Cuba rejects U.S. supplies, asks for suspension of trade embargo

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Miami Herald

Cuba rejects U.S. supplies, asks for suspension of trade embargo
Responding to criticism, the U.S. offered $2 million in supplies. Cuban officials asked for a suspension of the trade embargo instead.
Posted on Tue, Sep. 16, 2008

BY FRANCES ROBLES
[e-mail]

HOLGUIN, Cuba -- A civilian aircraft was ready to be loaded with supplies to help residents of this hard-hit province and fly out of Miami Tuesday, but Havana rejected the U.S. humanitarian assistance offer -- repeating that what it really needs is a temporary suspension of the trade embargo.

Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon called the offer made to Cuban diplomats ''unique and unprecedented,'' because in the interest of speeding up delivery, the U.S. government was prepared to turn over up to $2 million in plastic sheeting, hygiene kits, blankets and other items directly to the Castro government -- an exception Washington was willing to make because of the extreme humanitarian need.

The initial flight loaded with $348,000 in goods was part of a $5 million aid package the Cuban government shunned, saying in a statement Monday that it cannot accept help from ``government that blockades them.''

~snip~
''The Cuban Interests Section in Washington wishes to communicate to the government of the United States that our country cannot accept a donation from the country that blockades us, although it is willing to purchase the indispensable materials that the North American companies export to the markets, and requests authorization for the provision of same, as well as the credits that are normal in all commercial operations,'' the statement said.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/top-stories/story/687979.html

[Nambe]

1. Not a good year to go South for the winter.

We live in the United States of Mexico if you need a safe house.

[Ghost Dog]

2. Only the USA and Israel support that blockade

in the General Assembly of the United Nations (with a handful of extra paid-for votes such as that of Albania, once),

year after year, over and over again.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Sometimes they can arm-twist the Marshall Islands into voting with the U.S. (and Israel).

[davidinalameda]

18. damn Jews

how dare they

:sarcasm:

[Billy Burnett]

19. Regarding your message content ...

Yes indeed, how dare they. Cuba helped Israeli botanists develop hydroponic systems that helps feed the citizens of Israel. Israel has almost literally bitten the hand that has fed them by voting with the US on US sanctions against Cuba.

As to your message title ... :thumbsdown:

[davidinalameda]

20. obviously you're not paying attention

Israel has suffered at the hands of many of Cuba's middle eastern allies over the decades

let's not forget that Cuba has been a sponsor of terrorists like the PLO as well

but we all know that it's the Israelis's fault for the PLO killing Jews

and we all know that Cuba's biggest cheerleader, St. Hugo, is allied closely with Iran; the main threat to most of the countries in the region, not only Israel

and from my understand, Cuba doesn't recognize Israel so if that's true, how would Cubans help Israel?

[Judi Lynn]

21. Looking forward to reading some of your bountiful supply of evidence Cuba sponsors terrorists.

Shouldn't take you long to post it and smarten up this buncha chumps.

I'm so sure you've got credible evidence.

Thanks so much.

[davidinalameda]

22. we all know what a true champion of democracy Castro has been

wonder how long you would last but I figure that you'd be turning your neighbors in to the secret police

you just seem like that kind of person


:hi:

[Judi Lynn]

23. Get off your personal attacks and post some of that plentiful information on Cuba's

sponsorship of terrorism.

[davidinalameda]

27. it's common knowledge

most of the communist governments have been guilty of it

and you are probably the biggest communist apologist on here

[Billy Burnett]

30. "It's common knowledge". Ha. There you go Judi Lynn.

Communists are bad. GlobalAmericanFascist supremacy is good. "It's common knowledge"

What more do you need?

[Ignis]

45. "Some people say..." "I know it in my gut..."

"It's just common sense..."

All the marks of someone without a shred of evidence. :eyes:

Luckily, he has plenty of snide insinuations and personal attacks to make up for it!

[Judi Lynn]

51. I read once that Cuba spends in ONE YEAR what the U.S. spends in TWELVE HOURS

on defense.

Only someone profoundly stupid, all the way to the core would dream a tiny country only 90 miles away from a country which can and would be thrilled to crush it would dream of antagonizing it by becoming a "terrorist" nation. Isn't that sad?

[Judi Lynn]

32. Glad to wait for that ample proof you have concerning Cuba's support of terrorism.

Your obsession with branding people as "communist apologists" is not acceptible. It's a dodge when you can't back up your smears.

Wake the hell up. McCarthy tactics were discredited decades ago.

You should realize D.U. discourages the practise of "red-baiting." That's a direct personal attack, and stupid, as well.

Completely refrain from personal attacks. D.U. rules.

Stick to the actual subject matter.

Provide those links to Cuban support of terrorism.

Here's a very good example of posting a link of terrorist acts. These are acts by Cuban AMERICAN terrorists against Cuba and Cubans, posted by DU'er "grasswire" in "madfloridian's" thread, in "Political Videos:"

madfloridian (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-16-08 06:39 PM
Original message
Jeb Bush, Ileana Ros Lehtinen, and Orlando Bosch...strange companions

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x191564

grasswire (1000+ posts) Tue Sep-16-08 07:08 PM
Response to Original message
1. article from 2001
Edited on Tue Sep-16-08 07:09 PM by grasswire
Mods: I have permission from the writer of this article to post it freely and fully. PM me if you wish more info.


ONLINE JOURNAL™ www.onlinejournal.com

Clinton pardoned an accused tax cheat, but Poppy Bush set a serial terrorist free

By Eileen Smith March 1, 2001—

In 1990, through the direct influence of President George Herbert Walker Bush, Orlando Bosch—fugitive from justice, undocumented alien, serial terrorist and airline bomber—was released from prison in Miami, at the urging of Bush’s son Jeb on behalf of Miami Republicans.

Jeb (the family Florida fixer) traded the unusual release from federal custody for the votes of Floridians and delivered Florida to his father’s electoral tally in the 1992 presidential election.

Orlando Bosch was not released because he was rehabilitated and repentant. He was not released because he had served out a sentence. He was set free by the Bushes for Republican gain with seeming disregard for public safety here and abroad and for the “Rule of Law.”

Thirty countries had refused Bosch asylum because of his criminality. An acting attorney general in Miami and the INS had refused to allow him to remain in the U.S. In January 1989 the acting attorney general wrote: “For 30 years Bosch has been resolute and unwavering in his advocacy of terrorist violence. . . . He has repeatedly expressed and demonstrated a willingness to cause indiscriminate injury and death.’“ Attorney General Dick Thornburgh described Bosch as an “unreformed terrorist.”

And yet the Bushes set him free.

Even more troubling than the release of a dangerous man in exchange for votes is the manner of adjudication. President Bush did not pardon Bosch. He apparently simply stepped in and exerted the influence of his office to release Bosch against the recommendations of the district director of the INS and the Department of Justice.

This was no penny ante lawbreaker. Not just a tax cheat or draft dodger. Bosch planned, participated in, or managed the following crimes:

With Poder Cubano (Cuban Power) 1968–69:

Bomb sent in a suitcase to Havana, Cuba.

Bombs placed in various commercial establishments in the United States.

Bomb against Mexican consul in Miami, United States. 1

Bomb placed at the residence of the British consul in Miami.

Bomb placed at a restaurant owned by Cuban emigrants in the United States.

Bomb placed (but did not explode) at the Chilean consulate in the United States.

Bomb placed at a pharmaceutical company in the United States.

Bomb placed at the Mexican consulate in the United States.

Bomb placed at the Spanish office of tourism in the United States.

Bomb against the British vessel “Greenwood” in the United States.

Bomb placed on board the Japanese ship “Aroka Maru” in the U.S.

Bomb placed at the tourist offices of Spain in the United States.

Bomb placed at the Mexican offices of tourism in the U.S.

Bomb explodes in the garage of the Mexican consul in the U.S.

Bomb placed at the Cuban consulate in Canada.

Bomb placed at the tourism office of Canada in the U.S.

Bomb explodes at the Japanese Office of Tourism in the United States.

Bomb explodes near the Cuban mission in the United Nations damaging the Yugoslavian mission.

Bomb placed on board the Japanese vessel “Michagesan Maru” in Mexico.

Bomb at the Office of Tourism of Mexico in the United States.

Bomb is discovered at an office of the French government in the United States.

Unexploded bomb is discovered at the Mexican consulate in the U.S.

Bomb is placed but left unused at the house of a Cuban dignitary in the United States.

Bomb placed in the French Office of Tourism in the U.S.

Bomb placed at the Shell Petroleum Company building in England. 2

Bomb explodes at the Japanese travel agency in the United States.

Bomb placed at Mexican tourism offices in the United States.

Bomb against British consulate in the United States.

Bomb placed at a branch of a British bank in the U.S.

Bomb placed at the headquarters of the Communist Party in North America.

Bomb placed on board the Bahamian ship “Caribbean Venture” while at a U.S. port.

Bomb against Mexican representatives in the U.S.

Bomb at the residence of the Mexican consul in Miami.

Bomb placed on British vessel docket at Mexican port.

Bomb explodes on board Spanish ship “Satrustegui” in Puerto Rico.

Bazooka attack against Polish ship in the United States.

More terrorist incidents follow:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x191564

[NeoConsSuck]

44. Then if it's common knowledge

then post it, you bullshit artist.

[LanternWaste]

77. Not being a purveyor of common knowledge...

As I'm not really a purveyor of common knowledge (i.e, most people on DU are ever so much more brighter than I am), I myself would like to see some links posted to peer-reviewed analysis of the charges you've made.

Esp. your allegations that Israel does not recognize Cuba, Cuba has directly supported the PLO, etc.

(and for my part, asking for peer-reviewed, valid info is more to assuage my own limited mental capacity and less because I'm a "communist apologist" as you so adroitly labeled another poster)

[Judi Lynn]

24. This may be what you're looking for:

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Book Review: Superpower principles - U.S. Terrorism Against Cuba

~snip~
In June 1959, some five months after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, the Havana government promulgated an agrarian reform law that provided for state appropriation of large private landholdings. Under this law, U.S. sugar corporations eventually lost about 1,666,000 acres of choice land and many millions of dollars in future cash-crop exports. The following year, President Dwight Eisenhower, citing Havana's "hostility" towards the United States, cut Cuba's sugar quota by about 95 percent, in effect imposing a total boycott on publicly produced Cuban sugar. Three months later, in October 1959, the Cuban government nationalized all banks and large commerical and industrial enterprises, including the many that belonged to US firms {Cuba offered to reimburse those who previously owned land or property that was nationalized, according to whatever value they had placed it at on the previous year's tax return. This was rejected.--Delta}.
Cuba's move away from the free-market system domination by US firms and toward a not-for-profit socialist economy caused it to become the target of an unremitting series of attacks perpetuated by the US national security state. These attacks included U.S.-sponsored sabotage, espionage, terrorism, trade sanctions, embargo, and outright invasion. The purpose behind this aggression was to undermine the Revolution and deliver Cuba safely back to the tender mercies of global capitalism.
The U.S. policy toward Cuba has been consistent with its longstanding policy of trying to subvert any country that pursues an alternative path in the use of its land, labor, capital, markets, and natural resources. Any country or political movement that emphasizes self-development, egalitarian human services, and public ownership is condemned as an enemy of the USA and targeted for sanctions or other forms of attack. In contrast, the countries deemed "friendly towards America" and "pro-West" are those that leave themselves at the disposal of large U.S. investors on terms that are totally favorable to the moneyed corporate interests.
Of course, this is not what U.S. rulers tell the people of North America. As early as July 1960, the White House charged that Cuba was "hostile" to the United States (despite the Cuban government's repeated overtures for normal friendly relations). The Castro government, in Eisenhower's words, was "dominated by international communism". Cuba was a threat to the "stability" of the hemisphere and to the survival of American democracy, we heard. U.S. officials repeatedly charged that the island government was a cruel dictatorship and that the United States had no choice but to try "restoring" Cuban liberty.
U.S. rulers never explained why they were so suddenly concerned about the freedoms of the Cuban people. In the two decades before the Revolution, successive administrations in Washington manifested no opposition to the brutally repressive autocracy headed by General Fulgencio Batista. Quite the contrary, they sent him military aid, did a vigorous business with him, and treated him well in every other way. The significant but outspoken difference between Castro and Batista was that Batista, a comprador ruler, left Cuba wide open to U.S. capital penetration. In contrast, Castro and his revolutionary movement did away with the private corporate control of the economy, nationalized U.S. holdings, and renovated the class structure toward a more collectivized and egalitarian mode. That is what made Fidel Castro so insufferable in Washington--and still does.
Needless to say, the U.S. method of mistreatment ahs been applied to other countries besides Cuba. Numerous potentially dissident regimes that have asked for friendly relations have been met with abuse and aggression from Washington: Vietnam, Chile (under Allende), Mozambique, Angola, Cambodia, Nicaragua (under the Sandinistas), Panama (under Torrijo), Grenada (under the New Jewel Movement), Yugoslavia (under Milosevic), Haiti (under Aristide), Venezuela (under Chavez), and numerous others. The U.S. modus operandi is:

• to heap criticism on the targeted government for imprisoning the butchers, assassins, terrorists, and torturers of the previous U.S.-backed reactionary regime;
  
  
• denounce the revolutionary or reformist government as "totalitarian" for failing to immediate institute Western-style, electoral politics;
  
  
• launch ad hominem attacks upon the leader, labeling him as fanatical, brutal, repressive, genocidal,power hungry, or even mentally imbalanced;
  
  
• harass, destabilize, and impose economic sanctions to cripple its economy;
  
  
• attack it with surrogate forces, trained, equipped, and financed by the CIA and led by members of the former regime, or even with regular U.S. armed forces.

More:
http://freethoughtweekly.blogspot.com/2008/01/book-review-superpower-principles-us.html

[EFerrari]

47. You seriously need to stop with the personal attacks

and use some of that energy to learn something about both Israel and Cuba.

[Mika]

60. If the so called "secret police" are secret, how could someone turn a neighbor in to them?

Fuckin' genius reasoning, dwickham.

You really do represent your case well.


-

[Billy Burnett]

25. Funny that ...

... .. so many supporters of apartheid and/or genocide are anti Cuba as well. :think:

[babydollhead]

3. Global links;Cuba's relief/ how you CAN help

Local Group Sends Aid To Cuban Hurricane Victims
Global Links is asking for financial help aiding hurricane victims in Cuba
For more information on how you can help, call 412-361-3424 or visit GlobalLinks.org
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Slammed by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the people of Cuba are struggling to recover from the worst natural disasters to hit their island in decades; but a local group is working to lend a helping hand.

Global Links is a Pittsburgh-based medical-relief agency with one of the few federal licenses to ship humanitarian aid to Cuba.

They're working to send out some special shipments in the coming weeks.

The items most in demand include sutures, gauze and gloves. Volunteers at the Global Links offices are boxing up those supplies now.

They're planning to fill at least two 40-foot containers to send to Cuba in the next few weeks.

"Everything that we send will be put into immediate use -- and that's true of every shipment that we send," Global Links' Executive Director Kathleen Hower explains. "We never send anything that they can't use."

Global Links works in collaboration with the World Health Organization and with all the hospitals in the Pittsburgh area – taking supplies and goods that they no longer use to hospitals in nine different countries.

The group says the best way to help is to make a financial contribution. Donations can be sent to:

Global Links
Attn: Cuban Hurricane Relief
4809 Penn Avenue, #2
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

For more information, call 412-361-3424 or visit GlobalLinks.org.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

[yy4me]

4. Isn't it way overdue to continue this blockade? It serves no

purpose other than to inflict hardship on the people of Cuba. With all of the downfalls in our economy, all of the ill conceived decisions made by this administration and others before it, perhaps a creation of trade with Cuba would be a little help. I know, that would be a drop in the collective disastrous repub bucket but it would be a rational and humane start.

[Billy Burnett]

7. Maintaining the embargo is Obama's policy too.

REMEMBER - the anti Cuba policies of the US are of bipartisan creation.

Politicians from both sides of the aisle claim support for Cuba sanctions, just as other politicians from both sides denounce it.

No matter which party, both sides of the embargo issue reap campaign hay depending upon their district.

This is why one shouldn't expect any major changes in the policy anytime soon.

[AlphaCentauri]

8. Foreign Policy, Republicans = Democrats

I can see any distinction between both parties

[Proletariatprincess]

6. There are strings attatched to the US humanitarian aid.

The US has insisted that it be allowed to send observers along with its humanitarian effort to Cuba. This is just more US hypocracy. If US policy gave a damn about the Cuban people, there wouldn't be a blockade....especially now.

[ronnie624]

11. America it seems,

can only relate to other countries - especially small, weak countries, populated by brown skinned people - from a position of paternalism and dominance; no dignity is allowed.

Washington came under fire last week because its first two offers to help Cuba in the wake of devastating back-to-back hurricanes were for just $100,000(!) -- if the Cubans allowed a disaster assessment team to survey storm damage.

[Billy Burnett]

17. Cuba has been treated like this for a century +.

The Breckenridge Memorandum

we must clean up the country, even if this means using the methods Divine Providence used on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

We must destroy everything within our cannons’ range of fire. We must impose a harsh blockade so that hunger and its constant companion, disease, undermine the peaceful population and decimate the Cuban army. The allied army must be constantly engaged in reconnaissance and vanguard actions so that the Cuban army is irreparably caught between two fronts and is forced to undertake dangerous and desperate measures.

-

To sum up, our policy must always be to support the weaker against the stronger, until we have obtained the extermination of them both, in order to annex the Pearl of the Antilles {Cuba}.

J.C. Breckenridge, U.S. Undersecretary of War in 1897

[Nambe]

9. Cuba offered to send doctors and aid to New Orleans.

Bush rejected the offer.

[Billy Burnett]

10. Past US relief to Cuba contained strong anti Castro/ anti Cuban gov messages on packaging.

I can't remember exactly when, during the Reagan regime I think, but the US offered aid with supposedly no strings. But the materials to be sent to Cuba were transshipped through Miami, where it sat for enough time to place anti Castro and anti Cuba government messages written in Spanish on the packages, right down to the individual can of soup and box of cereal.

Cuba wants to be able to buy the materials needed to rebuild but, like most every other nation, they need a credit line to make mass purchases. It is the US that prevents any credit line for Cuba to be established or insured without special license for any and all banks, insurers, brokers, and suppliers that operate in the USA.

The Bush admin is saying to Cuba 'take what miserly relief we offer under our terms or fuck off and die', and to American farmers, shippers, dockworkers, and other US labor and industries that would benefit from trade with Cuba, the Bush admin is simply saying 'fuck off'.

[babydollhead]

12. kick

[arikara]

13. Cuba disaster and ways to help

Cuba turned down US aid offer because it was conditioned on accepting an inspection by a USAID team. Spain, Brazil, and many other countries have offered aid without any conditions, only the US plays politics with human suffering. And all the aid that the US had to offer is $100,000 when much smaller countries like Timor Leste have offered $500,000 and without any conditions. The Cuban government rejected the aid as hypocritical and asked that Cuba is allowed to buy food and construction materials using credits offered by private business willing to do so, like any other country does The Bush administration introduced a legislation that requires that Cuba buys from US business only with cash.

Cuba needs your help because thanks to the US embargo/blockade it does not have access to the international credit system, so it is short in cash to deal with immediate needs, especially food and construction materials.

There are seven organizations in the US that have licenses from the US government to send humanitarian aid to Cuba. If you can, please consider donating to one. Even five dollars would help. These are all US-based organizations but all have very good reputations and records of unqualified support for Cuba:

Here is the list:

1. The Disarm Education Fund

Since 1994, the Disarm Cuban Medical Project has worked to combat the effects of the US embargo against Cuba on the health of the Cuban people and to advocate for a change in US policy, delivering more than $75 million worth of desperately needed medicines and medical supplies to Cuba, benefiting more than 2 million people. They are committed to supplying 60 Cuban hospitals and community clinics 20 in Havana and 40 in the countryside with supplies ranging from such desperately needed basics as aspirin, insulin, gauze pads, and syringes, to the most advanced treatments for pediatric cancer and AIDS.

www.disarm.org

2. Global Links

Global Links' program of medical aid to Cuba began in 1994 at the request of The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). This program is a federally licensed humanitarian aid program. Aid sent is received and distributed to health institutions by the PAHO/WHO office in Havana and the Cuban Ministry of Health. Global Links has received a list of requested products from PAHO and is raising funds to purchase and send them to Cuba.

http://www.globallinks.org/where_we_work/cuba/

3. Operation USA

Since its inception in September 1998, CMAP has delivered major shipments to pediatric hospitals and other health facilities. Supplies are donated by private companies, hospitals and physicians and are sent to Cuba under license from the U.S.-Departments of Commerce and Treasury. Operation USA is accepting cash contributions to pay for shipping medical supplies to Cuba.

http://www.opusa.org/wherewework/international/cuba/mainpage.html

4. MEDICC

MEDICC Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba, is a non-profit organization working to enhance cooperation among the US, Cuban and global health communities aimed at better health outcomes. MEDICC supports education and development of human resources in health committed to equitable access and quality care, providing the Cuban experience to inform global debate, practice, policies and cooperation in health.

MEDICC is seeking financial donations to replenish stocks of key medical reference books lost at the badly damaged Isle of Youth Medical School, where over 2,000 young Cubans study medicine and public health.

http://www.medicc.org/ns/index.php?s=3&p=3

5. Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services has worked with Caritas Cubana, the Catholic Church's relief agency, to provide emergency, humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable and needy people in Cuba since 1993. CRS delivers medicine, medical supplies, food and clothing to Cuba for distribution in hospitals, homes for the elderly, and to children with Down syndrome and other vulnerable groups. CRS is working with Caritas Cubana in the affected areas in infrastructure projects and assistance with access to food, hygiene products and water. (http://crs.org/Cuba/)


Please write checks to one of the organizations listed above, and mail to: Cuba Hurricane AID, P.O. Box 53106 , Washington, DC 20009.

Note: you can also donate online directly to any of these organizations, or through the Cuba Central site at

http://democracyinamericas.org/donate/

If you cannot donate, please demand that travel and trade restrictions are lifted, at least temporarily. Here are links to two online petitions that have been set up for this:

1) "US assistance to Cuban hurricane victims" online petition to the president and Congressional Leadership put together by several US organizations:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Cubafloodaid/

2) ANSWER's Online Petition to your Representatives, President Bush and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez: Lift the Blockade Now!

https://secure2.convio.net/pep/site/Advocacy?JServSessionIdr012=nrg5yknkz1.app13b&cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=225

**********

I sent money with someone who is travelling in Cuba, and who will get it to somewhere its needed.

[Billy Burnett]

15. Kick for relief links.

:kick:

[Captiosus]

14. 'Temporarily'? I say "permanantly".

There's no reason for this last remnant of McCarthyism to exist.

Ditch this damn embargo.
It's stupid and it's outdated.

And if you want a country to consider becoming democratic, especially given the proximity of the country to the United States, what better way than to make it a country Americans can go to freely, can buy from and sell to freely? People in Cuba might just start to think that going back to a democracy might be in their best interests.

Even if they don't, this embargo serves no purpose anymore.
The Government loves doing business with Communist China, but it continues to wag its finger at Communist Cuba.. and for what? Because they were established from "Soviet" Communism? Give me a break.

[Tansy_Gold]

16. I think if the unthinkable happens

I will consider moving to Cuba.

Canada is out because I don't do cold weather.



Tansy de Oro

[roody]

29. I hope Cuba will take me. I will need elder care some day.

[Bacchus39]

26. puting politics over the needs of their people I see

and as I mentioned in the Latin America forum, why doesn't Cuba look South for aid? or why aren't certain friends to the South offering?

[Billy Burnett]

31. Why on earth would you think that no other LatAm nations are helping Cuba?

Do you have anything we can read regarding this rumor that you're bringing to the table that Cuba isn't getting any relief from other Latin American countries.

Thanks

[Judi Lynn]

33. Odd to see posters make charges they know are bogus, isn't it?

Date: 12 Sep 2008
Save Mexico offers aid to hurricane-hit Cuba

MEXICO CITY, Sep 12, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- The Mexican government has offered to assist Cuba's reconstruction efforts after the island nation's infrastructure was severely damaged by hurricanes Ike and Gustav, a senior Cuban official said Thursday.

A delegation of Mexican experts will travel to Cuba to establish the details of the support, said Cuban Ambassador to Mexico Manuel Aguilera de la Paz.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/KLMT-7JE9EC?OpenDocument

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brazil offers aid to storm-struck Cuba, Haiti
Tue Sep 9, 2008 6:40pm EDT

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil offered humanitarian aid to Haiti and Cuba on Tuesday after hurricanes Gustav and Ike caused substantial damage to both nations.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke with Cuban President Raul Castro by phone for nearly an hour, a source in the presidential palace said, and convened seven ministerial heads to discuss how best to help.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKN0933165020080909

Brazilian Aid Arrives at Havana International Airport

Havana, Sept 13, (RHC).- Some 14 tons of humanitarian aid donated by the Brazilian government arrived early on Saturday to help the victims of hurricanes Gustav and Ike, in a show of solidarity expressed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

A donation from the State Reserves of that South American sister nation landed at Jose Marti International Airport with rice, beans, soy oil, powered milk, pasta and manioc flour.

In statements to local media, Brazilian ambassador to Havana Bernardo Pericas said this was just a preliminary effort and expressed the will of his government to further collaborate with Cuba and Haiti, which has lately been affected by three hurricanes.

http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_cuba/september2008/brazil-aid091308.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~snip~
Russia sent four cargo planes with tons of emergency supplies and construction materials, and Fidel Castro called Venezuela's aid ''most generous.'' China provided $300,000, and Cuba's state newspaper Granma said Brazil, Argentina and Mexico had also offered assistance. Spain also has sent planeloads of relief supplies.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/latin-america-and-caribbean-politics/story/683229.html

~~~~~~~~~~
Cuba has received messages and help offers from foreign ministers, government authorities and ambassadors from China, Bolivia, Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Cayman Island, Peru, Saint Lucia and Timor Leste.

http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_cuba/september2008/hurricane-aid090408.html

[Bacchus39]

56. first I've heard of it. and you forgot the US $5 million aid offer

the offer that Cuba has rejected. but with all those other countries helping out, I guess the US offer is no longer necessary.

"The United States on Saturday "informed the Cuban government that the U.S. government is committed to providing up to $5 million in relief assistance to Cuban hurricane victims and that we could fly emergency relief supplies to Cuba as soon as the Cuban government authorized such assistance," McCormack said at his daily briefing."


http://us.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/15/cuba.us/index.html

[Mika]

59. The CNN article you link to omits the US's requirement for US gov "assessment teams" for aid.

Yeah. Right. Like the US would allow enemy foreign government "assessment teams" into the US to evaluate US infrastructure.

The US has invaded Cuba, sponsored attacks and assassination attempts against Cuba's government leadership, harbors terrorists that have attacked Cuba, and is a self declared enemy of Cuba. The Cuba haters are trippin' if they think that Cuba is being unreasonable.


-

[Bacchus39]

61. the US government invites reps from numerous governments

to look at US infrastructure, both to have foreign experts give advice on US infrastructure needs and to take back lessons to their home countries. international professional and scientific tours for technology transfer are quite common. both in the private sector and government, and combined. you really don't know what you are talking about.

furthermore, disaster assessment teams are the norm for emergency situations.

The US offered aid, Cuba refused. that's the bottom line.

[Mika]

64. Cuba does the same thing also, but just not declared enemies that have attacked before.

As usual, B39, apples .. meet oranges.



-

[Bacchus39]

65. well, its Cuba who is asking their declared enemy for aid aren't they?

you do know what assessment teams do don't you? they evaluate where and what is needed. kind of important don't you think? we wouldn't want to send them pressure cookers when they need roofing now would we???

[Bacchus39]

66. oh, and this is a good time to respond to the doctors offer Cuba made

apparently they were not needed since the American medical community's response was robust according to that article posted. why send us apples when we need oranges???

[Mika]

67. No. Cuba wants to purchase what it needs (w/credit like other countries). US sanctions prevent it

Lifting the US extra territorial sanctions on banks, insurers, and shippers is all that Cuba is asking for.

Allowing Cuba to buy products from the US would be good for US jobs, etc,

I think that you oppose the sanctions on Cuba, so, don't you find this ridiculous?




-

[Bacchus39]

69. credits??? based on what?

but this brings us back to my original question, which has been misgconstrued, why don't they look elsewhere for what they need?

and its still no reason to refuse the aid offered, particularly when you are asking to make purchases on credit.

and yes as I've stated before I do not oppose the lifting of the embargo, but its not going to happen anytime soon is it?

[Bacchus39]

70. oh, and about the jobs that would benefit the US

how are companies going to pay these new workers when they are giving away their products based on credit?

remember, you've said that trade is between companies and not countries or governments. and when I asked what companies in Cuba the US companies would trade with I believe your response was a they would trade with a Cuban goverment trade agency.

but tell me, what capital does Cuba have that would allow it to trade robustly with the US? they can't trade bananas or tobacco for auto parts. it doesn't work that way. I guess the Cuban government could sell tobacco, and maybe some minerals to US companies for cash and then then the Cuban government would then use that money to buy US products from private companies. Is that how it would work? the Cuban government managing all the trade??

[Mika]

71. I guess the US gov sanctions and American travel ban have worked.

Unlike the rest of the Caribbean islands that rely on US tourism and trade as their main resources, Cuba (and Americans) are sanctioned by the US government. The US extra territorial sanctions and American travel ban have hurt Cuba's small Caribbean island economy.

Mission accomplished. Yes?


Oh. and. btw, credit for foreign purchases comes from creditors/banks/insurers. The employees don't "front" their labor. I know that you know this, but I was just responding to your absurd and puerile "argument".


-

[Bacchus39]

72. no, the embargo hasn't worked, but US tourism isn't the main source of revenue for the Caribbean

either. perhaps some of the smallest countries it is but certainly not for the Greater Antilles or Trinidad and Tobago. you could maybe look at the trading numbers for the Caribbean. I know that in PR, albeit a US territory, tourism is only 7%. Europeans, Canadians, Latin Americans, and anywhere else go to Cuba too you know.

[Bacchus39]

58. I didn't say that, I questioned why Cuba doesn't look south for support

lets remember that 1) the US offered aid and 2) it appears some other countries offers are being accepted so it would seem Cuba's demands on the US are not really necessary.

[Billy Burnett]

76. And it turns out other LatAm countries are helping Cuba, so your whole premise is bullshit.

As usual, your posts to Cuba threads are usually as useful as graffiti.

[Bacchus39]

63. self delete

s

[EFerrari]

49. When did you stop beating your dog? n/t

[Bacchus39]

62. as soon as it quit breathing n./t

d

[cobalt1999]

28. Why are we sending supplies to Cuba?

Don't we have people waiting in 4 miles lines in Texas for supplies?

[Judi Lynn]

34. Why did Cuba have a crowd of doctors waiting with their medical bags to come to the US

to help in any way needed after Hurricane Katrina, only to have _Bush completely blow them off?

Medical Aid is Needed; But Doctors from Cuba Need Not Apply
Posted September 9, 2005 | 04:11 PM (EST)

Do the Gulf Coast and surrounding states need more than a thousand well-trained doctors, poised to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina? The Bush administration doesn’t think so. Maybe that’s because the doctors are being offered by Cuba, and they can’t allow a human tragedy to trump their ideology.

With greater speed than most of our federal agencies displayed, Cuba made a significant offer of medical assistance in the aftermath of Katrina: 1,586 medical doctors equipped with the equivalent of more than 25 tons of medications and diagnostic kits. This pledge of assistance was first made privately, by Cuban diplomatic personnel, but after an official silence lasting several days, President Castro reiterated the offer at a public event in Cuba on Sunday.

It was not until Tuesday of this week that Sean McCormack, a spokesman for the State Department, finally turned down the Cuban doctors. Instead, he offered reporters the assurances of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which said there was a “robust” response from U.S. doctors.

Could that be true? Or are the State Department and HHS as out of touch with medical needs on the ground as FEMA has proven to be with regard to the disaster across the board?

Consider just the case of the Brazos County Health Department, dealing with an influx of Katrina survivors into Texas, which tells a different story on the local newspaper’s website: “Doctors needed: Call the Brazos County Health Department at 979-361-4440.” There are, in fact, several hundred thousand evacuees who have streamed out of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, putting a significant strain on the delivery of medical services in places that have embraced them. Our health secretary, Mike Leavitt, says his department is actively pursuing a strategy to support community health centers. The strategy just must not include foreign offers of help.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-stephens/medical-aid-is-needed-bu_b_7102.html

~~~~~~~~~~~

Katrina aid from Cuba? No thanks, says U.S.
America welcomes foreign help, except from an old Cold War foe



Roberto Leon / NBC News
Although it is unlikely they will be going anywhere,
Havana doctors Luis Sauchay and Delvis Marta
Fernandez prepare their knapsacks of emergency
medical supplies for Katrina victims.

By Mary Murray
Producer
NBC News
updated 7:38 a.m. CT, Wed., Sept. 14, 2005

HAVANA — Dr. Luis Sauchay is the kind of hands-on physician you want in an emergency.

Though relatively young at 34, Sauchay has chalked up more than a decade of practicing hardship medicine.

Right out of medical school, he spent two years on the high seas, the only doctor for hundreds of fishermen aboard an industrial vessel.

During two other years, he cared for the sick and forgotten in an understaffed African clinic, treating countless cases of tuberculosis and cholera.

For the last five years, he has been the local family doctor for 200 working-class families in Havana’s Párraga neighborhood.

And after last December’s tsunami, Sauchay joined a Cuban medical brigade to comfort the shell-shocked in Sri Lanka.

So it was no surprise when just a day after Katrina decimated the Gulf Goast that Sauchay volunteered to help victims even though it means leaving his wife alone with their 2-month-old son.

“I can do a lot of good there,” he stressed, “because I have years of experience dealing with this type of catastrophe.”

Sauchay, though, may never get the chance to prove his worth. Despite Bush administration assurances that international aid offers will be kept free of politics, Cold War tensions seem to be freezing out help from Cuba.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9311876/

[cobalt1999]

35. That's nice, but did they have a similiar disaster going on in Cuba at the same moment?

Were people lined up waiting for medical help?

If so, then they are as stupid as we are.

Why would we be sending hurricane relief supplies to another country when right here, right now, people need those exact same supplies?

[Judi Lynn]

37. Oh, I getcha! Cuba has actually declined the offer, and requested the U.S DROPS THE EMBARGO, instead

They weren't soliciting a handout, and have always asked to be able to do business with the food producers, etc. right here, close to them, rather than paying horrendous shipping costs getting the food from far away, not to mention all the materials the U.S. has put of of their reach, like medical supplies, hospital equipment, and everything mechanical with even a part in it with a patent from the U.S. even though it is produced outside the U.S., in a completely different country.

The U.S. has created an extra-territorial ban prohibiting companies in other countries from doing business with Cuba if they hope to also do business in the U.S. Other countries protested these measures as being completely contrary to international law when they were ennacted. It's really time to retire this sneaky, ham-handed chokehold on the Cuban people.

Cubans are saying, "stop crushing us, get your foot off our necks."

The embargo is what Cuba has been interested in changing, as it truly is economic warfare going back over 4 decades, and it's ferociously destructive to their way of living, which is its purpose.

They truly don't want gifts from the U.S. taxpayers. That's the game of factions within the Cuban "exile" American community in South Florida, who suck up tens of millions of dollars annually in their schemes they've been running ever since they were removed from power in Cuba.

[EFerrari]

50. Because BushCo knows it won't be accepted. Why do they do anything?

[flamingdem]

36. The US Govt offered only $100,000. The later offer was politically tinged by right wingers in Miami

including Diaz-Balart that made the money contingent on sending an "inspection crew" to Cuba.

Of course Cuba rejected the $100,000 crap offer of help when their damages are estimated at 6 BILLION

Of course they rejected Diaz-Balart's purely political manipulation.

[Judi Lynn]

38. Thanks, Lincoln, but no thanks.

What an unbearable asshole.
It's possible the Democrat's going to beat this clown in the coming election.

[flamingdem]

41. I would like to be in Miami for that event!

Are you in Florida? My family is there and I wish I could be in FL campaigning right now. I sense that a change is in the air and even the Cuban Americans are ready to change the old mentality. Arriba!

[Judi Lynn]

43. Nope, but I keep a close eye on them ever since the Elián sideshow. Both Diaz Balarts

are being notably challenged this year, after so very many years Lincoln ran almost unopposed, with no one, but NO ONE expecting his chokehold could be weakened. Now he's having to contend with the old spokesman from the old Cuban American National Foundation, a guy who was in Washington when Jorge Mas Canosa built the C.A.N.F. headquarters there (to be able to be close to all the Congresspeople they intend to influence so they can continue to control U.S. policy in Latin America!), and Garcia, although a creep, is a Democrat with a LOT of clout by now, and he should, at least, be in someways inclined to respect some of the Democratic Party's goals.

Mario is being contested by the former long time fixture in Hialeah, Raul Martinez. I've heard both opponents are considered to have a good support base.

It would be thrilling to see these guys pried out of those jobs they assumed were theirs for life. It's really, REALLY time for those right-wing reactionaries to get outta there, wouldn't you say?

If you check the Miami Herald, read the articles on Cuba related subjects, or local Cuban politicians, you will be highly entertained seeing there is a real resistance to the deadly three, Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. It would give you the impression Miami is sick and tired of ALL THREE OF THEM.





O mi god. The terrible 3 surround another scum, with his friend Lindsey Graham

[Judi Lynn]

48. Information on Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's opponent: "Opponent says Ros-Lehtinen can be beaten"

Opponent says Ros-Lehtinen can be beaten
Congressional candidate Annette Taddeo has been working the Democratic convention crowd over her tough race against Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Posted on Thu, Aug. 28, 2008

BY LESLEY CLARK
[e-mail]

DENVER -- She's been overshadowed by the big dogs in news stories and onstage at the Democratic National Convention, but South Florida congressional candidate Annette Taddeo is undeterred.

Given a brief chance to introduce herself to Florida Democrats at a breakfast here Wednesday -- a day after fellow candidates Joe Garcia and Raul Martinez appeared before the entire convention -- Taddeo seized the moment, taking to the stage in the delegate hotel to outline her candidacy against Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

''And I'm going to beat Ileana,'' she concluded.

Though even a friendly Democratic pollster says Taddeo is a long shot to topple the Miami Republican, Taddeo said in a post-breakfast interview that she did not get into the race without believing it was ``doable.

''I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but it's very winnable,'' she said, suggesting her candidacy is likely to benefit from GOP malaise and President Bush's record low popularity ratings.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/661830.html



Good luck, Democrat Annete Taddeo!

[Love Bug]

39. Wouldn't it boost our economy if we opened up trade to Cuba?

[Judi Lynn]

40. Sure it would. American food producers and other business people have been lobbying for years

to drop the embargo, and drop the ban on all American travel to Cuba (Cuban immigrants are excepted, and have been travelling back and forth for many years).

The purpose of the embargo is more important to the right-wing element controlling our foreign policy toward Cuba: punishing Cuba until it relents and allows U.S. domination. That has been the objective since the 1800's, regardless of what the Cuban people themselves want, and need for their own lives.

Pity.

[flamingdem]

42. exactemundissimo - right now they need us and we need them just as much!

Let us get the SHOW on the ROAD w Obama talking to them and negotiating a win win

[Pastiche423]

68. Hmmm...

About Obama - you need to read post #7.

[flamingdem]

73. Do you mean the post about trade?

Or the post about Israel. I'm guessing trade. The best thing for both sides for now is to allow travel and tourism, for a start, and to allow some kind of credit line that will increase trade, imo

[Billy Burnett]

75. Please read post #55. It explains why things are at a stand off.

Post #55 by Mika
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3491967&mesg_id=3496083


For real changes in US/Cuba relations there needs to be a change in the US political system, not Cuba's.

[Pastiche423]

79. No, I meant about Obama

[EFerrari]

46. Yes. But the US will never forgive Fidel for not selling out Cuba

to our corporations and especially for not letting himself get assassinated. That was just a downright embarrassment.

[Judi Lynn]

52. It's almost not worth the effort after he has stubbornly resisted being assassinated 638 times!

Did you ever see the documentary “638 ways to kill castro?”

Here it is, online:

http://watchdocumentaries.blogspot.com/2007/07/638-ways-to-kill-castro.html

(Fast forward past commercials to 2 minutes 34 seconds.)

Really, REALLY good!

[EFerrari]

53. Thank you, Judi Lynn.

:)

[flamingdem]

54. Thanks!! This should be muy interesante

I'm checking this out right away. It is a BBC production, should be great.

[Mika]

55. It wouldn't be a boost for campaign contributions for politicians on both sides.

It would be nice if American politics regarding Cuba were virtuous ... BUT ... they aren't.

The politicians, both R & D, who claim to be pro embargo reap mega contributions from the interests of those who benefit from the sanctions.

The politicians, both R & D, who claim to be anti embargo reap mega contributions from the interests of those who would benefit from the sanctions ending.


You have to understand - the status quo yields high returns in campaign contribution for both sides of the issue, which is a mixed bag if repubs and dems.

None of them want to kill the cash cow.


If we want this type of political (non)representation to end, this country needs public financing of political campaigns.




-

[bluedem77]

57. The embargo hasn't worked

The Castros are still in power while Cubsns in Miami suffer for not being able to send enough cash to their relatives in the island. End the embargo now.

[Billy Burnett]

78. It's worked for the politicians who get campaign support for AND against it.

As explained up thread, the policy probably won't change until the US changes the election campaign financing system.

[Popol Vuh]

74. Fidel: The untold story

Here's a documentary I would recommend to watch. I thought it was very well put together and anyone interested in the subject of Cuba no matter what side of the argument they're on will find this video interesting.

Part: 1/10
Part: 2/10
Part: 3/10
Part: 4/10
Part: 5/10
Part: 6/10
Part: 7/10
Part: 8/10
Part: 9/10
Part: 10/10

[Judi Lynn]

80. Thanks for the chance to see this film by Estela Bravo. She's excellent. n/t