Castro

[KENNETH HOUGHTON]

I'd tend to disagree with the concept of "polling" as being valid.  As has been 
noted, Cuba's per capita income (independent of subsidies in all cases) is the 
best in the Central American region.  That those "forays" strengthened Castro's 
support is roughly equivalent to noting that the Lies that McNamara ("I have 
more information than you do, so your conclusions are wrong") and Kissinger ("We
have a Secret Plan," 1972) told strengthened their respective Presidents--not to
mention collateral contributors such as Ross ("Vietnam made me rich") Perot.

Or that Clinton's posturing on the issue won him Florida, where Batista's Very 
Rich Cohorts still live, claiming a right to "their" land--which the poor Cubans
they left behind have been working and living upon for well over 35 years.

Looking specifically at the post-Soviet Union policy, I'd note that President 
Bill ("China deserves MFN status without linking it to Human Rights") Clinton 
and his co-conspirators such as Dan ("The Pakistani representative didn't 
deliver money to my campaign on time. Replace him with one who will.") Burton 
and Jesse Helms have deliberately put Cuba in the position where almost any 
action taken by the Castro government can be justified, not even necessarily 
excluding shooting down planes that deliberately invade their airspace.

It is difficult to argue that taking extreme measures is objectionable when 
extreme measures are being taken to attack your very existence.

(Of course, as Dave F. may have heard from me, Helms/Burton kept an uncle--who 
publishes a small journal in Canada which Castro happens to read--from risking 
coming to our wedding. So I do take this particular malicious, duplicitous piece
of "foreign policy" a bit personally.)

Cuba has a long history under Castro of "delivering the melons," when compared 
with other "more democratic" countries in their region.  It's certainly not 
enough--as David F. noted--but it should also be credited in its context.

ken

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Castro
Author:  RR.TFCNY at mail.fdncenter.org (RICHARD ROMEO) at dbnaccip
Date:    4/11/97 4:01 PM


I remember seeing a collection of independent documentaries on PBS 
related to Cuba today.  Much of it was very critical of the Castro 
regime, particularly from the artist communities (I've read some novels, 
too _Dreaming in Cuban_ for one that support the anti-Castro ideology).  
Economically, Cuba is in a shambles, I'm sure in some part by the effects 
of the U.S. boycott.  Generally, I equate Cuba with places like Iran in 
that despite all the rhetoric, these countries have a hard time 
"delivering the melons". 
Also, if you're gonna criticize US foreign policy (there's lots to 
criticize--do we have one is really the question), what about Castro's 
foray into Angola and Mozambique during the 70's.  He wasn't sitting home 
twiddling his thumbs.  He was probably happy Che got killed in 
Bolivia--one less competitor.
Finally, if Cubans were polled, I'd say most would say Castro should step 
down.  

Richard Romeo
Coordinator of Cooperating Collections 
The Foundation Center-NYC
212-807-2417
rromeo at fdncenter.org