Re: The George Ryan mystery

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It doesn't seem such a mystery to me, frankly,
for a raft of reasons at this particular time.

Ryan was not the only one. Minnesota's Governor
Jesse Ventura also came to Cuba with a business
delegation. His visit caused so much heartache at
the White House that they publicly upbraided him
and told him not to engage in "sexual tourism".

It's in the interests of WORKERS in the US to be
employed in industries, from agriculture to tourism
and many others which sell products to Cuba and
where they can let people know that if Cuba had
even MORE money (which it could obtain if Cuba
could SELL things to the US). While on the scale
of the US economy as a whole, Cuba's market is
a modest one, every little bit helps to any worker
in the US, and even to businesses in the US who
want to expand their activity by doing more trade
with the island. Cuba is ready, willing and able to
open its doors to the US. The obstacle to all of
this is the attitude in Washington that it has the
right to tell Cuba what to do. Once that breaks
down, much progress can result.

I say "Congratulations" to Governor George Ryan
whatever his motives might be, for doing the right
thing on this issue, and on others.


Walter Lippmann
Havana, Cuba

LOU POULSON WRITES
I might mention that Ryan is also the only U.S. governor to have visited
Cuba with a business delegation.  Of course it is in the interests of
capitalists in Illinois to sell their products in Cuba, so you can say that
it's not mysterious, except that the same is true of every other state, and
none of their governors have broken ranks and gone there.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/12/national/12DEAT.html


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