hell

    you are retarded

    these new laws prevent cuban americans from visiting their family in cuba and spending and sending their money to cuba

    • HA! HA!

      I’m not American, I am a Cuban you Einstein!

      I’m completely familiar with the policies you talk about and, support to scrap all restrictions concerning travel to Cuba. If you were a better reader you would understand I do not belive that economic restrictions will influence Cuban politics. Simply put; those affected by it have no bearing on the decision making process for change.

      But the article elects to make Mr. Alarcon into the mouthpiece and representative of all Cubans.

      Including Cubans who; if it wasn’t for Castro, would not have had to leave their country to begin with. Do you really believe Ricardo Alarcon has the "exiles" best interest at heart? How naive can anyone be?

      Why not instead; to interview Menoyo, or Matos or Elizardo Sanchez, or Paya? How long can we endorse the fiction that this conflict is purely between Castro and the US? How long are you willing to allow history to be scripted has if we never existed? There is more than one choice and more than one option. Otherwise, we just have sugar coated tyranny.

      Those who make you believe absurdities will have you commit attrocities. Dios te bendiga.