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Even considering their electoral propaganda objective, George W.
Bush's recent statements raising the intensity of the bilateral
dispute with Havana sparked a strong reaction among Cuban
authorities. Bent on winning his reelection in 2004, and aware of
the voting power of the Cuban émigrés in Florida which has
enormous weight in general elections the U.S. president decided to
throw himself full weight against the government of Fidel Castro in
a speech delivered at the 135th commemoration of the insurrection of
the Island's population against Spanish colonial power in 1868.
The Administration had lately made some enemies among the Miami
power groups, classified as "mafiosos" by Havana, for
complying with migratory agreements with the Island and returning
the kidnappers of a airship taken by force to Miami.
Spokespersons of the Fundación Nacional Cubano-Americana,
comprising wealthy, ultraright Cuban-American individuals and 13
Republican congressmen from Florida, had voiced their frustration
"for the lack of a consistent agenda committed to liberate the
Cuban people". Cornered by an increasingly shaky situation in
Iraq and dangerous fluctuations in the domestic economy, Bush again
played the Cuban card in an effort to secure his success in Florida.
The program
For this occasion, George Bush brought a package of measures that
Cuba's Foreign Affairs Ministry immediately rejected as intrusive
and prepotent. In the presence of extreme rightwing Cuban-American
legislators and Roger Noriega, undersecretary of State, Bush
announced the creation of a "Presidential Commission for a Free
Cuba", headed by Secretary of State Collin Powell and
Melquíades Martínez, a Cuban-American member of the Cabinet also
linked to the Miami extremists.
This brand new commission would be in charge of advising the U.S.
executive on ways to strengthen the economic and financial siege of
the Island, which the countries of the European Union have joined,
and design the so-called "post-Castro era". Cuban sources
expect this organization to function in tune with the
extra-territorial Helms-Burton Law, that restrains foreign
investments in Cuba, announces punishment to foreigners who carry on
business with Cuba, and establishes the steps that the new
government should take, after the disappearance of the Revolutionary
Government, with Washington's approval.
Nothing could be more insulting and interventionist, say the
Havana authorities, who reject the idea that Cuba should return to
the dependence from the United States that existed until January
1959. Bush additionally announced the reinforcement of controls to
stop the 80,000 U.S. citizens, who despite threats and fines,
continue to visit the Island, most often by traveling through third
countries, and the reinforcement of subversive radio and television
transmissions to the archipelago, most of them currently neutralized
by local technical means.
Cubans paid special attention to Bush's affirmation: "Castro
will not change (...) but Cuba must change". Local authorities
call this statement "arrogant", and many analysts consider
it a threat, taking into account the White House international
practice of unilateral armed attacks to its supposed enemies, among
which Cuba is included. |
