Trump in Cubaland

As with Alice, down is up, and up is down.  One pill makes you fatter.  It is the only pill.  Trump trumpets on the dismal human rights record of the Castro Brothers.  But we all know that if his extensive Saudi business interests were mirrored in Havana, he would be embracing any Cuban orb in sight.

The policy objective is to starve the government, and help the people.  The policy does the opposite.  The embargo has actually starved the people leading to thousands of deaths, before Venezuela stepped in to provide aid.  Clearly any policy that gave Venezuela a foot hold 90 miles from our shore was questionable.  The new policy will renew the Russian presence.

Under the Trump proposal, group tours will continue, but independent travel will be blocked.  Tours book government hotels, fly on government owned airlines, and are organized by government owned agencies.  Prices are absurd, one thousand dollars, and up, per couple per day.

Independent travelers spend more of their dollars directly with Cubans.  With hotels overpriced, and pre-booked by tour groups, independent travelers stay in cases particulares, the Cuban equivalent of B&Bs.  Such travelers are also more apt to eat at family owned restaurants.

His billionaire friends like Cuban cigars and rum.  Both industries are completely owned by the government.  Rich friends matter.  Those traveling to Cuba may bring back unrestricted amounts of each, subject only to duty limits.

Only partly visible, Putin has a cheshire cat grin.  Russia plans to open a military base in Cuba.  With dollars going down the rabbit hole, Castro will need rubles.

Larry Stein, author of '4 Americans in Cuba: A Traveler on a Rope Guidebook'

Havana Hustle

Waltzing beneath the banner of human rights, Trump intends to limit the right of Americans to trade with, and travel to, Cuba.   His rationale is out of step, after sword dancing in a country with neither elections, nor respect for women's rights, and the source of funding and manpower for 9/11.  He giddily shares state secrets with Russia, the county that tried to sabotage our elections, and which, routinely imprisons or murders Putin's critics.

Perhaps for fear it might drown out his own baritone drone, he has never given voice to the voiceless.    His business was routinely cited for refusing to rent to minorities.  His budget guts federal enforcement of anti-discrimination statutes.   He also wants to deny healthcare to millions, an act too cruel for even the Castro brothers.  Cuba has universal healthcare.

Even if Trump's heart were pure, his policy is unsound.  During my two visits, I observed the growth of a fledgling free market.  Interaction is more likely to produce change, than a policy that failed for half a century.  For the US, jobs will be lost, and trading opportunities will be missed.

The geopolitical ramifications will be severe.  The US will again be at odds with Latin America, unable to advance regional policies, such as condemnation of Venezuela.  To prop up its weak economy, Cuba will again turn to our adversaries for support.  Russia is already talking about opening up military bases.

Even as Trump cuts a deal for Rubio's support, the real beneficiary is Russia.

Larry Stein, Author of, '4 Americans in Cuba: A Traveler on a Rope Guidebook'

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