[Marxism] Sen. Dodd wants to end Cuba embargo (Miami Herald)

[Walter Lippmann <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The best contribution to Cuban freedom which the people of these
United States could make is to end the blockade completely, allowing
U.S. citizens and residents the right to travel to Cuba, allowing
U.S. businesses to engage in two-way trade with the island, and to
allow Cubans the right to visit family and friends here in the United
States. This is not rocket science. Dodd adds getting rid of Radio
Marti as well. 

These are all quite positive and they are long-overdue steps. 
The fact that Senator Dodd, who speaks fluent Spanish, frames his
proposal in terms of political hostility to Cuba's revolution and
social system should not detract from the value of his contribution
toward public discussion of the issue of U.S. policy toward Cuba.
That is the most important aspect which those of us favoring the
normalization of relations with Cuba should primarily focus on.

For Marxists, it should be understood that every actor in politics
does not always say everything which is on that actor's mind, and
intentions are less important than actions. Cuba has been fighting
for an end to the blockade ever since that blockade was imposed as
the IGNORANCE of the people of the United States is the one tool 
above all most powerful in the quiver of reaction. Opening up a
public discussion of U.S. policy toward Cuba is a very good thing,
and the fact that some politicians are competing with one another
over how much to normalize relations, that is a very good thing.

An oddly perfectionistic tendency exists among some supporters of
the Cuban Revolution living in the United States for whom attacks
on those who favor a more open U.S. policy - regardless of motive - 
seems to be the preferred target. It's almost as if they fear any
talk of more openness toward Cuba when framed by U.S. capitalist
politicians in how it can function to change Cuba or leverage 
the island's government. Cuba has survived the blockade for by
now close to half a century. There's little reason to fear that
Cuba is ready to give the store away now. Re-read Raul's speech
on July 26th or Fidel's long reflection on the The Empire and
the Independent Island if you are uncertain on this matter.


Walter Lippmann
Los Angeles, California
==========================================================================

MIAMI HERALD

Sen. Dodd wants to end Cuba embargo
Posted on Fri, Sep. 07, 2007
Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
BY BETH REINHARD
breinhard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/229895.html 

On the eve of a presidential forum targeting Hispanic voters,
Democratic candidate Chris Dodd seeks to one-up his more popular
rivals by coming to Miami on Saturday to demand an end to the trade
embargo with Cuba.

The stance, guaranteed to kick up a backlash among hard-line Cuban
exiles, puts the Connecticut senator at odds with the Republican
field and most of the Democrats. When Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois,
announced in Miami two weeks ago that he favored allowing Cuban
Americans to freely visit and send money to family on the island, he
said he supported the embargo because it would serve as leverage
against the repressive regime.

Dodd's announcement is one way the candidates are using the first
presidential debate in Spanish as a platform to boost support among
the nation's fastest growing minority group. On Friday, Obama
announced an endorsement from former U.S. Secretary of Energy
Federico PeÃa.

The event at the University of Miami is also an opportunity for
Hispanic advocacy groups to tout their growing political clout. The
New Democratic Network is hosting a forum before the debate that will
feature Hispanic leaders such as New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, who is
supporting Hillary Clinton.

In a statement given Friday to The Miami Herald, Dodd favors opening
a U.S. embassy in Havana, allowing Americans to do business there,
and nixing TV MartÃ, the U.S.-funded broadcast routinely blocked by
Cuba.

''I believe the time has come to say publicly what many Americans
believe -- our Cuba policy has neither served America's interests nor
brought democracy to Cuba,'' reads the speech Dodd plans to give in
Miami today. ``It has only served to strengthen the current regime.
It has been an abject failure.''


================================
WALTER LIPPMANN
Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
writer - photographer - activist
http://www.walterlippmann.com
================================

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