Another vote, and Cuban embargo holds — as it should
The Center for a Free Cuba
by Frank Calzon
I am in Washington, and it is four in the afternoon on June 28. The much ballyhooed obliteration of the U.S embargo against the Castro dynasty failed to materialize. The last congressional bill that could have provided the Castro butchers with a needed infusion of dollars by weakening U.S. measures against Havana was approved by the House less than one hour ago. America’s national interest trumped the corporate lobbyists and those inclined to give tyranny the benefit of the doubt who could not get the House to consider reversing trade and travel restrictions.
Nevertheless they got a consolation prize; the approved Financial Services bill now allows Castro to pay for American food imports on arrival in Cuba. Until now the Cuban dictator had to pay before the ship left the United States. But it is uncertain whether even that will survive what’s left of the congressional process before the bill is sent to the president for his consideration.
Still, a stand-alone bill lifting the embargo is always theoretically possible, although most unlikely given the congressional calendar.
In Washington, D.C., now, many understand the obvious: Castro wants U.S. dollars without curtailing his repression at home or his nurturing of like-minded anti-American governments throughout Latin America.
How could Washington have normal trade and diplomatic relations with a military dictatorship in Cuba while conditioning recognition for everyone else in the Western Hemisphere to minimal standards of multi-party democracy and respect for human rights?
When the congressional Democrats regained control earlier this year, many assumed that the lifting of Cuba sanctions was a done deal. A serious analysis of congressional realities could have shown differently. Instead, the discussion turned to name calling, disinformation and hateful characterizations of those unwilling to lie down and play dead.
Be that as it may, the House has reinstated the full amount requested by President Bush for programs to promote a transition to democracy in Cuba. A committee had voted to deny most of the funds. But in a bipartisan vote of 270 to 250, the House approved the $45 million the president requested.
This week for the first time in years, no amendment really hurting the enforcement of restrictions against Castro was approved. Reps. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., William Delahunt, D-Mass., Barbara Lee, D-Calif., and others willing to make concessions to Havana will probably have to wait until next year to try again.
Some of them argue that the issue is not to embrace a strong anti-American regime near American shores, which to this day harbors U.S. fugitives who murdered American police officers.
But as certain as the sun rises in the East, they will continue to confuse Castro with Cuba, as if the dictator and his victims were one and the same.
And if the impact of Bush’s message to the Congress on these matters cannot be discounted, the commitment and leadership of a key group of members of the House is the more admirable given the political cynicism and despair of American politics today. They are Reps. Lincoln and Mario Díaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republicans of South Florida, Elbio Sires, D-N.J., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a South Florida Democrat — and they do not take freedom for granted. Not only Cuban Americans and Cuba’s people, but the American nation are well served by them.
Ironically, the two most important actors in keeping U.S. sanctions in place are neither the president nor the members of Congress. They are Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro with their constant efforts to harm and slander the United States; their hate and unwillingness to allow democracy and human rights in their countries nullify much of the nimble work of their apologists and agents of influence.
Frank Calzon is executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba in Washington, D.C.
