Marino Ramos holds a sign that reads, "Freedom for Cuba now!" in Miami's Little Havana
By Richard Wolf, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Fidel Castro's decision to step down as leader of Cuba has reignited debate over U.S. policy that seeks to isolate the communist-led nation.
President Bush and many in Congress said the leadership move represents little real change and that the United States should continue its limits on travel and trade with the island nation just off the Florida coast.
But some in Congress, including members of both parties, say the change could represent an opportunity for progress on human rights in Cuba and that changes in U.S. policy and attitude could help bring about such a transition.
Bush said he hoped the change would "be the beginning of the democratic transition for the people in Cuba."
"First step, of course, will be for people put in these prisons to be let out. I've met with many of the — or some of the — families of prisoners. It just breaks your heart to realize that people have been thrown in prison because they dared speak out," Bush said.
"The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for democracy. And eventually, this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections," he said.
Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., who was born in Cuba, said the change amounts to only "one aging dictator hands power to another aging dictator."
"There really should be no occasion for the United States to change its policy," Martinez said. "The reasons for the policy exist every bit as much today as they did yesterday. … The time for change in our Cuba policy will come when Cuba treats its people differently than it does today."
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., whose parents were born in Cuba, said the move only makes official what has been in place for some time, with Castro's brother Raúl "continuing to lead the same iron-fisted regime that his brother brought to power almost 50 years ago."
Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla., chairman of the House Republican Conference, said, "Sadly, Fidel Castro's announcement changes nothing. That he will relinquish some titles is no comfort for the 11 million Cubans who will continue to suffer under his tyrannical regime."
Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., co-author of the law that toughened sanctions against Cuba in the 1990s, said, "I really hope that the resignation of Fidel Castro will be the end of a long, sad chapter in Cuba's history. I call upon the next leader of Cuba to give the Cuban people the freedom they have been denied for so long. Only at that point can the U.S. and Cuba embark upon a new era of friendship and peace."
Menendez said that the move could offer "a moment of hope" for meaningful change in Cuba.
"Here in the United States, it is a time to further nurture the human rights activists, political dissidents and independent-minded journalists inside of Cuba who have the capability to stoke the movement toward freedom."
But others in Congress and foreign-policy leadership roles would like to see the United States change a policy that, they contend, has brought hardship on the Cuban people while achieving little that is in the United States' interest.
"Our policy toward Cuba is a relic from the Cold War," said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. "It makes no sense, and quite frankly it's an embarrassment.
"We should use this as an opportunity or an excuse to review our entire policy. It is time for a grown-up policy," he said.
He said more than 100 bipartisan members of Congress were signing a letter to the administration asking for a thorough review of U.S. policy toward Cuba.
Among the needed moves, he said, was removal of restrictions on U.S. citizens to visit Cuba: "Enough is enough. The Cold War is over. It's time to move forward."
Retired colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, co-chair of the U.S.-Cuba Policy Initiative and chief of staff to former secretary of State Colin Powell, said it was clear to most Americans that "our Cuba policy is a failure."
Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., chairman of Senate subcommittee involved in Cuba policy, called the U.S. embargo on Cuba "one of the most backward and ineffective foreign policies in history."
"Today, America has an opportunity to finally turn a new page. We must begin the process of opening up diplomatic and commercial relations with Havana," Dodd said.
Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., acting chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he plans hearings on reviewing U.S. policy toward Cuba.
"This development may provide an opportunity for the United States to inject creativity and fresh ideas into that policy to better achieve our common goal of bringing freedom to the people of Cuba," Berman said.
Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., a longtime advocate of Democratic change for Cuba, said nothing is likely to change unless the United States eases its Cuba policy.
"This leadership change is an opportunity to move our strategy into this century," Enzi said. "For nearly 50 years, the United States has had a policy of isolation toward Cuba, but what our administrations have failed to realize is that unilateral boycotts and sanctions don't work. Cuba is getting materials and goods from the rest of the world, but the Cuban people are not getting the exposure to freedom that they should be getting from the U.S.
"If we continue to cut off communication with Cuba, we cannot expect the Cuban people or the Cuban government to strive for the changes that will make their lives better."
Enzi has sponsored legislation that would lift current travel restrictions and worked with Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, to advocate change toward Cuba. They would like to see farmers and ranchers in their western states be allowed to sell agricultural products to Cuba.
"It is time to get our Cuba policy right for America's farmers and ranchers — including those in my home state of Montana, who are ready to sell their goods to Cuban buyers — and for families across the Florida Straits by beginning to ease trade and travel restrictions now," Baucus said.
Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who was born in Cuba and has become an administration spokesman on Cuba policy, said, "This isn't a big change. Fidel Castro continues to be in power. They're shuffling some titles around."
"For the average Cuban on the street, this doesn't mean anything."
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., called for reversing Bush's limits on family visits between the two countries to three years, rather than one, and on remittances sent to Cuba.
"As the flicker fades from the charismatic dictator, the Cuban people are increasingly restive. And sooner or later, they're going to rise up like the people in Europe did, and the Iron Curtain is going to come crashing down."
Contributing: William M. Welch in Los Angeles
No comments:
Post a Comment