LET'S FIGHT BACK
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Obama's Not-so-Excellent Adventure in Cuba
While the breathless cadre of journalists that accompanied President Obama to Cuba dubbed the trip as "historic," it was soon lost in the subsequent media mash-up of Trump, terrorism and tango.
But a few indelible images of the president remain: holding a umbrella as he toured Old Havana in the rain, sparring with Cuban President Raúl Castro at an awkward press conference, and attending a baseball game in shirtsleeves and sunglasses. It was a command performance in the twilight zone of his administration, turning a lame duck into a graceful swan.
Many Cuban-Americans such as myself, who support better relations with the island, objected to the timing of the visit. Obama had drawn yet another red line (not in the sand, but the surf) promising to visit Cuba only if the human rights situation improved. "If we're going backwards," Obama said in 2014, "there's not much reason for me to be there. I'm not interested in validating the status quo."
Yet, as has been well-documented, persecution of political dissidents has increased markedly in the past year. According to The Washington Post, there were 526 arrests in the two weeks before the trip. Cubans are fleeing the island in record numbers, often by way of Mexico.
Despite this, Obama doubled down, bringing along not just a seemingly dazed first lady but also his daughters and mother-in-law, turning a state visit into spring break. But did it accomplish anything other than a few selfies for Malia and Sasha? What will be the impact of the trip?
Visitors to Cuba, beginning with Christopher Columbus, who described it as the most beautiful place "human eyes had ever seen," usually find what they want to find. In this case, the media found the "unspoiled" Havana of vintage cars, crumbling colonial buildings and deserted streets, with somehow festive Cubanos grinning like slaves on the plantation in "Gone with the Wind." Just perfect for a boho, politically correct vacation like the Obamas themselves took.
And now that Starwood has obtained a license to manage the Hotel Inglaterra (where British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once stayed) tourists will be able to get room service, movies and Wi-Fi.
But with his legacy in mind, Obama was looking for something else to prop up his dramatic opening to Cuba, which seemed to have fizzled. While relations have been "normalized," the embargo remains. It's now somewhat easier for Americans to visit, but the travel ban is still in place. And while companies like Starwood are eager to do business in Cuba, ordinary Cubans earn an average monthly salary of $20.
Castro failed to greet the president at José Martí International Airport upon his arrival, a slap in the face. The reason might have been Obama's insistence on meeting with dissidents. The tension was evident at a press conference, where Obama egged on Castro to take questions from reporters. But Castro, who survived his share of ambushes in the Sierra Maestra, won the encounter by literally twisting Obama's arm and holding it up in victory. Obama let his hand go limp so as not to salute, but his smile remained painfully frozen. Where's the Secret Service when you need them?
Obama's only concession to Cuban-Americans was not meeting with Raul's older brother, former Cuban President Fidel Castro, though he told ABC News that he would be willing to do so if Fidel's health permitted it.
But he found time to appear on Cuban television with the comedian "Pánfilo," learning to play dominoes and joking about "The Beast," the armored limo that took him around Havana.
The dissidents that attended the much-anticipated meeting at the American embassy included Berta Soler, head of the "Ladies in White" group (whose members were roughed up and arrested just hours before Obama arrived in Cuba) and José Daniel Ferrer of the Cuban Patriotic Union, who had been recently detained as well. Obama offered them little other than praise for their "courage," and it remains to be seen what consequences will befall them in the days to come.
The grand finale was a speech by Obama at Havana's Gran Teatro, in which he declared, "I am here to extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people." Obama combined personal reminiscencess with references to Ernest Hemingway and Jackie Robinson, whose widow was in the audience, and shout-outs to fledgling Cuban entrepreneurs like barber Papito Valladares. He encouraged Cubans to have "hope that is rooted in the future that you can choose and that you can shape, and that you can build for your country."
Hope and change, huh? It was classic Obama, long on poetic inspiration but short on practical solutions.
Nonetheless, the speech was well-received by the same journalists who seemingly spent the entire trip riding 1959 Cadillacs along the Malecón. But it was also televised throughout the island, and what Cubans saw was something quite different.
They saw an American president trading high-fives with Raúl Castro, one of the most discredited and dismal despots ever to grace the world stage. Obama sounded like the Havana Chamber of Commerce, touting the achievements of the Revolution in healthcare and education, and urging American businesses and tourists to come on down.
Obama did precisely what he vowed not to do, validating the status quo. He didn't challenge Raul to "tear down the wall," as did President Reagan did Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev a generation ago in Germany, but rather encouraged Cubans to hang in there and be cool.
Cubans are a proud people and don't like to be patronized. They've heard that message before — from the pope, from other visitors, from the media. They don't need encouragement, but rather freedom. And shortly after his speech preaching the virtues of democracy, Obama attended an exhibition baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team, and did the wave with Raúl Castro, the very man responsible for denying Cuba democracy for over half a century.
Obama's excellent adventure in Cuba received no mention on the Sunday political shows just a few days leter. The island is once more on the back burner, and will remain there until after the election, when a volatile world and other priorities will confront Obama's successor. A Republican president would undo what progress has been made, and even with a Democrat in the White House, the embargo will not be lifted by a recalcitrant Congress. So we're back where we started.
And as reported by Fusion, just an hour after Obama finished his speech, a group of dissidents was beaten up and arrested, a block away from the theater.
Estrada was born in Cuba and graduated from Harvard University before practicing law and founding HISPANIC Magazine.
Obama’s Inept Defense of Human Rights in Cuba
In January, the Associated Press reported that President Barack Obama “may travel to Cuba as early as this spring if he feels the rights situation here is improving and a presidential trip will help.”
The Castro dictatorship’s response was immediate and severe.
According to Elizardo Sanchez, the president of the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, there were 2,555 political detentions in Cuba during the first two months of 2016.
It is a familiar pattern.
The Cuban government’s response at each stage in the process of reconciliation with the United States has been a steady escalation in the arbitrary harassment, abuse, arrest and detention of Cuba’s pro-democracy dissidents. Crackdowns on political dissidents preceded both the September visit of Pope Francis and the opening of the U.S. Embassy in August.
Obama proceeded with his historic visit to Cuba in spite of the crackdowns.
To his credit, the president gave a lengthy speech on human rights, which was broadcast live on Cuban state television. Obama also held a two-hour meeting with a group of prominent Cuban political dissidents — something Pope Francis did not do. U.S. Embassy staff had to escort the dissidents to the meeting for fear they would be arrested if they tried to attend on their own.
Castro was asked about Cuba’s political prisoners by CNN’s Jim Acosta during a joint news conference with Obama. Castro’s response raised belligerent sarcasm to an art form:
“What political prisoners? Give me a name or names, or when, after this meeting is over, you can give me a list of political prisoners and if we have those political prisoners, they will be released before tonight ends.”
Obama stood mute. It would have sent a powerful message to Castro if the president had ticked off a list of Cuba’s remaining political prisoners by name and demanded that they be released.
But sending powerful messages to dictators is not one of Obama’s talents.
This was apparent when Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry held a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument to Jose Marti in Havana’s Revolution Square on Monday. Marti was a philosopher, journalist and freedom fighter who died in 1895 leading a revolution against the Spanish occupation of Cuba. Obama quoted Marti more than once during his speech on human rights, although he failed to note that Marti’s goal was to establish a democratic republic in Cuba.
But the hoped-for symbolism of a U.S. president laying a wreath at the Marti memorial was overshadowed, literally, by a five-story relief sculpture of Che Guevara looming over the ceremony from a nearby building. The rendering of Guevara makes it appear that the Castro dictatorship’s former chief executioner is winking at those assembled below.
We were reminded of the time Nat interviewed Guevara during a meeting at the Cuban mission to the United Nations in the early 1960s. Guevara, dressed in his neatly pressed military uniform, professed not to understand English and spoke through an interpreter.
“Mr. Guevara, can you envision at any time in the future that there might be free elections in Cuba?’’ he was asked by Nat.
Guevara didn’t wait for the interpreter. He burst out laughing.
In between his amused chortles, he managed to respond, “Aqui? In Cuba?’’
WHERE IS OBAMA NOW WHEN YOU NEED HIM?
Doing Business With Devil Won't Free Captive Souls in Cuba
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
In an oped today, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) wrote that during last week's trip to Cuba with President Obama she was told by a Cuban-American businessman: “It’s time that we stop fighting and start cooperating.”
As of this morning, 18 members of the prominent pro-democracy group, The Ladies in White, remain missing after being arrested yesterday at their headquarters in the Lawton neighborhood of Havana.
Lawton is a poor and predominantly Afro-Cuban neighborhood, not frequented by visiting Congressional delegations, let alone elitist businessmen.
Their crime? Hosting a monthly literary tea for their members.
Below are pictures of various Ladies in White, who (over the weekend) had their clothes ripped off, were arrested and beaten with cables, rubber belts and rods.
(And no, Castro's regime doesn't beat women due to any religious extremism. It's pure political sadism.)
As we previously posted, they are the ones left behind to pay the price of Obama's trip.
Is this what we should "start cooperating" with?
Note to Senator Heitkamp: We know that your farmers want to sell lentils to Castro's monopolies -- and that they want the U.S. to finance it -- but that doesn't change the brutal nature of who their potential client is.
Moreover, if there was a company in North Dakota that did this (below) to women, would you promote business with them or demand consequences for their criminal actions?
Doing business with the devil doesn't free captive souls -- but it does make ours murkier.
As of this morning, 18 members of the prominent pro-democracy group, The Ladies in White, remain missing after being arrested yesterday at their headquarters in the Lawton neighborhood of Havana.
Lawton is a poor and predominantly Afro-Cuban neighborhood, not frequented by visiting Congressional delegations, let alone elitist businessmen.
Their crime? Hosting a monthly literary tea for their members.
Below are pictures of various Ladies in White, who (over the weekend) had their clothes ripped off, were arrested and beaten with cables, rubber belts and rods.
(And no, Castro's regime doesn't beat women due to any religious extremism. It's pure political sadism.)
As we previously posted, they are the ones left behind to pay the price of Obama's trip.
Is this what we should "start cooperating" with?
Note to Senator Heitkamp: We know that your farmers want to sell lentils to Castro's monopolies -- and that they want the U.S. to finance it -- but that doesn't change the brutal nature of who their potential client is.
Moreover, if there was a company in North Dakota that did this (below) to women, would you promote business with them or demand consequences for their criminal actions?
Doing business with the devil doesn't free captive souls -- but it does make ours murkier.
I STAND WITH GOD AND ISRAEL ETERNALLY
Presidents Reuven Rivlin of Israel (R) and Prokopis Pavlopoulos of Greece in Jerusalem Wednesday. (Mark Neiman/GPO)
In Jerusalem, Greek President Calls for United Front Against Islamic Terror
Friendly talks between the Greek and Israeli heads of state in Jerusalem highlighted a call for unity among Western nations against Islamic terror.
On a three-day state visit to Israel, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, at an official welcome ceremony in Jerusalem, stated:
“ISIS’s terror is aimed at all of humanity. We must make clear to Europe that we stand against terror together and that when it comes to the issues of refugees, we will not allow expressions of hatred between people, which is the source of racism and anti-Semitism.”
The red-carpet ceremony was held at the residence of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who supported his Greek counterpart’s call for a united front against Islamic terror.
“Countries in this region must recognize the common danger posed by Militant Islam and ISIS, unite against this enemy and form one alliance – a regional security and economic alliance to bring an end to global terror,” Rivlin said.
The two heads of state held a working meeting, where they discussed the strengthening of bilateral ties between Greece and Israel.
Describing Povlopoulos as “a true friend of Israel,” Rivlin stressed the historic connection between their two peoples, saying, “Throughout history there has been close and fruitful contact between the people of Greece and the people of Israel, in both the world of ideas, and in the world of deeds. Today we are two Western democracies seeking peace, stability and security, and who share the same space here in the eastern Mediterranean, which we have in recent years discovered is quite a small space indeed.”
PM Netanyahu (L) with President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades (C) and Greek Prime minister Alexis Tsipras. (Haim Zach/GPO)
The Greek president also remarked on the Greek-Israeli relationship, saying that the “shared position of our two peoples in this region and our abilities enable us, through cooperation, to overcome the challenges we face….
“The roots of the relationship between our two peoples stretch further back than our diplomatic relations,” he added. “We must understand our tasks. We can cooperate on a range of issues, yet the most important issue is that of regional peace, protecting democracy, human life, and mutual assistance.”
Pavlopoulos also discussed the issues surrounding the refugees escaping countries run by Islamic terrorists, asserting, “Now is the time to act according to our shared values. You have experienced what it means to be refugees. In Greece we are receiving refugees just as our ancestors did, as human beings who deserve rights. Yet when it comes to terrorism, the example of the jihadists and ISIS, we cannot accept this, and we must be absolute in the face of this. Their terror is aimed at all humanity. We must make clear to Europe that we stand against terror together, and that when it comes to the issue of the refugees, we will not allow expressions of hatred between people, which is source of racism and anti-Semitism….
“I view with great concern the rise in the wave of hatred. We must eliminate it, with the memory of the Holocaust; we must fight against terrorism, but for human life. We must not allow the European continent to return to darkness, Europe must continue to be a continent of enlightenment and humanity.”
Pavlapoulos concluded by saying that he sees Israel as a “great and dear friend of my country.”
By: United with Israel Staff
(With files from the Israeli Government Press Office)
(With files from the Israeli Government Press Office)
Sign the Petition to Unite Against Islamic Terror
Petition to the United States and World Powers:
We urge our leaders to reject all supporters of Islamic Terror. Do NOT join forces with Iran, Hamas and other extremists to fight ISIS. Unite with Your Friends - Not with Your Enemies.
After Muslim Terror Attacks: Tense Commuters, Politicians Say No More ‘Normal’ in Brussels
Belgian soldiers on Brussels' streets. (AP/Alastair Grant)
Belgium’s Justice Minister Koen Geens. (AP/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
“There’s no such thing as ‘normal’ anymore,” Brussels’ mayor said in wake of last week’s Muslim terror attacks.
Belgium’s justice minister pleaded Tuesday for critics of Belgium’s intelligence failures to focus on the hunt for those behind last week’s Islamic attacks on Brussels and November’s massacre in Paris.
Investigators say they are still looking for at least one suspect in the attacks seven days ago, when suicide bombers killed 35 people at Brussels’ airport and in a subway station near the European Union headquarters. Three suicide bombers also blew themselves up.
The Health Ministry and victims identification officials said 90 people remain in hospital, a third of them suffering from severe burns. In a joint press conference they said the 35 dead include 17 Belgians and 15 foreigners, while 44 of the wounded are foreigners from 20 nations.
Belgium has faced rising international criticism over its evident inability to identify and monitor Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists living in the Belgian capital who have been deemed responsible both for the March 22 bombings in Brussels and the November 13 attacks on Paris nightspots that left 132 dead. Several of those who killed themselves during the attacks or were subsequently arrested were Belgian nationals of North African background.
“Now is not the time to fight one another. As far as I know, the enemy is in Syria,” Justice Minister Koen Geens said, referring to the primary power base of the Islamic State terrorist group that claimed responsibility for both attacks.
But authorities in Belgium and the neighboring Netherlands faced fresh questions Tuesday about how much they knew in advance of the March 22 bombings. Turkey already has revealed it deported one of the suicide bombers, Ibrahim El Bakraoui, to the Netherlands in mid-2015 after catching him near the Syrian border and identifying him to Dutch authorities as a suspected ISIS terrorist.
‘Did we miss anything? Certainly’
Dutch Justice Minister Ard van der Steur said Tuesday that his country’s security services received a note from the FBI on March 16 detailing what he called the “radical and terrorist background” of the El Bakraoui brothers. One, Ibrahim, blew himself up alongside an accomplice at the airport, while the other brother, Khalid, detonated a bomb inside a train leaving the Maelbeek subway station.
The timing of the note and why it was sent to the Dutch remained unclear. Belgian authorities said Tuesday they were not informed of its existence and had no idea where the El Bakroaui brothers were before the Brussels bombings.
Belgium has voiced determination to toughen its security powers. On Tuesday, a parliamentary committee approved anti-terror proposals to give police round-the-clock powers for house searches, to improve the Belgian data base on terrorists, and to increase phone-tapping powers. The full parliament has yet to consider these measures.
Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur, who faces criticism for his own actions before and after the suicide bombings, said Belgian authorities must learn painful lessons and improve their ability to combat Islamic terrorism.
“Were there mistakes? Did we miss anything? Certainly. Otherwise these attacks would not have happened,” Mayeur said. Brussels, he suggested, would never feel the same.
“There’s no such thing as ‘normal’ anymore,” he said during a visit to Paris.
“I Think This is Not Over”
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo pledged solidarity with Belgium as it begins “a long and painful process of grieving and reconstruction.”
Brussels’ airport has yet to reopen since the attacks but has been testing a temporary check-in system for use in coming days. The subway system is mostly running again, though under heavy guard.
The Maelbeek station, hit by a suicide bomber in the morning rush hour, remains closed.
Passengers said they presumed the March 22 attacks would not be the last on Brussels.
“I think this is not over,” said Franz Alderweireldt, an 82-year-old taking a train at a subway station next to Maelbeek.
“When terrorists plan an attack, they will do it no matter what,” Alderweireldt said, “even if there are dozens or hundreds of soldiers or police on the street.”
By: AP
Sign the Petition to Unite Against Islamic Terror
Petition to the United States and World Powers:
We urge our leaders to reject all supporters of Islamic Terror. Do NOT join forces with Iran, Hamas and other extremists to fight ISIS. Unite with Your Friends - Not with Your Enemies.
Israeli and Indian Firms Seal Massive Deal to Produce Air Defense Systems
(Shutterstock)
Rafael Director-General Yoav Har-Even. (Courtesy)
BDS this! An Israeli firm has signed another international massive decade-long deal that will benefit thousands, if not millions, of people.
Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and India’s Reliance Defense on Tuesday announced that they have agreed to establish a joint venture to produce air defense systems.
The agreement, which is valued at more than $10 billion for the next decade, will produce air-to-air missiles, air defense systems, and observation balloons. Reliance will hold a majority stake in the joint venture at 51 percent, while Rafael will hold 49 percent, as per the current guidelines of the Government of India.
Rafael Director-General Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yoav Har-Even said that the joint venture is “part of our global strategy for cooperation in general and in India specifically.”
“This cooperation will help us give the Indian Ministry of Defense its added value when it comes to deal with the goals and challenges that it faces,” said Har-Even, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Rafael has already provided large aerostat systems to the Indian Air Force for meeting its surveillance, reconnaissance, communication and intelligence needs.
In a statement, Reliance Defence said the deal was one of the biggest joint ventures between an Indian Company with any original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
The joint venture company will be located at Pithampur, Indore in the state of Madhya Pradesh and will generate more than 3000 jobs in India.
Israel and India have significantly advanced relations and cooperation between the two countries, and this collaboration is manifest in the ties Israel’s Air Force (IAF) has forged with the Indian air force.
The countries have also been working on bilateral military deals and projects, collectively worth around $3 billion, ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to the Jewish State later this year.
By: JNS.org and United with Israel Staff
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