Tuner strikes sour note with U.S. over Cuba Treasury bars New Yorker from

[Osolomia]

Tuner strikes sour note with U.S. over Cuba
Treasury bars New Yorker from sending pianos to Havana
By Mary Murray
NBC News
Feb. 10, 2004

HAVANA - Ben Treuhaft thinks the U.S. Treasury Department got its wires crossed.

Last week, the New York piano tuner received a Treasury license to donate a pair of crutches and a walker to a Havana music conservatory instead of a renewal of his 8-year license to ship used pianos, musical instruments and piano parts.

... “Someone in the Bush administration is mad at us. Somebody decided we weren’t with their program on Cuba so they decided to shut us down.”

... In a letter dated Monday, Commerce said that piano donations are "not consistent with U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba." The only exceptions to this policy from this point on will be food, medicine and medical supplies.

... Almost every day Treuhaft calls the Treasury office looking for information to appeal their decision. “I want to know why they consider pianos subversive.”

More...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4222626/

[Osolomia]

1. So what'll Bush do next with the silent complicity of the Dems?

Hint, hint:

Leading dissidents ask Cuba to expand citizens' civil rights
By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ
Associated Press Writer
February 10, 2004

A leading dissident group on Tuesday unveiled a list of proposals it plans to submit to local government representatives in favor of free speech, private business ownership and the formation of labor unions.

The proposals include that Cubans be allowed to come and go from the island without restrictions, buy and sell cars and houses, run their own businesses, form unions, subscribe to the Internet and buy cable television.

The 36-page document was announced by Vladimiro Roca, a former military pilot who broke with the socialist government more than a decade ago and began calling for a Western-style democracy.

The initiative represents one of numerous proposals that have been presented over the years by opposition groups.

"The intention is to mobilize people using the (government) mechanisms that they have available to them," said Roca, who plans to submit the proposals to the local district representative, the lowest level of government. The idea is that eventually the proposals would reach the highest level, the National Assembly.

More...
http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040210/API/402100936

No, Roca isn't financed by CANF or the US government is he?

[Vogon_Glory]

2. A Spiteful Move That Also Burns Others

The politically-inspired Treasury Department refusal to renew the piano tuner's license also strikes at others who are seeking a freer, more open Cuba. I know of some Methodist missionaries who go over to do work in Cuba. I can well imagine the sort of pig-headed bureaucratic mentality that would go through their bags and confiscate religious tracts and used baseball equipment donated by fellow parishioners.

Another reason to send the George Deucey-U Bush regime packing and to fire as many of his Banana Republican supporters this autumn as possible.

[Osolomia]

3. What would a Dem prez do any differently than the Bushistas?

Candidates on the issues: Cuba
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=338191

Inquiring minds want to know BEFORE they vote!

With Republicans like these who needs spineless hypocritical Dems?

Castro Signs Baseballs, Talks U.S. Ties
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=355027

[Vogon_Glory]

4. Democrats Would Handle Cuba Differently

I suspect that a Democratic administration would handle Cuba differently from what the Boosh regime is doing right now. At the very least, a Democratic administration would owe far less political capital to a Cuban exile leadership that worked so hard against it and did so much against the former Clinton--Gore administration. A Democratic administration would probably do nothing to prevent any measures zeroing out funding to enforce a travel ban to Cuba from being enacted into law.

Repealing the embargo might be harder, due in no small part to Congressman DeLay's measure requiring consulting with a (all too likely Republican-controlled) Congress before it could be repealed.

As members of the Banana Republican faction that worked so hard to undermine democracy here in the US, the Diaz-Balart brothers and Ros-Lehtenen would find themselves with far less political cachet when they come a'callin' at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. If, Divine Providence willing, voter demographics in their districts change enough, I can readily imagine a sitting US President coming down to Florida to campaign for a strong Democratic challengers for those birds' seats.

With any sort of luck there might even be shredded congressional pachyderm served with yellow rice and fried plantains.

[Osolomia]

5. Got any links that corroborate what you "suspect"?

Especially considering the steady stream of news reports to the contrary, here's just a couple of recent examples:

Thursday, January 29, 2004

The Associated Press chooses an issue three times a week and asks the presidential candidates a question about it. Today's question and responses:

CUBA: What conditions, if any, would Cuba have to meet for you to favor dropping the embargo?

Democrats:

Wesley Clark: "I want to help bring democracy to the Cuban people, the only people in the Western Hemisphere who don't have democratic freedoms. That said, I will not take steps that reward Fidel Castro. In general, embargoes have not succeeded in bringing democracy. It was engagement and penetration that helped the peoples of Eastern Europe gain their freedom. If elected, I would work this problem with the leaders of the region, work it hard. As president, I would look at the circumstances at the time and then act."

Howard Dean: "The U.S. should move toward the eventual lifting of the trade embargo with Cuba. But Castro must not be rewarded for continued human rights violations. Before I will consider lifting the embargo, Castro must demonstrate a firmer commitment to human rights and take steps that promote the freedom that Cubans have so long been denied."

Sen. John Edwards: "The goal of our policy in Cuba must be the promotion of democracy and human rights. I support sanctions that target Fidel Castro's regime but help the innocent Cuban people, allowing trade for food and medical supplies that help ease the horrible burdens they suffer. Full sanctions should not be lifted until Castro and his brutal regime are gone. At the same time, along with our allies, we must increase our support and assistance for dissidents and democracy advocates inside Cuba who are struggling to be free."

Sen. John Kerry: "I am not prepared to lay down conditions at this time for lifting the embargo, because I believe that we need a major review of U.S. policy toward Cuba. That review must be conducted with other countries in the region, with Cuban Americans, and, to the best of our abilities, those in Cuba who are fighting for greater political liberties."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich: "I strongly favor ending the embargo on Cuba. Our policy toward Cuba has created misery for the Cuban people and has harmed our own national interests. My administration will work to normalize relations with Cuba. This will include normal bilateral trade with Cuba. Farm communities throughout the U.S. are being denied a natural market in Cuba, and Americans are being denied products from Cuba. It will also restore the freedom to travel to Cuba. Our government's travel ban violates our own Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement. As president I will work to repeal the Cuban Adjustment Act, which has encouraged smuggling and put lives at risk and has reinforced arbitrary and unequal immigration policies. I will pursue national security cooperation, rather than confrontation, with our Caribbean neighbor to the south. Lincoln said, 'The only way to eliminate an enemy is to make him your friend."'

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=338191

February 9, 2004, 6:14 PM EST

HAVANA -- President Fidel Castro signed baseballs, handed out cigars and flower bouquets and discussed increased ties with the United States in a meeting Monday with two Republican legislators who want to lift a ban on U.S. travel to Cuba.

Sen. Larry Craig and U.S. Rep. Butch Otter, both of Idaho, "are pushing very hard to lift the travel restrictions," said Craig spokesman Mike Tracy, who attended the encounter with Castro at the Palace of the Revolution. The 22 other members of the trade and cultural delegation were also present, Tracy said.

Their meeting with Castro took place as the Bush administration announced it would freeze the bank accounts of companies controlled by the Cuban government or Cuban nationals that sell Americans illegal travel packages to the communist island.

Craig told reporters Saturday he thought the travel ban would be lifted by next year. He spoke after Idaho delegation members signed trade and cultural agreements with the Cuban government in front of Ernest Hemingway's former estate outside Havana.

... Idaho officials plan to return to the island to take part in a trade exhibition in April and said they hoped to invite Cuban officials to the state to participate in educational and cultural exchanges.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=355027

[Vogon_Glory]

6. I Doubt Links Are Needed

I doubt that links would be needed--at least as far as putting a defacto end to the travel ban for Americans wishing to visit Cuba. The travel ban is already very unpopular--even among Republicans. Arbustito's and Tom DeLay's actions aren't making the travel restrictions more popular. If John Kerry, for example, wins Florida in spite of the right-wing Cuban exiles who end up voting for Hermanito Jeb's older brother, it's not like the Democrats have much to lose by agreeing to a (probably Republican-inspired, despite Commandante Tom DeLay's almost certain opposition) bill that zeroes out enforcing the Cuban travel ban.

Such an action might not be the ringing endorsement of Fidel Castro's actions that his admirers want, but it's well within the range of possibility.

Moreover, I think that some of the Cuban exile clout is going to be diluted through the next decade or so. The older hard-line Fidel-bashers are facing a losing battle with the actuarial tables. The younger ones are getting more Americanized. The percentage of Cubans as part of Hispanic Florida and New Jersey populations is going down. A group with political positions at odds with other Hispanic groups has trouble on the way.

[Osolomia]

7. Sure they are! Show me a leading Dem prez candidate who says

he'll lift the travel ban instead of judging on the basis of what you "suspect" with no evidence to back it up.

So if a Dem prez gets elected one of his first acts of office will be to do a complete about face on Cuba due to bipartisan majority pressure, but ssshhh, don't tell the "exiles"? Way to go!

Btw, sorry to burst your bubble but the recent votes in Congress and the 39 states that are already exporting to Cuba among other events in the news go to prove that the "exiles" influence is already seriously "diluted" whether they realize it for another 10 years yet or not.