CONGRESS
Another vote, and Cuban embargo holds -- as it should
BY FRANK CALZON
www.cubacenter.org
I am in Washington, and it is four in the afternoon on June 28. The much
ballyhooed obliteration of the U.S embargo against the Castro dynasty
failed to materialize. The last congressional bill that could have
provided the Castro butchers with a needed infusion of dollars by
weakening U.S. measures against Havana was approved by the House less
than one hour ago. America's national interest trumped the corporate
lobbyists and those inclined to give tyranny the benefit of the doubt
who could not get the House to consider reversing trade and travel
restrictions.
Nevertheless they got a consolation prize; the approved Financial
Services bill now allows Castro to pay for American food imports on
arrival in Cuba. Until now the Cuban dictator had to pay before the ship
left the United States. But it is uncertain whether even that will
survive what's left of the congressional process before the bill is sent
to the president for his consideration.
Still, a stand-alone bill lifting the embargo is always theoretically
possible, although most unlikely given the congressional calendar.
In Washington, D.C., now, many understand the obvious: Castro wants U.S.
dollars without curtailing his repression at home or his nurturing of
like-minded anti-American governments throughout Latin America.
How could Washington have normal trade and diplomatic relations with a
military dictatorship in Cuba while conditioning recognition for
everyone else in the Western Hemisphere to minimal standards of
multi-party democracy and respect for human rights?
When the congressional Democrats regained control earlier this year,
many assumed that the lifting of Cuba sanctions was a done deal. A
serious analysis of congressional realities could have shown
differently. Instead, the discussion turned to name calling,
disinformation and hateful characterizations of those unwilling to lie
down and play dead.
Be that as it may, the House has reinstated the full amount requested by
President Bush for programs to promote a transition to democracy in
Cuba. A committee had voted to deny most of the funds. But in a
bipartisan vote of 270 to 250, the House approved the $45 million the
president requested.
This week for the first time in years, no amendment really hurting the
enforcement of restrictions against Castro was approved. Reps. Charles
Rangel, D-N.Y., Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., William Delahunt, D-Mass., Barbara
Lee, D-Calif., and others willing to make concessions to Havana will
probably have to wait until next year to try again.
Some of them argue that the issue is not to embrace a strong
anti-American regime near American shores, which to this day harbors
U.S. fugitives who murdered American police officers.
But as certain as the sun rises in the East, they will continue to
confuse Castro with Cuba, as if the dictator and his victims were one
and the same.
And if the impact of Bush's message to the Congress on these matters
cannot be discounted, the commitment and leadership of a key group of
members of the House is the more admirable given the political cynicism
and despair of American politics today. They are Reps. Lincoln and Mario
Díaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republicans of South Florida, Elbio
Sires, D-N.J., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a South Florida Democrat --
and they do not take freedom for granted. Not only Cuban Americans and
Cuba's people, but the American nation are well served by them.
Ironically, the two most important actors in keeping U.S. sanctions in
place are neither the president nor the members of Congress. They are
Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro with their constant efforts to harm and
slander the United States; their hate and unwillingness to allow
democracy and human rights in their countries nullify much of the nimble
work of their apologists and agents of influence.
Frank Calzon is executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba in
Washington, D.C.
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