Intereses marcan la política de América Latina hacia Cuba, según Enrique
Krauze
El historiador mexicano opina que las protestas de estudiantes en
Venezuela han evidenciado que muchos países se alínean con Maduro y
Castro por puro interés comercial, que no ideológico.
febrero 27, 2014
Varios medios internacionales, ente ellos el diario madrileño El País,
recogen hoy un artículo del ensayista e historiador mexicano Enrique
Krauze. Con el título "La soledad de los estudiantes venezolanos",
analiza no sólo la postura ideológica de la masa universitaria en el
país, sino la vinculación de toda Latinoamérica con Cuba a la hora de
posicionarse frente al régimen de Nicolás Maduro.
En el texto se explica así la ausencia de condenas internacionales a los
acontecimientos que están sucediendo estos días: "El poder de la
ideología en Venezuela es explicable: en millones de personas perdura el
convencimiento de que la obra social de Chávez fue tangible y de que si
no hizo más por ellos fue porque se le atravesó la muerte. Otro factor
es la dependencia directa de millones de venezolanos del erario,
consecuencia del debilitamiento progresivo de la actividad empresarial y
la inversión privada".
"Las simpatías de los países dependientes del petróleo venezolano tienen
la misma raíz. El clientelismo tiene intereses creados en creer en el
chavismo. Pero ¿cómo explicar la popularidad de la ideología chavista o
sus variantes en países que no pertenecen a su órbita?".
Aun reconociendo que la mística y el papel icónico que tuvo la
Revolución cubana ya no es tan fuerte como lo fue durante años, sí que
ha propiciado que en muchos países de América Latina no hayan podido
arraigar de manera definitiva la democracia representativa y el
liberalismo, según Krauze. Por eso "el chantaje ideológico de Cuba y
Venezuela funciona aún: nadie quiere parecer "de derecha" en un
continente enamorado de la Revolución, donde los ídolos políticos no han
sido demócratas como Rómulo Betancourt, sino redentores como Eva Perón,
Che Guevara, Fidel Castro o Hugo Chávez", sostiene.
Para el intelectual mexicano el tirón popular que sigue teniendo Nicolás
Maduro y su política dentro del país tiene una explicación: "el apoyo al
chavismo es, en el fondo, un derivado del prestigio menguado, pero
extrañamente vivo, de la Revolución cubana. Estar contra ella es estar
con el Imperio".
Cuba sigue siendo influyente, asegura en su columna, y una "meca
ideológica" como se comprobó en la reciente cumbre de la CELAC celebrada
en La Habana en enero. Ningún presidente –salvo alguna ausencia puntual-
faltó a la cita, en la que además todos firmaron "respetar los derechos
humanos".
Intereses en Cuba, no en su línea ideológica
Pero según el autor, este apoyo a Raúl Castro, y la cercanía de casi
todos los líderes latinoamericanos con él y su hermano Fidel, no es
exclusivamente un tema político. Sostiene que presidentes como Dilma
Rouseff mantendrían una actitud de amistad por una razón: "las
oportunidades económicas (turísticas, energéticas, sobre todo) que se
abren en Cuba después de la eventual muerte de los hermanos Castro son
demasiado importantes como para tomar posturas idealistas y arriesgar la
estabilidad de la isla".
Brasil, que actualmente tiene grandes inversiones en Cuba a través del
proyecto que se está desarrollando en la zona del Mariel, estaría
fortaleciendo una alianza con ese país y Venezuela únicamente por
interés monetario. La imagen de estabilidad en la zona que se pretende
dar girando la cabeza para otro lado y no condenar las muertes en
Venezuela podrían tener de fondo ese argumento, para Enrique Krauze.
"Sólo así se explica que Dilma Rousseff, que en su juventud fue una
estudiante torturada por los militares, ahora apoye a un Gobierno cuyas
fuerzas policiacas emboscadas reprimen estudiantes".
El extenso artículo recorre además las razones que llevan a los jóvenes
venezolanos a las calles, en un país con 2,4 millones de estudiantes de
nivel medio y 400.000 de nivel superior. Casi todos ellos no conocen
otro tipo de gobierno que no sea el chavista, y sin embargo "no quieren
envejecer con él". Ya en 2007 salieron a protestar contra la
confiscación de la televisión independiente RCTV, y ahora lo hacen para
defender otros derechos fundamentales.
Además de la ineptitud económica del régimen y la ocultación de una
"gigantesca corrupción", para Krauze hay otras razones que llevan a las
manifestaciones de protesta. "Su mayor agravio es el ahogo sistemático y
creciente de la libertad de expresión, que impide a la gente tomar
conciencia y sopesar por sí misma las realidades del país".
Todo esto se resume en algunas frases que el autor emplea en el texto y
que según él definirían al gobierno actual de Nicolás Maduro, el cual
"ha recurrido a la represión directa de las voces disidentes" y cuya
"idea es hacer que prive la verdad única, la verdad oficial". Concluye
diciendo: "Venezuela --es la dramática verdad-- se encamina hacia una
dictadura y, en varios sentidos, lo es ya".
Source: Intereses marcan la política de América Latina hacia Cuba, según
Enrique Krauze -
http://www.martinoticias.com/content/intereses-america-latina-cuba-enrique-krauze/32445.html
viernes, 28 de febrero de 2014
Intereses marcan la política de América Latina hacia Cuba, según Enrique Krauze
Intereses marcan la política de América Latina hacia Cuba, según Enrique
Krauze
El historiador mexicano opina que las protestas de estudiantes en
Venezuela han evidenciado que muchos países se alínean con Maduro y
Castro por puro interés comercial, que no ideológico.
febrero 27, 2014
Varios medios internacionales, ente ellos el diario madrileño El País,
recogen hoy un artículo del ensayista e historiador mexicano Enrique
Krauze. Con el título "La soledad de los estudiantes venezolanos",
analiza no sólo la postura ideológica de la masa universitaria en el
país, sino la vinculación de toda Latinoamérica con Cuba a la hora de
posicionarse frente al régimen de Nicolás Maduro.
En el texto se explica así la ausencia de condenas internacionales a los
acontecimientos que están sucediendo estos días: "El poder de la
ideología en Venezuela es explicable: en millones de personas perdura el
convencimiento de que la obra social de Chávez fue tangible y de que si
no hizo más por ellos fue porque se le atravesó la muerte. Otro factor
es la dependencia directa de millones de venezolanos del erario,
consecuencia del debilitamiento progresivo de la actividad empresarial y
la inversión privada".
"Las simpatías de los países dependientes del petróleo venezolano tienen
la misma raíz. El clientelismo tiene intereses creados en creer en el
chavismo. Pero ¿cómo explicar la popularidad de la ideología chavista o
sus variantes en países que no pertenecen a su órbita?".
Aun reconociendo que la mística y el papel icónico que tuvo la
Revolución cubana ya no es tan fuerte como lo fue durante años, sí que
ha propiciado que en muchos países de América Latina no hayan podido
arraigar de manera definitiva la democracia representativa y el
liberalismo, según Krauze. Por eso "el chantaje ideológico de Cuba y
Venezuela funciona aún: nadie quiere parecer "de derecha" en un
continente enamorado de la Revolución, donde los ídolos políticos no han
sido demócratas como Rómulo Betancourt, sino redentores como Eva Perón,
Che Guevara, Fidel Castro o Hugo Chávez", sostiene.
Para el intelectual mexicano el tirón popular que sigue teniendo Nicolás
Maduro y su política dentro del país tiene una explicación: "el apoyo al
chavismo es, en el fondo, un derivado del prestigio menguado, pero
extrañamente vivo, de la Revolución cubana. Estar contra ella es estar
con el Imperio".
Cuba sigue siendo influyente, asegura en su columna, y una "meca
ideológica" como se comprobó en la reciente cumbre de la CELAC celebrada
en La Habana en enero. Ningún presidente –salvo alguna ausencia puntual-
faltó a la cita, en la que además todos firmaron "respetar los derechos
humanos".
Intereses en Cuba, no en su línea ideológica
Pero según el autor, este apoyo a Raúl Castro, y la cercanía de casi
todos los líderes latinoamericanos con él y su hermano Fidel, no es
exclusivamente un tema político. Sostiene que presidentes como Dilma
Rouseff mantendrían una actitud de amistad por una razón: "las
oportunidades económicas (turísticas, energéticas, sobre todo) que se
abren en Cuba después de la eventual muerte de los hermanos Castro son
demasiado importantes como para tomar posturas idealistas y arriesgar la
estabilidad de la isla".
Brasil, que actualmente tiene grandes inversiones en Cuba a través del
proyecto que se está desarrollando en la zona del Mariel, estaría
fortaleciendo una alianza con ese país y Venezuela únicamente por
interés monetario. La imagen de estabilidad en la zona que se pretende
dar girando la cabeza para otro lado y no condenar las muertes en
Venezuela podrían tener de fondo ese argumento, para Enrique Krauze.
"Sólo así se explica que Dilma Rousseff, que en su juventud fue una
estudiante torturada por los militares, ahora apoye a un Gobierno cuyas
fuerzas policiacas emboscadas reprimen estudiantes".
El extenso artículo recorre además las razones que llevan a los jóvenes
venezolanos a las calles, en un país con 2,4 millones de estudiantes de
nivel medio y 400.000 de nivel superior. Casi todos ellos no conocen
otro tipo de gobierno que no sea el chavista, y sin embargo "no quieren
envejecer con él". Ya en 2007 salieron a protestar contra la
confiscación de la televisión independiente RCTV, y ahora lo hacen para
defender otros derechos fundamentales.
Además de la ineptitud económica del régimen y la ocultación de una
"gigantesca corrupción", para Krauze hay otras razones que llevan a las
manifestaciones de protesta. "Su mayor agravio es el ahogo sistemático y
creciente de la libertad de expresión, que impide a la gente tomar
conciencia y sopesar por sí misma las realidades del país".
Todo esto se resume en algunas frases que el autor emplea en el texto y
que según él definirían al gobierno actual de Nicolás Maduro, el cual
"ha recurrido a la represión directa de las voces disidentes" y cuya
"idea es hacer que prive la verdad única, la verdad oficial". Concluye
diciendo: "Venezuela --es la dramática verdad-- se encamina hacia una
dictadura y, en varios sentidos, lo es ya".
Source: Intereses marcan la política de América Latina hacia Cuba, según
Enrique Krauze -
http://www.martinoticias.com/content/intereses-america-latina-cuba-enrique-krauze/32445.html
Krauze
El historiador mexicano opina que las protestas de estudiantes en
Venezuela han evidenciado que muchos países se alínean con Maduro y
Castro por puro interés comercial, que no ideológico.
febrero 27, 2014
Varios medios internacionales, ente ellos el diario madrileño El País,
recogen hoy un artículo del ensayista e historiador mexicano Enrique
Krauze. Con el título "La soledad de los estudiantes venezolanos",
analiza no sólo la postura ideológica de la masa universitaria en el
país, sino la vinculación de toda Latinoamérica con Cuba a la hora de
posicionarse frente al régimen de Nicolás Maduro.
En el texto se explica así la ausencia de condenas internacionales a los
acontecimientos que están sucediendo estos días: "El poder de la
ideología en Venezuela es explicable: en millones de personas perdura el
convencimiento de que la obra social de Chávez fue tangible y de que si
no hizo más por ellos fue porque se le atravesó la muerte. Otro factor
es la dependencia directa de millones de venezolanos del erario,
consecuencia del debilitamiento progresivo de la actividad empresarial y
la inversión privada".
"Las simpatías de los países dependientes del petróleo venezolano tienen
la misma raíz. El clientelismo tiene intereses creados en creer en el
chavismo. Pero ¿cómo explicar la popularidad de la ideología chavista o
sus variantes en países que no pertenecen a su órbita?".
Aun reconociendo que la mística y el papel icónico que tuvo la
Revolución cubana ya no es tan fuerte como lo fue durante años, sí que
ha propiciado que en muchos países de América Latina no hayan podido
arraigar de manera definitiva la democracia representativa y el
liberalismo, según Krauze. Por eso "el chantaje ideológico de Cuba y
Venezuela funciona aún: nadie quiere parecer "de derecha" en un
continente enamorado de la Revolución, donde los ídolos políticos no han
sido demócratas como Rómulo Betancourt, sino redentores como Eva Perón,
Che Guevara, Fidel Castro o Hugo Chávez", sostiene.
Para el intelectual mexicano el tirón popular que sigue teniendo Nicolás
Maduro y su política dentro del país tiene una explicación: "el apoyo al
chavismo es, en el fondo, un derivado del prestigio menguado, pero
extrañamente vivo, de la Revolución cubana. Estar contra ella es estar
con el Imperio".
Cuba sigue siendo influyente, asegura en su columna, y una "meca
ideológica" como se comprobó en la reciente cumbre de la CELAC celebrada
en La Habana en enero. Ningún presidente –salvo alguna ausencia puntual-
faltó a la cita, en la que además todos firmaron "respetar los derechos
humanos".
Intereses en Cuba, no en su línea ideológica
Pero según el autor, este apoyo a Raúl Castro, y la cercanía de casi
todos los líderes latinoamericanos con él y su hermano Fidel, no es
exclusivamente un tema político. Sostiene que presidentes como Dilma
Rouseff mantendrían una actitud de amistad por una razón: "las
oportunidades económicas (turísticas, energéticas, sobre todo) que se
abren en Cuba después de la eventual muerte de los hermanos Castro son
demasiado importantes como para tomar posturas idealistas y arriesgar la
estabilidad de la isla".
Brasil, que actualmente tiene grandes inversiones en Cuba a través del
proyecto que se está desarrollando en la zona del Mariel, estaría
fortaleciendo una alianza con ese país y Venezuela únicamente por
interés monetario. La imagen de estabilidad en la zona que se pretende
dar girando la cabeza para otro lado y no condenar las muertes en
Venezuela podrían tener de fondo ese argumento, para Enrique Krauze.
"Sólo así se explica que Dilma Rousseff, que en su juventud fue una
estudiante torturada por los militares, ahora apoye a un Gobierno cuyas
fuerzas policiacas emboscadas reprimen estudiantes".
El extenso artículo recorre además las razones que llevan a los jóvenes
venezolanos a las calles, en un país con 2,4 millones de estudiantes de
nivel medio y 400.000 de nivel superior. Casi todos ellos no conocen
otro tipo de gobierno que no sea el chavista, y sin embargo "no quieren
envejecer con él". Ya en 2007 salieron a protestar contra la
confiscación de la televisión independiente RCTV, y ahora lo hacen para
defender otros derechos fundamentales.
Además de la ineptitud económica del régimen y la ocultación de una
"gigantesca corrupción", para Krauze hay otras razones que llevan a las
manifestaciones de protesta. "Su mayor agravio es el ahogo sistemático y
creciente de la libertad de expresión, que impide a la gente tomar
conciencia y sopesar por sí misma las realidades del país".
Todo esto se resume en algunas frases que el autor emplea en el texto y
que según él definirían al gobierno actual de Nicolás Maduro, el cual
"ha recurrido a la represión directa de las voces disidentes" y cuya
"idea es hacer que prive la verdad única, la verdad oficial". Concluye
diciendo: "Venezuela --es la dramática verdad-- se encamina hacia una
dictadura y, en varios sentidos, lo es ya".
Source: Intereses marcan la política de América Latina hacia Cuba, según
Enrique Krauze -
http://www.martinoticias.com/content/intereses-america-latina-cuba-enrique-krauze/32445.html
Occidental Hotels & Resorts apuesta por Cuba a la espera de comprador
En dos o tres meses se habrán valorado las ofertas recibidas por la cadena
Occidental Hotels & Resorts apuesta por Cuba a la espera de comprador
La compañía gestiona cuatro hoteles en la Isla
28 FEBRERO, 2014
Occidental Hotels & Resorts sigue apostando por Cuba, a la espera de que
entre el nuevo operador, ya que si fuera una cadena o un fondo
estadounidenses tendría que salir de la Isla porque la Ley Helms-Burton
no les permite tener intereses allí. Occidental Hotels & Resorts ha
abandonado España, según publicó HOSTELTUR noticias de turismo, y su
intención es centrarse en su negocio en el Caribe.
La intención de la cadena, según fuentes del sector, es mantenerse en
Cuba, que ofrece nuevas oportunidades a todos los grupos hoteleros tras
su buena temporada. De hecho, sigue creciendo en el país. Prueba de ello
es que el pasado 1 de enero Occidental Hotels & Resorts incorporó en
gestión el hotel Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo.
El Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo ha sido el último hotel que ha
incorporado Occidental en Cuba.
Asimismo ha propuesto un plan de mejoras de los hoteles Allegro Varadero
y Occidental Miramar de La Habana, a Gaviota, su propietaria, que ha
mostrado interés en llevarlo a cabo. Gran Caribe, propietaria del
Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo, ya completó la renovación de sus
instalaciones para elevarlas a la categoría Allegro.
La cadena se muestra así decidida a seguir gestionando los hoteles que
tiene en Cuba, al menos hasta que se produzca la entrada del nuevo
operador, momento en el que decidirá el siguiente paso en función de su
nacionalidad o de sus intereses.
Source: Occidental Hotels & Resorts apuesta por Cuba a la espera de
comprador | Hoteles -
http://www.hosteltur.com/139980_occidental-hotels-resorts-apuesta-cuba-espera-comprador.html
Occidental Hotels & Resorts apuesta por Cuba a la espera de comprador
La compañía gestiona cuatro hoteles en la Isla
28 FEBRERO, 2014
Occidental Hotels & Resorts sigue apostando por Cuba, a la espera de que
entre el nuevo operador, ya que si fuera una cadena o un fondo
estadounidenses tendría que salir de la Isla porque la Ley Helms-Burton
no les permite tener intereses allí. Occidental Hotels & Resorts ha
abandonado España, según publicó HOSTELTUR noticias de turismo, y su
intención es centrarse en su negocio en el Caribe.
La intención de la cadena, según fuentes del sector, es mantenerse en
Cuba, que ofrece nuevas oportunidades a todos los grupos hoteleros tras
su buena temporada. De hecho, sigue creciendo en el país. Prueba de ello
es que el pasado 1 de enero Occidental Hotels & Resorts incorporó en
gestión el hotel Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo.
El Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo ha sido el último hotel que ha
incorporado Occidental en Cuba.
Asimismo ha propuesto un plan de mejoras de los hoteles Allegro Varadero
y Occidental Miramar de La Habana, a Gaviota, su propietaria, que ha
mostrado interés en llevarlo a cabo. Gran Caribe, propietaria del
Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo, ya completó la renovación de sus
instalaciones para elevarlas a la categoría Allegro.
La cadena se muestra así decidida a seguir gestionando los hoteles que
tiene en Cuba, al menos hasta que se produzca la entrada del nuevo
operador, momento en el que decidirá el siguiente paso en función de su
nacionalidad o de sus intereses.
Source: Occidental Hotels & Resorts apuesta por Cuba a la espera de
comprador | Hoteles -
http://www.hosteltur.com/139980_occidental-hotels-resorts-apuesta-cuba-espera-comprador.html
Occidental Hotels & Resorts apuesta por Cuba a la espera de comprador
En dos o tres meses se habrán valorado las ofertas recibidas por la cadena
Occidental Hotels & Resorts apuesta por Cuba a la espera de comprador
La compañía gestiona cuatro hoteles en la Isla
28 FEBRERO, 2014
Occidental Hotels & Resorts sigue apostando por Cuba, a la espera de que
entre el nuevo operador, ya que si fuera una cadena o un fondo
estadounidenses tendría que salir de la Isla porque la Ley Helms-Burton
no les permite tener intereses allí. Occidental Hotels & Resorts ha
abandonado España, según publicó HOSTELTUR noticias de turismo, y su
intención es centrarse en su negocio en el Caribe.
La intención de la cadena, según fuentes del sector, es mantenerse en
Cuba, que ofrece nuevas oportunidades a todos los grupos hoteleros tras
su buena temporada. De hecho, sigue creciendo en el país. Prueba de ello
es que el pasado 1 de enero Occidental Hotels & Resorts incorporó en
gestión el hotel Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo.
El Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo ha sido el último hotel que ha
incorporado Occidental en Cuba.
Asimismo ha propuesto un plan de mejoras de los hoteles Allegro Varadero
y Occidental Miramar de La Habana, a Gaviota, su propietaria, que ha
mostrado interés en llevarlo a cabo. Gran Caribe, propietaria del
Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo, ya completó la renovación de sus
instalaciones para elevarlas a la categoría Allegro.
La cadena se muestra así decidida a seguir gestionando los hoteles que
tiene en Cuba, al menos hasta que se produzca la entrada del nuevo
operador, momento en el que decidirá el siguiente paso en función de su
nacionalidad o de sus intereses.
Source: Occidental Hotels & Resorts apuesta por Cuba a la espera de
comprador | Hoteles -
http://www.hosteltur.com/139980_occidental-hotels-resorts-apuesta-cuba-espera-comprador.html
Occidental Hotels & Resorts apuesta por Cuba a la espera de comprador
La compañía gestiona cuatro hoteles en la Isla
28 FEBRERO, 2014
Occidental Hotels & Resorts sigue apostando por Cuba, a la espera de que
entre el nuevo operador, ya que si fuera una cadena o un fondo
estadounidenses tendría que salir de la Isla porque la Ley Helms-Burton
no les permite tener intereses allí. Occidental Hotels & Resorts ha
abandonado España, según publicó HOSTELTUR noticias de turismo, y su
intención es centrarse en su negocio en el Caribe.
La intención de la cadena, según fuentes del sector, es mantenerse en
Cuba, que ofrece nuevas oportunidades a todos los grupos hoteleros tras
su buena temporada. De hecho, sigue creciendo en el país. Prueba de ello
es que el pasado 1 de enero Occidental Hotels & Resorts incorporó en
gestión el hotel Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo.
El Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo ha sido el último hotel que ha
incorporado Occidental en Cuba.
Asimismo ha propuesto un plan de mejoras de los hoteles Allegro Varadero
y Occidental Miramar de La Habana, a Gaviota, su propietaria, que ha
mostrado interés en llevarlo a cabo. Gran Caribe, propietaria del
Allegro Club Cayo Guillermo, ya completó la renovación de sus
instalaciones para elevarlas a la categoría Allegro.
La cadena se muestra así decidida a seguir gestionando los hoteles que
tiene en Cuba, al menos hasta que se produzca la entrada del nuevo
operador, momento en el que decidirá el siguiente paso en función de su
nacionalidad o de sus intereses.
Source: Occidental Hotels & Resorts apuesta por Cuba a la espera de
comprador | Hoteles -
http://www.hosteltur.com/139980_occidental-hotels-resorts-apuesta-cuba-espera-comprador.html
Pdvsa recortó exportaciones hacia Cuba y Petrocaribe
Pdvsa recortó exportaciones hacia Cuba y Petrocaribe
Los despachos a Cuba disminuyeron entre 23% y 32% con respecto a 2012
Los despachos de crudo y combustibles a territorio cubano disminuyeron
entre 23% y 32% y el recorte al resto de países caribeños y
centroamericanos fue de 14,8% con respecto a los volúmenes de 2012
ANDRÉS ROJAS JIMÉNEZ
27 DE FEBRERO 2014 - 07:30 PM
Las cifras sobre los suministros de crudo y combustibles a Cuba y en
general a las naciones que integran el acuerdo de Petrocaribe, indican
que durante el año pasado hubo una disminución en los despachos de entre
42.000 y 52.000 barriles por día.
En el caso de los envíos de Petróleos de Venezuela a territorio cubano,
hubo una disminución de entre 23% y 32% con respecto a los 104.000
barriles diarios que se exportaron durante 2012.
"Tenemos un total de unos 70.000 a 80.000 barriles diarios que estamos
enviando a Cuba, los procesamos y estamos atendiendo el mercado caribeño
desde allá", dijo el ministro de Petróleo y Minería, Rafael Ramírez.,
durante la reciente Comisión Intergubernamental Venezuela – Cuba. Esto
implica una disminución en números absolutos de entre 24.000 y 34.000
barriles por día de acuerdo a lo señalado por el funcionario.
De igual manera las cifras preliminares que se tienen con respecto a los
despachos hacia las naciones de Petrocaribe, dan cuenta de un recorte
por el orden de 14,8% al pasar de 121.000 a 103.000 barriles por día.
La mayor parte de la disminución se ha hecho en los despachos de
combustibles sobre todo de diese,l debido a la necesidad que existen
para atender la demanda en el país para las plantas térmicas de
generación de electricidad.
Pdvsa ha realizado parte de los despachos de combustibles hacia las
naciones del Caribe desde Cuba, tomando en cuenta los productos que se
están obteniendo en la refinería de Cienfuegos, en la que la empresa
petrolera de ese país, Cupet, tiene 51% y la petrolera venezolana 49%.
Para efectos de cuentas externas, las exportaciones de la compañía
Cuvenpetrol quedan registradas a favor de Cuba.
Source: Pdvsa recortó exportaciones hacia Cuba y Petrocaribe -
http://www.el-nacional.com/economia/Pdvsa-recorto-exportaciones-Cuba-Petrocaribe_0_363563835.html
Los despachos a Cuba disminuyeron entre 23% y 32% con respecto a 2012
Los despachos de crudo y combustibles a territorio cubano disminuyeron
entre 23% y 32% y el recorte al resto de países caribeños y
centroamericanos fue de 14,8% con respecto a los volúmenes de 2012
ANDRÉS ROJAS JIMÉNEZ
27 DE FEBRERO 2014 - 07:30 PM
Las cifras sobre los suministros de crudo y combustibles a Cuba y en
general a las naciones que integran el acuerdo de Petrocaribe, indican
que durante el año pasado hubo una disminución en los despachos de entre
42.000 y 52.000 barriles por día.
En el caso de los envíos de Petróleos de Venezuela a territorio cubano,
hubo una disminución de entre 23% y 32% con respecto a los 104.000
barriles diarios que se exportaron durante 2012.
"Tenemos un total de unos 70.000 a 80.000 barriles diarios que estamos
enviando a Cuba, los procesamos y estamos atendiendo el mercado caribeño
desde allá", dijo el ministro de Petróleo y Minería, Rafael Ramírez.,
durante la reciente Comisión Intergubernamental Venezuela – Cuba. Esto
implica una disminución en números absolutos de entre 24.000 y 34.000
barriles por día de acuerdo a lo señalado por el funcionario.
De igual manera las cifras preliminares que se tienen con respecto a los
despachos hacia las naciones de Petrocaribe, dan cuenta de un recorte
por el orden de 14,8% al pasar de 121.000 a 103.000 barriles por día.
La mayor parte de la disminución se ha hecho en los despachos de
combustibles sobre todo de diese,l debido a la necesidad que existen
para atender la demanda en el país para las plantas térmicas de
generación de electricidad.
Pdvsa ha realizado parte de los despachos de combustibles hacia las
naciones del Caribe desde Cuba, tomando en cuenta los productos que se
están obteniendo en la refinería de Cienfuegos, en la que la empresa
petrolera de ese país, Cupet, tiene 51% y la petrolera venezolana 49%.
Para efectos de cuentas externas, las exportaciones de la compañía
Cuvenpetrol quedan registradas a favor de Cuba.
Source: Pdvsa recortó exportaciones hacia Cuba y Petrocaribe -
http://www.el-nacional.com/economia/Pdvsa-recorto-exportaciones-Cuba-Petrocaribe_0_363563835.html
Pdvsa recortó exportaciones hacia Cuba y Petrocaribe
Pdvsa recortó exportaciones hacia Cuba y Petrocaribe
Los despachos a Cuba disminuyeron entre 23% y 32% con respecto a 2012
Los despachos de crudo y combustibles a territorio cubano disminuyeron
entre 23% y 32% y el recorte al resto de países caribeños y
centroamericanos fue de 14,8% con respecto a los volúmenes de 2012
ANDRÉS ROJAS JIMÉNEZ
27 DE FEBRERO 2014 - 07:30 PM
Las cifras sobre los suministros de crudo y combustibles a Cuba y en
general a las naciones que integran el acuerdo de Petrocaribe, indican
que durante el año pasado hubo una disminución en los despachos de entre
42.000 y 52.000 barriles por día.
En el caso de los envíos de Petróleos de Venezuela a territorio cubano,
hubo una disminución de entre 23% y 32% con respecto a los 104.000
barriles diarios que se exportaron durante 2012.
"Tenemos un total de unos 70.000 a 80.000 barriles diarios que estamos
enviando a Cuba, los procesamos y estamos atendiendo el mercado caribeño
desde allá", dijo el ministro de Petróleo y Minería, Rafael Ramírez.,
durante la reciente Comisión Intergubernamental Venezuela – Cuba. Esto
implica una disminución en números absolutos de entre 24.000 y 34.000
barriles por día de acuerdo a lo señalado por el funcionario.
De igual manera las cifras preliminares que se tienen con respecto a los
despachos hacia las naciones de Petrocaribe, dan cuenta de un recorte
por el orden de 14,8% al pasar de 121.000 a 103.000 barriles por día.
La mayor parte de la disminución se ha hecho en los despachos de
combustibles sobre todo de diese,l debido a la necesidad que existen
para atender la demanda en el país para las plantas térmicas de
generación de electricidad.
Pdvsa ha realizado parte de los despachos de combustibles hacia las
naciones del Caribe desde Cuba, tomando en cuenta los productos que se
están obteniendo en la refinería de Cienfuegos, en la que la empresa
petrolera de ese país, Cupet, tiene 51% y la petrolera venezolana 49%.
Para efectos de cuentas externas, las exportaciones de la compañía
Cuvenpetrol quedan registradas a favor de Cuba.
Source: Pdvsa recortó exportaciones hacia Cuba y Petrocaribe -
http://www.el-nacional.com/economia/Pdvsa-recorto-exportaciones-Cuba-Petrocaribe_0_363563835.html
Los despachos a Cuba disminuyeron entre 23% y 32% con respecto a 2012
Los despachos de crudo y combustibles a territorio cubano disminuyeron
entre 23% y 32% y el recorte al resto de países caribeños y
centroamericanos fue de 14,8% con respecto a los volúmenes de 2012
ANDRÉS ROJAS JIMÉNEZ
27 DE FEBRERO 2014 - 07:30 PM
Las cifras sobre los suministros de crudo y combustibles a Cuba y en
general a las naciones que integran el acuerdo de Petrocaribe, indican
que durante el año pasado hubo una disminución en los despachos de entre
42.000 y 52.000 barriles por día.
En el caso de los envíos de Petróleos de Venezuela a territorio cubano,
hubo una disminución de entre 23% y 32% con respecto a los 104.000
barriles diarios que se exportaron durante 2012.
"Tenemos un total de unos 70.000 a 80.000 barriles diarios que estamos
enviando a Cuba, los procesamos y estamos atendiendo el mercado caribeño
desde allá", dijo el ministro de Petróleo y Minería, Rafael Ramírez.,
durante la reciente Comisión Intergubernamental Venezuela – Cuba. Esto
implica una disminución en números absolutos de entre 24.000 y 34.000
barriles por día de acuerdo a lo señalado por el funcionario.
De igual manera las cifras preliminares que se tienen con respecto a los
despachos hacia las naciones de Petrocaribe, dan cuenta de un recorte
por el orden de 14,8% al pasar de 121.000 a 103.000 barriles por día.
La mayor parte de la disminución se ha hecho en los despachos de
combustibles sobre todo de diese,l debido a la necesidad que existen
para atender la demanda en el país para las plantas térmicas de
generación de electricidad.
Pdvsa ha realizado parte de los despachos de combustibles hacia las
naciones del Caribe desde Cuba, tomando en cuenta los productos que se
están obteniendo en la refinería de Cienfuegos, en la que la empresa
petrolera de ese país, Cupet, tiene 51% y la petrolera venezolana 49%.
Para efectos de cuentas externas, las exportaciones de la compañía
Cuvenpetrol quedan registradas a favor de Cuba.
Source: Pdvsa recortó exportaciones hacia Cuba y Petrocaribe -
http://www.el-nacional.com/economia/Pdvsa-recorto-exportaciones-Cuba-Petrocaribe_0_363563835.html
Lining a Dictator's Pockets
Lining a Dictator's Pockets
No good would come of lifting the embargo on Cuba.
By Jorge Benitez Feb. 27, 2014
Based on a new poll it commissioned on U.S. relations with Cuba, the
Atlantic Council issued a report recently calling for a "policy shift"
that would end the U.S. embargo on the Castro regime. But when asked to
respond to the statement that "after more than 50 years of no U.S.
relations with Cuba the Castro regime remains in power," 51 percent of
those polled want to keep the current policy in place.
Nevertheless, the key issue is not whether the embargo is popular.
Rather, the main question is, would dropping the embargo better serve
the interests of the United States? The answer to this question remains
a strong "no," because ending the embargo would be bad business,
strengthen an oppressive government and abandon American values.
The U.S. should not normalize trade with the Castro regime for the plain
and simple reasons that his ventures lose money and his government is an
international "deadbeat." Any economic partnerships with authoritarian
regimes are morally suspect, but making deals with the Castro government
is pouring billions of dollars down the drain. In 1986, Cuba defaulted
on its multibillion dollar debt to the Paris Club of nations. That debt
is now estimated to be around $37 billion and the Castro government
refuses to pay it. A couple of months ago, Russia had to write off 90
percent of Cuba's $32 billion debt. That's almost $29 billion dollars
that Castro will never pay back to Moscow. In November, Mexico wrote off
$340 million of Cuba's debt to its development bank, Bancomext. It is no
wonder that, according to Moody's, Cuba's credit rating is Caaa1, which
means worse than highly speculative and a "substantial risk" to investors.
It makes no business sense to drop the embargo for the sake of trading
with a government that reneged on so many loans its credit rating is now
at the subprime or "junk bond" level. Yet, loans are what would be
necessary to "normalize" relations with Cuba. The embargo allows for
U.S. food and humanitarian supplies to be sold to Cuba. In fact, the
U.S. is currently the fifth largest exporter to Cuba. The big difference
is that, according to the embargo, the Castro government must pay for
all U.S. imports with cash, no credit allowed.
[See a collection of political cartoons on the economy.]
This brings us to the most overlooked and dangerous factor in trading
with Cuba. Most of the Cuban economy is owned by the Castro government
and all foreign trade is channeled through agencies that support the
regime. For example, all foreign companies must pay wages in hard
currency (dollars or euros) to the Cuban government, and from those
wages the state pays in local currency (Cuban pesos) a small percentage
to the individual employees. As a report by the Brooking Foundation
described it: "If the firm pays the employment agency $500 a month and
the employment agency pays the workers 500 pesos, over 90 percent of the
wage payment disappears in the currency conversion; the effective
compensation is instantly deflated to $21 per month." Brookings said
this may be "the world's heaviest labor tax." Or as one Cuban worker
disclosed: "In Cuba, it's a great myth that we live off the state. In
fact, it's the state that lives off of us."
This is why decades of trade between Cuba and market economies in
Europe, Canada and Latin America have only lined the pockets of the
Castro government and not produced any of the promised political or
economic benefits for the people of Cuba. This is what "normalized"
relations with Cuba looks like. If the U.S. dropped the embargo, our
companies would join those from around the world that pay dearly to the
Castro regime as it exploits the Cuban people. It is this corrupt
system, not the embargo, which deprives the people of Cuba of the
benefits of trade and the skill of their labor. As the U.S. argued in
the United Nations, "the Cuban Government's own policy was the largest
obstacle to the country's own development, concentrating political and
economic decisions in the hands of the few and stifling economic growth."
Ending the embargo on the Castro regime would be a blow not only to
American wallets, but also to American values. The American people want
"free trade with free people," not manipulated trade that strengthens an
authoritarian government's oppression of its people. The Castro regime
is on its last few breaths and the Cuban Spring will soon come to
millions who will remember that for decades the U.S. chose solidarity
with the Cuban people instead of business partnerships with the dictator
in Havana.
Jorge Benitez is director of the NATOSource blog and a senior fellow at
the Atlantic Council.
Source: Lifting the U.S. Embargo on Castro's Cuba Would Be a Mistake -
US News -
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2014/02/27/lifting-the-us-embargo-on-castros-cuba-would-be-a-mistake
No good would come of lifting the embargo on Cuba.
By Jorge Benitez Feb. 27, 2014
Based on a new poll it commissioned on U.S. relations with Cuba, the
Atlantic Council issued a report recently calling for a "policy shift"
that would end the U.S. embargo on the Castro regime. But when asked to
respond to the statement that "after more than 50 years of no U.S.
relations with Cuba the Castro regime remains in power," 51 percent of
those polled want to keep the current policy in place.
Nevertheless, the key issue is not whether the embargo is popular.
Rather, the main question is, would dropping the embargo better serve
the interests of the United States? The answer to this question remains
a strong "no," because ending the embargo would be bad business,
strengthen an oppressive government and abandon American values.
The U.S. should not normalize trade with the Castro regime for the plain
and simple reasons that his ventures lose money and his government is an
international "deadbeat." Any economic partnerships with authoritarian
regimes are morally suspect, but making deals with the Castro government
is pouring billions of dollars down the drain. In 1986, Cuba defaulted
on its multibillion dollar debt to the Paris Club of nations. That debt
is now estimated to be around $37 billion and the Castro government
refuses to pay it. A couple of months ago, Russia had to write off 90
percent of Cuba's $32 billion debt. That's almost $29 billion dollars
that Castro will never pay back to Moscow. In November, Mexico wrote off
$340 million of Cuba's debt to its development bank, Bancomext. It is no
wonder that, according to Moody's, Cuba's credit rating is Caaa1, which
means worse than highly speculative and a "substantial risk" to investors.
It makes no business sense to drop the embargo for the sake of trading
with a government that reneged on so many loans its credit rating is now
at the subprime or "junk bond" level. Yet, loans are what would be
necessary to "normalize" relations with Cuba. The embargo allows for
U.S. food and humanitarian supplies to be sold to Cuba. In fact, the
U.S. is currently the fifth largest exporter to Cuba. The big difference
is that, according to the embargo, the Castro government must pay for
all U.S. imports with cash, no credit allowed.
[See a collection of political cartoons on the economy.]
This brings us to the most overlooked and dangerous factor in trading
with Cuba. Most of the Cuban economy is owned by the Castro government
and all foreign trade is channeled through agencies that support the
regime. For example, all foreign companies must pay wages in hard
currency (dollars or euros) to the Cuban government, and from those
wages the state pays in local currency (Cuban pesos) a small percentage
to the individual employees. As a report by the Brooking Foundation
described it: "If the firm pays the employment agency $500 a month and
the employment agency pays the workers 500 pesos, over 90 percent of the
wage payment disappears in the currency conversion; the effective
compensation is instantly deflated to $21 per month." Brookings said
this may be "the world's heaviest labor tax." Or as one Cuban worker
disclosed: "In Cuba, it's a great myth that we live off the state. In
fact, it's the state that lives off of us."
This is why decades of trade between Cuba and market economies in
Europe, Canada and Latin America have only lined the pockets of the
Castro government and not produced any of the promised political or
economic benefits for the people of Cuba. This is what "normalized"
relations with Cuba looks like. If the U.S. dropped the embargo, our
companies would join those from around the world that pay dearly to the
Castro regime as it exploits the Cuban people. It is this corrupt
system, not the embargo, which deprives the people of Cuba of the
benefits of trade and the skill of their labor. As the U.S. argued in
the United Nations, "the Cuban Government's own policy was the largest
obstacle to the country's own development, concentrating political and
economic decisions in the hands of the few and stifling economic growth."
Ending the embargo on the Castro regime would be a blow not only to
American wallets, but also to American values. The American people want
"free trade with free people," not manipulated trade that strengthens an
authoritarian government's oppression of its people. The Castro regime
is on its last few breaths and the Cuban Spring will soon come to
millions who will remember that for decades the U.S. chose solidarity
with the Cuban people instead of business partnerships with the dictator
in Havana.
Jorge Benitez is director of the NATOSource blog and a senior fellow at
the Atlantic Council.
Source: Lifting the U.S. Embargo on Castro's Cuba Would Be a Mistake -
US News -
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2014/02/27/lifting-the-us-embargo-on-castros-cuba-would-be-a-mistake
Lining a Dictator's Pockets
Lining a Dictator's Pockets
No good would come of lifting the embargo on Cuba.
By Jorge Benitez Feb. 27, 2014
Based on a new poll it commissioned on U.S. relations with Cuba, the
Atlantic Council issued a report recently calling for a "policy shift"
that would end the U.S. embargo on the Castro regime. But when asked to
respond to the statement that "after more than 50 years of no U.S.
relations with Cuba the Castro regime remains in power," 51 percent of
those polled want to keep the current policy in place.
Nevertheless, the key issue is not whether the embargo is popular.
Rather, the main question is, would dropping the embargo better serve
the interests of the United States? The answer to this question remains
a strong "no," because ending the embargo would be bad business,
strengthen an oppressive government and abandon American values.
The U.S. should not normalize trade with the Castro regime for the plain
and simple reasons that his ventures lose money and his government is an
international "deadbeat." Any economic partnerships with authoritarian
regimes are morally suspect, but making deals with the Castro government
is pouring billions of dollars down the drain. In 1986, Cuba defaulted
on its multibillion dollar debt to the Paris Club of nations. That debt
is now estimated to be around $37 billion and the Castro government
refuses to pay it. A couple of months ago, Russia had to write off 90
percent of Cuba's $32 billion debt. That's almost $29 billion dollars
that Castro will never pay back to Moscow. In November, Mexico wrote off
$340 million of Cuba's debt to its development bank, Bancomext. It is no
wonder that, according to Moody's, Cuba's credit rating is Caaa1, which
means worse than highly speculative and a "substantial risk" to investors.
It makes no business sense to drop the embargo for the sake of trading
with a government that reneged on so many loans its credit rating is now
at the subprime or "junk bond" level. Yet, loans are what would be
necessary to "normalize" relations with Cuba. The embargo allows for
U.S. food and humanitarian supplies to be sold to Cuba. In fact, the
U.S. is currently the fifth largest exporter to Cuba. The big difference
is that, according to the embargo, the Castro government must pay for
all U.S. imports with cash, no credit allowed.
[See a collection of political cartoons on the economy.]
This brings us to the most overlooked and dangerous factor in trading
with Cuba. Most of the Cuban economy is owned by the Castro government
and all foreign trade is channeled through agencies that support the
regime. For example, all foreign companies must pay wages in hard
currency (dollars or euros) to the Cuban government, and from those
wages the state pays in local currency (Cuban pesos) a small percentage
to the individual employees. As a report by the Brooking Foundation
described it: "If the firm pays the employment agency $500 a month and
the employment agency pays the workers 500 pesos, over 90 percent of the
wage payment disappears in the currency conversion; the effective
compensation is instantly deflated to $21 per month." Brookings said
this may be "the world's heaviest labor tax." Or as one Cuban worker
disclosed: "In Cuba, it's a great myth that we live off the state. In
fact, it's the state that lives off of us."
This is why decades of trade between Cuba and market economies in
Europe, Canada and Latin America have only lined the pockets of the
Castro government and not produced any of the promised political or
economic benefits for the people of Cuba. This is what "normalized"
relations with Cuba looks like. If the U.S. dropped the embargo, our
companies would join those from around the world that pay dearly to the
Castro regime as it exploits the Cuban people. It is this corrupt
system, not the embargo, which deprives the people of Cuba of the
benefits of trade and the skill of their labor. As the U.S. argued in
the United Nations, "the Cuban Government's own policy was the largest
obstacle to the country's own development, concentrating political and
economic decisions in the hands of the few and stifling economic growth."
Ending the embargo on the Castro regime would be a blow not only to
American wallets, but also to American values. The American people want
"free trade with free people," not manipulated trade that strengthens an
authoritarian government's oppression of its people. The Castro regime
is on its last few breaths and the Cuban Spring will soon come to
millions who will remember that for decades the U.S. chose solidarity
with the Cuban people instead of business partnerships with the dictator
in Havana.
Jorge Benitez is director of the NATOSource blog and a senior fellow at
the Atlantic Council.
Source: Lifting the U.S. Embargo on Castro's Cuba Would Be a Mistake -
US News -
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2014/02/27/lifting-the-us-embargo-on-castros-cuba-would-be-a-mistake
No good would come of lifting the embargo on Cuba.
By Jorge Benitez Feb. 27, 2014
Based on a new poll it commissioned on U.S. relations with Cuba, the
Atlantic Council issued a report recently calling for a "policy shift"
that would end the U.S. embargo on the Castro regime. But when asked to
respond to the statement that "after more than 50 years of no U.S.
relations with Cuba the Castro regime remains in power," 51 percent of
those polled want to keep the current policy in place.
Nevertheless, the key issue is not whether the embargo is popular.
Rather, the main question is, would dropping the embargo better serve
the interests of the United States? The answer to this question remains
a strong "no," because ending the embargo would be bad business,
strengthen an oppressive government and abandon American values.
The U.S. should not normalize trade with the Castro regime for the plain
and simple reasons that his ventures lose money and his government is an
international "deadbeat." Any economic partnerships with authoritarian
regimes are morally suspect, but making deals with the Castro government
is pouring billions of dollars down the drain. In 1986, Cuba defaulted
on its multibillion dollar debt to the Paris Club of nations. That debt
is now estimated to be around $37 billion and the Castro government
refuses to pay it. A couple of months ago, Russia had to write off 90
percent of Cuba's $32 billion debt. That's almost $29 billion dollars
that Castro will never pay back to Moscow. In November, Mexico wrote off
$340 million of Cuba's debt to its development bank, Bancomext. It is no
wonder that, according to Moody's, Cuba's credit rating is Caaa1, which
means worse than highly speculative and a "substantial risk" to investors.
It makes no business sense to drop the embargo for the sake of trading
with a government that reneged on so many loans its credit rating is now
at the subprime or "junk bond" level. Yet, loans are what would be
necessary to "normalize" relations with Cuba. The embargo allows for
U.S. food and humanitarian supplies to be sold to Cuba. In fact, the
U.S. is currently the fifth largest exporter to Cuba. The big difference
is that, according to the embargo, the Castro government must pay for
all U.S. imports with cash, no credit allowed.
[See a collection of political cartoons on the economy.]
This brings us to the most overlooked and dangerous factor in trading
with Cuba. Most of the Cuban economy is owned by the Castro government
and all foreign trade is channeled through agencies that support the
regime. For example, all foreign companies must pay wages in hard
currency (dollars or euros) to the Cuban government, and from those
wages the state pays in local currency (Cuban pesos) a small percentage
to the individual employees. As a report by the Brooking Foundation
described it: "If the firm pays the employment agency $500 a month and
the employment agency pays the workers 500 pesos, over 90 percent of the
wage payment disappears in the currency conversion; the effective
compensation is instantly deflated to $21 per month." Brookings said
this may be "the world's heaviest labor tax." Or as one Cuban worker
disclosed: "In Cuba, it's a great myth that we live off the state. In
fact, it's the state that lives off of us."
This is why decades of trade between Cuba and market economies in
Europe, Canada and Latin America have only lined the pockets of the
Castro government and not produced any of the promised political or
economic benefits for the people of Cuba. This is what "normalized"
relations with Cuba looks like. If the U.S. dropped the embargo, our
companies would join those from around the world that pay dearly to the
Castro regime as it exploits the Cuban people. It is this corrupt
system, not the embargo, which deprives the people of Cuba of the
benefits of trade and the skill of their labor. As the U.S. argued in
the United Nations, "the Cuban Government's own policy was the largest
obstacle to the country's own development, concentrating political and
economic decisions in the hands of the few and stifling economic growth."
Ending the embargo on the Castro regime would be a blow not only to
American wallets, but also to American values. The American people want
"free trade with free people," not manipulated trade that strengthens an
authoritarian government's oppression of its people. The Castro regime
is on its last few breaths and the Cuban Spring will soon come to
millions who will remember that for decades the U.S. chose solidarity
with the Cuban people instead of business partnerships with the dictator
in Havana.
Jorge Benitez is director of the NATOSource blog and a senior fellow at
the Atlantic Council.
Source: Lifting the U.S. Embargo on Castro's Cuba Would Be a Mistake -
US News -
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2014/02/27/lifting-the-us-embargo-on-castros-cuba-would-be-a-mistake
jueves, 27 de febrero de 2014
Rubio Destroys Harkin on Cuba
Rubio Destroys Harkin on Cuba
February 26, 2014
BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: I'm kind of torn here 'cause I've really got some interesting
callers on and I've gotta do this Marco Rubio response to Tom Harkin
because he just nails Harkin, and this is classic. So I'm gonna try to
get a lot of stuff done here. Let's start with Harkin. This was late
Monday afternoon on the Senate floor. Harkin just got back from Cuba,
and he's singing their praises.
HARKIN: When a woman gets pregnant in Cuba, she gets visited
immediately, well, soon as they know about it. She gets visited by a
nurse. She gets visited by health officials who put her on a better
diet, make sure she doesn't smoke, provide supportive services for her
during her pregnancy, make sure that there's someone there for the
birth, and that child is -- everything is just covered from the earliest
time of pregnancy through early childhood.
RUSH: It's a paradise, why, it's an absolute paradise. Do you believe
that excrement? When they find out that a woman is pregnant in Cuba --
how often do they find out? When they find out she gets visited
immediately. Well, as soon as they know about it, she gets visited by a
nurse, a health official who puts her on a better diet. No way do we
care as much as the Cubans do, see. They do it right. We don't care at
all. We're insensitive. We don't have any prenatal care, postnatal care.
We don't have any kind of care. But the Cubans, they do it right because
in Cuba, medicine is a public government service.
HARKIN: One of the key features of what Cuba has done is they have made
the practice of medicine a public service, a public service, in all
aspects, whether you're a doctor or a surgeon or a nurse or various
other health practitioners. It is a public service. The life span is now
even longer than ours in the United States.
RUSH: Just not true. I mean, this is just incredible. Cuba is a
hellhole. It is so backward the infrastructure is falling apart. The
newest car you can get is a '57 Chevy. Well, maybe some of the
limousines for the mob that's going back in there to set up casinos now
at some of the hotels. But, I mean, this is just -- did you hear that
medicine is a public service. Yes, there's no profit in it. It's just
people who care. Government people who care, from the surgeons to the
nurses, to various other health practitioners, it's just people who
care, it's a public service. And you know what? You know what?
Everything is free in Cuba.
HARKIN: Every one of these students are going to medical school, and you
know what it costs them? Zero. Not one cent. The 108 students that are
there, pay nothing. We have over 90 graduates of this school back here
in America right now. And that's another thing, whenever we traveled all
over Cuba, I went to the clinics, and I talked to health people, I'd
always ask them, "What did it cost you to go to the school? Do you have
student debt?" No. Medical school is free. There is no cost to going to
medical school. None whatsoever.
RUSH: It's a paradise. It's a literal paradise. The people involved in
health care don't get paid because it's a public service. They just
care. The students don't get paid because it doesn't cost them to become
doctors and nurses. There is no debt. Everybody just does for everybody
else because they care. Everything is public service, and everything is
free, and they're living longer. Well, Marco Rubio was watching this in
his office, and he literally charged to the Senate floor and rebutted this.
RUBIO: A few moments ago the body was treated to a report from the
senator from Iowa about his recent trip to Cuba. It sounded like he had
a wonderful trip visiting what he described as a real paradise. I heard
him also talk about these great doctors that they have in Cuba, and I
have no doubt they're very talented; I've met a bunch of them. You know
where I met them? In the United States, because they defected. Because,
in Cuba, doctors would rather drive a taxicab or work in a hotel than be
a doctor. I wonder if they spoke to him about the outbreak of cholera
that they've been unable to control, or about the three-tiered system of
health care that exists, where foreigners and government officials get a
health care much better than that that's available to the general
population.
RUSH: That's probably what they showed Harkin. And, Rubio, he wasn't
finished.
RUBIO: Who are Cuba's allies in the world? North Korea; before he fell,
the dictator in Libya; the dictator in Syria; the tyrant in Moscow. This
is who they line up with. This is this wonderful paradise? By the way,
this in and of itself deserves attention, what's happening in Venezuela,
in our own hemisphere. It's shameful that only three heads of state in
this hemisphere have spoken up forcefully against what's happening. It
is shameful that many members of Congress who traveled to Venezuela and
were friendly with Chavez -- some even went to his funeral -- sit by
saying nothing while this is happening, in our own hemisphere. And this
wonderful Cuban paradise government that we heard about? This is what
they support.
RUSH: If it's such a paradise, why isn't everybody going there?
RUBIO: We have to listen to what a paradise Cuba is. Well, I wonder, how
come I never read about boatloads of American refugees going to Cuba?
Why don't any American doctors defect to Cuba, if it's such a paradise?
If America and its policy makers are not gonna be firmly on the side of
freedom and liberty, who in the world is? Who on this planet will? If
this nation is not firmly on the side of human rights and freedom and
the dignity of all people, what nation on the earth will? And if we are
prepared to walk away from that then I submit to you that this century
is gonna be a dangerous and dark one.
RUSH: That wasn't the best of what he had to say, though. He said, "Let
me tell you what the Cubans are really good at, because they don't know
how to run their economy. They don't know how to build. They don't know
how to govern a people. What they're really good at is repression."
He cited a poll. "More Americans want normal relations with Cuba. So do
I -- a democratic and free Cuba. But you want us to reach out and
develop friendly relationships with a serial violator of human rights,
who supports what's going on in Venezuela and every other atrocity on
the planet? On issue after issue, they are always on the side of the
tyrants. Look it up. And this is who we should be opening up to? Why
don't they change? Why doesn't the Cuban government change? Why doesn't
the Venezuelan government change?"
Why is it up to us to change? Why is it they are the beacon and we are
the problem?
"But here's the great news. I don't know if they get C-SPAN in Cuba. I
bet you the government people do. I hope you see that in America, we're
a free society. You're allowed to come on the floor and you're allowed
to say and spread whatever you want. You think Cuba's a paradise? You
think it's an example and a model that we should be following? You're
free to say that, here, in the press and anywhere you want. But we're
also free to come here and tell the truth. We're also free to come here
and denounce the violations of human rights and brutality."
Just made mince of it. But here, you heard Harkin, this guy's in love.
He's literally in love, blinded and obsessed, because it's socialism,
which history proves is a dismal failure everywhere it's tried: Ukraine,
Venezuela, Cuba, Detroit. This is absolute insanity to listen to Tom
Harkin go on and on and on with such love for Cuba, what a paradise it
is. But it isn't. We haven't had communism blasted like Rubio did it by
an elected official in I don't know how long. Certainly since the days
of Reagan. We have not had an elected official in public bash a
communist regime like this in I can't tell you how long.
Source: Rubio Destroys Harkin on Cuba - The Rush Limbaugh Show -
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/02/26/rubio_destroys_harkin_on_cuba
February 26, 2014
BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: I'm kind of torn here 'cause I've really got some interesting
callers on and I've gotta do this Marco Rubio response to Tom Harkin
because he just nails Harkin, and this is classic. So I'm gonna try to
get a lot of stuff done here. Let's start with Harkin. This was late
Monday afternoon on the Senate floor. Harkin just got back from Cuba,
and he's singing their praises.
HARKIN: When a woman gets pregnant in Cuba, she gets visited
immediately, well, soon as they know about it. She gets visited by a
nurse. She gets visited by health officials who put her on a better
diet, make sure she doesn't smoke, provide supportive services for her
during her pregnancy, make sure that there's someone there for the
birth, and that child is -- everything is just covered from the earliest
time of pregnancy through early childhood.
RUSH: It's a paradise, why, it's an absolute paradise. Do you believe
that excrement? When they find out that a woman is pregnant in Cuba --
how often do they find out? When they find out she gets visited
immediately. Well, as soon as they know about it, she gets visited by a
nurse, a health official who puts her on a better diet. No way do we
care as much as the Cubans do, see. They do it right. We don't care at
all. We're insensitive. We don't have any prenatal care, postnatal care.
We don't have any kind of care. But the Cubans, they do it right because
in Cuba, medicine is a public government service.
HARKIN: One of the key features of what Cuba has done is they have made
the practice of medicine a public service, a public service, in all
aspects, whether you're a doctor or a surgeon or a nurse or various
other health practitioners. It is a public service. The life span is now
even longer than ours in the United States.
RUSH: Just not true. I mean, this is just incredible. Cuba is a
hellhole. It is so backward the infrastructure is falling apart. The
newest car you can get is a '57 Chevy. Well, maybe some of the
limousines for the mob that's going back in there to set up casinos now
at some of the hotels. But, I mean, this is just -- did you hear that
medicine is a public service. Yes, there's no profit in it. It's just
people who care. Government people who care, from the surgeons to the
nurses, to various other health practitioners, it's just people who
care, it's a public service. And you know what? You know what?
Everything is free in Cuba.
HARKIN: Every one of these students are going to medical school, and you
know what it costs them? Zero. Not one cent. The 108 students that are
there, pay nothing. We have over 90 graduates of this school back here
in America right now. And that's another thing, whenever we traveled all
over Cuba, I went to the clinics, and I talked to health people, I'd
always ask them, "What did it cost you to go to the school? Do you have
student debt?" No. Medical school is free. There is no cost to going to
medical school. None whatsoever.
RUSH: It's a paradise. It's a literal paradise. The people involved in
health care don't get paid because it's a public service. They just
care. The students don't get paid because it doesn't cost them to become
doctors and nurses. There is no debt. Everybody just does for everybody
else because they care. Everything is public service, and everything is
free, and they're living longer. Well, Marco Rubio was watching this in
his office, and he literally charged to the Senate floor and rebutted this.
RUBIO: A few moments ago the body was treated to a report from the
senator from Iowa about his recent trip to Cuba. It sounded like he had
a wonderful trip visiting what he described as a real paradise. I heard
him also talk about these great doctors that they have in Cuba, and I
have no doubt they're very talented; I've met a bunch of them. You know
where I met them? In the United States, because they defected. Because,
in Cuba, doctors would rather drive a taxicab or work in a hotel than be
a doctor. I wonder if they spoke to him about the outbreak of cholera
that they've been unable to control, or about the three-tiered system of
health care that exists, where foreigners and government officials get a
health care much better than that that's available to the general
population.
RUSH: That's probably what they showed Harkin. And, Rubio, he wasn't
finished.
RUBIO: Who are Cuba's allies in the world? North Korea; before he fell,
the dictator in Libya; the dictator in Syria; the tyrant in Moscow. This
is who they line up with. This is this wonderful paradise? By the way,
this in and of itself deserves attention, what's happening in Venezuela,
in our own hemisphere. It's shameful that only three heads of state in
this hemisphere have spoken up forcefully against what's happening. It
is shameful that many members of Congress who traveled to Venezuela and
were friendly with Chavez -- some even went to his funeral -- sit by
saying nothing while this is happening, in our own hemisphere. And this
wonderful Cuban paradise government that we heard about? This is what
they support.
RUSH: If it's such a paradise, why isn't everybody going there?
RUBIO: We have to listen to what a paradise Cuba is. Well, I wonder, how
come I never read about boatloads of American refugees going to Cuba?
Why don't any American doctors defect to Cuba, if it's such a paradise?
If America and its policy makers are not gonna be firmly on the side of
freedom and liberty, who in the world is? Who on this planet will? If
this nation is not firmly on the side of human rights and freedom and
the dignity of all people, what nation on the earth will? And if we are
prepared to walk away from that then I submit to you that this century
is gonna be a dangerous and dark one.
RUSH: That wasn't the best of what he had to say, though. He said, "Let
me tell you what the Cubans are really good at, because they don't know
how to run their economy. They don't know how to build. They don't know
how to govern a people. What they're really good at is repression."
He cited a poll. "More Americans want normal relations with Cuba. So do
I -- a democratic and free Cuba. But you want us to reach out and
develop friendly relationships with a serial violator of human rights,
who supports what's going on in Venezuela and every other atrocity on
the planet? On issue after issue, they are always on the side of the
tyrants. Look it up. And this is who we should be opening up to? Why
don't they change? Why doesn't the Cuban government change? Why doesn't
the Venezuelan government change?"
Why is it up to us to change? Why is it they are the beacon and we are
the problem?
"But here's the great news. I don't know if they get C-SPAN in Cuba. I
bet you the government people do. I hope you see that in America, we're
a free society. You're allowed to come on the floor and you're allowed
to say and spread whatever you want. You think Cuba's a paradise? You
think it's an example and a model that we should be following? You're
free to say that, here, in the press and anywhere you want. But we're
also free to come here and tell the truth. We're also free to come here
and denounce the violations of human rights and brutality."
Just made mince of it. But here, you heard Harkin, this guy's in love.
He's literally in love, blinded and obsessed, because it's socialism,
which history proves is a dismal failure everywhere it's tried: Ukraine,
Venezuela, Cuba, Detroit. This is absolute insanity to listen to Tom
Harkin go on and on and on with such love for Cuba, what a paradise it
is. But it isn't. We haven't had communism blasted like Rubio did it by
an elected official in I don't know how long. Certainly since the days
of Reagan. We have not had an elected official in public bash a
communist regime like this in I can't tell you how long.
Source: Rubio Destroys Harkin on Cuba - The Rush Limbaugh Show -
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/02/26/rubio_destroys_harkin_on_cuba
Rubio Destroys Harkin on Cuba
Rubio Destroys Harkin on Cuba
February 26, 2014
BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: I'm kind of torn here 'cause I've really got some interesting
callers on and I've gotta do this Marco Rubio response to Tom Harkin
because he just nails Harkin, and this is classic. So I'm gonna try to
get a lot of stuff done here. Let's start with Harkin. This was late
Monday afternoon on the Senate floor. Harkin just got back from Cuba,
and he's singing their praises.
HARKIN: When a woman gets pregnant in Cuba, she gets visited
immediately, well, soon as they know about it. She gets visited by a
nurse. She gets visited by health officials who put her on a better
diet, make sure she doesn't smoke, provide supportive services for her
during her pregnancy, make sure that there's someone there for the
birth, and that child is -- everything is just covered from the earliest
time of pregnancy through early childhood.
RUSH: It's a paradise, why, it's an absolute paradise. Do you believe
that excrement? When they find out that a woman is pregnant in Cuba --
how often do they find out? When they find out she gets visited
immediately. Well, as soon as they know about it, she gets visited by a
nurse, a health official who puts her on a better diet. No way do we
care as much as the Cubans do, see. They do it right. We don't care at
all. We're insensitive. We don't have any prenatal care, postnatal care.
We don't have any kind of care. But the Cubans, they do it right because
in Cuba, medicine is a public government service.
HARKIN: One of the key features of what Cuba has done is they have made
the practice of medicine a public service, a public service, in all
aspects, whether you're a doctor or a surgeon or a nurse or various
other health practitioners. It is a public service. The life span is now
even longer than ours in the United States.
RUSH: Just not true. I mean, this is just incredible. Cuba is a
hellhole. It is so backward the infrastructure is falling apart. The
newest car you can get is a '57 Chevy. Well, maybe some of the
limousines for the mob that's going back in there to set up casinos now
at some of the hotels. But, I mean, this is just -- did you hear that
medicine is a public service. Yes, there's no profit in it. It's just
people who care. Government people who care, from the surgeons to the
nurses, to various other health practitioners, it's just people who
care, it's a public service. And you know what? You know what?
Everything is free in Cuba.
HARKIN: Every one of these students are going to medical school, and you
know what it costs them? Zero. Not one cent. The 108 students that are
there, pay nothing. We have over 90 graduates of this school back here
in America right now. And that's another thing, whenever we traveled all
over Cuba, I went to the clinics, and I talked to health people, I'd
always ask them, "What did it cost you to go to the school? Do you have
student debt?" No. Medical school is free. There is no cost to going to
medical school. None whatsoever.
RUSH: It's a paradise. It's a literal paradise. The people involved in
health care don't get paid because it's a public service. They just
care. The students don't get paid because it doesn't cost them to become
doctors and nurses. There is no debt. Everybody just does for everybody
else because they care. Everything is public service, and everything is
free, and they're living longer. Well, Marco Rubio was watching this in
his office, and he literally charged to the Senate floor and rebutted this.
RUBIO: A few moments ago the body was treated to a report from the
senator from Iowa about his recent trip to Cuba. It sounded like he had
a wonderful trip visiting what he described as a real paradise. I heard
him also talk about these great doctors that they have in Cuba, and I
have no doubt they're very talented; I've met a bunch of them. You know
where I met them? In the United States, because they defected. Because,
in Cuba, doctors would rather drive a taxicab or work in a hotel than be
a doctor. I wonder if they spoke to him about the outbreak of cholera
that they've been unable to control, or about the three-tiered system of
health care that exists, where foreigners and government officials get a
health care much better than that that's available to the general
population.
RUSH: That's probably what they showed Harkin. And, Rubio, he wasn't
finished.
RUBIO: Who are Cuba's allies in the world? North Korea; before he fell,
the dictator in Libya; the dictator in Syria; the tyrant in Moscow. This
is who they line up with. This is this wonderful paradise? By the way,
this in and of itself deserves attention, what's happening in Venezuela,
in our own hemisphere. It's shameful that only three heads of state in
this hemisphere have spoken up forcefully against what's happening. It
is shameful that many members of Congress who traveled to Venezuela and
were friendly with Chavez -- some even went to his funeral -- sit by
saying nothing while this is happening, in our own hemisphere. And this
wonderful Cuban paradise government that we heard about? This is what
they support.
RUSH: If it's such a paradise, why isn't everybody going there?
RUBIO: We have to listen to what a paradise Cuba is. Well, I wonder, how
come I never read about boatloads of American refugees going to Cuba?
Why don't any American doctors defect to Cuba, if it's such a paradise?
If America and its policy makers are not gonna be firmly on the side of
freedom and liberty, who in the world is? Who on this planet will? If
this nation is not firmly on the side of human rights and freedom and
the dignity of all people, what nation on the earth will? And if we are
prepared to walk away from that then I submit to you that this century
is gonna be a dangerous and dark one.
RUSH: That wasn't the best of what he had to say, though. He said, "Let
me tell you what the Cubans are really good at, because they don't know
how to run their economy. They don't know how to build. They don't know
how to govern a people. What they're really good at is repression."
He cited a poll. "More Americans want normal relations with Cuba. So do
I -- a democratic and free Cuba. But you want us to reach out and
develop friendly relationships with a serial violator of human rights,
who supports what's going on in Venezuela and every other atrocity on
the planet? On issue after issue, they are always on the side of the
tyrants. Look it up. And this is who we should be opening up to? Why
don't they change? Why doesn't the Cuban government change? Why doesn't
the Venezuelan government change?"
Why is it up to us to change? Why is it they are the beacon and we are
the problem?
"But here's the great news. I don't know if they get C-SPAN in Cuba. I
bet you the government people do. I hope you see that in America, we're
a free society. You're allowed to come on the floor and you're allowed
to say and spread whatever you want. You think Cuba's a paradise? You
think it's an example and a model that we should be following? You're
free to say that, here, in the press and anywhere you want. But we're
also free to come here and tell the truth. We're also free to come here
and denounce the violations of human rights and brutality."
Just made mince of it. But here, you heard Harkin, this guy's in love.
He's literally in love, blinded and obsessed, because it's socialism,
which history proves is a dismal failure everywhere it's tried: Ukraine,
Venezuela, Cuba, Detroit. This is absolute insanity to listen to Tom
Harkin go on and on and on with such love for Cuba, what a paradise it
is. But it isn't. We haven't had communism blasted like Rubio did it by
an elected official in I don't know how long. Certainly since the days
of Reagan. We have not had an elected official in public bash a
communist regime like this in I can't tell you how long.
Source: Rubio Destroys Harkin on Cuba - The Rush Limbaugh Show -
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/02/26/rubio_destroys_harkin_on_cuba
February 26, 2014
BEGIN TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: I'm kind of torn here 'cause I've really got some interesting
callers on and I've gotta do this Marco Rubio response to Tom Harkin
because he just nails Harkin, and this is classic. So I'm gonna try to
get a lot of stuff done here. Let's start with Harkin. This was late
Monday afternoon on the Senate floor. Harkin just got back from Cuba,
and he's singing their praises.
HARKIN: When a woman gets pregnant in Cuba, she gets visited
immediately, well, soon as they know about it. She gets visited by a
nurse. She gets visited by health officials who put her on a better
diet, make sure she doesn't smoke, provide supportive services for her
during her pregnancy, make sure that there's someone there for the
birth, and that child is -- everything is just covered from the earliest
time of pregnancy through early childhood.
RUSH: It's a paradise, why, it's an absolute paradise. Do you believe
that excrement? When they find out that a woman is pregnant in Cuba --
how often do they find out? When they find out she gets visited
immediately. Well, as soon as they know about it, she gets visited by a
nurse, a health official who puts her on a better diet. No way do we
care as much as the Cubans do, see. They do it right. We don't care at
all. We're insensitive. We don't have any prenatal care, postnatal care.
We don't have any kind of care. But the Cubans, they do it right because
in Cuba, medicine is a public government service.
HARKIN: One of the key features of what Cuba has done is they have made
the practice of medicine a public service, a public service, in all
aspects, whether you're a doctor or a surgeon or a nurse or various
other health practitioners. It is a public service. The life span is now
even longer than ours in the United States.
RUSH: Just not true. I mean, this is just incredible. Cuba is a
hellhole. It is so backward the infrastructure is falling apart. The
newest car you can get is a '57 Chevy. Well, maybe some of the
limousines for the mob that's going back in there to set up casinos now
at some of the hotels. But, I mean, this is just -- did you hear that
medicine is a public service. Yes, there's no profit in it. It's just
people who care. Government people who care, from the surgeons to the
nurses, to various other health practitioners, it's just people who
care, it's a public service. And you know what? You know what?
Everything is free in Cuba.
HARKIN: Every one of these students are going to medical school, and you
know what it costs them? Zero. Not one cent. The 108 students that are
there, pay nothing. We have over 90 graduates of this school back here
in America right now. And that's another thing, whenever we traveled all
over Cuba, I went to the clinics, and I talked to health people, I'd
always ask them, "What did it cost you to go to the school? Do you have
student debt?" No. Medical school is free. There is no cost to going to
medical school. None whatsoever.
RUSH: It's a paradise. It's a literal paradise. The people involved in
health care don't get paid because it's a public service. They just
care. The students don't get paid because it doesn't cost them to become
doctors and nurses. There is no debt. Everybody just does for everybody
else because they care. Everything is public service, and everything is
free, and they're living longer. Well, Marco Rubio was watching this in
his office, and he literally charged to the Senate floor and rebutted this.
RUBIO: A few moments ago the body was treated to a report from the
senator from Iowa about his recent trip to Cuba. It sounded like he had
a wonderful trip visiting what he described as a real paradise. I heard
him also talk about these great doctors that they have in Cuba, and I
have no doubt they're very talented; I've met a bunch of them. You know
where I met them? In the United States, because they defected. Because,
in Cuba, doctors would rather drive a taxicab or work in a hotel than be
a doctor. I wonder if they spoke to him about the outbreak of cholera
that they've been unable to control, or about the three-tiered system of
health care that exists, where foreigners and government officials get a
health care much better than that that's available to the general
population.
RUSH: That's probably what they showed Harkin. And, Rubio, he wasn't
finished.
RUBIO: Who are Cuba's allies in the world? North Korea; before he fell,
the dictator in Libya; the dictator in Syria; the tyrant in Moscow. This
is who they line up with. This is this wonderful paradise? By the way,
this in and of itself deserves attention, what's happening in Venezuela,
in our own hemisphere. It's shameful that only three heads of state in
this hemisphere have spoken up forcefully against what's happening. It
is shameful that many members of Congress who traveled to Venezuela and
were friendly with Chavez -- some even went to his funeral -- sit by
saying nothing while this is happening, in our own hemisphere. And this
wonderful Cuban paradise government that we heard about? This is what
they support.
RUSH: If it's such a paradise, why isn't everybody going there?
RUBIO: We have to listen to what a paradise Cuba is. Well, I wonder, how
come I never read about boatloads of American refugees going to Cuba?
Why don't any American doctors defect to Cuba, if it's such a paradise?
If America and its policy makers are not gonna be firmly on the side of
freedom and liberty, who in the world is? Who on this planet will? If
this nation is not firmly on the side of human rights and freedom and
the dignity of all people, what nation on the earth will? And if we are
prepared to walk away from that then I submit to you that this century
is gonna be a dangerous and dark one.
RUSH: That wasn't the best of what he had to say, though. He said, "Let
me tell you what the Cubans are really good at, because they don't know
how to run their economy. They don't know how to build. They don't know
how to govern a people. What they're really good at is repression."
He cited a poll. "More Americans want normal relations with Cuba. So do
I -- a democratic and free Cuba. But you want us to reach out and
develop friendly relationships with a serial violator of human rights,
who supports what's going on in Venezuela and every other atrocity on
the planet? On issue after issue, they are always on the side of the
tyrants. Look it up. And this is who we should be opening up to? Why
don't they change? Why doesn't the Cuban government change? Why doesn't
the Venezuelan government change?"
Why is it up to us to change? Why is it they are the beacon and we are
the problem?
"But here's the great news. I don't know if they get C-SPAN in Cuba. I
bet you the government people do. I hope you see that in America, we're
a free society. You're allowed to come on the floor and you're allowed
to say and spread whatever you want. You think Cuba's a paradise? You
think it's an example and a model that we should be following? You're
free to say that, here, in the press and anywhere you want. But we're
also free to come here and tell the truth. We're also free to come here
and denounce the violations of human rights and brutality."
Just made mince of it. But here, you heard Harkin, this guy's in love.
He's literally in love, blinded and obsessed, because it's socialism,
which history proves is a dismal failure everywhere it's tried: Ukraine,
Venezuela, Cuba, Detroit. This is absolute insanity to listen to Tom
Harkin go on and on and on with such love for Cuba, what a paradise it
is. But it isn't. We haven't had communism blasted like Rubio did it by
an elected official in I don't know how long. Certainly since the days
of Reagan. We have not had an elected official in public bash a
communist regime like this in I can't tell you how long.
Source: Rubio Destroys Harkin on Cuba - The Rush Limbaugh Show -
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/02/26/rubio_destroys_harkin_on_cuba
Economic Independence?
Economic Independence? / Fernando Damaso
Posted on February 26, 2014
According to official propaganda — intended to validate the experimental
economic measures taken during his early years in power and which is
repeated incessantly — nationalizations and interventions were aimed at
returning the wealth held by foreigners, mostly American, to the people.
Statistics show, however, that this was not exactly the case. Those most
affected were in fact Cubans, who held between 82% and 85% of the
nation's wealth. This included the entrepreneurial and successful middle
class, the principal generator of wealth and employment, most of which
was liquidated during the early years. What little remained was finished
off during the ludicrous "Revolutionary Offensive" of the 1970s.
In his book, The Owners of Cuba 1958, Guillermo Jiménez focuses on the
island's 551 most influential and powerful families. He notes that only
102 were foreign; the rest were Cuban. In most instances the foreigners
were based in Cuba and had Cuban families, including all 65 from Spain.
There were 24 Americans, some of whom had Cuban wives and lived in Cuba.
At the time the nationalizations took place, the economy was largely in
Cuban hands. Some 61.1% of bank deposits were held in Cuban banks, while
Cuban-owned sugar processors accounted for 62.2 of daily production,
with Americans accounting for 38.4%.
I bring this up because now much is being said and written about the
importance of attracting foreign investment to shake the moribund Cuban
economy out of its coma. The same government responsible for expelling
Cuban investors (who were the majority) and foreign investors (who were
the minority), now calls for their return. And what about Cubans?
Priority should first be given to Cubans living in Cuba, then to Cubans
scattered around the world, and finally to foreigners. Or is it that the
authorities do not care about the vaunted economic independence?
It is true that in today's globalized world no one can pursue economic
development on his own, that capital is necessary, no matter where it
comes from. But there must be some respect shown to one's own nationals.
At least that is what one expects of intelligent governments which
actually look out for the interests of their citizens.
26 February 2014
Source: Economic Independence? / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/economic-independence-fernando-damaso/
Posted on February 26, 2014
According to official propaganda — intended to validate the experimental
economic measures taken during his early years in power and which is
repeated incessantly — nationalizations and interventions were aimed at
returning the wealth held by foreigners, mostly American, to the people.
Statistics show, however, that this was not exactly the case. Those most
affected were in fact Cubans, who held between 82% and 85% of the
nation's wealth. This included the entrepreneurial and successful middle
class, the principal generator of wealth and employment, most of which
was liquidated during the early years. What little remained was finished
off during the ludicrous "Revolutionary Offensive" of the 1970s.
In his book, The Owners of Cuba 1958, Guillermo Jiménez focuses on the
island's 551 most influential and powerful families. He notes that only
102 were foreign; the rest were Cuban. In most instances the foreigners
were based in Cuba and had Cuban families, including all 65 from Spain.
There were 24 Americans, some of whom had Cuban wives and lived in Cuba.
At the time the nationalizations took place, the economy was largely in
Cuban hands. Some 61.1% of bank deposits were held in Cuban banks, while
Cuban-owned sugar processors accounted for 62.2 of daily production,
with Americans accounting for 38.4%.
I bring this up because now much is being said and written about the
importance of attracting foreign investment to shake the moribund Cuban
economy out of its coma. The same government responsible for expelling
Cuban investors (who were the majority) and foreign investors (who were
the minority), now calls for their return. And what about Cubans?
Priority should first be given to Cubans living in Cuba, then to Cubans
scattered around the world, and finally to foreigners. Or is it that the
authorities do not care about the vaunted economic independence?
It is true that in today's globalized world no one can pursue economic
development on his own, that capital is necessary, no matter where it
comes from. But there must be some respect shown to one's own nationals.
At least that is what one expects of intelligent governments which
actually look out for the interests of their citizens.
26 February 2014
Source: Economic Independence? / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/economic-independence-fernando-damaso/
Economic Independence?
Economic Independence? / Fernando Damaso
Posted on February 26, 2014
According to official propaganda — intended to validate the experimental
economic measures taken during his early years in power and which is
repeated incessantly — nationalizations and interventions were aimed at
returning the wealth held by foreigners, mostly American, to the people.
Statistics show, however, that this was not exactly the case. Those most
affected were in fact Cubans, who held between 82% and 85% of the
nation's wealth. This included the entrepreneurial and successful middle
class, the principal generator of wealth and employment, most of which
was liquidated during the early years. What little remained was finished
off during the ludicrous "Revolutionary Offensive" of the 1970s.
In his book, The Owners of Cuba 1958, Guillermo Jiménez focuses on the
island's 551 most influential and powerful families. He notes that only
102 were foreign; the rest were Cuban. In most instances the foreigners
were based in Cuba and had Cuban families, including all 65 from Spain.
There were 24 Americans, some of whom had Cuban wives and lived in Cuba.
At the time the nationalizations took place, the economy was largely in
Cuban hands. Some 61.1% of bank deposits were held in Cuban banks, while
Cuban-owned sugar processors accounted for 62.2 of daily production,
with Americans accounting for 38.4%.
I bring this up because now much is being said and written about the
importance of attracting foreign investment to shake the moribund Cuban
economy out of its coma. The same government responsible for expelling
Cuban investors (who were the majority) and foreign investors (who were
the minority), now calls for their return. And what about Cubans?
Priority should first be given to Cubans living in Cuba, then to Cubans
scattered around the world, and finally to foreigners. Or is it that the
authorities do not care about the vaunted economic independence?
It is true that in today's globalized world no one can pursue economic
development on his own, that capital is necessary, no matter where it
comes from. But there must be some respect shown to one's own nationals.
At least that is what one expects of intelligent governments which
actually look out for the interests of their citizens.
26 February 2014
Source: Economic Independence? / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/economic-independence-fernando-damaso/
Posted on February 26, 2014
According to official propaganda — intended to validate the experimental
economic measures taken during his early years in power and which is
repeated incessantly — nationalizations and interventions were aimed at
returning the wealth held by foreigners, mostly American, to the people.
Statistics show, however, that this was not exactly the case. Those most
affected were in fact Cubans, who held between 82% and 85% of the
nation's wealth. This included the entrepreneurial and successful middle
class, the principal generator of wealth and employment, most of which
was liquidated during the early years. What little remained was finished
off during the ludicrous "Revolutionary Offensive" of the 1970s.
In his book, The Owners of Cuba 1958, Guillermo Jiménez focuses on the
island's 551 most influential and powerful families. He notes that only
102 were foreign; the rest were Cuban. In most instances the foreigners
were based in Cuba and had Cuban families, including all 65 from Spain.
There were 24 Americans, some of whom had Cuban wives and lived in Cuba.
At the time the nationalizations took place, the economy was largely in
Cuban hands. Some 61.1% of bank deposits were held in Cuban banks, while
Cuban-owned sugar processors accounted for 62.2 of daily production,
with Americans accounting for 38.4%.
I bring this up because now much is being said and written about the
importance of attracting foreign investment to shake the moribund Cuban
economy out of its coma. The same government responsible for expelling
Cuban investors (who were the majority) and foreign investors (who were
the minority), now calls for their return. And what about Cubans?
Priority should first be given to Cubans living in Cuba, then to Cubans
scattered around the world, and finally to foreigners. Or is it that the
authorities do not care about the vaunted economic independence?
It is true that in today's globalized world no one can pursue economic
development on his own, that capital is necessary, no matter where it
comes from. But there must be some respect shown to one's own nationals.
At least that is what one expects of intelligent governments which
actually look out for the interests of their citizens.
26 February 2014
Source: Economic Independence? / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/economic-independence-fernando-damaso/
Winnipegger stuck in Cuba after hitting a pedestrian
Winnipegger stuck in Cuba after hitting a pedestrian
CBC News Posted: Feb 26, 2014 5:29 PM CT Last Updated: Feb 26, 2014 8:09
PM CT
He loves the place, but he can't get out of it fast enough.
Winnipegger Ted Barnett has been to Varadero, Cuba, three times and went
back again Jan. 11.
But a crash on a rented moped has put a dent in his return home.
Instead of a week-long stay, Barnett, 60, has been stuck in Cuba nearly
seven weeks, paying an ever-increasing hotel bill at the resort he booked.
Barnett hit a pedestrian while driving the vehicle. It broke the woman's
leg. He said it's rocked him to his core.
"I've never hurt anyone," he said. "I've never been in that type of a
situation. I just felt terrible."
Barnett said he's been told he won't face any charges, but the police
investigation has taken weeks to complete, and Barnett has been told he
is not allowed to go home.
"I'm being detained here, no doubt about it," he said. "Have I been
terrified about that? Yes."
Barnett told CBC his MTS international texting plan has been his
lifeline to the outside world. But he's desperate to return home.
"Has my mind been wandering? Oh, yeah," he said. "You think the worst
possible thing is happening to you and I guess being told you can't go
home is pretty bad."
An official with the department of foreign affairs would only say the
Canadian officials are assisting a Canadian in the country.
"Canadian consular officials in Havana, Cuba are providing consular
assistance to a Canadian citizen in Cuba and are in contact with local
authorities on the matter," said the spokesperson.
Sunwing Vacations, the travel agency Barnett booked his trip with, said
it's holding a seat for him on its next flight out of Varadero and on to
Winnipeg, free of charge. A spokesperson said the agency is just waiting
for the green light from authorities.
Barnett said he's trying to be patient for just a while longer.
"It's time to come home," he said. "And everyone tells me that will
happen. You just need to be patient."
Source: Winnipegger stuck in Cuba after hitting a pedestrian - Manitoba
- CBC News -
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipegger-stuck-in-cuba-after-hitting-a-pedestrian-1.2552775
CBC News Posted: Feb 26, 2014 5:29 PM CT Last Updated: Feb 26, 2014 8:09
PM CT
He loves the place, but he can't get out of it fast enough.
Winnipegger Ted Barnett has been to Varadero, Cuba, three times and went
back again Jan. 11.
But a crash on a rented moped has put a dent in his return home.
Instead of a week-long stay, Barnett, 60, has been stuck in Cuba nearly
seven weeks, paying an ever-increasing hotel bill at the resort he booked.
Barnett hit a pedestrian while driving the vehicle. It broke the woman's
leg. He said it's rocked him to his core.
"I've never hurt anyone," he said. "I've never been in that type of a
situation. I just felt terrible."
Barnett said he's been told he won't face any charges, but the police
investigation has taken weeks to complete, and Barnett has been told he
is not allowed to go home.
"I'm being detained here, no doubt about it," he said. "Have I been
terrified about that? Yes."
Barnett told CBC his MTS international texting plan has been his
lifeline to the outside world. But he's desperate to return home.
"Has my mind been wandering? Oh, yeah," he said. "You think the worst
possible thing is happening to you and I guess being told you can't go
home is pretty bad."
An official with the department of foreign affairs would only say the
Canadian officials are assisting a Canadian in the country.
"Canadian consular officials in Havana, Cuba are providing consular
assistance to a Canadian citizen in Cuba and are in contact with local
authorities on the matter," said the spokesperson.
Sunwing Vacations, the travel agency Barnett booked his trip with, said
it's holding a seat for him on its next flight out of Varadero and on to
Winnipeg, free of charge. A spokesperson said the agency is just waiting
for the green light from authorities.
Barnett said he's trying to be patient for just a while longer.
"It's time to come home," he said. "And everyone tells me that will
happen. You just need to be patient."
Source: Winnipegger stuck in Cuba after hitting a pedestrian - Manitoba
- CBC News -
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipegger-stuck-in-cuba-after-hitting-a-pedestrian-1.2552775
Winnipegger stuck in Cuba after hitting a pedestrian
Winnipegger stuck in Cuba after hitting a pedestrian
CBC News Posted: Feb 26, 2014 5:29 PM CT Last Updated: Feb 26, 2014 8:09
PM CT
He loves the place, but he can't get out of it fast enough.
Winnipegger Ted Barnett has been to Varadero, Cuba, three times and went
back again Jan. 11.
But a crash on a rented moped has put a dent in his return home.
Instead of a week-long stay, Barnett, 60, has been stuck in Cuba nearly
seven weeks, paying an ever-increasing hotel bill at the resort he booked.
Barnett hit a pedestrian while driving the vehicle. It broke the woman's
leg. He said it's rocked him to his core.
"I've never hurt anyone," he said. "I've never been in that type of a
situation. I just felt terrible."
Barnett said he's been told he won't face any charges, but the police
investigation has taken weeks to complete, and Barnett has been told he
is not allowed to go home.
"I'm being detained here, no doubt about it," he said. "Have I been
terrified about that? Yes."
Barnett told CBC his MTS international texting plan has been his
lifeline to the outside world. But he's desperate to return home.
"Has my mind been wandering? Oh, yeah," he said. "You think the worst
possible thing is happening to you and I guess being told you can't go
home is pretty bad."
An official with the department of foreign affairs would only say the
Canadian officials are assisting a Canadian in the country.
"Canadian consular officials in Havana, Cuba are providing consular
assistance to a Canadian citizen in Cuba and are in contact with local
authorities on the matter," said the spokesperson.
Sunwing Vacations, the travel agency Barnett booked his trip with, said
it's holding a seat for him on its next flight out of Varadero and on to
Winnipeg, free of charge. A spokesperson said the agency is just waiting
for the green light from authorities.
Barnett said he's trying to be patient for just a while longer.
"It's time to come home," he said. "And everyone tells me that will
happen. You just need to be patient."
Source: Winnipegger stuck in Cuba after hitting a pedestrian - Manitoba
- CBC News -
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipegger-stuck-in-cuba-after-hitting-a-pedestrian-1.2552775
CBC News Posted: Feb 26, 2014 5:29 PM CT Last Updated: Feb 26, 2014 8:09
PM CT
He loves the place, but he can't get out of it fast enough.
Winnipegger Ted Barnett has been to Varadero, Cuba, three times and went
back again Jan. 11.
But a crash on a rented moped has put a dent in his return home.
Instead of a week-long stay, Barnett, 60, has been stuck in Cuba nearly
seven weeks, paying an ever-increasing hotel bill at the resort he booked.
Barnett hit a pedestrian while driving the vehicle. It broke the woman's
leg. He said it's rocked him to his core.
"I've never hurt anyone," he said. "I've never been in that type of a
situation. I just felt terrible."
Barnett said he's been told he won't face any charges, but the police
investigation has taken weeks to complete, and Barnett has been told he
is not allowed to go home.
"I'm being detained here, no doubt about it," he said. "Have I been
terrified about that? Yes."
Barnett told CBC his MTS international texting plan has been his
lifeline to the outside world. But he's desperate to return home.
"Has my mind been wandering? Oh, yeah," he said. "You think the worst
possible thing is happening to you and I guess being told you can't go
home is pretty bad."
An official with the department of foreign affairs would only say the
Canadian officials are assisting a Canadian in the country.
"Canadian consular officials in Havana, Cuba are providing consular
assistance to a Canadian citizen in Cuba and are in contact with local
authorities on the matter," said the spokesperson.
Sunwing Vacations, the travel agency Barnett booked his trip with, said
it's holding a seat for him on its next flight out of Varadero and on to
Winnipeg, free of charge. A spokesperson said the agency is just waiting
for the green light from authorities.
Barnett said he's trying to be patient for just a while longer.
"It's time to come home," he said. "And everyone tells me that will
happen. You just need to be patient."
Source: Winnipegger stuck in Cuba after hitting a pedestrian - Manitoba
- CBC News -
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipegger-stuck-in-cuba-after-hitting-a-pedestrian-1.2552775
Producción de habanos comienza con esfuerzo y sudor de campesinos humildes
Producción de habanos comienza con esfuerzo y sudor de campesinos humildes
Por Por Francisco JARA | AFP – Hace 17 horas
El sol tropical calienta mientras los campesinos arrancan las hojas de
las plantas de tabaco en una finca de Cuba, etapa preliminar en la
producción de habanos, un lucrativo negocio global con ventas de casi
450 millones de dólares anuales.
"Aquí está el mejor macizo tabacalero del mundo", dice a la AFP
Francisco José Prieto, presidente de una cooperativa que cultiva tabaco
en la finca "Valle", en la región de Vuelta Abajo, ubicada en el extremo
oeste de la isla y considerada la cuna de los habanos.
Los participantes en el XVI Festival del Habano visitaron el martes esta
finca de 4,5 hectáreas, donde sus 24 trabajadores cosechaban las hojas
de tabaco, que son sometidas a procesos de secado, clasificación y
fermentación, antes de convertirlas en cigarros destinados a la exportación.
Miles de hombres y mujeres de Pinar del Río ?la provincia más occidental
de Cuba- se ganan la vida en el negocio del tabaco, planta que se
cultiva en la isla desde antes de la llegada de los conquistadores
españoles hace cinco siglos.
"Mi familia se ha dedicado al tabaco toda la vida, mis padres, mis
abuelos, mis bisabuelos", dice Prieto, cuya cooperativa "Tomás Valdés"
cultiva 50 fincas en los campos de San Juan y Martínez, un municipio de
45.000 habitantes.
Los habanos, con ventas de 447 millones de dólares en 2013, 8% más que
el año anterior, son el segundo producto de exportación de Cuba después
del níquel.
Son comercializados en el mundo por Habanos S.A., una empresa mixta
creada hace dos décadas por el Estado cubano y la franco-española
Altadis. Esta última fue adquirida en 2008 por el grupo británico
Imperial Tobacco.
En la apertura del Festival el lunes, la empresa declaró que el negocio
de los habanos gozaba de "buena salud", a pesar de las leyes
restrictivas en muchos países y de la crisis económica en Europa, su
principal mercado.
El proceso productivo comienza con el esfuerzo y sudor de humildes
campesinos de Pinar del Río, meses antes de que las cajas de puros
lleguen a las vidrieras de lujosas tiendas en todo el mundo, salvo
Estados Unidos, ya que lo prohíbe el embargo vigente desde 1962 sobre la
isla.
"Manualmente se hace todo el proceso de la hoja acá", destaca Leyda
Alvarez González, directora de preindustria de Habanos S.A.
Después de la siembra en noviembre, hay que esperar unos 120 días antes
de que las hojas estén maduras para ser cosechadas. Luego son secadas
durante 45 días y después son clasificadas por trabajadoras mujeres.
"Nosotros clasificamos al tabaco por calidades, tenemos de primera, de
segunda, de tercera, de cuarta, de quinta y de sexta calidad", explica
Celeste Muñoz Fernández, que ejerce este oficio desde hace 17 años.
Las de menor calidad se destinan al mercado nacional.
Una vez clasificadas, las hojas son mojadas para ser puestas a fermentar
por 21 días.
Recién entonces las hojas de tabaco están listas para ser "torcidas", es
decir, para ser convertidas en lujosos cigarros -Habanos S.A
comercializa 27 marcas con distintos formatos-, que son vendidos
principalmente en España, Francia, China, Alemania, Suiza, Líbano y
Emiratos Arabes Unidos, además de Cuba.
"¿Qué hace tan bueno al tabaco en Cuba? Yo creo que Dios decidió que
fuese aquí, pero fundamentalmente depende mucho del clima", indica
Prieto, quien afirma que el proceso de fermantación del tabaco "es como
el del queso o como el vino".
Los 24 trabajadores de la finca 'Valle' inician su jornada a las 7 de la
mañana y trabajan hasta las 5 de la tarde, con una pausa de dos horas
para almorzar.
Aunque la faena diaria bajo el sol es dura, Alexis Hernández, de 60
años, afirma que está contento con su empleo.
"Me pagan bien, 500, 600 pesos (20, 24 dólares) la quincena. En otros
trabajos te pagan menos", dice.
Source: Producción de habanos comienza con esfuerzo y sudor de
campesinos humildes - Yahoo Finanzas España -
http://es.finance.yahoo.com/noticias/producci%C3%B3n-habanos-comienza-con-esfuerzo-y-sudor-campesinos-180808894.html
Por Por Francisco JARA | AFP – Hace 17 horas
El sol tropical calienta mientras los campesinos arrancan las hojas de
las plantas de tabaco en una finca de Cuba, etapa preliminar en la
producción de habanos, un lucrativo negocio global con ventas de casi
450 millones de dólares anuales.
"Aquí está el mejor macizo tabacalero del mundo", dice a la AFP
Francisco José Prieto, presidente de una cooperativa que cultiva tabaco
en la finca "Valle", en la región de Vuelta Abajo, ubicada en el extremo
oeste de la isla y considerada la cuna de los habanos.
Los participantes en el XVI Festival del Habano visitaron el martes esta
finca de 4,5 hectáreas, donde sus 24 trabajadores cosechaban las hojas
de tabaco, que son sometidas a procesos de secado, clasificación y
fermentación, antes de convertirlas en cigarros destinados a la exportación.
Miles de hombres y mujeres de Pinar del Río ?la provincia más occidental
de Cuba- se ganan la vida en el negocio del tabaco, planta que se
cultiva en la isla desde antes de la llegada de los conquistadores
españoles hace cinco siglos.
"Mi familia se ha dedicado al tabaco toda la vida, mis padres, mis
abuelos, mis bisabuelos", dice Prieto, cuya cooperativa "Tomás Valdés"
cultiva 50 fincas en los campos de San Juan y Martínez, un municipio de
45.000 habitantes.
Los habanos, con ventas de 447 millones de dólares en 2013, 8% más que
el año anterior, son el segundo producto de exportación de Cuba después
del níquel.
Son comercializados en el mundo por Habanos S.A., una empresa mixta
creada hace dos décadas por el Estado cubano y la franco-española
Altadis. Esta última fue adquirida en 2008 por el grupo británico
Imperial Tobacco.
En la apertura del Festival el lunes, la empresa declaró que el negocio
de los habanos gozaba de "buena salud", a pesar de las leyes
restrictivas en muchos países y de la crisis económica en Europa, su
principal mercado.
El proceso productivo comienza con el esfuerzo y sudor de humildes
campesinos de Pinar del Río, meses antes de que las cajas de puros
lleguen a las vidrieras de lujosas tiendas en todo el mundo, salvo
Estados Unidos, ya que lo prohíbe el embargo vigente desde 1962 sobre la
isla.
"Manualmente se hace todo el proceso de la hoja acá", destaca Leyda
Alvarez González, directora de preindustria de Habanos S.A.
Después de la siembra en noviembre, hay que esperar unos 120 días antes
de que las hojas estén maduras para ser cosechadas. Luego son secadas
durante 45 días y después son clasificadas por trabajadoras mujeres.
"Nosotros clasificamos al tabaco por calidades, tenemos de primera, de
segunda, de tercera, de cuarta, de quinta y de sexta calidad", explica
Celeste Muñoz Fernández, que ejerce este oficio desde hace 17 años.
Las de menor calidad se destinan al mercado nacional.
Una vez clasificadas, las hojas son mojadas para ser puestas a fermentar
por 21 días.
Recién entonces las hojas de tabaco están listas para ser "torcidas", es
decir, para ser convertidas en lujosos cigarros -Habanos S.A
comercializa 27 marcas con distintos formatos-, que son vendidos
principalmente en España, Francia, China, Alemania, Suiza, Líbano y
Emiratos Arabes Unidos, además de Cuba.
"¿Qué hace tan bueno al tabaco en Cuba? Yo creo que Dios decidió que
fuese aquí, pero fundamentalmente depende mucho del clima", indica
Prieto, quien afirma que el proceso de fermantación del tabaco "es como
el del queso o como el vino".
Los 24 trabajadores de la finca 'Valle' inician su jornada a las 7 de la
mañana y trabajan hasta las 5 de la tarde, con una pausa de dos horas
para almorzar.
Aunque la faena diaria bajo el sol es dura, Alexis Hernández, de 60
años, afirma que está contento con su empleo.
"Me pagan bien, 500, 600 pesos (20, 24 dólares) la quincena. En otros
trabajos te pagan menos", dice.
Source: Producción de habanos comienza con esfuerzo y sudor de
campesinos humildes - Yahoo Finanzas España -
http://es.finance.yahoo.com/noticias/producci%C3%B3n-habanos-comienza-con-esfuerzo-y-sudor-campesinos-180808894.html
Producción de habanos comienza con esfuerzo y sudor de campesinos humildes
Producción de habanos comienza con esfuerzo y sudor de campesinos humildes
Por Por Francisco JARA | AFP – Hace 17 horas
El sol tropical calienta mientras los campesinos arrancan las hojas de
las plantas de tabaco en una finca de Cuba, etapa preliminar en la
producción de habanos, un lucrativo negocio global con ventas de casi
450 millones de dólares anuales.
"Aquí está el mejor macizo tabacalero del mundo", dice a la AFP
Francisco José Prieto, presidente de una cooperativa que cultiva tabaco
en la finca "Valle", en la región de Vuelta Abajo, ubicada en el extremo
oeste de la isla y considerada la cuna de los habanos.
Los participantes en el XVI Festival del Habano visitaron el martes esta
finca de 4,5 hectáreas, donde sus 24 trabajadores cosechaban las hojas
de tabaco, que son sometidas a procesos de secado, clasificación y
fermentación, antes de convertirlas en cigarros destinados a la exportación.
Miles de hombres y mujeres de Pinar del Río ?la provincia más occidental
de Cuba- se ganan la vida en el negocio del tabaco, planta que se
cultiva en la isla desde antes de la llegada de los conquistadores
españoles hace cinco siglos.
"Mi familia se ha dedicado al tabaco toda la vida, mis padres, mis
abuelos, mis bisabuelos", dice Prieto, cuya cooperativa "Tomás Valdés"
cultiva 50 fincas en los campos de San Juan y Martínez, un municipio de
45.000 habitantes.
Los habanos, con ventas de 447 millones de dólares en 2013, 8% más que
el año anterior, son el segundo producto de exportación de Cuba después
del níquel.
Son comercializados en el mundo por Habanos S.A., una empresa mixta
creada hace dos décadas por el Estado cubano y la franco-española
Altadis. Esta última fue adquirida en 2008 por el grupo británico
Imperial Tobacco.
En la apertura del Festival el lunes, la empresa declaró que el negocio
de los habanos gozaba de "buena salud", a pesar de las leyes
restrictivas en muchos países y de la crisis económica en Europa, su
principal mercado.
El proceso productivo comienza con el esfuerzo y sudor de humildes
campesinos de Pinar del Río, meses antes de que las cajas de puros
lleguen a las vidrieras de lujosas tiendas en todo el mundo, salvo
Estados Unidos, ya que lo prohíbe el embargo vigente desde 1962 sobre la
isla.
"Manualmente se hace todo el proceso de la hoja acá", destaca Leyda
Alvarez González, directora de preindustria de Habanos S.A.
Después de la siembra en noviembre, hay que esperar unos 120 días antes
de que las hojas estén maduras para ser cosechadas. Luego son secadas
durante 45 días y después son clasificadas por trabajadoras mujeres.
"Nosotros clasificamos al tabaco por calidades, tenemos de primera, de
segunda, de tercera, de cuarta, de quinta y de sexta calidad", explica
Celeste Muñoz Fernández, que ejerce este oficio desde hace 17 años.
Las de menor calidad se destinan al mercado nacional.
Una vez clasificadas, las hojas son mojadas para ser puestas a fermentar
por 21 días.
Recién entonces las hojas de tabaco están listas para ser "torcidas", es
decir, para ser convertidas en lujosos cigarros -Habanos S.A
comercializa 27 marcas con distintos formatos-, que son vendidos
principalmente en España, Francia, China, Alemania, Suiza, Líbano y
Emiratos Arabes Unidos, además de Cuba.
"¿Qué hace tan bueno al tabaco en Cuba? Yo creo que Dios decidió que
fuese aquí, pero fundamentalmente depende mucho del clima", indica
Prieto, quien afirma que el proceso de fermantación del tabaco "es como
el del queso o como el vino".
Los 24 trabajadores de la finca 'Valle' inician su jornada a las 7 de la
mañana y trabajan hasta las 5 de la tarde, con una pausa de dos horas
para almorzar.
Aunque la faena diaria bajo el sol es dura, Alexis Hernández, de 60
años, afirma que está contento con su empleo.
"Me pagan bien, 500, 600 pesos (20, 24 dólares) la quincena. En otros
trabajos te pagan menos", dice.
Source: Producción de habanos comienza con esfuerzo y sudor de
campesinos humildes - Yahoo Finanzas España -
http://es.finance.yahoo.com/noticias/producci%C3%B3n-habanos-comienza-con-esfuerzo-y-sudor-campesinos-180808894.html
Por Por Francisco JARA | AFP – Hace 17 horas
El sol tropical calienta mientras los campesinos arrancan las hojas de
las plantas de tabaco en una finca de Cuba, etapa preliminar en la
producción de habanos, un lucrativo negocio global con ventas de casi
450 millones de dólares anuales.
"Aquí está el mejor macizo tabacalero del mundo", dice a la AFP
Francisco José Prieto, presidente de una cooperativa que cultiva tabaco
en la finca "Valle", en la región de Vuelta Abajo, ubicada en el extremo
oeste de la isla y considerada la cuna de los habanos.
Los participantes en el XVI Festival del Habano visitaron el martes esta
finca de 4,5 hectáreas, donde sus 24 trabajadores cosechaban las hojas
de tabaco, que son sometidas a procesos de secado, clasificación y
fermentación, antes de convertirlas en cigarros destinados a la exportación.
Miles de hombres y mujeres de Pinar del Río ?la provincia más occidental
de Cuba- se ganan la vida en el negocio del tabaco, planta que se
cultiva en la isla desde antes de la llegada de los conquistadores
españoles hace cinco siglos.
"Mi familia se ha dedicado al tabaco toda la vida, mis padres, mis
abuelos, mis bisabuelos", dice Prieto, cuya cooperativa "Tomás Valdés"
cultiva 50 fincas en los campos de San Juan y Martínez, un municipio de
45.000 habitantes.
Los habanos, con ventas de 447 millones de dólares en 2013, 8% más que
el año anterior, son el segundo producto de exportación de Cuba después
del níquel.
Son comercializados en el mundo por Habanos S.A., una empresa mixta
creada hace dos décadas por el Estado cubano y la franco-española
Altadis. Esta última fue adquirida en 2008 por el grupo británico
Imperial Tobacco.
En la apertura del Festival el lunes, la empresa declaró que el negocio
de los habanos gozaba de "buena salud", a pesar de las leyes
restrictivas en muchos países y de la crisis económica en Europa, su
principal mercado.
El proceso productivo comienza con el esfuerzo y sudor de humildes
campesinos de Pinar del Río, meses antes de que las cajas de puros
lleguen a las vidrieras de lujosas tiendas en todo el mundo, salvo
Estados Unidos, ya que lo prohíbe el embargo vigente desde 1962 sobre la
isla.
"Manualmente se hace todo el proceso de la hoja acá", destaca Leyda
Alvarez González, directora de preindustria de Habanos S.A.
Después de la siembra en noviembre, hay que esperar unos 120 días antes
de que las hojas estén maduras para ser cosechadas. Luego son secadas
durante 45 días y después son clasificadas por trabajadoras mujeres.
"Nosotros clasificamos al tabaco por calidades, tenemos de primera, de
segunda, de tercera, de cuarta, de quinta y de sexta calidad", explica
Celeste Muñoz Fernández, que ejerce este oficio desde hace 17 años.
Las de menor calidad se destinan al mercado nacional.
Una vez clasificadas, las hojas son mojadas para ser puestas a fermentar
por 21 días.
Recién entonces las hojas de tabaco están listas para ser "torcidas", es
decir, para ser convertidas en lujosos cigarros -Habanos S.A
comercializa 27 marcas con distintos formatos-, que son vendidos
principalmente en España, Francia, China, Alemania, Suiza, Líbano y
Emiratos Arabes Unidos, además de Cuba.
"¿Qué hace tan bueno al tabaco en Cuba? Yo creo que Dios decidió que
fuese aquí, pero fundamentalmente depende mucho del clima", indica
Prieto, quien afirma que el proceso de fermantación del tabaco "es como
el del queso o como el vino".
Los 24 trabajadores de la finca 'Valle' inician su jornada a las 7 de la
mañana y trabajan hasta las 5 de la tarde, con una pausa de dos horas
para almorzar.
Aunque la faena diaria bajo el sol es dura, Alexis Hernández, de 60
años, afirma que está contento con su empleo.
"Me pagan bien, 500, 600 pesos (20, 24 dólares) la quincena. En otros
trabajos te pagan menos", dice.
Source: Producción de habanos comienza con esfuerzo y sudor de
campesinos humildes - Yahoo Finanzas España -
http://es.finance.yahoo.com/noticias/producci%C3%B3n-habanos-comienza-con-esfuerzo-y-sudor-campesinos-180808894.html
Lula habla de atraer inversiones a Cuba… a puertas cerradas
Lula habla de atraer inversiones a Cuba… a puertas cerradas
Posted on 27 febrero, 2014
Por Sergio Valdivieso
El ex mandatario brasileño Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tuvo el miércoles
una agitada jornada de trabajo que lo llevó desde los campos de Ciego de
Avila al Hotel Nacional de La Habana, donde habló de cómo abrir el
mercado cubano a la inversión extranjera.
Solo que lo hizo a puertas cerradas, pues los periodistas nacionales y
extranjeros fueron obligados a salir de la sala cuando iba a comenzar su
conferencia "La experiencia brasileña en la atracción de inversiones"
ante funcionarios cubanos, empresarios, académicos y diplomáticos, entre
ellos el ministro de Comercio Exterior de Cuba, Rodrigo Malmierca.
Los medios oficiales cubanos se limitaron a mencionar el tema de la
conferencia del ex presidente brasileño y a reiterar que el Parlamento
cubano discutirá la nueva ley de inversiones en una sesión especial el
próximo marzo.
Anzuelo para inversionistas
Antes de su disertación sobre negocios y cómo tirar el anzuelo a los
inversionistas foráneos, Lula visitó los terrenos de la empresa agrícola
Cubasoy, donde se cultiva soya, maíz y fríjoles. Cubasoy fue fundada en
el 2008 con respaldo brasileño, que ofreció los equipos para el riego
de los cultivos.
En el recorrido por tierras avlleñas,Lula estuvo acompañado por Félix
Duarte Ortega, primer secretario del Partido Comunista en Ciego de
Ávila, y el Genenral de Cuerpo de Ejército Leopoldo Cintra Frías,
enviado allí por el propio Raúl Castro.
Lula da Silva dijo que su visita está relacionada con su voluntad
incrementar los rendimientos por hectárea de la soya, que significa un
aporte notable de aceite comestible, alto nivel de proteína, con usos
múltiples en la alimentación humana y ganadera, y amplias opciones de
comercializaación.
Comentó además la necesidad de realizar intercambios de especialistas y
técnicos, mediante visitas de personal cubano en Brasil y de aprovechar
la experiencia de los cientificos de la Empresa Brasileña de
Investigaciones (EMBRAPA).
Maduro, un tipo bueno
Fue en ese recorrido que se decidió a hablar de la situación de
Venezuela para darle un espaldarazo al presidente Nicolás Maduro.
"Creo que, en primer lugar, Venezuela necesita paz y mucha tranquilidad
para que pueda recuperar todo su potencial en lo que se refiere a la
generación de riquezas y bienestar para su pueblo", afirmó Lula en
declaraciones que fueron difundidas la noches del mi[ercoles por la
televisión cubana.
Y seguidamente vino el respaldo para el oficialismo venezolano: "Maduro
es un hombre muy bien intencionado y quiere dar lo mejor de sí para
Venezuela".
Lula arribó a Cuba la noche del lunes en un vuelo fletado y al día
siguiente realizó un recorrido por el puerto del Mariel, donde se
realiza el megaproyecto de la Zona Especial de Desarrollo de Cuba,
avalado por una inversión cercana a los $900 millones de dólares de
capital estatal brasileño.
En horas de la noche, Lula se trasladó a Punto Cero para encontrarse con
el anciano líder Fidel Castro, según fuentes de la delegación brasileña
que lo acompaña en este viaje La Habana.
La visita de Lula a Cuba concluirá este jueves.
Source: Lula habla de atraer inversiones a Cuba… a puertas cerradas |
Café Fuerte -
http://cafefuerte.com/cuba/12214-lula-habla-de-atraer-inversiones-a-cuba-a-puertas-cerradas/
Posted on 27 febrero, 2014
Por Sergio Valdivieso
El ex mandatario brasileño Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tuvo el miércoles
una agitada jornada de trabajo que lo llevó desde los campos de Ciego de
Avila al Hotel Nacional de La Habana, donde habló de cómo abrir el
mercado cubano a la inversión extranjera.
Solo que lo hizo a puertas cerradas, pues los periodistas nacionales y
extranjeros fueron obligados a salir de la sala cuando iba a comenzar su
conferencia "La experiencia brasileña en la atracción de inversiones"
ante funcionarios cubanos, empresarios, académicos y diplomáticos, entre
ellos el ministro de Comercio Exterior de Cuba, Rodrigo Malmierca.
Los medios oficiales cubanos se limitaron a mencionar el tema de la
conferencia del ex presidente brasileño y a reiterar que el Parlamento
cubano discutirá la nueva ley de inversiones en una sesión especial el
próximo marzo.
Anzuelo para inversionistas
Antes de su disertación sobre negocios y cómo tirar el anzuelo a los
inversionistas foráneos, Lula visitó los terrenos de la empresa agrícola
Cubasoy, donde se cultiva soya, maíz y fríjoles. Cubasoy fue fundada en
el 2008 con respaldo brasileño, que ofreció los equipos para el riego
de los cultivos.
En el recorrido por tierras avlleñas,Lula estuvo acompañado por Félix
Duarte Ortega, primer secretario del Partido Comunista en Ciego de
Ávila, y el Genenral de Cuerpo de Ejército Leopoldo Cintra Frías,
enviado allí por el propio Raúl Castro.
Lula da Silva dijo que su visita está relacionada con su voluntad
incrementar los rendimientos por hectárea de la soya, que significa un
aporte notable de aceite comestible, alto nivel de proteína, con usos
múltiples en la alimentación humana y ganadera, y amplias opciones de
comercializaación.
Comentó además la necesidad de realizar intercambios de especialistas y
técnicos, mediante visitas de personal cubano en Brasil y de aprovechar
la experiencia de los cientificos de la Empresa Brasileña de
Investigaciones (EMBRAPA).
Maduro, un tipo bueno
Fue en ese recorrido que se decidió a hablar de la situación de
Venezuela para darle un espaldarazo al presidente Nicolás Maduro.
"Creo que, en primer lugar, Venezuela necesita paz y mucha tranquilidad
para que pueda recuperar todo su potencial en lo que se refiere a la
generación de riquezas y bienestar para su pueblo", afirmó Lula en
declaraciones que fueron difundidas la noches del mi[ercoles por la
televisión cubana.
Y seguidamente vino el respaldo para el oficialismo venezolano: "Maduro
es un hombre muy bien intencionado y quiere dar lo mejor de sí para
Venezuela".
Lula arribó a Cuba la noche del lunes en un vuelo fletado y al día
siguiente realizó un recorrido por el puerto del Mariel, donde se
realiza el megaproyecto de la Zona Especial de Desarrollo de Cuba,
avalado por una inversión cercana a los $900 millones de dólares de
capital estatal brasileño.
En horas de la noche, Lula se trasladó a Punto Cero para encontrarse con
el anciano líder Fidel Castro, según fuentes de la delegación brasileña
que lo acompaña en este viaje La Habana.
La visita de Lula a Cuba concluirá este jueves.
Source: Lula habla de atraer inversiones a Cuba… a puertas cerradas |
Café Fuerte -
http://cafefuerte.com/cuba/12214-lula-habla-de-atraer-inversiones-a-cuba-a-puertas-cerradas/
Lula habla de atraer inversiones a Cuba… a puertas cerradas
Lula habla de atraer inversiones a Cuba… a puertas cerradas
Posted on 27 febrero, 2014
Por Sergio Valdivieso
El ex mandatario brasileño Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tuvo el miércoles
una agitada jornada de trabajo que lo llevó desde los campos de Ciego de
Avila al Hotel Nacional de La Habana, donde habló de cómo abrir el
mercado cubano a la inversión extranjera.
Solo que lo hizo a puertas cerradas, pues los periodistas nacionales y
extranjeros fueron obligados a salir de la sala cuando iba a comenzar su
conferencia "La experiencia brasileña en la atracción de inversiones"
ante funcionarios cubanos, empresarios, académicos y diplomáticos, entre
ellos el ministro de Comercio Exterior de Cuba, Rodrigo Malmierca.
Los medios oficiales cubanos se limitaron a mencionar el tema de la
conferencia del ex presidente brasileño y a reiterar que el Parlamento
cubano discutirá la nueva ley de inversiones en una sesión especial el
próximo marzo.
Anzuelo para inversionistas
Antes de su disertación sobre negocios y cómo tirar el anzuelo a los
inversionistas foráneos, Lula visitó los terrenos de la empresa agrícola
Cubasoy, donde se cultiva soya, maíz y fríjoles. Cubasoy fue fundada en
el 2008 con respaldo brasileño, que ofreció los equipos para el riego
de los cultivos.
En el recorrido por tierras avlleñas,Lula estuvo acompañado por Félix
Duarte Ortega, primer secretario del Partido Comunista en Ciego de
Ávila, y el Genenral de Cuerpo de Ejército Leopoldo Cintra Frías,
enviado allí por el propio Raúl Castro.
Lula da Silva dijo que su visita está relacionada con su voluntad
incrementar los rendimientos por hectárea de la soya, que significa un
aporte notable de aceite comestible, alto nivel de proteína, con usos
múltiples en la alimentación humana y ganadera, y amplias opciones de
comercializaación.
Comentó además la necesidad de realizar intercambios de especialistas y
técnicos, mediante visitas de personal cubano en Brasil y de aprovechar
la experiencia de los cientificos de la Empresa Brasileña de
Investigaciones (EMBRAPA).
Maduro, un tipo bueno
Fue en ese recorrido que se decidió a hablar de la situación de
Venezuela para darle un espaldarazo al presidente Nicolás Maduro.
"Creo que, en primer lugar, Venezuela necesita paz y mucha tranquilidad
para que pueda recuperar todo su potencial en lo que se refiere a la
generación de riquezas y bienestar para su pueblo", afirmó Lula en
declaraciones que fueron difundidas la noches del mi[ercoles por la
televisión cubana.
Y seguidamente vino el respaldo para el oficialismo venezolano: "Maduro
es un hombre muy bien intencionado y quiere dar lo mejor de sí para
Venezuela".
Lula arribó a Cuba la noche del lunes en un vuelo fletado y al día
siguiente realizó un recorrido por el puerto del Mariel, donde se
realiza el megaproyecto de la Zona Especial de Desarrollo de Cuba,
avalado por una inversión cercana a los $900 millones de dólares de
capital estatal brasileño.
En horas de la noche, Lula se trasladó a Punto Cero para encontrarse con
el anciano líder Fidel Castro, según fuentes de la delegación brasileña
que lo acompaña en este viaje La Habana.
La visita de Lula a Cuba concluirá este jueves.
Source: Lula habla de atraer inversiones a Cuba… a puertas cerradas |
Café Fuerte -
http://cafefuerte.com/cuba/12214-lula-habla-de-atraer-inversiones-a-cuba-a-puertas-cerradas/
Posted on 27 febrero, 2014
Por Sergio Valdivieso
El ex mandatario brasileño Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tuvo el miércoles
una agitada jornada de trabajo que lo llevó desde los campos de Ciego de
Avila al Hotel Nacional de La Habana, donde habló de cómo abrir el
mercado cubano a la inversión extranjera.
Solo que lo hizo a puertas cerradas, pues los periodistas nacionales y
extranjeros fueron obligados a salir de la sala cuando iba a comenzar su
conferencia "La experiencia brasileña en la atracción de inversiones"
ante funcionarios cubanos, empresarios, académicos y diplomáticos, entre
ellos el ministro de Comercio Exterior de Cuba, Rodrigo Malmierca.
Los medios oficiales cubanos se limitaron a mencionar el tema de la
conferencia del ex presidente brasileño y a reiterar que el Parlamento
cubano discutirá la nueva ley de inversiones en una sesión especial el
próximo marzo.
Anzuelo para inversionistas
Antes de su disertación sobre negocios y cómo tirar el anzuelo a los
inversionistas foráneos, Lula visitó los terrenos de la empresa agrícola
Cubasoy, donde se cultiva soya, maíz y fríjoles. Cubasoy fue fundada en
el 2008 con respaldo brasileño, que ofreció los equipos para el riego
de los cultivos.
En el recorrido por tierras avlleñas,Lula estuvo acompañado por Félix
Duarte Ortega, primer secretario del Partido Comunista en Ciego de
Ávila, y el Genenral de Cuerpo de Ejército Leopoldo Cintra Frías,
enviado allí por el propio Raúl Castro.
Lula da Silva dijo que su visita está relacionada con su voluntad
incrementar los rendimientos por hectárea de la soya, que significa un
aporte notable de aceite comestible, alto nivel de proteína, con usos
múltiples en la alimentación humana y ganadera, y amplias opciones de
comercializaación.
Comentó además la necesidad de realizar intercambios de especialistas y
técnicos, mediante visitas de personal cubano en Brasil y de aprovechar
la experiencia de los cientificos de la Empresa Brasileña de
Investigaciones (EMBRAPA).
Maduro, un tipo bueno
Fue en ese recorrido que se decidió a hablar de la situación de
Venezuela para darle un espaldarazo al presidente Nicolás Maduro.
"Creo que, en primer lugar, Venezuela necesita paz y mucha tranquilidad
para que pueda recuperar todo su potencial en lo que se refiere a la
generación de riquezas y bienestar para su pueblo", afirmó Lula en
declaraciones que fueron difundidas la noches del mi[ercoles por la
televisión cubana.
Y seguidamente vino el respaldo para el oficialismo venezolano: "Maduro
es un hombre muy bien intencionado y quiere dar lo mejor de sí para
Venezuela".
Lula arribó a Cuba la noche del lunes en un vuelo fletado y al día
siguiente realizó un recorrido por el puerto del Mariel, donde se
realiza el megaproyecto de la Zona Especial de Desarrollo de Cuba,
avalado por una inversión cercana a los $900 millones de dólares de
capital estatal brasileño.
En horas de la noche, Lula se trasladó a Punto Cero para encontrarse con
el anciano líder Fidel Castro, según fuentes de la delegación brasileña
que lo acompaña en este viaje La Habana.
La visita de Lula a Cuba concluirá este jueves.
Source: Lula habla de atraer inversiones a Cuba… a puertas cerradas |
Café Fuerte -
http://cafefuerte.com/cuba/12214-lula-habla-de-atraer-inversiones-a-cuba-a-puertas-cerradas/
EEUU teme “un Mariel” si cesa petróleo venezolano
EEUU teme "un Mariel" si cesa petróleo venezolano
Estados Unidos teme un flujo migratorio masivo de Cuba y Haití si
Caracas suspendiera el suministro de petroleo, advirtió el general John
Kelly, jefe del Comando Sur
miércoles, febrero 26, 2014 | CubaNet
WASHINGTON. – El comandante de Comando Sur, el general John Kelly, dijo
en el Congreso que estas naciones no estarían en capacidad de comprar
combustible a precios de mercado si Caracas llegara a suspender su
suministro petrolero.
"Cuando la economía comienza a deteriorarse, los inmigrantes comienzan a
moverse hacia el norte", señaló el general al comparecer ante el la
comisión de asuntos militares de la cámara baja. "Eso me preocupa porque
la migración es una de las áreas sobre las que debo prestar atención".
Kelly solo mencionó por su nombre a Cuba y Haití, cuya economía "está al
borde del precipicio".
"Hay varios países así, que dependen del petróleo que reciben desde
Venezuela casi regalado", señaló.
Miles de cubanos se lanzaron en 1994 al mar abierto con la intención de
llegar a Florida, en lo que se ha denominado "la crisis de los
balseros", la cual llevó a ambas capitales a firmar un acuerdo migratorio.
Venezuela ha suministrado a bajo precio principalmente a Cuba, y también
a otras naciones de América Central y el Caribe, petróleo valuado en
miles de millones de dólares.
Kelly indicó que los venezolanos "ya están hablando sobre tal vez no
poder mantener" su suministro petrolero a otras naciones.
Las reservas soberanas venezolanas han descendido a su nivel mínimo
durante la última década, el dólar cotiza en el mercado negro a siete
veces el valor oficial fijado por un estricto control de cambio y la
inflación anual supera el 50%, una de las más elevadas del mundo.
Source: EEUU teme "un Mariel" si cesa petróleo venezolano | Cubanet -
http://www.cubanet.org/internacionales/eeuu-teme-un-mariel-si-cesa-petroleo-venezolano/
Estados Unidos teme un flujo migratorio masivo de Cuba y Haití si
Caracas suspendiera el suministro de petroleo, advirtió el general John
Kelly, jefe del Comando Sur
miércoles, febrero 26, 2014 | CubaNet
WASHINGTON. – El comandante de Comando Sur, el general John Kelly, dijo
en el Congreso que estas naciones no estarían en capacidad de comprar
combustible a precios de mercado si Caracas llegara a suspender su
suministro petrolero.
"Cuando la economía comienza a deteriorarse, los inmigrantes comienzan a
moverse hacia el norte", señaló el general al comparecer ante el la
comisión de asuntos militares de la cámara baja. "Eso me preocupa porque
la migración es una de las áreas sobre las que debo prestar atención".
Kelly solo mencionó por su nombre a Cuba y Haití, cuya economía "está al
borde del precipicio".
"Hay varios países así, que dependen del petróleo que reciben desde
Venezuela casi regalado", señaló.
Miles de cubanos se lanzaron en 1994 al mar abierto con la intención de
llegar a Florida, en lo que se ha denominado "la crisis de los
balseros", la cual llevó a ambas capitales a firmar un acuerdo migratorio.
Venezuela ha suministrado a bajo precio principalmente a Cuba, y también
a otras naciones de América Central y el Caribe, petróleo valuado en
miles de millones de dólares.
Kelly indicó que los venezolanos "ya están hablando sobre tal vez no
poder mantener" su suministro petrolero a otras naciones.
Las reservas soberanas venezolanas han descendido a su nivel mínimo
durante la última década, el dólar cotiza en el mercado negro a siete
veces el valor oficial fijado por un estricto control de cambio y la
inflación anual supera el 50%, una de las más elevadas del mundo.
Source: EEUU teme "un Mariel" si cesa petróleo venezolano | Cubanet -
http://www.cubanet.org/internacionales/eeuu-teme-un-mariel-si-cesa-petroleo-venezolano/
EEUU teme “un Mariel” si cesa petróleo venezolano
EEUU teme "un Mariel" si cesa petróleo venezolano
Estados Unidos teme un flujo migratorio masivo de Cuba y Haití si
Caracas suspendiera el suministro de petroleo, advirtió el general John
Kelly, jefe del Comando Sur
miércoles, febrero 26, 2014 | CubaNet
WASHINGTON. – El comandante de Comando Sur, el general John Kelly, dijo
en el Congreso que estas naciones no estarían en capacidad de comprar
combustible a precios de mercado si Caracas llegara a suspender su
suministro petrolero.
"Cuando la economía comienza a deteriorarse, los inmigrantes comienzan a
moverse hacia el norte", señaló el general al comparecer ante el la
comisión de asuntos militares de la cámara baja. "Eso me preocupa porque
la migración es una de las áreas sobre las que debo prestar atención".
Kelly solo mencionó por su nombre a Cuba y Haití, cuya economía "está al
borde del precipicio".
"Hay varios países así, que dependen del petróleo que reciben desde
Venezuela casi regalado", señaló.
Miles de cubanos se lanzaron en 1994 al mar abierto con la intención de
llegar a Florida, en lo que se ha denominado "la crisis de los
balseros", la cual llevó a ambas capitales a firmar un acuerdo migratorio.
Venezuela ha suministrado a bajo precio principalmente a Cuba, y también
a otras naciones de América Central y el Caribe, petróleo valuado en
miles de millones de dólares.
Kelly indicó que los venezolanos "ya están hablando sobre tal vez no
poder mantener" su suministro petrolero a otras naciones.
Las reservas soberanas venezolanas han descendido a su nivel mínimo
durante la última década, el dólar cotiza en el mercado negro a siete
veces el valor oficial fijado por un estricto control de cambio y la
inflación anual supera el 50%, una de las más elevadas del mundo.
Source: EEUU teme "un Mariel" si cesa petróleo venezolano | Cubanet -
http://www.cubanet.org/internacionales/eeuu-teme-un-mariel-si-cesa-petroleo-venezolano/
Estados Unidos teme un flujo migratorio masivo de Cuba y Haití si
Caracas suspendiera el suministro de petroleo, advirtió el general John
Kelly, jefe del Comando Sur
miércoles, febrero 26, 2014 | CubaNet
WASHINGTON. – El comandante de Comando Sur, el general John Kelly, dijo
en el Congreso que estas naciones no estarían en capacidad de comprar
combustible a precios de mercado si Caracas llegara a suspender su
suministro petrolero.
"Cuando la economía comienza a deteriorarse, los inmigrantes comienzan a
moverse hacia el norte", señaló el general al comparecer ante el la
comisión de asuntos militares de la cámara baja. "Eso me preocupa porque
la migración es una de las áreas sobre las que debo prestar atención".
Kelly solo mencionó por su nombre a Cuba y Haití, cuya economía "está al
borde del precipicio".
"Hay varios países así, que dependen del petróleo que reciben desde
Venezuela casi regalado", señaló.
Miles de cubanos se lanzaron en 1994 al mar abierto con la intención de
llegar a Florida, en lo que se ha denominado "la crisis de los
balseros", la cual llevó a ambas capitales a firmar un acuerdo migratorio.
Venezuela ha suministrado a bajo precio principalmente a Cuba, y también
a otras naciones de América Central y el Caribe, petróleo valuado en
miles de millones de dólares.
Kelly indicó que los venezolanos "ya están hablando sobre tal vez no
poder mantener" su suministro petrolero a otras naciones.
Las reservas soberanas venezolanas han descendido a su nivel mínimo
durante la última década, el dólar cotiza en el mercado negro a siete
veces el valor oficial fijado por un estricto control de cambio y la
inflación anual supera el 50%, una de las más elevadas del mundo.
Source: EEUU teme "un Mariel" si cesa petróleo venezolano | Cubanet -
http://www.cubanet.org/internacionales/eeuu-teme-un-mariel-si-cesa-petroleo-venezolano/
Call Cuba to Account
FEBRUARY 27, 2014 4:00 AM
Call Cuba to Account
Obama should implement LIBERTAD as Congress intended.
By Jason Poblete & Yleem Poblete
This week marks the 18th anniversary of the downing of two U.S. civilian
planes by the Cuban military over international waters. On February 24,
1996, Cessnas flown by members of the organization Brothers to the
Rescue were patrolling north of Havana for Cuban refugees, who risked
life and limb at sea in makeshift craft in search of freedom. Cuban
fighter pilots in Russian MiGs encircled the planes and attacked. The
planes disintegrated. Killed were three Americans: Carlos Costa, Armando
Alejandre Jr., and Mario de la Peña, along with U.S. resident Pablo Morales.
The killing of Americans once again brought home the true nature of the
Cuban regime. The political repercussions were felt in Washington, D.C.
Until then, the Clinton administration had thought, as the Obama
administration thinks today, that the U.S. could negotiate with the
Cuban government. But facing the political embarrassment of the downed
aircraft, Clinton reversed course and signed the Cuban Liberty and
Democratic Solidarity Act (LIBERTAD), which had bipartisan support. It
was as far as the Clinton administration was willing to go in taking a
hard line on Cuba.
Implementation of LIBERTAD, also known as Helms-Burton, was haphazard at
best. The air attack was soon forgotten. A mere two years after it, many
had turned their focus to easing sanctions and expanding relations with
Havana. That effort continued despite the arrest of the Wasp network of
Cuban spies in 1998, the expulsions of Cuban "diplomats" for espionage,
and the arrests of Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Ana Belén Montes
in 2001, and, more recently, of State Department officials Kendall and
Gwendolyn Myers for spying for Cuba. These are just the ones we know about.
The trend toward engagement and appeasement of the Cuban dictatorship
has worsened under President Obama. His national-security team has eased
economic sanctions in several key areas without demanding or securing
any concessions whatsoever from Havana. This is backwards. Like Iran and
North Korea, Cuba is a regime that calls for a firm hand, not a velvet
glove.
In his first inaugural address, President Obama said, "To those who
cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of
dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we
will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." The
rhetoric does not match up with the action. The Obama administration has
not only given an economic lifeline to this pariah state but also lent
it diplomatic legitimacy. The president chose a widely publicized event
to make his point and shook dictator Raúl Castro's hand. Meanwhile, back
in the island gulag, the crackdown against pro-democracy advocates has
intensified; American citizen Alan Gross was taken hostage in December
2009 and is still being held in a Cuban prison.
U.S. law and policy are supposed to isolate the Cuban government
economically while supporting the Cuban people. Cuba desperately needs
sanctions eased to secure more dollars and access to the global
financial system. The U.S. has an opportunity to leverage that need to
press for true democratic change and advance U.S. interests. The
Helms-Burton law provides a clear roadmap. Easy? No, but not impossible,
if the political will exists.
In LIBERTAD, Congress called on the president to fully enforce, through
the Departments of State and Justice, existing regulations and deny
visas to Cuban nationals who represent or are employees of the Cuban
government or of Cuba's Communist party. Unfortunately, such travel
continues essentially unfettered. The regime uses both diplomatic and
unofficial cover to spy on the United States and make business deals
that contravene U.S. law and policy.
Source: Call Cuba to Account | National Review Online -
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/372085/call-cuba-account-jason-poblete-yleem-poblete
Call Cuba to Account
Obama should implement LIBERTAD as Congress intended.
By Jason Poblete & Yleem Poblete
This week marks the 18th anniversary of the downing of two U.S. civilian
planes by the Cuban military over international waters. On February 24,
1996, Cessnas flown by members of the organization Brothers to the
Rescue were patrolling north of Havana for Cuban refugees, who risked
life and limb at sea in makeshift craft in search of freedom. Cuban
fighter pilots in Russian MiGs encircled the planes and attacked. The
planes disintegrated. Killed were three Americans: Carlos Costa, Armando
Alejandre Jr., and Mario de la Peña, along with U.S. resident Pablo Morales.
The killing of Americans once again brought home the true nature of the
Cuban regime. The political repercussions were felt in Washington, D.C.
Until then, the Clinton administration had thought, as the Obama
administration thinks today, that the U.S. could negotiate with the
Cuban government. But facing the political embarrassment of the downed
aircraft, Clinton reversed course and signed the Cuban Liberty and
Democratic Solidarity Act (LIBERTAD), which had bipartisan support. It
was as far as the Clinton administration was willing to go in taking a
hard line on Cuba.
Implementation of LIBERTAD, also known as Helms-Burton, was haphazard at
best. The air attack was soon forgotten. A mere two years after it, many
had turned their focus to easing sanctions and expanding relations with
Havana. That effort continued despite the arrest of the Wasp network of
Cuban spies in 1998, the expulsions of Cuban "diplomats" for espionage,
and the arrests of Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Ana Belén Montes
in 2001, and, more recently, of State Department officials Kendall and
Gwendolyn Myers for spying for Cuba. These are just the ones we know about.
The trend toward engagement and appeasement of the Cuban dictatorship
has worsened under President Obama. His national-security team has eased
economic sanctions in several key areas without demanding or securing
any concessions whatsoever from Havana. This is backwards. Like Iran and
North Korea, Cuba is a regime that calls for a firm hand, not a velvet
glove.
In his first inaugural address, President Obama said, "To those who
cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of
dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we
will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." The
rhetoric does not match up with the action. The Obama administration has
not only given an economic lifeline to this pariah state but also lent
it diplomatic legitimacy. The president chose a widely publicized event
to make his point and shook dictator Raúl Castro's hand. Meanwhile, back
in the island gulag, the crackdown against pro-democracy advocates has
intensified; American citizen Alan Gross was taken hostage in December
2009 and is still being held in a Cuban prison.
U.S. law and policy are supposed to isolate the Cuban government
economically while supporting the Cuban people. Cuba desperately needs
sanctions eased to secure more dollars and access to the global
financial system. The U.S. has an opportunity to leverage that need to
press for true democratic change and advance U.S. interests. The
Helms-Burton law provides a clear roadmap. Easy? No, but not impossible,
if the political will exists.
In LIBERTAD, Congress called on the president to fully enforce, through
the Departments of State and Justice, existing regulations and deny
visas to Cuban nationals who represent or are employees of the Cuban
government or of Cuba's Communist party. Unfortunately, such travel
continues essentially unfettered. The regime uses both diplomatic and
unofficial cover to spy on the United States and make business deals
that contravene U.S. law and policy.
Source: Call Cuba to Account | National Review Online -
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/372085/call-cuba-account-jason-poblete-yleem-poblete
Call Cuba to Account
FEBRUARY 27, 2014 4:00 AM
Call Cuba to Account
Obama should implement LIBERTAD as Congress intended.
By Jason Poblete & Yleem Poblete
This week marks the 18th anniversary of the downing of two U.S. civilian
planes by the Cuban military over international waters. On February 24,
1996, Cessnas flown by members of the organization Brothers to the
Rescue were patrolling north of Havana for Cuban refugees, who risked
life and limb at sea in makeshift craft in search of freedom. Cuban
fighter pilots in Russian MiGs encircled the planes and attacked. The
planes disintegrated. Killed were three Americans: Carlos Costa, Armando
Alejandre Jr., and Mario de la Peña, along with U.S. resident Pablo Morales.
The killing of Americans once again brought home the true nature of the
Cuban regime. The political repercussions were felt in Washington, D.C.
Until then, the Clinton administration had thought, as the Obama
administration thinks today, that the U.S. could negotiate with the
Cuban government. But facing the political embarrassment of the downed
aircraft, Clinton reversed course and signed the Cuban Liberty and
Democratic Solidarity Act (LIBERTAD), which had bipartisan support. It
was as far as the Clinton administration was willing to go in taking a
hard line on Cuba.
Implementation of LIBERTAD, also known as Helms-Burton, was haphazard at
best. The air attack was soon forgotten. A mere two years after it, many
had turned their focus to easing sanctions and expanding relations with
Havana. That effort continued despite the arrest of the Wasp network of
Cuban spies in 1998, the expulsions of Cuban "diplomats" for espionage,
and the arrests of Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Ana Belén Montes
in 2001, and, more recently, of State Department officials Kendall and
Gwendolyn Myers for spying for Cuba. These are just the ones we know about.
The trend toward engagement and appeasement of the Cuban dictatorship
has worsened under President Obama. His national-security team has eased
economic sanctions in several key areas without demanding or securing
any concessions whatsoever from Havana. This is backwards. Like Iran and
North Korea, Cuba is a regime that calls for a firm hand, not a velvet
glove.
In his first inaugural address, President Obama said, "To those who
cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of
dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we
will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." The
rhetoric does not match up with the action. The Obama administration has
not only given an economic lifeline to this pariah state but also lent
it diplomatic legitimacy. The president chose a widely publicized event
to make his point and shook dictator Raúl Castro's hand. Meanwhile, back
in the island gulag, the crackdown against pro-democracy advocates has
intensified; American citizen Alan Gross was taken hostage in December
2009 and is still being held in a Cuban prison.
U.S. law and policy are supposed to isolate the Cuban government
economically while supporting the Cuban people. Cuba desperately needs
sanctions eased to secure more dollars and access to the global
financial system. The U.S. has an opportunity to leverage that need to
press for true democratic change and advance U.S. interests. The
Helms-Burton law provides a clear roadmap. Easy? No, but not impossible,
if the political will exists.
In LIBERTAD, Congress called on the president to fully enforce, through
the Departments of State and Justice, existing regulations and deny
visas to Cuban nationals who represent or are employees of the Cuban
government or of Cuba's Communist party. Unfortunately, such travel
continues essentially unfettered. The regime uses both diplomatic and
unofficial cover to spy on the United States and make business deals
that contravene U.S. law and policy.
Source: Call Cuba to Account | National Review Online -
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/372085/call-cuba-account-jason-poblete-yleem-poblete
Call Cuba to Account
Obama should implement LIBERTAD as Congress intended.
By Jason Poblete & Yleem Poblete
This week marks the 18th anniversary of the downing of two U.S. civilian
planes by the Cuban military over international waters. On February 24,
1996, Cessnas flown by members of the organization Brothers to the
Rescue were patrolling north of Havana for Cuban refugees, who risked
life and limb at sea in makeshift craft in search of freedom. Cuban
fighter pilots in Russian MiGs encircled the planes and attacked. The
planes disintegrated. Killed were three Americans: Carlos Costa, Armando
Alejandre Jr., and Mario de la Peña, along with U.S. resident Pablo Morales.
The killing of Americans once again brought home the true nature of the
Cuban regime. The political repercussions were felt in Washington, D.C.
Until then, the Clinton administration had thought, as the Obama
administration thinks today, that the U.S. could negotiate with the
Cuban government. But facing the political embarrassment of the downed
aircraft, Clinton reversed course and signed the Cuban Liberty and
Democratic Solidarity Act (LIBERTAD), which had bipartisan support. It
was as far as the Clinton administration was willing to go in taking a
hard line on Cuba.
Implementation of LIBERTAD, also known as Helms-Burton, was haphazard at
best. The air attack was soon forgotten. A mere two years after it, many
had turned their focus to easing sanctions and expanding relations with
Havana. That effort continued despite the arrest of the Wasp network of
Cuban spies in 1998, the expulsions of Cuban "diplomats" for espionage,
and the arrests of Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Ana Belén Montes
in 2001, and, more recently, of State Department officials Kendall and
Gwendolyn Myers for spying for Cuba. These are just the ones we know about.
The trend toward engagement and appeasement of the Cuban dictatorship
has worsened under President Obama. His national-security team has eased
economic sanctions in several key areas without demanding or securing
any concessions whatsoever from Havana. This is backwards. Like Iran and
North Korea, Cuba is a regime that calls for a firm hand, not a velvet
glove.
In his first inaugural address, President Obama said, "To those who
cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of
dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we
will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." The
rhetoric does not match up with the action. The Obama administration has
not only given an economic lifeline to this pariah state but also lent
it diplomatic legitimacy. The president chose a widely publicized event
to make his point and shook dictator Raúl Castro's hand. Meanwhile, back
in the island gulag, the crackdown against pro-democracy advocates has
intensified; American citizen Alan Gross was taken hostage in December
2009 and is still being held in a Cuban prison.
U.S. law and policy are supposed to isolate the Cuban government
economically while supporting the Cuban people. Cuba desperately needs
sanctions eased to secure more dollars and access to the global
financial system. The U.S. has an opportunity to leverage that need to
press for true democratic change and advance U.S. interests. The
Helms-Burton law provides a clear roadmap. Easy? No, but not impossible,
if the political will exists.
In LIBERTAD, Congress called on the president to fully enforce, through
the Departments of State and Justice, existing regulations and deny
visas to Cuban nationals who represent or are employees of the Cuban
government or of Cuba's Communist party. Unfortunately, such travel
continues essentially unfettered. The regime uses both diplomatic and
unofficial cover to spy on the United States and make business deals
that contravene U.S. law and policy.
Source: Call Cuba to Account | National Review Online -
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/372085/call-cuba-account-jason-poblete-yleem-poblete
Venezuela-Cuba alliance’s shaky future fuels debate
Venezuela-Cuba alliance's shaky future fuels debate
By Paul Guzzo | Tribune Staff
Published: February 27, 2014
TAMPA — Both sides of the Cuba debate are citing the latest crisis in
South America to make their case, saying the uprising in Venezuela
provides clear evidence that the U.S. should alternately continue or
halt its long-standing Cuban travel and trade embargo.
Cut off the crucial partnership between these two nations — tens of
thousands of skilled workers go to Venezuela in return for $3.5 billion
in oil for Cuba each year — then tighten the embargo even further and
watch the Castro regime collapse, one side argues.
Among those espousing this view are people who have taken to the streets
of Tampa and other Florida cities in support of anti-government
protesters in Venezuela who have risen up this month in sometimes fatal
opposition to the government of President Nicolàs Maduro.
Some on the other side of the debate shake their heads at this notion.
The current unrest in Venezuela, they say, and its potential fallout for
Cuba provides an opening to end the embargo once and for all. The U.S.,
they say, should help Cuba develop its own oil industry.
Either way, if the uprising ends or even strains the mutual dependency
between Cuba and Venezuela, it stands to fundamentally change relations
between the U.S. and this island nation just 90 miles off Florida's shores.
"It would be a failed state," said Jorge Piñon, interim director of the
University of Texas at Austin's Center for International Energy and
Environmental Policy. "You have to consider, is it in the better
interest of the U.S. to have Cuba as a failed state or as a state you
can work with in transition into democracy?"
Cuba and Venezuela have been partners since the late Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez announced he was guiding his country toward full
socialism. Chavez struck the oil-for-professionals deal in 2000 with his
self-professed mentor, Fidel Castro.
Today, Cuba sends Venezuela 30,000 to 50,000 skilled workers such as
doctors, nurses and technicians.
❖ ❖ ❖
If the protests succeed, and a new Venezuelan government was to end the
barter, Cuba could not pay its petroleum-rich partner for the 150,000
barrels a day of oil it needs to fuel its economy.
The Cuban government has announced intentions to explore for oil in 2015
but oil experts say it would take five to seven years after a supply is
located to ramp up.
Cuba has been through such an economic crisis before. It was called "The
Special Period," the decade following the collapse of Cuba's previous
oil patron — the Soviet Union.
Infrastructure crumbled. Citizens went hungry.
Cuba survived the crisis, in part through the bailout by Venezuela with
its oil-for-professionals deal.
This time, Piñon said, things would be different.
Piñon was part of a team of scholars at the Brookings Institution who in
2009 released the report, "Cuba: A New policy of Critical and
Constructive Engagement," which urged the U.S. to normalize relations
with Cuba — going so far as to recommend helping Cuba with oil
exploration. This approach, the report said, is better for U.S.
interests than Cuba's continued reliance on Venezuela.
Pinon said he and a team of scholars spent 18 months running through
different scenarios of another oil-driven economic collapse for Cuba.
"There is no one who can help them now," Pinon said. "Cuba has spoken to
the Brazilians, the Angolans, Russia and Algeria — the four countries
politically aligned with Cuba with crude oil exports. None have the
capacity to give away that much oil."
Not even communist China seems willing to provide the oil or the capital
needed to purchase it, Pinon said.
What's more, facing this potential financial crisis, Cuba would do so
with a Castro regime that is much older.
❖ ❖ ❖
At 87, Fidel already has aged himself out of power. Raul is 82.
Who would succeed them raises concerns, Pinon said: "The vacuum that
would be created could be taken over by drug cartels."
Perhaps not directly, he said, by committing billions of dollars to buy
oil. Rather, through bribery of a politically weak post-Castro
government, with an eye toward transshipment points for smuggling to the
U.S.
Piñon favors an immediate policy shift to constructive engagement with a
Cuban government the U.S. knows rather than risk dealing with strangers
and a nation in chaos.
On the other hand, Tampa attorney and longtime pro-embargo activist
Ralph Fernandez said the possibility of a failed state is exactly why
the U.S. should clamp down on economic sanctions against Cuba rather
than loosen them if Venezuela breaks the partnership.
He said that once the Castros are out of power and Communism is swept
from the island, Cuban Americans from throughout the United States would
flock there to help rebuild.
"There is a ton of political exile money in the United States,"
Fernandez said. "These are people who are staunchly opposed to investing
in Cuba now but would do so if Cuba was free of the Castros."
Maura Barrios of Tampa, a longtime activist for normalized relations
with Cuba who has visited the island a dozen times, scoffed at both
assessments of Cuba without Venezuela.
Neither the Cuban government nor its citizens would welcome U.S.
interests back unless the current government was recognized and the
embargo was lifted, Barrios said.
Before the Cuban revolution, U.S. companies controlled the island's
sugar, railway and petroleum industries and held majority interests in
the telephone and electrical services, and U.S. banks held one-quarter
of all Cuba deposits.
Cuban citizens are taught that the U.S. gained this control because
Cuban presidents agreed to serve as U.S. puppets in return for power and
money.
"Fidel is smart," Barrios said. "He has never let the people forget why
the revolution took place. It was a reaction to 50 years of U.S.
domination."
"Cuba Si Yankee No," Barrios said, was the rallying cry of the Cuban
revolution.
❖ ❖ ❖
Still, Barrios doesn't buy into the failed state scenario. New leaders
are poised to replace the Castros.
"That system is institutionalized from top to bottom," Barrios said.
"There are plenty of people who could fill that void."
During the post-Soviet Special Period, she said, Cuba handled its
transportation shortfall by purchasing 1 million bicycles from China.
And a strict food rationing program was put in place to make up for the
slowdown in fuel-starved agricultural production.
"Cubans like to call themselves the cockroaches of the Americas," she
quipped. "That means they always survive. The government will do what is
necessary."
Another scenario comes from Mauricio Claver-Carone, director of
U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC, a Washington D.C. lobbying group promoting
democracy in Cuba.
During the Special Period, Claver-Carone said, Cuba began making
economic reforms. For instance, farmers were allowed to sell surplus
production and some self-employment was permitted.
Fidel Castro made these exceptions, he said, to retain power. When the
people get antsy, the philosophy goes, promise them changes.
Recent reforms started when Venezuela's Chavez grew ill in 2011. Raul
Castro, Claver-Carone said, knew the partnership would be in jeopardy
once Chavez died.
All this argues for tightening the embargo, Claver-Carone said.
"It's hard to believe anyone would think a 55-year dictatorship would do
anything for reasons other than to stay in power," he said. "If they
believed in democracy and open markets, they wouldn't have headed a
totalitarian regime for 55 years."
pguzzo@tampatrib.com
Source: Venezuela-Cuba alliance's shaky future fuels debate -
http://tbo.com/news/politics/venezuela-cuba-alliances-shaky-future-fuels-debate-20140227/
By Paul Guzzo | Tribune Staff
Published: February 27, 2014
TAMPA — Both sides of the Cuba debate are citing the latest crisis in
South America to make their case, saying the uprising in Venezuela
provides clear evidence that the U.S. should alternately continue or
halt its long-standing Cuban travel and trade embargo.
Cut off the crucial partnership between these two nations — tens of
thousands of skilled workers go to Venezuela in return for $3.5 billion
in oil for Cuba each year — then tighten the embargo even further and
watch the Castro regime collapse, one side argues.
Among those espousing this view are people who have taken to the streets
of Tampa and other Florida cities in support of anti-government
protesters in Venezuela who have risen up this month in sometimes fatal
opposition to the government of President Nicolàs Maduro.
Some on the other side of the debate shake their heads at this notion.
The current unrest in Venezuela, they say, and its potential fallout for
Cuba provides an opening to end the embargo once and for all. The U.S.,
they say, should help Cuba develop its own oil industry.
Either way, if the uprising ends or even strains the mutual dependency
between Cuba and Venezuela, it stands to fundamentally change relations
between the U.S. and this island nation just 90 miles off Florida's shores.
"It would be a failed state," said Jorge Piñon, interim director of the
University of Texas at Austin's Center for International Energy and
Environmental Policy. "You have to consider, is it in the better
interest of the U.S. to have Cuba as a failed state or as a state you
can work with in transition into democracy?"
Cuba and Venezuela have been partners since the late Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez announced he was guiding his country toward full
socialism. Chavez struck the oil-for-professionals deal in 2000 with his
self-professed mentor, Fidel Castro.
Today, Cuba sends Venezuela 30,000 to 50,000 skilled workers such as
doctors, nurses and technicians.
❖ ❖ ❖
If the protests succeed, and a new Venezuelan government was to end the
barter, Cuba could not pay its petroleum-rich partner for the 150,000
barrels a day of oil it needs to fuel its economy.
The Cuban government has announced intentions to explore for oil in 2015
but oil experts say it would take five to seven years after a supply is
located to ramp up.
Cuba has been through such an economic crisis before. It was called "The
Special Period," the decade following the collapse of Cuba's previous
oil patron — the Soviet Union.
Infrastructure crumbled. Citizens went hungry.
Cuba survived the crisis, in part through the bailout by Venezuela with
its oil-for-professionals deal.
This time, Piñon said, things would be different.
Piñon was part of a team of scholars at the Brookings Institution who in
2009 released the report, "Cuba: A New policy of Critical and
Constructive Engagement," which urged the U.S. to normalize relations
with Cuba — going so far as to recommend helping Cuba with oil
exploration. This approach, the report said, is better for U.S.
interests than Cuba's continued reliance on Venezuela.
Pinon said he and a team of scholars spent 18 months running through
different scenarios of another oil-driven economic collapse for Cuba.
"There is no one who can help them now," Pinon said. "Cuba has spoken to
the Brazilians, the Angolans, Russia and Algeria — the four countries
politically aligned with Cuba with crude oil exports. None have the
capacity to give away that much oil."
Not even communist China seems willing to provide the oil or the capital
needed to purchase it, Pinon said.
What's more, facing this potential financial crisis, Cuba would do so
with a Castro regime that is much older.
❖ ❖ ❖
At 87, Fidel already has aged himself out of power. Raul is 82.
Who would succeed them raises concerns, Pinon said: "The vacuum that
would be created could be taken over by drug cartels."
Perhaps not directly, he said, by committing billions of dollars to buy
oil. Rather, through bribery of a politically weak post-Castro
government, with an eye toward transshipment points for smuggling to the
U.S.
Piñon favors an immediate policy shift to constructive engagement with a
Cuban government the U.S. knows rather than risk dealing with strangers
and a nation in chaos.
On the other hand, Tampa attorney and longtime pro-embargo activist
Ralph Fernandez said the possibility of a failed state is exactly why
the U.S. should clamp down on economic sanctions against Cuba rather
than loosen them if Venezuela breaks the partnership.
He said that once the Castros are out of power and Communism is swept
from the island, Cuban Americans from throughout the United States would
flock there to help rebuild.
"There is a ton of political exile money in the United States,"
Fernandez said. "These are people who are staunchly opposed to investing
in Cuba now but would do so if Cuba was free of the Castros."
Maura Barrios of Tampa, a longtime activist for normalized relations
with Cuba who has visited the island a dozen times, scoffed at both
assessments of Cuba without Venezuela.
Neither the Cuban government nor its citizens would welcome U.S.
interests back unless the current government was recognized and the
embargo was lifted, Barrios said.
Before the Cuban revolution, U.S. companies controlled the island's
sugar, railway and petroleum industries and held majority interests in
the telephone and electrical services, and U.S. banks held one-quarter
of all Cuba deposits.
Cuban citizens are taught that the U.S. gained this control because
Cuban presidents agreed to serve as U.S. puppets in return for power and
money.
"Fidel is smart," Barrios said. "He has never let the people forget why
the revolution took place. It was a reaction to 50 years of U.S.
domination."
"Cuba Si Yankee No," Barrios said, was the rallying cry of the Cuban
revolution.
❖ ❖ ❖
Still, Barrios doesn't buy into the failed state scenario. New leaders
are poised to replace the Castros.
"That system is institutionalized from top to bottom," Barrios said.
"There are plenty of people who could fill that void."
During the post-Soviet Special Period, she said, Cuba handled its
transportation shortfall by purchasing 1 million bicycles from China.
And a strict food rationing program was put in place to make up for the
slowdown in fuel-starved agricultural production.
"Cubans like to call themselves the cockroaches of the Americas," she
quipped. "That means they always survive. The government will do what is
necessary."
Another scenario comes from Mauricio Claver-Carone, director of
U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC, a Washington D.C. lobbying group promoting
democracy in Cuba.
During the Special Period, Claver-Carone said, Cuba began making
economic reforms. For instance, farmers were allowed to sell surplus
production and some self-employment was permitted.
Fidel Castro made these exceptions, he said, to retain power. When the
people get antsy, the philosophy goes, promise them changes.
Recent reforms started when Venezuela's Chavez grew ill in 2011. Raul
Castro, Claver-Carone said, knew the partnership would be in jeopardy
once Chavez died.
All this argues for tightening the embargo, Claver-Carone said.
"It's hard to believe anyone would think a 55-year dictatorship would do
anything for reasons other than to stay in power," he said. "If they
believed in democracy and open markets, they wouldn't have headed a
totalitarian regime for 55 years."
pguzzo@tampatrib.com
Source: Venezuela-Cuba alliance's shaky future fuels debate -
http://tbo.com/news/politics/venezuela-cuba-alliances-shaky-future-fuels-debate-20140227/
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