Cuba's Debt (Part 2)

On the other hand, the US continues to create obstacles to Cuba's trade relations within the US and with other nations.

It was apparent very long ago that Cuba would have problems in acquiring hard currency. By the late eighties it was seen that sugar and Soviet oil sales were declining, and Cuba would not be able to pay its external debts. Many foreign nations assumed that they would have to hold off on new Cuban projects, at least until the US would lift the embargo. But, to the disappointment of many nations, US and Cuba relations worsened into the 90's, even after the fall of the Soviet Union (at the time the principle reason the embargo was justified).

Unfortunately, the same bad blood continues, and it is about to target Cuba's newest source for paying its external debt: oil drilling off its coasts.

After the latest announcement by Canada's Sherritt International to "export a portion of its Cuban [oil] production as a consequence of anticipated production growth" for 2007, our own US Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from district 18 says that she finds this as "beyond the pale and totally unacceptable." She plans to introduce legislation this week, in an attempt to prevent Cuba from drilling in the Florida Straits, or rather to prevent foreign companies from doing so.

News reports have shown that there is great interest in the Cuban "oil rush" by American energy companies. Last year, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control interrupted a business conference with Cuban officials in Mexico City because it took place in a US-owned Sheraton hotel. The conference, called the US-Cuba Energy Summit, included meetings with US energy executives, including ExxonMobil.

UM's own Jorge Piñon, a former president of Amoco Oil Latin America, speculates that Cuba could become "a major regional player in oil." An energy analyst from IHS Inc. (an information services company which includes Daniel Yergin) says that "U.S. oil companies would love to do business there [in Cuba] as soon as this thing opens up... They'd be short-sighted not to."

Cuba's huge external debt, which may soon become a marginal issue, is not necessarily an argument to justify sanctions, unless you want to see Cuba's economy and its citizens suffer.

[Part 1]

Cuba's Debt (Part 1)

I plan to write in more depth later, but I wanted to highlight a few things about the current debate supporting the US embargo towards Cuba.

From what I have read most recently, there's one very popular argument that supports sanctions against Cuba: its huge foreign debt and its history of non-payment.

There is no question that Cuba's debt is colossal, "$12.210 billion by late 2002" according to the US State Department. But, such unprecedented debt hasn't stopped other nations from having diplomatic relations with Cuba, granting aid to Cuba, nor has it stopped other nations from trading with Cuba.

The most obvious example is US trade with Cuba after 2000, of which Cuba has become a major buyer of agricultural products, and must pay cash in advance (and other restrictions). There are also the joint ventures by European nations, and barter trades with South American nations. All of these examples are in the spirit of what Japan (Cuba's largest creditor with about $2.3 billion according to UM's Cuba Transition Project) has continued to do for over many years: have good economic relations with Cuba.

The reasons Japan sought such a relationship, despite the US sanctions, are complex, but have to do with their general stance after WWII: a commitment to peaceful relations and non-interference in foreign domestic problems with other nations.

Basically, its a position that many nations have undertaken with Cuba, with the hopes of positive results due to increased trade and diplomacy.

Japan, by 1989, was doing most of its trading with Cuba by barter or advance payment of cash or check. Today, there's no question that Cuba's debt to Japan is a huge obstacle to overcome, but Japan still has good relations with Cuba. Japan has not placed sanctions on Cuba, nor has it justified the US embargo because of this reason.

You have to ask yourself why Japan continues to have this policy with Cuba, and why do other nations have this relationship with Cuba. Its a sobering experience when you read about why other nations still have hope for Cuba, unlike here in the US.

[Part 2]

Agustin Tamargo (Part 3)

Agustin Tamargo's justifications for a violent overthrow of the Cuban government was highlighted in an article he wrote in 2004, titled "The Letter I Didn't Send to Bush." In it, Tamargo makes his frustrations clear at the US government and its Cuba policy. Citing past American military interventions around the world, Tamargo asks:

"Y Cuba, presidente Bush? Que pasa con Cuba? Por que Irak si y Cuba no?" (And Cuba, president Bush? What about Cuba? Why yes on Iraq and no on Cuba?).

The idea of a violent purge in order to free Cuba contradicts the calls for human rights around the world. The consequences of such a violent solution would be disastrous, as has been evident by many examples around the world. If one truly defends the cause of human rights, then a military solution would not even be considered.

Still, I know that Agustin Tamargo would be adamant for a violent overthrow, and ignore any pleas to the contrary, like many hard-liners in Miami. Tamargo was a proud intransigent, as many call themselves. I can hear his reply as I write this post about him. He would say:

"Y si esta monserga no te gusta, querido lector, es que tú eres una de estas dos cosas: o un cubano desteñido o un fidelista rezagado."

(And if you don't like this gibberish, dear reader, it is because you are one of two things: either a washed-out Cuban or a broken Fidelista).

Agustin Tamargo (Part 2)

Radio Mambi will most likely be eulogizing Agustin Tamargo for most of the day. According to all the calls so far to the station, Tamargo was held in very high esteem by many in Miami.

In my opinion, the story of Agustin Tamargo is a tragic one that I feel many in Miami have suffered and are destined to repeat: to never undue the curse of being in exile. Despite my admiration for determined individuals, I feel that many, like Tamargo, have an intransigent and disappointing philosophy, which in turn curses their ambitions.

Considered by Oscar Haza, local political talking-head, as the "last piece from a generation of writers of the daily life marked by the golden era," Tamargo was a ferocious writer, ironically called "liberal" by some friends, and with a burning nationalism which was expressed by his coined phrased "Cuba primero, Cuba despues, y Cuba siempre" (Cuba first, Cuba later, and Cuba always). He was best friends with Armando Perez-Roura, and considered by him as "what it really means to be Cuban."

Yet, his writings over the years reveal a hostile view towards liberation of Cuba, of which landed him on a list, along the likes of Luis Posada Carriles, as a terrorist supporter by the Cuban government. Like many in Miami who feel that a violent purge is justified to free Cuba, in 2003, Tamargo wrote that "hay que conspirar con ese ejercito [Cubano]... dar un golpe duro, radical, un dia, dos dias, tres dias, y al final establecer un orden absoluto" (we have to conspire with that Cuban army... hit hard, completely, one day, two days, three days, and finally establish absolute order).

Agustin Tamargo (Part 1)

When I first started to listen to Radio Mambi, there was an unmistakable voice that dominated those airwaves in the morning. It sounded like the voice of a man being choked while trying to talk, but it was the determined voice of Agustin Tamargo, who was recovering from surgery on his throat. I knew then that Radio Mambi, through Tamargo, had something important to say, even though I couldn't understand half the time what it was.

Tuning in this morning, I was shocked along with everyone else to hear the recent death of Agustin Tamargo, a determined man if anything else. Listening to the radio, the heartfelt condolences being transmitted was like a partial list of Who's-Who of the Cuban-American leadership in Miami: Radio Mambi's general manager and CPB board member, Claudia Puig, owner and president of "La Poderosa" WWFE 670 AM, Jorge Rodriguez, Miami-Dade Mayor, Carlos Alvarez, House Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart, with many more calling in throughout the day I'm sure. Also, some of our local hard-line groups called in as well: members from Unidad Cubana, Vigilia Mambisa, and (of course) the F4 Commandos.

Mr. Gomez

As stated, I have been busy with other matters, but plan to post by Friday. I've been motivated by my recent exchange with Mr. Gomez from BabaluBlog and Cuban American Pundits. Our recent discussion showed an extremely disparaging side of Mr. Gomez. According to an old post, Mr.Gomez has no problems lowering the standards of civil debate, its part of his character.

Anyway, I will be writting about Mr.Gomez's false arguments supporting the US embargo, and other absurd apologies for a failed policy.

Best to all.

This Week's Documentary

I've been extremely busy and will be for the next two weeks. My posts therefore will be shorter than usual. So, I've decided to list some documentaries about Cuba that I think are excellent, and contribute to the current debate about US policy. Today I will highlight one film, followed by another next week.

Some of you may have heard of this documentary when its outtake of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen supporting an assassination attempt on Fidel Castro made the news. She denied her remarks first, then (two weeks later) admitted them. You can also check out how some of our favorite Cuban-American bloggers (Mr. Gomez from Cuban American Pundits, and Robert from 26th Parallel) displayed similar, astonishing attempts at denial when the news first broke. While Mr. Gomez and Robert don't seem to care about the ethical responsibilities of US Representatives, most likely they still believe the video outtake to be a manipulation.

But, aside from Ileana's controversial comment, the film "638 Ways to Kill Castro" by Dollan Cannell is excellent. The final cut does not include our favorite Republican from district 18, but it does include Radio Mambi's own Enrique Encinosa, who alone makes his own controversial comment in the film in support of terrorism. In general, the film is a historical outline of the hostile relations of the US towards Cuba (not just towards Fidel) since the Revolution. Perhaps the most important part of the film, in my opinion, is its focus on our local "patriots," like Rodolfo Frometa (leader of the F4 Commandos and who seems to have successfully indoctrinated his son in the film) and Luis Posada Carriles (some of whose paintings are sold through Enrique Encinosa at exorbitant prices).

Thanks to the magic of the internet (and Google Video) the entire documentary by Dollan Cannell is available to us. It is viewable in two parts (in mp4 format for download), with commercials due to its premiere on UK Channel 4.

[Part One]

[Part Two]

Best to all.