We need to keep making a lot of noise about this, and more letters, and phone calls. Does anyone know who shot the tape and passed it to Telemundo? My Spanish skills are minimal as best, and I can't find credits anywhere. Whoever it was is a hero in my book and I hope they get more. I'd love to see some damning footage from Guantanamo from the Cuban refugee section. That's the real Gitmo scandal.

Immigration policy is too emotional an issue for President Bush to rescind the wetfoot/dryfoot policy. If he did, Bill O'Reiley would protest along with millions of Americans who feel they are besieged by illegal aliens.
Bush would be derided for favoritism toward Cubans and weak on immigration policy. Other Hispanic groups would also repudiate this "favoritism."
The time to have changed this policy was when Bush initially became president. He should have also enforced Titles III and IV of the Helms-Burton Act, which he has abided by the same Clinton policy.
Wetfoot-dryfoot policy, the toothless Helms-Burton Act, and the secret Kennedy-Khrushchev understanding prevail because Cuban American politicians and community leaders dare not challenge the president directly on these issues. Their attitude reminds me of the scene from the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy and her friends first encounter the wizard's fire-belching machine and they are trembling and collapsing on the ground.
Yet, the alternative is no better. Republicans are our weak allies, even though they follow Democrat policies regarding Cuba. From the Democrats we can expect no better. Remember Elian!

de la Cova- Too emotional an issue? It's emotional alright. I'm talking about doing whats right, politics be damned. He either has the cojones to put his pen where his mouth is or he doesn't. The press is already skinning him alive, seems to me that this would be a good way to tell them to go take a hike.

Kathleen, Tony and Mora:

Keep hammering at this. For the policy is absurd. Perhaps the simplest way to stop this nonsense. Is to curtail the Coast Guard directives, which since Bush is Commander in Chief is well within the executives's prorogatives. For instance a direct order to tow the boats ashore before evaluating refugee status would do it.

take care and be well

Larry

Kathleen, I have been studying U.S.-Cuba politics for the last 30 years of my life. I wrote a book chapter entitled "U.S.-Cuba Relations during the Reagan Administration" which can be found at
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/articles/Reagan.pdf
It will give you my perspective of why U.S.-Cuba policy has not changed since 1962, and will not substantially change until after Castro's death.
Government does not care about what's right. They have repeatedly proven that on numerous issues for centuries. A president, any president, usually does not act alone, but rather follows the advice of his appointed specialists. Bush will not budge until recommended to do so. It is the Cuban community leaders and politicians who can influence that. As long as they are inactive, nothing will be done. That is the democratic process.
That's why Reagan spent eight years in the White House negotiating with Castro to solve the immigration issue and the Cuban troop removal from Angola. The Mariel undesirables languished in U.S. prisons for nearly 25 years, at a cost of $40 million annually, because neither Reagan, Clinton, or the Bushes had the resolve to forcibly send them back to Cuba, as Secretary of State Alexander Haig suggested in 1981.
I do not agree with the wetfoot-dryfoot policy, but it is almost certain that Bush will do nothing about it until there is massive pressure from Cuban community leaders and politicians. Sad but true.

thankyou mr Diaz Balart...at least somebody is doing
something..ya era tiempo

Cuban American legislators and community leaders never followed up after this incident two years ago.

The Miami Herald
Aug. 16, 2003

Local Republicans write Bush urging new Cuba policy

BY OSCAR CORRAL

Dozens of local Republican-elected leaders have signed their names to a letter to President Bush urging him to make changes to Cuba policy, a week after a group of state representatives sent the White House a similar note.

The letter echoes the message some Cuban-American leaders have delivered recently to Bush: Get tougher on Castro or risk losing Cuban-American support in the 2004 election.

''We must not ignore the potential for significant erosion in the loyalty of our constituency, which is frustrated by the unfulfilled promise made by every candidate for
president over the last 40 years: a free Cuba,'' the letter says.

Hialeah Councilman Esteban Bovo, who drafted the document, said he followed the lead of several state legislators who sent a letter Monday to the White House asking for changes in Cuba policy.

He sent it Friday to Washington by certified mail.

The letter asks the president to authorize improvements in Radio and TV Martí; implement Title III of the Helms-Burton Act; abolish the wet foot/dry foot immigration policy that repatriates most Cubans picked up at sea; and stop the sale of food to Cuba by U.S. farmers.

''We supported your candidacy for President with great enthusiasm, and we expected a more proactive approach to the Cuba situation,'' the letter said. ``Sadly, as of today, little has changed.''

`FIRMLY DEDICATED'

White House spokeswoman Jeanie Mamo said the White House had not yet received the letter, but she reiterated Bush's commitment to a tough Cuba policy.

''The administration remains firmly dedicated to a proactive Cuba policy that will assist the Cuban people in their struggle for freedom,'' Mamo said. ``The president
remains committed to the goal of achieving a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy by using the dissuasive tools of the economic embargo and travel restrictions.''

The U.S. embargo has been the keystone of its Cuba policy for 43 years.

State Rep. David Rivera, who drafted the White House letter signed by 13 Republican state legislators this week, said he is heartened to see other elected leaders follow their lead.

''I welcome any good-faith effort to provide suggestions or a road map that has as a goal the reelection of President Bush,'' Rivera said.

The letter is signed by 34 Republican Cuban Americans who hold a wide range of offices, from County Commission to Hialeah Gardens City Council.

It thanks Bush for his leadership but expresses ``deep concern over your administration's policy toward Cuba.''

Joe Garcia, executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation, said the letter is more bad news for the Bush administration.

Garcia and CANF have led recent criticism of the White House.

''This is what you call a rebellion,'' Garcia said. ``Cubans now feel discriminated against. [The president] doesn't dignify Cuban Americans with an answer.''

But some of the politicians who signed the letter said they do not want it to seem like a threat.

County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, who signed the letter, said she merely wants Bush to remember his commitments to Cuban Americans.

MAYBE STAY NEUTRAL

Miami Commissioner Tomas Regalado, a Spanish-language radio commentator and longtime Republican, said if nothing changes on Cuba policy, he would consider remaining neutral in the 2004 election.

''I would say on radio that we asked [the president] for things and he didn't answer,'' Regalado said. ``The letter is not an ultimatum. It's a unified message.''

de la Cova- "I do not agree with the wetfoot-dryfoot policy, but it is almost certain that Bush will do nothing about it until there is massive pressure from Cuban community leaders and politicians."

This is exactly what we are trying to set in motion. You know that the main stream media goes out of its way to marginalize and discredit the Cuban American community, with blogs and direct participation from the community, I believe we can make a difference. The Cuban American community should not settle for the White House just maintaining the status quo. It's time for real change.

"Nullify the Cuban Wetfoot/dryfoot policy"

Be careful what you wish for.

We're not in 1965 anymore.

Prof. De la Cova, if the President fears the opinion of Bill O'Reilly and lets him dictate policy we are in trouble. He needs to do what is right, and what the people who contributed to his election and reelection demand.
Cheo Medalla, we are not in 1965 anymore, you're right. The wet-feet dry-feet has to be rescinded. Period. That executive order belongs to the times the 'Rats called the shots, the sixties and the nineties. No more. Or please explain why we have to fear what we wish.

CB,
As you know, Bill O'Reilly wields a powerful voice, because millions listen to him, that is constantly hammering at the weakness of U.S. immigration policy. President Bush was interviewed by O'Reilly during his reelection campaign, and knows he is someone whose opinion should not be easily dismissed, because of what he can mobilize.
Unfortunately, the Cuban community lacks the ability to be demanding from Republican administrations. Bush no longer needs the votes of the Cuban community and therefore they are not a priority to him after he hoodwinked us twice.

Everyone:
I think anyone fleeing Fidel (and these were classics, with the homemade boat) should be given asylum. What makes things look bad at times are those Cubans that come here seeking asylum only to go back to visit as though they are on vacation. We have that segment of the exile population that makes a mockery of what we're saying here and those truly seeking freedom. How does it look when some of us repeatedly returned until the recent sanctions were imposed on travel to Cuba. Let's denounce those that hypocritically go back unless it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY (life and death of family member).

Prof. de la Cova, the politicos and the experts on the Cuban theme have produced a brick called "transition document" that doesn't have an ounce of common sense in its more than 400 pages. There's no unity among the zillion organizations in exile and in the island. If you tell me that it doesn't send a confusing message to the president, I won't be able to take your word for what is worth. The problem is: the politicos and the celebrities have been paralized and they have not pressed the point enough. Thanks God for blogs.

Max,
Cuban American legislators should sponsor a law saying that any Cuban who is granted asylum in the U.S. claiming persecution and returns as a tourist within five years, should have their residency revoked.
Many of the Cubans who are departing under the visa lottery spent their lifetimes supporting Castro and ranting against the gusanos in Miami. That's why they reside outside of Florida or move to Europe. They still can't stand "La Mafia Terrorista de Miami."
These ecomonic emigres do not care about Cuban politics. Their main concern is to make money to send back to their relatives on the island. That is also why many of them have been unable to progress during the last decade. All their savings are squandered on telephone bills, sending money and packages to Cuba, and going back to visit their relatives. As a result, they can't provide a college education for their children and complain that the U.S. should give them free college education "just like in Cuba."
These are truly a pathetic people, the product of the revolution. What a wasted life!

Mr Playa Giròn, the Castro's Italian agent, "reminded me" how the Cubans life is "great" under Castro and that "poor people are everywhere"

http://www.haloscan.com/comments/stefy82/5808008/?a=21947#31380

While I hate to generalize about any group of people, I agree with Prof. de la Cova's point made just above. A lot has changed since the 1960's and we can't allow castro to dictate the USA's immigration policies which are a mess without castro's help.

So, kagasstro is not dictating our policy? We are patrolling the seas and turning people back to kagasstro, if that's not a dictate and a command that is dutifully obeyed by the Coast Guard I don't know. He dictated that policy to Clinton, who took note and give it to him as a price for untold services or Cohiba cigars.

Prof:
Excellent idea and I totally agree. I don't know if you're familiar with Francisco Aruca and if he's still on the air. He goes a step further and has made a living out of selling others trips to Cuba. I hope he goes out of business.

CB, exactly right, castro is dictating it. The US entered into an agreement for the 20,000 annual visas but castro controls the process and denies many from ever leaving. castro uses the smugglers with the fast boats to infiltrate spies and many of his supporters here. Prof. de la Cova is right, we should be revoking US residencies of those that claimed political persecution one day, and ran back to take dollars to castro the minute they got their first chance.

Max,
Here is some background on "Aruca."
Real name Francisco M. Gonzalez Aruca, born on August 30, 1940, fled a Castro prison in 1962 dressed as a woman. In April 1974 he was a founder of the pro-Castro magazine “Areito” and later joined the Antonio Maceo Brigade. In December 1978 he participated in the so-called “dialogue” with Fidel Castro. As a result, the Cuban regime rewarded him with the operation of the travel agencies Cuba Travel in Washington, D.C. and Marazul Tours in New York City. In July 1983, Captain Jesus Perez Mendez, a defector of Castro’s Directorate General of Intelligence (DGI), denounced Aruca as a DGI operative. Since the 1990s, Aruca has been defending the Castro dictatorship on his radio program in Miami.

I think most of you are forgeting too many recent events of similar treatment of Cuban refugees.
This event is one in a series that demonstrates how federal employees are going beyond their standard operating procedures and demonstrating through their uncontroled emotions their dislike of Cubans and latin refugess.
Regardless of the federal policy, these people are demonstrating their hatred towards immigrants, point blank. These individuals that work for these federal agencies hail from areas other than South Florida, and are demonstrating their disdain for not only Cuban immigrants, but all of South Floridians. They hate the fact that they are transferred to South Florida, but since its a federal job, will of course follow it whereever it goes. They are not mentally prepared for this unique borderland situation.

Remember this: http://www.judicialwatch.org/cases/76/cuban.gif
http://www.judicialwatch.org/ramirez-reno.shtml
http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/agab.html
http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/antimm.html

Just do a search on systematic campaign by the INS against people of Hispanic appearance and origin and see what pops up.
Folks, if we lose this, we will lose the only thing that makes us the best country in World. Just look at how many minorities are in governments of the rest of the industrialized world......

It is high time for president bush to do something about this. Are you listening Mr.President??
larry

CB: By your postings here I assume you want a return of the policy that granted all Cuban immmigrants automatic asylum in the US just for being Cuban.

Well, I believe this is unrealistic.

The original policy towards Cubans has exactly *zero* chance of being reinstated. With no Soviet Union to guide our Cuba policy, we will only move from today's, still preferential, "wetfoot/dryfoot" policy, to one that treats Cubans just like every other illegal immigrant be they Mexicans, Haitians, Central Americans, Chinese, French, etc.

Now, as I've made it clear in other postings, this is exactly what I believe should be done in order to hasten castro's demise. But I don't believe it is what you want at all.

So basically, go ahead, make lots of noise, send letters to Bush, Congress, etc. A congressional hearing will be great. I'm sure you'll get the wet foot/dry foot policy rescinded posthaste.

And ultimately, your efforts will improve the chances of an internal revolt more that anything else we could do.

ON THE ROUGHING UP OF WET/FOOTERS - While I am aware they CG has orders to interdict at sea and not allow illegal entry, I would like to see them undergo better procedural training. I am sure some technique can be developed that will photograph better. In the end though, if illegal immigrants don't follow orders from our military/law enforcement personnel, some sort of force is innevitable. They don't call it illegal immigration for nothing.

It is heart breaking to see all the effort and risk that went into their ordeal go unrewarded. But just imagine if all the energy, effort and risk that went into a trip across the straits were directed against castro instead. Just a thought.