Soldiers of the Bridge: Cuba’s New Fortress
Soldiers of the Bridge: Cuba’s New Fortress
September 23, 2015
by José Pertierra
For 54 years the United States has waged war against Cuba, in a futile effort to strangle and starve the Cuban population into mutiny against the Revolution. Ten different presidents tried to asphyxiate Cuba, by blockading the island, causing suffering, as well as human and financial loss in the billions of dollars. Now things appear to be changing. President Barack Obama, the 11th US President since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, seems intent on changing Washington’s strategy for dealing with Cuba.
On December 17 of last year, President Obama began building a bridge between the two countries. The first stone he laid at the base of the bridge was to free Gerardo, Ramón and Tony from US jails, where they had been unjustly held for over sixteen years. He also used his presidential authority to issue licenses to poke holes into the blockade.
Yet the bridge is still under construction. Each of us is helping to build it: stone by stone. Many of us want a friendship bridge that would bring the two nations together. Some want simply to flood the island with consumer goods that will yield enormous profits for American corporations. Others see it as a way to hasten the demise of socialism in Cuba.
But have no doubts. Just as Cuba learned to defend itself from foreign military incursions, terrorism, biological warfare and a brutal blockade for over five decades, the Revolution will learn to defend itself from those who would now want to cross a newly built bridge across the Florida straights with foul schemes against Cuba.
More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/09/23/soldiers-of-the-bridge-cubas-new-fortress/