article from April 19, 2012
By Jamie Douglas
Cuba is going to be a very wealthy nation, once the economic
blockade is lifted. In 2010 alone, over a half a billion US dollars have been
confiscated (stolen?) by Washington and its Caribbean lackeys.
This amount is certified by the US Office of Foreign Assets
Control, which still refers to the island nation as a “state sponsor of
terrorism.” But when it comes to state sponsored terrorism, it is the United
States that has repeatedly supported terrorist organizations that have served
its goals. Surely, we all remember the ill-fated Bay of Pigs Invasion, carried
out by incompetent minions of the CIA, who are still hanging around the cafés
of Miami’s Calle Ocho, reliving their
massive failure. It’s very similar to the Argentineans celebrating their ass-kicking
at the hands of the British in the Falkland Islands. They are all such heroes!
The biggest heroes of them all are two mass murderers who
have been given sanctuary in the United States: Luis Posada
Carriles and the now deceased Orlando
Bosch. And of course, the CIA has equally dirty hands in the matter that
brought down Cubana Airlines Flight 455, a DC-8 that exploded midair by means
of a bomb that was disguised as a shipment of Colgate toothpaste but was in
reality plastic explosives. The CIA was aware of the impending terrorist
action, but never informed the Cuban government via the Swiss Embassy. Some of
the perpetrators were tried in Venezuela but were allowed to escape in 1985.
The entire operation was so badly bungled that it had the hand prints of the CIA
and the veterans of the Bay of Pigs all over it. They did succeed in blowing up
the airplane, which carried the entire Cuban fencing team that had just won all
the medals in the Central American and Caribbean Games.
Last week (April 13, 2012) also had Raúl Castro hosting the presidents and
ministers of state of several Latin American nations, including President
Felipe Calderón of Mexico. During their meeting, the future prospects of the
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, an alternative to the
US-dominated Organization of American States, were discussed. The United
States’ objection to Cuba’s presence at any OAS function, despite its
membership in the organization, was a key issue at the recent Summit of the
Americas. So, slowly but surely the nations of the hemisphere, minus Canada and
the United States, are building their own organization, with China reaping the
most benefits.
I had much greater hopes for President Barack Obama reaching
out to our neighbors in the hemisphere. But this being an election year and
Florida being an important swing state (who could forget the 2000 fiasco), he
must pander to the vociferous Cuban exile community there.
As for the population of Cuba, they are doing OK. They would
love to do better. But on February 3, 1962, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy,
with Proclamation 3447,
turned Cuba into the USA’s redheaded stepchild. A year and a half later he was
dead – shot by unknown assassins. Fifty years later the Castro brothers are
still in power, and the USA still has not learned anything about their yanqui arrogance. China has become the
dominant trading power in the hemisphere, and they own trillions of dollars worth
of the USA. Will the lights ever come on, or will the United States keep
blundering through the dark swamp for another 50 years?
Jamie Douglas
San Rafael, Mendoza
Having a Havana Club Gold
I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with
any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any
travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free
of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial
counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.
