CUBA-USA:
THE BEST PLAN OF POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL SUBVERSION By Dr. Néstor García Iturbe June 3, 2015 A CubaNews translation. Edited by Walter Lippmann. Recently I published an article in which I said that, in my opinion, the best political and ideological subversion plan made against Cuba by the US ruling class was the Task Force Report to the President of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). The report under the title "US-Cuban Relations in the 21st Century” was coordinated by Julia Sweig, the same person that was interviewed on Cuban television a few days ago. Of course, in the interview they did not ask Julia about The Plan she had coordinated. Perhaps the interviewers were not aware of The Plan, or did not want to put her in an awkward situation. For all of those who have asked me about the Plan; and for those who have not asked me but are unaware of its existence and content, I publish the following summary, which was also published earlier, in January this year. If a colleague is interested in going deeper into what I present in this summary, the original document is in English, it has 37 pages, and can be found on the site of the CFR, ww.foreignrelations.org USA-CUBA: HOW TO CONDUCT CUBA-USA RELATIONS IN THE 21st CENTURY The renowned think tank Council on Foreign Relations organized, at the end of 1999, a task force led by Bernard W. Aronson and William D. Rogers, coordinated by Julia Sweig, in order to propose how they should conduct relations with Cuba in the 21st Century. They produced a document of about thirty pages as the result of the work of more than twenty scholars, experts in relations with Cuba, corporate executives and Cuban residents in the United States. The paper has an introduction and provides specific recommendations for actions to be taken regarding: The Cuban-American community. (Throughout the document, highlighting a preferential interest on these people, they call Cuban-Americans those US citizens of Cuban origin, descendants of Cubans who have US citizenship, or Cubans with residence in the United States. That's their illegal and incorrect way of calling these people.) The Open Door (Visits to the United States, scholarships and collaboration across sectors), Humanitarian aid, The Private Sector, The National Interest (of the United States), The measures proposed are very well supported in the document. Their aim is to create the greatest possible problem for the Cuban Revolution, with the ultimate aim of destroying it. The measures --subtly introduced and promoting easy acceptance without much analysis— may seem beneficial, but are not. It is a political and ideological subversion plan based on actions that apparently have good intentions, but that in fact do not. In my opinion it is one of the best subversion plans ever been made. Many of the measures proposed in the paper are being implemented right now by the Obama administration, or are part of the "initiatives" that he took after December 17 to show his "good will" in relation to the process of re-establishment of relations. As I expressed before when I presented the analysis of another document on the same subject: if you find any similarity between the issues discussed in the paper of reference and what is happening right now, it is not mere coincidence. Dr. Néstor García Iturbe January 20, 2015 Below is a summary of the document: OBJECTIVES Relations between Cuba and the United States are entering a new phase. Cuba policy should be based on the claim that our policy in the past forty years has been a failure. (This is in the report made ten years ago; Obama repeats it and adds ten years of failure) -Promote U.S. interests and values by hastening the day when a fully democratic Cuba can reassume a friendly, normal relationship with the United States. -To support, nurture, and strengthen the civil society that is slowly, tentatively, but persistently beginning to emerge in Cuba beneath the shell of Cuban communism. -U.S. opposition to Cuban-supported revolution and U.S. support for democracy and development in this hemisphere played critical roles in frustrating Cuba's ambitions to extend its economic model and political influence. With this success in hand, the United States can now turn to the second stage of its long-term policy on Cuba: working to create the best possible conditions for a peaceful TRANSITION in Cuba and the emergence of a democratic, prosperous, and free Cuba in the 21st century. RATIONALE -Cuba will find its own solution to the problem posed by its current government. The United States cannot ordain how Cuba will make this change, but U.S. policy should create conditions that encourage and support a rapid, peaceful, democratic TRANSITION. -Some who today serve the Cuban government as officials may well form part of a democratic transition tomorrow. -Increasing People-to-People contact between American and Cuban citizens should be fruitful for the United States. -We believe that beneath the surface of Cuban communism a modest TRANSITION has begun. -No change in U.S. policy toward Cuba should have the primary effect of consolidating or legitimizing the “status quo” on the island. On the other hand, every aspect of U.S. foreign and economic policy toward Cuba should be judged by a very pragmatic standard: whether it contributes to rapid, peaceful, democratic change in Cuba while safeguarding the vital interests of the United States. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE CUBAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY (I already explained my opinión about the term) -The success of the Cuban American community is one of the most powerful factors in promoting change in Cuba. -The transfers of money, goods, and medical supplies from Cuban Americans to friends, family, and religious communities in Cuba are helping create a new group of Cubans who no longer depend on the state for their means of survival. -Remittances from Cuban Americans help create small businesses in Cuba and allow hundreds of thousands of Cubans to improve their lives independent of government control. Furthermore, Cuban Americans will play an important role in the construction of a post-communist Cuba. The measures proposed to give more economic and political power to Cuban Americans and their families in Cuba are: -Ending Restrictions on Humanitarian Visits. -Raising the ceiling on remittances. -Allowing retirement to Cuba for Cuban Americans. -Promoting Family Reunification. -Restoring Direct Mail Service. For each of these proposals there is an argument about the benefits its application will bring for the United States. RECOMENDATIONS CONCERNING ‘THE OPEN DOOR’ The idea of these recommendations is indeed to open doors for Cubans to have access to the "benefits of the system" and to know it better. This should have a positive effect on its acceptance. By promoting cultural and academic exchanges, the United States will consistently be increasing the access of Cubans to news and information from abroad. We believe the time has come to significantly upgrade and intensify these efforts. The Cuban people are hungry for American and world culture, for contacts with scholars and artists from other countries, for opportunities to study abroad, for new ideas and fresh perspectives. U.S. policy should encourage these exchanges and encounters through every available measure. Movies, books, magazines, newspapers, music and other US artistic expression products should be sent to Cuba. Allow US Television and Radio stations to broadcast their usual programs for Cuba. This is to bring American society to Cuba. The measures proposed in this basket are: -Facilitate Targeted Travel for academic, scientific, environmental, health, cultural, athletic, and religious purposes. - Allow More Private Visits to the United States of Certain Cuban Officials who rank at high level in the government, except for those involved in acts of repression. -Facilitate Cultural Collaboration and Performances by American artists in Cuba and by Cuban artists in the United States. We recommend that these artists be paid for their work at reasonable negotiated rates. -Protect and Share Intellectual Property. This should facilitate the shipment to Cuba of films and other art materials, of great importance to strengthen the influence of the United States in Cuba. -Pioneer "Windows on the World." This is a plan to offer scholarships to young Cubans to study at American universities, and send American teachers to teach in Cuba. This is considered of great importance for future TRANSITION plans. -Permit Direct Commercial Flights between the US and Cuba. There should be flights from different US cities to Cuba which will allow a greater flow of Americans to the island. The United States and Cuba should negotiate a civil aviation agreement to this end. -Amend Spending Limits. The amount Americans can spend in Cuba must be greater. This would allow them to make not only certain purchases but also invitations and gifts that would strengthen their image. -Reciprocity in Limitations on Activities by U.S. and Cuban Diplomats. American diplomats in Cuba must have the same access Cuban diplomats enjoy in the United States. In the US, Cuban diplomats have much more access to government officials elected representatives, academic and cultural institutions than US diplomats are granted in Cuba. To increase our influence in the island this must change. Each recommendation is supported by arguments on the benefits its application will represent to the US policy towards Cuba. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING HUMANITARIAN AID Humanitarian aid sent to Cuba shall help relieve the suffering of the Cuban people today, while building the basis for a better relationship between Cuba and the United States in the future. The recommendations proposed are: -Institute "Cash and Carry" for Foods and Medicines. We must make sure these supplies are not delivered to institutions that are instruments of repression. Donations should be distributed in Cuba by centers operated by nongovernmental or religious organizations. (The repressive institutions the document refers to are MINFAR, MININT, CDR and others that protect the development of the Revolution.) -Promote People-to-People Aid. We encourage American local governments and nongovernmental organizations to "adopt" their Cuban counterparts, whether through direct contact with churches, hospitals, schools, environmental organizations, or university programs. It is important that humanitarian aid is delivered directly by the US to the Cuban organization. -Allow Cuban Americans to Claim Relatives as Dependents. We recommend an amendment to U.S. tax laws so that American taxpayers with dependents who are residents of Cuba can also claim this deduction. This would increase the amount sent to Cuba which would be in keeping with the intent behind these remittances. -Provide Benefits for Families of Prisoners of Conscience. This would alleviate the situation of political prisoners and their families that would receive an amount of money for their needs. If it is not possible to deliver the funds to affected families in Cuba today, we recommend that the funds be paid into interest-bearing accounts in the United States to accumulate until such time as the intended recipients can collect. As in the other recommendations the arguments set forth are directed to strengthen US interests in Cuba and create a strong foundation within the Cuban people for what they call TRANSITION. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE PRIVATE SECTOR The recommendations concerning the private sector focus in the opening in Cuba of different representations of US companies, for which the US government must give licenses. There are a number of companies that are of interest to the US. If the government of Cuba does not allow them to operate in its territory, this would be one more element showing that despite the wishes of the United States to assist in the economic development of Cuba, the Cuban government does not allow it. The recommendations are: -Begin Licensing Some American Business Activity. These would be in the areas of Information Services, travel agencies, companies that would distribute goods or sell food, and businesses related to medicine and culture. -Business companies should have the ability to hire and pay workers directly; there must be a pledge by the company to respect workers' internationally recognized rights of free association; and a pledge by the company not to discriminate against Cuban citizens in the provision of goods and services. RECOMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE NATIONAL INTEREST The measures recommended in the national interest, are founded on aspects of the Cuban situation which the task force considered fundamental to advance the process of TRANSITION, knowing that certain forces in the country will oppose it. The recommendations are: -Conduct Military-to-Military Confidence-Building Measures. Carry out a step-by-step process to win the trust of Cuban military. We recommend starting conversations of the Pentagon and the State Department with representatives of the Cuban Armed Forces to reduce tensions and promote confidence-building measures. This would help Cuba move towards a democratic TRANSITION in the future. -Encourage an opening of relations between militaries in other nations that have carried out successful transitions from communist regimes to democratic societies, mainly in Eastern Europe. -Probe Areas for Counternarcotics Cooperation. The United States and Cuba have cooperated on a limited case-by-case basis in counternarcotics efforts. We recommend furthering cooperation in the counternarcotics arena and encourage Cuba to take serious steps in this direction. -Institute Routine Executive Branch Consultations with Congress and Others on Cuba Policy. We recommend continued and enhanced bipartisan consultations by the executive branch with Congress and with a broad range of leaders representing political, social, and economic groups in the Cuban American, humanitarian, religious, academic, and cultural communities. -Begin working out an agenda of bilateral problems to be solved. The report says that when people in both the United States and Cuba talk about the future relationship between the two countries they often speak of the "normalization of relations." It continues to say that in fact, the United States and Cuba have not had "normal" relations since the United States intervened to end Spanish rule in 1898. It is recommended that the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) task force continues its work and prepares an agenda of the main bilateral issues. These are complex problems that should include: The resolution of outstanding property claims; The status of the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay; The implications for the Western Hemisphere of the restoration of a Cuban sugar quota; The impact on the Caribbean economy of US-CUBA resuming normal bilateral trade relations; Cuban participation in the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI); Prospects for Cuba's re-entry into the Organization of American States (OAS); The integration of Cuba into the international financial system So far the essential content of the report; it concludes with a recommendation for its regular review. The review should update it according to the development of the situation in Cuba and should help the US government to make decisions regarding its policy toward Cuba at all times. I believe that there is a high possibility that the decisions taken by the Nobel Prize Awarded US President in relation to our country are based on criteria drawn from this report. Many of the measures he has taken are proposed therein. Knowing what the enemy intends to do, is always an advantage in the battle. CUBA-USA: FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS ON THE BEST PLAN OF POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL SUBVERSION By: Dr. Néstor García Iturbe June 9, 2015 Some comrades have contacted me regarding the article on THE BEST PLAN OF POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL SUBVERSION, published on June 3. Whatever new and important it has been for these comrades to know of this plan, many of them have asked me to translate and publish the full document so they can study and understand it more deeply. I really canot do what they request right now. According to the interest shown in relation to certain parts of the plan, I will make an effort and translate that for which they have asked most. I Promise that whenever I have a little time I will continue translating those parts about which I have been asked. This time I will devote my time to the Military-to-Military Confidence-Building Measures. This is what I published on June 3: RECOMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE NATIONAL INTEREST The measures recommended in the national interest, are founded on aspects of the Cuban situation which the task force considered fundamental to advance the process of TRANSITION, knowing that certain forces in the country will oppose it. The recommendations are: -Conduct Military-to-Military Confidence-Building Measures. Carry out a step-by-step process to win the trust of Cuban military. We recommend starting conversations of the Pentagon and the State Department with representatives of the Cuban Armed Forces to reduce tensions and promote confidence-building measures. This would help Cuba move towards a democratic TRANSITION in the future. -Encourage an opening of relations between militaries in other nations that have carried out successful transitions from communist regimes to democratic societies, mainly in Eastern Europe. My translation of the CFR is the following: National Interest Recommendations: Conduct Military-to-Military Confidence-Building Measures. Both Presidents Bush and Clinton have stated that the United States has no aggressive intentions toward Cuba, and the Pentagon has concluded that Cuba poses no significant national security threat to the United States. We believe, therefore, that it is in our national interest to promote greater ties and cooperation with the Cuban military. We believe the more confident the Cuban military is that the United States will not take military advantage of a political or economic opening, the more likely it is that elements of the Cuban Armed Forces will tolerate or support such an opening and the less justifiable it will be to divert public resources from social needs to maintaining a defense force far beyond the legitimate needs of the nation. We believe this process should proceed on a step-by-step basis with many of the initial contacts through civilian agencies, both governmental and nongovernmental. We also believe it would be useful for the United States to encourage an opening of relations between militaries in other nations that have carried out successful TRANSITIONS from communist regimes to democratic societies, such as those in eastern Europe and, where appropriate, in Latin America. We also recommend that the Pentagon and State Department initiate conversations with the Cuban Armed Forces and others to reduce tensions, promote mutual confidence-building measures, and lay the basis for the improvement of relations in the future should Cuba move toward a “democratic” TRANSITION. This is the translation of the excerpts of the document on this matter. On this same topic the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) of the US Army War College published on August 19, 2007 a research paper by Col. Glenn Alexander Crowther with the title SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR POST-TRANSITION IN CUBA that defines the measures to reform the Cuban Armed Forces at the onset of the TRANSITION stage of the communist society to a “democratic” society. As you can see, for some years now, different US government agencies have been studying measures to promote and stimulate a TRANSITION in Cuba Whatever they offer or propose is not improvised or recently thought. We must consider carefully and in detail each step we take, with no hurry. They are the ones in a hurry, because they have a 50-year delay. |
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