Threat from Cuba

Miami Herald

Letters to the Editor
February 18, 2010

Re the Feb. 5 story Republicans ask Obama to cancel Cuba migration talks:

I would ask whether those who signed the letter have put ideology ahead of national security. Two days before these members of Congress demanded that the Obama administration suspend migration talks with Cuba, Dennis Blair, director of National Intelligence, discussed Cuba in his presentation of the Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

The only potential threat that Blair discussed that could emanate from Cuba would be a mass migration from the island if the government decided it could not cope with rising discontent over economic conditions.

In other words, suspending migration talks would cut us off from the Cuban government on the only national-security threat that Cuba potentially poses to us. And why would we do this? Because these members of Congress disapprove of the administration's handling of so-called ``pro-democracy'' programs in Cuba and Cuba's decision to arrest and hold a U.S. contractor involved in these programs -- which haven't worked for five decades.

It's an irresponsible proposal.

SARAH STEPHENS, executive director, Center for Democracy in the Americas, Washington, D.C.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/02/18/1485939/hed-here.html

Freedom To Travel

U.S. Travel Ban on Cuba

For more than four decades, the United States has tried to isolate Cuba, economically and diplomatically.

When we look at Cuba news, we see an increasingly public and vigorous debate about the economy. We see the nations of the region conducting ordinary and even extraordinary relations with Cuba. What we don't see is a story line involving the United States, the effectiveness of U.S. policy, or even much of a presence or a role as the possibilities of change unfold.

Top 10 List

"This top ten list is a powerful reminder to Congress and all Americans that sanctions against Cuba do nothing but violate American values, cost American jobs, stain our image overseas, and breach our basic rights," said Sarah Stephens of the Center for Democracy in the Americas. "As Cuba enters a new era, so should America, and replace our policy of isolating Cuba with one favoring engagement, travel and trade."