[CubaNews] STAR-TELEGRAM (Texas): Hands across the water (editorial)

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

(A nice editorial which aims to explain the need for improved relations
with Cuba in terms which Texans would have no problem understanding.)
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Editorials  
Posted on Fri, May. 23, 2008
Hands across the water
Star-Telegram

http://www.star-telegram.com/225/story/660703.html 

A Texas delegation led by Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples will visit
Cuba next week in an effort to create more business opportunities for Texas
farmers and ranchers.

For those who criticize increasing trade with a communist country with which
we've been at odds for decades, let us not forget the United States'
evolving relationship with China and Vietnam.

The Cuba trip comes at a time of increasing pressure on the regime of Cuban
President Raúl Castro -- not only from the United States and other countries
but also internally -- for more access to products, services and freedoms.

Earlier this week, President Bush said the United States would allow the
shipment of activated cellular telephones to Cuba. This was in response to
Castro's announcement earlier this year that Cubans who could afford
cellphones would be allowed to have them.

The 24-member Texas delegation that departs Tuesday for a four-day visit
most likely will not get involved in U.S.-Cuban politics. The delegation
includes ranchers, farmers, various port officials and other entrepreneurs
and is scheduled to visit farms and meet with Cuban officials to market more
Texas products.

Before the trade embargo in 1961, Texas was the lead exporter of rice to
Cuba. Trade began to increase after 2000, when Congress enacted the Trade
Sanctions Reform & Export Enhancement Act, which relaxed restrictions on
food and agriculture exports to Cuba. And in 2001, the Texas Legislature was
the first in the country to call for an end to the embargo because of its
ineffectiveness.

Since then, agriculture products shipped from Texas and through Texas ports
have been increasing steadily -- more than $90 million in goods in 2007.

Those familiar with Texas-Cuba trade believe that $100 to $150 million in
shipments annually is plausible because of Texas' proximity to the island
and the quality of the products. Those items include chicken, rice and
wheat.

Given the political, social and economic pressures that Castro is feeling
externally and internally -- and his attempts to slowly pull away from his
brother Fidel's shadow -- the Texas trip to Cuba comes at a good time.

It's been said that once someone gets the taste of freedom, they want more.
Wouldn't it be delicious if more and more of that arroz con pollo that
Cubans will be eating came straight from the Lone Star State?

========================================
WALTER LIPPMANN, CubaNews
Los Angeles, California
http://www.walterlippmann.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
"Cuba - Un Paraiso bajo el bloqueo"
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