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MEDIA ALERT: NPR's All Things Considered on 'A New Pivot in US-Cuba Relations'
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This evening at about 5:30 pm EST, I will be discussing Senator Richard Lugar's important new Senate Foreign Relations Committee report titled "Changing Cuba Relations: In the United States National Interest" (pdf here) with Jackie Northam on All Things Considered.
From Lugar's opening letter with the new US-Cuba "committee print":
"The debate [over U.S. sanctions on Cuba] is important because it has implications for security interests in the Straits of Florida, broader U.S.- Latin American relations, and global perceptions of U.S. foreign policy. Despite uncertainty about Cuba's mid-term political future, it is clear that the recent leadership changes have created an opportunity for the United States to reevaluate a complex relationship marked by misunderstanding, suspicion, and open hostility."Economic sanctions are a legitimate tool of U.S. foreign policy and they have sometimes achieved their aims, as in the case of apartheid in South Africa. After 47 years, however, the unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose of 'bringing democracy to the Cuban people,' while it may have been used as a foil by the regime to demand further sacrifices from Cuba's impoverished population. The current U.S. policy has many passionate defenders, and their criticism of the Castro regime is justified. Nevertheless, we must recognize the ineffectiveness of our current policy and deal with the Cuban regime in a way that enhances U.S. interests."
More here.
-- Steve Clemons
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Reader Comments (4) - post a comment
I hope the US policy toward Cuba will change toward greater openness and honesty. Cuban anti Castro attitudes have pushed US foreign policy into foolishness for too long.
I was disgusted with the NPR program on Cuba on April 7, 2009.
The moderator was entirely unprepared for the discussion. The U.S. government guest made one statement after another that was incorrect or inaccurate, and was unchallenged by the moderator. the moderator even apologized for one caller's comments that the Bush Administration's policy on Cuban family visits was "criminal." Why it is necessary to apologize for a caller's comments is beyond me, especially when the caller was one of the most accurate and intelligent callers that afternoon.
The Administration apologist stated one untruth after another, that there are many countries where American citizens are not allowed to travel, that Cuban citizens are not allowed to say that they want to leave the country, and that the U.S. put the embargo in place only to bring democracy to Cuba. That is so ridiculous that a middle-school child could respond to it. Why did we not embargo Iran after we placed the Shah and his secret police in power. Why did we not embargo Chile after we put Pinochet in power? Why did we not embargo Guatamala after we overthrew the democratically elected government there? That show is a sham since Neil has been moderating it, and it is embarassing for NPR to sink to those depths of ignorance.
As a college professor, I can assure you that he would not pass my class.
S.
I was disgusted with the NPR program on Cuba on April 7, 2009.
The moderator was entirely unprepared for the discussion. The U.S. government guest made one statement after another that was incorrect or inaccurate, and was unchallenged by the moderator. the moderator even apologized for one caller's comments that the Bush Administration's policy on Cuban family visits was "criminal." Why it is necessary to apologize for a caller's comments is beyond me, especially when the caller was one of the most accurate and intelligent callers that afternoon.
The Administration apologist stated one untruth after another, that there are many countries where American citizens are not allowed to travel, that Cuban citizens are not allowed to say that they want to leave the country, and that the U.S. put the embargo in place only to bring democracy to Cuba. That is so ridiculous that a middle-school child could respond to it. Why did we not embargo Iran after we placed the Shah and his secret police in power. Why did we not embargo Chile after we put Pinochet in power? Why did we not embargo Guatamala after we overthrew the democratically elected government there? That show is a sham since Neil has been moderating it, and it is embarassing for NPR to sink to those depths of ignorance.
As a college professor, I can assure you that he would not pass my class.
S.
I think that Cuban citizens are not allowed to say that they want to leave the country, and that the U.S. put the embargo in place only to bring democracy to Cuba. That is so ridiculous that a middle-school child could respond to it.
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