In foreign policy news, in USA Today, executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba Frank Calzon writes “let’s support the president and send the message to Havana that if the military regime wants millions from America, its anti-American foreign policy and repression at home must change.”
The brief includes today a response by Frank Calzon to Rick Christie’s blog in the Palm Beach Post today. Mr. Christie’s objections are part of the many criticisms directed at President Trump. Christie this time was focusing on The President’s Cuba speech in Miami. One of the great virtues of American society is the ability of everyone to express an opinion. Readers interested in reading Mr. Christie’s tirade may do so by visiting the Palm Beach Post’s opinion zone blog. CubaBrief prints below Frank Calzon’s response.
In this issue:
CubaBrief: “My administration’s policy will be guided by key U.S. national security interests and solidarity with the Cuban people,” according to a draft of President Trump’s directive to be issued tomorrow. According to Politico, the President is also reviewing what to do about GAESA, the business arm of the Cuban military that receives millions from American tourists visiting the island. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) are said to have had major input into President Trump’s Cuba policy.
The Center for a Free Cuba sent a letter of gratitude to President Donald Trump Wednesday for his decision to come to Miami and said it was pleased that he would soon begin the “dismantling of Barack Obama’s concessions to the Castro regime.”
CubaBrief: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today that Cuba policy must be “done in full compliance with our existing statutes, and not provide financial support to the Cuban regime.” The Secretary also said that the current policy provides “financial support to the Cuban government, which would violate U.S. law.” It is too bad that some business interests not only put profits over principles but that are willing to do so illegally. The Reuters story “Tillerson signals tough Trump administration stance on Cuba” follows.
CubaBrief: Today we include an important column from The Wall Street Journal, [June 8, 2017] about how the Cuban regime supported terrorism against America. The Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional [ Armed Forces for National Liberation], a Puerto Rican terrorist organization “was started in the mid-1960’s with a nucleus . . . that received advanced training in Cuba.”
CubaBrief: In this edition “Trump Will Reverse Damage Done by Obama's Cuba Policy” by Heritage Foundation’s Mike Gonzalez, “U.S. Must Take a Stand Against Cuba and Venezuela” by Florida Governor Rick Scott, “UN Sounds Alarm on Rising HIV Infections” in Cuba by UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS, and The UN Human Rights Council whitewashes brutality by UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
CubaBrief reported recently on a piece of agitprop released by Engage Cuba. Today we publish a letter from Dr. Fernando J. Milanes on the report which is little more than a piece of disinformation. Hopefully those journalists who fell for Engage Cuba's report would go back to reread it without putting aside their critical faculties. Dr. Milanes's letter follows.
Reuters and The New York Times report today that Cuba's parliament says that the future of Cuba will be guided by the ideas of Jose Marti, Fidel Castro, Karl Marx, and Vladimir Lenin. Dim future indeed.
In this brief “An Appeal to the White House”, “Reagan: Won't visit Cuba until people are free” and Elliott Abrams on Manuel Noriega’s death: -- “We should avoid deluding ourselves about the nature of such regimes and such men.”
The central premise of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy was that, deep down, everyone on earth shares the same values. It is a gracious, humble, and optimistic way of perceiving the world. Under this precept, any opening of commerce and diplomacy can only be positive. Looking the other way at human rights abuses is just the cost of doing business. After all, who is the United States to talk?
CubaBrief: Cuban political police go on wild goose chase on the eve of Cuban Independence Day according to Spanish language article published by Cubanet. You can read the article in Spanish at the end of this CubaBrief.
CUBABRIEF: Last Sunday, May 21st The New York Times ran a story written in Luanda, Angola: Angola’s Leader Won’t Run Again. But Will He Cede Power? It was a good article. The New York Times reporterNorimitsu Onishi should be sent to Havana and consider the same question aboutthe “retiring” of General Raul Castro.
Protest at the Cuban embassy in Washington demands the release of a jailed pastor and his wife.
CUBABRIEF: Demonstration tomorrow, Wednesday at Cuban Embassy Cuban to protest the sentencing to a year in prison of a Cuban pastor for homeschooling his two children.
CUBABRIEF: “Venezuelan crisis requires immediate action.” “In the heart of Havana, a luxury mall where most Cubans can only browse”: The business arm of Cuba’s military created the glitzy shopping spot in a bid to attract tourists.
Le enviamos lo mejor de la semana de 14yMedio, el periódico digital producido en La Habana.
CUBABRIEF: Assistant Secretary of State Francisco Palmieri said on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 that “As we move forward with [the review of Cuba policy] there will be important differences in how this government plans to address the situation in Cuba (as compared to the previous administration).”
