Monday, June 22, 2009

Cuba, with Castro's Ideology and Heavy-hand, is a Pariah

By Jerry Brewer

A quintessential theme, which is not necessarily popular by a majority, is the restoration of relations and lifting of the described embargo of Cuba by the United States.  Acquiescing to a form of romanticism with the Cuba of the 1950s and former President Fidel Castro’s despotic and ideological influence throughout Latin America is irresponsible rhetoric.  His four-decade rule has brought death and misery throughout Cuba and Latin America.

What is the real issue that democracies of the world should embrace as they look to the future of Cuba and its citizens?  Fidel Castro’s venomous hatred for the United States started long before he came into power.  Castro’s establishment of a Communist state came quickly with his intervention of personal property and businesses.  Cuba’s firing squads were quick to execute dissidents as well as U.S. citizens on the Cuban homeland. 

Protagonists for the end of the Cuban embargo cite the ending of the Cold War of the past, as well as a no longer need to protect the U.S. from Communism.  Is Fidel Castro’s past relevant to today?

It is important that we focus on past and current facts to proactively circumvent any memory recall deficiencies that may exist on these critical decisions.  Too, those that have fallen in defense of homeland freedoms in Cuba, and those who fled the island, as well as those that faced ruthless and bloody confrontations against Cuban insurgency on other foreign land, deserve consideration and respect.  

Fidel Castro has stated “America is weak and will be brought to its knees.”  Why has the U.S. become the scapegoat for the misery of the Cuban people who cry out to the world for the freedoms and the rule of law that they deserve from their government and leaders?

U.S. President Barack Obama stated recently that we would “extend a hand to the Cuban people in support of their desire to determine their own future.”

Support for Cuba must circumvent mere opinion.  World support will come to Cuba’s doorstep with action and not mere words by Cuba’s ruling government.  The fundamental issue is for Cuban leaders to allow citizens the ability to attain the freedoms they deserve and the ability to join those where the rule of law can prevail.

What have Cuban rulers recently done to demonstrate to the world their sincere desires to provide for citizens?

Fidel Castro retained his post as “First Secretary” of the Communist Party of Cuba.  President Raul Castro has claimed “Second Secretary.”  The Cuban Communist Party (PCC) is the highest rule of decision-making and controls the election of the members who serve the Central Committee.

Communist ideology and action by Fidel Castro has graphically meant death and destruction.  Cuba has trained thousands of Communist guerrillas and terrorists.  In fact, ties to rogue states such as North Korea and Iran continue today.  Cuba sponsored terrorism and subversion in Africa and the Middle East, among other regions.  Prior to Castro’s illness, his travel destinations included Syria, Libya and Iran. 

Miami has seen a violent and pervasive anti-Castro struggle for decades.  The newer generations of Cubans and Cuban Americans voice their vociferous recriminations to the Cuban leadership model demanding peace, freedom, technology, and other Western comforts.

President Raul Castro should unequivocally and publicly renounce terrorism and revolutionary violence, and extend new freedoms for his people before a world audience.  Generations of Cubans would welcome sweeping changes, both socially and economically, and the restoration of liberties.  This in graphic contrast to Cuba’s past in which opponents were imprisoned and executed.  Castro’s rule began with over 700,000 citizens fleeing the island, mostly to the U.S.  The U.S. “weakness” apparently only demonstrated by its heart and soul.

Cuba chose communist bloc aid early.  This mistake evident with the collapse and breakup of the former Soviet Union in 1991.  Stiffer trade sanctions against Cuba by the U.S. followed in 1992, and again in 1996, with Cuba’s aggression in Latin America and Angola from the decades of the 1980s and 1970s.  The threat to the U.S. by Cuba allowing Soviet nuclear weapons on its soil in 1962 was a grim reminder of Cuba’s leadership ideology.

Lift the embargo and allow trade normalization with Cuba?

Communist rule unscrupulously forced horrific sacrifices upon the Cuban people.  No one must encourage others to emulate the Cuban Revolution.  The suffering Cuban population demands freedom and world support.  Recent Cuban espionage incidents against the U.S. demonstrate the ruling party’s motives.  Let us help Cubans to define their destiny and help themselves to establish a democracy.

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Jerry Brewer is C.E.O. of Criminal Justice International Associates, a global risk mitigation firm headquartered in Miami, Florida.  His website is located at www.cjiausa.org.