Cuba requests U.S. aid after Hurricane Ian knocks out power, Wall Street Journal reports

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

September 30, 2022 8:16 PM EDT Last Updated 4 hours ago

WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Cuba's government has made a rare request for emergency assistance from the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden after Hurricane Ian knocked out power to the whole island of 11 million people, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Hurricane Ian tore through the island nation on Tuesday, causing an country-wide blackouts, flattening homes and destroying agricultural fields. Cubans have staged protests against the government over the power loss, which heightened concerns over ongoing food, fuel and medicine shortages.

Washington has assessed that Cuban authorities would place priorities on hospitals, water pumping facilities, sanitation and other critical infrastructure if the Biden administration were to provide aid, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a review of email communications.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report, nor did Cuba's embassy in Washington. Biden has promised to re-engage with Cuba after years of tensions between Havana and Washington. But Cuba's crackdown following widespread protests on the island last July led instead to sanctions on Cuban officials.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cuba-requests-us-aid-after-hurricane-ian-knocks-out-power-wsj-2022-09-30/

[RAB910]

1. I hope we grant the aid. People are dying and

Suffering, we need to do the moral and proper thing and help

[jimfields33]

2. Keep in mind that we'll borrow the money to pay Cubs

Plus Florida is going to cost a fortune.

[RAB910]

3. If we help DeSantis in Florida, how can we not justify helping Cuba?

[jimfields33]

6. Well Cuba is not part of the United States. Florida whether we like it or not is ours.

[RAB910]

9. and?

[cstanleytech]

18. And it's not are responsibility to help them as they are a foreign country. Now do I

personally believe that we should provide some aid? Yes as it's the right thing to do but I cannot force our legislature to provide it.

[RAB910]

20. I am not sure my responsibility to help fascists

In Florida exceeds my obligation to help people elsewhere

[cstanleytech]

21. Difference is Florida is a state.

It's harsh but it's the truth.
That aside as I said I think providing aid to Cuba is the right thing to do.

[RAB910]

26. This is a state that voted to let me rot

After Sandy

[cstanleytech]

40. No, it was some politician's from the state but there are many Democratic voters in

that state that did not agree with them doing that.

[demigoddess]

55. it is some politicians, not politician's.

[Polybius]

57. But you're ok with helping Communists?

DeSantis is worse than Miguel Díaz-Canel?

[RAB910]

59. absolutely

[Polybius]

60. Wow, you'll take an admitted Communist over a quasi fascist who has to get elected every 4 years

That crazy.

[RAB910]

61. Other than you slapping a communist label on the guy, what has he done bad?

[Polybius]

62. He slaps in on himself

Miguel Díaz-Canel admits that he's a Communist, as is his government. Quasi fascist DeSantis identifies as a Republican. Would you take Fidel over DeSantis as well?

[RAB910]

63. You didn't answer the question

[Polybius]

64. He identifies as a Communist and doesn't support free and open elections

Kinda hard to lose when there's only one Party in the country. How far left are you? Extremities aren't good.

[RAB910]

65. I don't share you that all communists are evil. As for free and fair elections, neither does the

the fascist Desantis

[Polybius]

66. You are free to have that belief

Too bad Cubans aren't.

[Marcus IM]

32. The US has set up a myriad of sanctions specifically designed to impoverish the nation of Cuba.

So, when you say we can't help because they are a foreign country but nothing to say about the US systematically destroying Cuba's economy , for 60+ years, it makes me question your rationale.

It's OK to systematically destroy a foreign country, but, we can't help them because they're a foreign country?


Americans need to do a little bit of soul searching regarding this utter hypocrisy.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

36. Who said we can't help them?

Nothing in that post said anything about we can't help them, all that was said is that we're not obligated to help them, what was also said is that it's morally correct to help the people of Cuba.

[cstanleytech]

41. Thank you.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

45. +100. nt

[Marcus IM]

48. And where do I say that?

Nothing in that post said anything about we can't help them either.

We differ on the issue of obligations, as per my post about US sanctions.

Otherwise, we're good.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

51. Here, I'll highlight it for you.

So, when you say we can't help because they are a foreign country but nothing to say about the US systematically destroying Cuba's economy , for 60+ years, it makes me question your rationale.

Those are your words, he/she never said we can't help them, all that was said is that the US is not responsible for helping but it is the right thing to do.

Other than that, we're good.

[Marcus IM]

53. OK. TY

I guess I should have posted "our responsibility to help".

Thanks for the correction.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

54. No problem,

and BTW, I do happen to agree with you on the US sanctions against Cuba.
Have a great Sunday.

[Demsrule86]

49. We send aid in times of trouble to many foreign countries...we should help Cuba.

[cstanleytech]

52. Ahemmmm.

"Now do I personally believe that we should provide some aid? Yes as it's the right thing to do but I cannot force our legislature to provide it."

[Cha]

56. To me it's about Helping the

People in Florida.. we have loved ones in Florida and many post on DU.. and have gone through a terrifying experience.

I feel for the people of Cuba, too.. hope they get some help.. How about a World Go Fund Cuba?

[yaesu]

11. we also "borrowed money" to pay for the 2-3 trillion dollar tax break for the rich

I would rather see Cuba get it.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Well technically

the Cubans in FL were anti-Castro (and post-Castro regime), so the "political" ones (versus the poorer ones who managed to leave for reasons that other immigrants come here) want that government removed, and don't want any "ties" or fig leaves dangled.

[Marcus IM]

33. It constantly amazes me that Dem pols pander to cretins that will never vote for them.

Those Florida based pro-insurrectionist RW Cuba "exiles" will never vote for Dems or a Dem POTUS.

But, there is a large contingent of liberal and independent anti-sanctions Cuban immigrants who would.

This is why it stuns me that any Dem would pander to the extremist RW "exiles" who want to do to the Cuban gov't what the J-6 insurrectionists want to do to America's gov't. They're the same folks.

Imo, President Biden should return to the policies that President Obama started that initiated a normalization discussion.

[Magoo48]

8. It's the Cuban people who need help not their fucking government.

We should help the Cuban people every chance we get as recompense for the inhumane embargo we’ve maintained for decades.

[no_hypocrisy]

10. Ethically, on the basis of humanity, Cuba should receive aid if we have the money.

OTOH, I can predict extreme blowback from Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis as they will probably accuse every dollar going to Cuba is a dollar denied to Floridians.

[NorCalBlue]

13. Darned if you do and darned if you don't

Because as an earlier poster said, giving aid is the morally right thing to do, but the GOP and constituents would latch onto that and run through the media streets talking about Biden giving money to a Communist Regime. Instead of Floridians. Right before midterms. And yet, it is the right thing to do. They had a fit when we gave recent aid to Ukraine for God’s sake.

[no_hypocrisy]

15. Welcome to DU NorCalBlue

[Irish_Dem]

34. If you're going get beaten up either way, then it is an easy choice. Do the right thing.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. And for sure don't forget this one

[70sEraVet]

12. Its WAY past time to reach out a hand to Cuba.

WE had an f'up government for four years, but our allies held their noses and maintained good relations.

[Marcus IM]

50. Our gov't has deliberately crippled Cuba's economy for over 60 years.

The US myriad of sanctions that are designed to destroy Cuba's economy and ability to modernize were in place even during the slight thawing of relations that President Obama imitated on the US side (Cuba has always sought normalization since Nixon was VP).

Sixty years!

[dembotoz]

16. if we are to continue to pretend we are a christian nation help should be extended

or we can continue to lie about that too.

and it just might be good foreign policy to show the rest of the americas that we are not ALWAYS the jerks

[Bayard]

17. I agree we should help

But more in terms of sending engineers and technical people. We are already over-extended helping Ukraine. And Ian hitting the states is going to cost billions.

[PortTack]

24. What we "give" to Ukraine is not a gift. It is done under lend lease and much of it will be paid

Back either by Ukraine or the EU. Plus the billions we have given Ukraine will come back to us in trillions in new military trade. Those that were once trading with RU see the poor quality of their equipment and don’t want it. India already having cancelled much of their military trade with russia.

[lonely bird]

19. The entire position regarding Cuba is ridiculous

We trade with the PRC. We travel to the PRC and Chinese people travel here.

End any embargo and establish normal relations with Cuba.

[JI7]

23. It's all based on Florida politics with the Cuban American votes

no other reason for it.

[Marcus IM]

27. Nope. It's the various resort and entertainment venues ...

.. that doesn't want all those tourism dollars leaving the South East US to the beautiful and unspoiled island that welcomes tourists with open arms. We're talking about billions of dollars.

The US resort and gambling institutions lobby hard for maintaining the travel ban on Americans.

They and everyone else use the Cuban exiles as cover for their egregious political activity for profit.

[lonely bird]

43. But...

I thought capitalists liked competition.

Except when they don’t.

Where is my sarcasm button?

[cstanleytech]

42. Completely agree. nt

[EndlessWire]

22. We should help them.

There's no way we can turn our backs on them. I am surprised that they asked for help. This is an opportunity to show our true character. As far as taking bucks away from Florida, I don't think so. Florida can always take the Covid funds they are allegedly sitting on and use them as well. One way or another, Florida will be helped. Over time, we can absorb the costs.

I think that Joe can figure something out. Politically speaking, we might be able to turn Cuba into an ally. I am not naive enough to think that Cuba would not take the money and run, but it's worth a shot. I think we should chance it.

[PortTack]

25. Agree completely!

[Marcus IM]

28. Cuba might take the money and run??

What does that even mean?

The Cuban gov't runs one of the leanest and efficacious systems anywhere.

With the US's extraterritorial sanctions literally strangling their economy, they are still able to provide universal social infrastructure that millions of Americans would give their "left one" for.

I hope the US does give aid and that the Cuban gov't runs with it!

[EndlessWire]

29. You missed it.

Joe can work something out with them. Turning Cuba into an ally might be helpful. Diplomacy isn't either one of us's forte, friend. At any rate, send in some brigades of engineer's and a bunch of greenbacks. It couldn't hurt.

[Marcus IM]

30. Missed what?

Cuba has ALWAYS sought normalization with the US.

It's the US that has and continues to define itself as the enemy of Cuba, not the other way around.

What did miss?

[Irish_Dem]

35. I agree with everything you say.

[anotherOKIE]

31. We have to help them.

To be the leader of the free world and really the not so free world, means being above petty feelings and illogical thinking. The long term is what matters and in the long term Cuba will be a friend and partner in many endeavors if we just put the past behind us and extend a helping hand. If the Biden administration can't get this done or won't do it then they will lose some of my respect.

As far as paying for helping them, we have to realize that we - meaning the United States and the rest of the world - cannot pay for everything that needs to be done in order for everyone to prosper. The conservatives worldwide have failed to tax income in a manner that is fair and equitable. The current economic system that we all have lived in probably will not last in its current form and will have have to change quite a lot if human beings are going to survive on this planet. Enormous change is ahead of us; perhaps for good if we elect progressives or catastrophic change if we elect conservative religious leaders.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

37. I find it interesting that Cuba is asking us for assistance rather than Russia,

I wonder if Cuba is rethinking its ally's dependability.

This is a great opportunity to start a major thaw in relations between the US and Cuba and lessen Russia's influence in Latin America.

[BumRushDaShow]

38. It might also be because

before 45, there WAS 8 years of a "thaw" under Obama, culiminating in this -

And then that was all slammed shut after the 2016 election as the new focus was for the RW loons to begin the final chapter to kill our own democracy.









Of course Raul is no longer there but I think they saw the potential.

[EndlessWire]

39. Good jog!

I remember that! I remember being disappointed that we did an about face in our relationship. And, for what? Cuba didn't want a Trump dump gracing their beaches?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

44. Or a combination of all,

but for whatever the reason they are asking us for assistance, I am wholeheartedly for helping the Cuban people just because it's the right and moral thing to do.

[BumRushDaShow]

46. Since Puerto Rico also got slammed by Hurricane Fiona earlier (now forgotten by the media)

I expect they might consider a two-fer and maybe work out the logistics for aid to and between both islands. Puerto Rico was still trying to pick up the pieces after what the 2017 Hurricane Maria did to them, and that one was of similar strength as Ian was at landfall in FL (high-end Cat 4).

[MarineCombatEngineer]

47. I expect you're right,

but this time, with regards to Puerto Rico, we have a Pres. in office who is a compassionate man, unlike Benedict Donald.

[XorXor]

58. Assisting is the humane and strategically wise move

Sadly the conservatives will either be incapable or at least pretend to be incapable of understanding why this is, and they try to use it against Biden. Nonetheless, I think it's the best long-term move. We need to get past this nonsense with Cuba, because in the coming decades it's best not to have a hostile country to our south that could be exploited by certain rising powers.