"Why Are Cubans So Special?"

Why Are Americans So Gullible?
Updated: Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

    
    The title of this essay -- "Why Are Cubans So Special?" -- is borrowed from Ann Louise Bardach. That was the title of a recent major article in the New York Times penned by Ms. Bardach. The sub-title of this essay -- "Why Are Americans So Gullible" -- is mine. When it comes to the U.S.-Cuban conundrum, Ms. Bardach is the world's best source. She is the most knowledgeable and the most unbiased journalist/author on that topic and, also significantly, the bravest when it comes to revealing true but dangerous U.S.-Cuban facts. Considering the vast and deleterious impact the Cuban conundrum has had and is having on the image of the United States and democracy, Ann Louise Bardach is easily one of America's and democracy's most valuable assets.

       Unfortunately, since 1959 Luis Posada Carriles and his supporters in Miami and the U. S. Congress have had far more influence on America's Cuban policy than unbiased experts such as Ann Louise Bardach. Beginning in 1959, after the Cuban Revolution ousted the U.S.-backed Batista-Mafia dictatorship in Cuba, the most zealous counter-revolutionaries, such as Posada, were sent to the then secretive Army of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia, where they graduated as acclaimed and well-paid 2nd Lieutenants who were then sicced on Revolutionary Cuba. Years later, in a famous New York Times article penned by Ann Louise Bardach, Posada bragged about a multitude of terrorists acts against Cuba, such as the bombing of Cubana Flight 455 {later recanted} and the deadly bombings of Cuban hotels {never recanted) to dissuade tourism to Cuba. Now 87 and freed from prisons in Venezuela and Panama by his friends in Miami, Tallahassee, the U. S. Congress, and the White House {primarily George H. W., George W., and Jeb Bush allies}, Posada today is a free and heralded man in Miami, much to the chagrin of every Caribbean and every Latin America nation. On Dec. 18-2014 -- the day after President Obama announced plans to normalize relations with Cuba -- Posada was featured on newscasts demonstrating in the streets of Miami and urging his followers to do whatever they could to dissuade tourism to Cuba, Posada's consistent theme since 1959. Americans, since 1959, have been persuaded to ignore facts presented by Ann Louise Bardach and support or at least tolerate Posada -- from his days at Fort Benning to his anti-Obama street demonstration on Dec. 18-2014 in Miami. {Posada was born on February 15, 1928 in Cienfuegos, Cuba, so he turned 87 last week}.

       The images of the United States and democracy have taken severe hits in the region and on the world stage since 1959 because Americans, for the most part, have gotten their U.S.-Cuban news from Posada supporters and not from unbiased experts. Ann Louise Bardach is the most important such expert. Her seminal book -- "Cuba Confidential: Love and Vengeance in Miami and Havana" -- was published by Random House in 2002. In 2004 Penguin published her follow-up: "Cuba Confidential: The Extraordinary Tragedy of Cuba, Its Revolution, and Its Exiles." In 2009 Scribner published her classic "Without Fidel: Death Foretold in Miami, Havana and Washington." Americans who have not read those three books by Ann Louise Bardach have most likely gotten their U.S.-Cuban news from supporters of Posada Carriles. And that, in essence, is the "Extraordinary Tragedy of Cuba, Its Revolution, and Its Exiles" that Ann Louise Bardach has delineated better and fairer than anyone else. Thus, it is her input that should prevail.

         Next month -- March of 2015 -- Ann Louise Bardach will make speeches and hold seminars at Yale University in America and at prestigious universities in London, Rome, and elsewhere. Democracy-loving Americans, Britons, Italians, etc., are keenly interested in the ongoing efforts by President Obama to bring sanity to U.S.-Cuban relations. But so are the ultra-powerful Cuban exiles and their subservient sycophants who benefit so much, economically and politically, from continuing a U. S. policy towards Cuba that shames democracy as well as America's best friends around the entire world.

     It is a sad commentary on the U. S. media, especially cable news, that the views of Posada Carriles supporters will continue to overwhelm those of unbiased experts such as the brilliant Ann Louis Bardach, whose journalistic inspiration and perspiration regarding Cuba is unparalleled. I comprehend the intimidation factor propping up five decades of one-sided propaganda. I also understand that middle-of-the-road outlets such as CNN side with the Batistiano faction believing that to be the politically correct approach. In other words, CNN, which is capable of balanced presentations, seems to believe that Americans have been bombarded for five decades with the Batistiano viewpoint and to present even factual data that differs from entrenched and inaccurate viewpoints would only confuse their viewers. That's why on CNN you'll see the likes of Miami-based counter-revolutionary lobbyist Ana Navarro as CNN's ubiquitous "Cuban expert." And to this day many people seeking true perspectives of U.S.-Cuban relations depend on sources such as CNN to counter the unabashed right-wing propaganda of, say, Fox News. Such dependence is futile unless you can point out that mainstream news sources such as CNN balance out their avalanche of Posada Carriles supporters with the sane, reasoned, unbiased assessments of someone like Ann Louise Bardach.

      All of which brings me back around to two major recent articles written by Ann Louise Bardach for the New York Times, which still has a reputation for presenting both sides of two-sided stories. One article is entitled "Wet Foot, Dry Foot...Wrong Foot" and explains the harm -- to the U. S. and to democracy -- that has been caused by allowing a handful of anti-Castro zealots and a few Congressional sycophants concoct U. S. laws that benefit only Cuban exiles while harming everyone else. Of course, only the misinformed or the completely intimidated can disagree with Ms. Bardach on that score. Her other recent article in the New York Times was entitled "Why Are Cubans So Special?" She began that article with these exact words: "Every Cuban knows the 'Wet Foot, Dry Foot' drill: Risk fleeing to the United States and get caught at sea, and you will be sent back to the island; but if you wangle just one toe onto dry land, you're home free. From there, typically, it's a fast track to permanent residency, and eligibility for all manner of benefits, from green cards to welfare, then citizenship -- all compliments of the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966." Then she added: "Indeed, for almost a half century, Cubans have been the most privileged immigrants in the United States. Are Cubans more deserving than, say, refugees fleeing death squads or drug cartels? Another is its enabling of a veritable crime syndicate..." 

           And so...heading into the final week of February-2015, that's where U.S.-Cuban relations stand -- firmly in the hands of a U. S. Congress whose Cuban policy is firmly dictated by eight Cuban-American members of Congress where they, when it comes to Cuba, can easily defy the will of the majority.

        On Friday of this week, a second round of face-to-face meetings will take place in Washington designed to further President Obama's goal of "Restoring Diplomatic Relations" between the United States and Cuba. It is a commendable but fruitless effort. The U. S. democracy, still the strongest and greatest in the world, is not strong enough or great enough to fulfill President Obama's goals in regards to Cuba. As Ms. Bardach has so eloquently pointed out, that reflects "the extraordinary tragedy of Cuba, its revolution, and its exiles." It also reflects the fact that Cuba says a lot more about the U. S. than it says about Cuba.

        Cuba, for sure, is the largest and most prominent island in the Caribbean. But its huge prominence on the international stage relates to its contentious relationship with a neighbor that happens to be the world economic and military superpower. The U. S. wrested dominance of Cuba from Spain after an easy victory in the fabricated Spanish-American War of 1898, after which the U. S., among other things, laid claim in perpetuity to one of Cuba's finest ports -- Guantanamo Bay. But the prime U. S. targeting of Cuba occurred in 1952 when America, the most respected democracy in the world, teamed with the Mafia to back the vile, thieving Batista dictatorship, which was actually a stratagem concocted in South Florida by a former Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista, and his best friend, the Mafia kingpin Meyer Lansky who famously wanted "the Mob to own its own country." With the help of the United States, Lansky got his wish...for eight brutal and voracious years. In the wee hours of January 1, 1959, the Cuban Revolution chased the Batistiano-Mafiosi leaders back to South Florida from whence they came. But within weeks the Batistiano-Mafiosi regime was resurrected on U. S. soil, with the continued support of the U. S. government and with the fervent desire to regain control of Cuba, an effort that has consumed almost six decades of time while also usurping tons of America's former worldwide esteem. So, it is highly appropriate in February of 2015 that America's top Cuban expert, Ann Louise Bardach, asked the pertinent question to headline a major article in the New York Times: "Why Are Cubans So Special?" From the prism of the United States they are, of course, so special for this reason: The resurrected Batistiano-Mafiosi dictatorship in the U. S. has made innocent Cubans on the island special by unmercifully punishing them; and the resurrected Batistiano-Mafiosi dictatorship in the U. S. has made Cuban-exiles special by dictating laws in the U. S. Congress that grossly favor them while harming everyone else. Meanwhile, starting Friday of this week in Washington a second round of diplomatic discussions will strive to normalize relations between the United States and Cuba. It is a worthwhile endeavor, but a futile one. A handful of rich and powerful benefactors within the bowels of the U. S. Congress have firm grips on America's Cuban policy, and Cuba is too much of a cash cow and ego trip for them to give up control of America's skewered relations with the island. Democracy lovers are left to ponder the weaknesses in the American fabric that allows this to happen. The ordinariness of revenge and greed can indeed punch gaping holes even in a strong democracy. That's how the confluence of bullying and callousness triumphed over what is best for the majority of people in Cuba and in the United States.

 Wait!! We interrupt this essay for breaking news!!

       Senator Marco Rubio at a lavish fund-raiser in Miami has just made two astounding predictions: {#1} He will block all efforts to normalize relations with Cuba; and {#2} he will be Commander-in-Chief when he is elected President of the United States in 2016!!!!!!!!!!!! And now we return you to your regularly scheduled essay.

        Unfortunately for America and for democracy, most of the 535 members of the U. S. Congress are either bought off or scared off by the small but ultra-powerful Cuban-exile lobby when it comes to formulating America's Cuban policy. But that situation does not include Minnesota's Amy Klobuchar.
            The photo above shows anchor Jamie Yuccas {the blond} at WCCO-TV {the CBS station in St. Paul} reporting on U. S. Senator Klobuchar's summit meeting yesterday {Monday, Feb. 23rd} at the University of Minnesota. At that session Senator Klobuchar pointed out the insanity and cruelty of the 50-year-old embargo against Cuba. She stressed how much Cubans on the island as well as the farmers and businesses in Minnesota would benefit if the embargo, which sates the revenge and political motives of a few Cuban-Americans, was lifted. Last week Senator Klobuchar led a Senatorial delegation to Cuba. Her bravery and her concern for Cubans, Minnesotans, and Americans should be known to Americans who are constantly bombarded on national newscasts with the self-serving views of a few Cuban-exile zealots. For democracy's sake, the views of Senator Klobuchar, which correspond to the views of most Americans, should at least occasionally be shown on network news shows. The fact Rubio and his ilk, with their minority views, command saturation coverage reminds some of  what happens in Banana Republics.

       This photo is courtesy of David Lansing.com. It shows the view looking out from the 6th floor of Havana's Saratoga Hotel. Cuba's Capital Building and Capital Square are spotlighted. Last week Nancy Pelosi and eight other members of the United States Congress spent two nights at the Saratoga Hotel.

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