Realities of Failed Blockade, US Isolation in Latin America and Conflict With Russia Force the US to Finally Abandon a 53 Year Failed Strategy
President Obama, as part of a prison swap has released the remaining members of the Cuban 5 and lifted some restrictions on the US relationship with Cuba. President Obama said “We will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interests and instead we will begin to normalize relations between our two countries.” The US economic blockade of Cuba began 53 years in 1961.
The change in relations follows 18 months of negotiations over the release of prisoners by both countries that led to a fuller negotiations on the relationship between the two nations. It included secret negotiations in Canada, a meeting in the Vatican, and a final 45-minute telephone call between Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro on Tuesday.
Not getting enough attention in discussion of this significant shift is the ongoing campaign to Free the Cuban 5. As the Centre for Research on Globalization wrote:
This victory is possible because of the years of struggle of the strength and determination of our brothers Gerardo, Antonio, Ramon, Fernando and Rene, and all the Cuban people, the struggle of people in the United States and around the world, of all the efforts to demand justice and freedom for the Cuban FIVE! The National Committee to Free the Cuban Five congratulates our brothers and the Cuban people in their victory! 16 Years of imprisonment could not break their spirit!
This is not a complete end to the economic blockade of Cuba, which would take congressional action, but changes the president can make without Obama. Changes set to be implemented include loosening restrictions on all travel categories, remittances, and banking and financial transactions; and the president announced the US will open an embassy in Cuba. Raul Castro is correct when he writes that while a welcome step. this does not mean the economic blockade has been lifted:
This in no way means that the heart of the matter has been solved. The economic, commercial, and financial blockade, which causes enormous human and economic damages to our country, must cease.
Though the blockade has been codified into law, the President of the United States has the executive authority to modify its implementation.
Jack Balkwill, the editor of LUV News (published at Clearing The FOG Radio), summarizes the situation:
Corporate media are abuzz this morning with the headline story of President Obama agreeing to lessen restrictions imposed on the Cuban people. Most of the comments they are allowing are from opponents, such as Senator Rubio, who was on CNN repeatedly yesterday announcing how he will stop the appointment of a Cuban ambassador and block any normalization of relations.
The stated reason for all the opposition is Cuba’s human rights record. The hypocrisy is deep. First of all, we have an ambassador to Saudi Arabia and other leaders in human rights abuses, and virtually no opposition in Congress. Second, the USA, against the wishes of the Cuban people, controls Guantanamo where it has tortured people for years, and imprisoned people without charges, making it a clear case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Another charge is that Cuba shot down a “brothers to the rescue” plane. Imagine what the USA would do to a foreign aircraft flying over the Land of the Free dropped leaflets that suggested “kill your leader.” Brothers to the Rescue was involved in a number of terrorist plots against the Cuban people, although you won’t hear this from corporate media.
Rubio and others said across the corporate TV spectrum yesterday that the blockade does not effect trade in Cuba and that Cuba trades with the world, which is a lie. Not mentioned is that any ship which docks in Cuba is not allowed to dock in the USA, and most countries want to trade with the USA, so do not dock their ships in Cuba. The blockade continues because Congress put it into law and Obama can’t change that.
Most of what is being presented in the mainstream press about this is wild propaganda. The real problem officials in our government have with Cuba is threefold. First, the Cuban people did not obey the Empire and overthrew its dictator, Batista, who allowed US corporations and organized crime to run the nation. Second, they are socialist, and socialism is not allowed in the Americas, as the USA spends billions of dollars annually to counter it, through USAID, Endowment for Democracy and military force when needed. And third, Cubans don’t allow corporations and the rich to buy their elections.
This deal would not have been done except for Pope Francis, who pushed it because of the injustices against the Cuban people, putting Obama on the spot internationally. Here is an English translation of Raul Castro’s speech to the Cuban people about what occurred.
Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research points to the increasing isolation of the United States in Latin America as countries in the region have put in place left governments who have insisted that Cuba be included in regional negotiations:
This historic shift is a direct result of the United States’ increasing isolation in the region. Relations between Latin America and the Obama administration have been the worst probably of any U.S. administration in decades. This will help, but new sanctions against Venezuela will also raise questions in the hemisphere about whether this is a change in direction or merely a giving up on a strategy that has failed for more than 50 years.
Because of the historic transition in Latin America over the past 15 years, with left governments elected in most of the region, basically the rules and norms were changed for the whole hemisphere. Various Latin American governments – and not just those on the left – have been increasingly vocal in recent years that the status quo cannot stand, and that Cuba must be treated as an equal, and welcomed into fora such as the Summit of the Americas.
Washington’s Cuba policy is being pulled into the 21st Century thanks to this regional shift.
Daniel Patrick Welch puts forth another perspective writing:
The US announcement on normalizing diplomatic relations with Cuba should be seen as a major and historic victory for Cuba and the peoples of the Global South generally–and it needs to be hammered home that it is a sign of failure on the part of empire. There is, first and foremost a real and meaningful admission that their strategies to topple the revolution have all failed–as well as, from the other side, an impressive and inspiring feat that a revolutionary people of this tiny island have surmounted every effort to crush the revolution from a maniacal hegemonic power. This is especially noteworthy in having overcome the collapse of the USSR, which observers have thought would quickly lead to the fall of the Cuban Revolution.
Viewed in more recent terms, the capitulation by empire is a direct and dramatic representation of the effects of integration among resistant peoples and states, namely the potential plan for a Russian naval base in Cuba and the actually planned Nicaraguan canal in partnership with China. These developments prove that empire clearly sees these as threats in its own back yard, and is choosing to counter them by engaging in (nominally) more reasonable behavior.
Ezra Klein outlines what each nation has agreed to as part of the new agreement at Vox.com:
What the US will give Cuba
- Diplomatic opening: The U.S. will take steps toward restoring diplomatic ties with Cuba, severed since 1961.
- Embassy in Havana: This will include the goal of reopening a US embassy in Havana in the coming months. The embassy has been closed for over half a century.
- Release alleged Cuban spies: The US will release three Cubans who were convicted of espionage and imprisoned in the US: Gerardo Hernandez, Luis Medina, and Antonio Guerrero. All three prisoners were members of the “Wasp Network,” a group that spied on prominent members of the Cuban-American community. CNN reports that Hernandez, the group’s leader, was also linked to the downing of two two civilian planes operated by Brothers to the Rescue, a U.S.-based dissident group.
- Easing business and travel restrictions: The U.S. will make it easier for Americans to obtain licenses to do business in Cuba, and to travel to the island. CNN reports that the new rules still won’t permit American tourism, but will make it easier to visit for other purposes.
- Easing banking restrictions: Americans will be able to use credit and debit cards while in Cuba.
- Higher remittance limits: Americans will be able to send up to $2000 per year to family members in Cuba. Cuban-American remittances are a major source of income for many Cuban families.
- Small-scale imports of Cuban cigars and alcohol: US travelers will be able to import up to $400 in goods from Cuba, including $100 in alcohol and tobacco products.
- Review of basis for sanctions: Secretary of State John Kerry has been ordered to review Cuba’s status as a “state sponsor of terrorism.” If his review determines that Cuba no longer deserves that status, that will be a first step towards lifting at least some US sanctions.
What Cuba will give the US
- Release Alan Gross: US contractor Alan Gross had been imprisoned in Cuba for the last five years on charges of attempting to undermine the Cuban government. His detention has been a major issue for the US and the Obama administration. He has been released and is on his way back to the United States.
- Release political prisoners: Cuba will release 53 political prisoners from a list provided by the United States. CNN also reports that Cuba is releasing a US intelligence source who has been imprisoned in Cuba for more than 20 years, but it is not clear whether that individual was one of the 53 included on the list.
- Increased internet access: Cuba will allow its citizens increased access to the internet. The US has long sought this as a means of increasing pressure within Cuba for democratic reform.
- Access by the UN: Cuba will allow officials from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to return to its territory.