January 15, 2009

The Obama-Castro synergy theory

I have never been a believer in conspiracy theories, but I have to admit that on occasion I do find them quite entertaining. And with all the bizarre events that have transpired these past few months, I must say that my curiosity has been piqued. I possess just enough cynicism and have a wild enough imagination that although the logical side of my brain rejects the image of a Wizard of Oz-like character behind a curtain pulling levers, the cynical and imaginative side of my brain thoroughly enjoys the theories these conspiracists come up with.

With that said, the following is complete conjecture and made up on my part, a product of my cynicism and imagination. Therefore, those of you that may find this a bit over the top can dispatch with the comments and e-mails saying so; I know it is over the top. And for those faithful readers of this blog who parse its every word, especially the ones who are as clueless of the issues facing Cubans and Cuban-Americans as they are clueless of where the best places to buy jamón serrano (or what jamón serrano is, for that matter) in South Florida are, I present to you some fodder for your fertile minds.

In the days leading up to the inauguration of Barack Obama, rumors have once again begun to circulate that the bearded tyrant is finally dead and that an official announcement of his passing is forthcoming. In the meantime, the news wires are awash with articles and editorials calling for the end of the US embargo. Although they approach the issue from slightly different angles, they all have a common thread: Obama is all about change, and he's going to change the US policy towards Cuba.

Zoe Valdez has hypothesized that Fidel is already dead and the Cuban regime is only waiting for Obama to be inaugurated to announce it and deny George Bush the pleasure of being the president of the US on the day Fifo is officially pronounced dead. A commenter then put forth the notion that this whole scenario could be true, pointing to the Iran hostage release, which took place right after Reagan took office. If that were to be the case, Val wondered if the Democratic party leadership has been having secret talks with the Cuban regime in preparation for the announcement, but in violation of the Logan Act.

All of this, of course, got my cynicism sense tingling, and then my imagination took over. Here is what I believe the next few weeks might hold in store for the US and Cuba.

Fidel is dead and Obama and his transition team has already been notified by the Cuban government. Both sides have agreed to keep the news quiet until after the inauguration.

Why? You may ask.

I do no believe this is because the regime wants to take advantage of a world press preoccupied with the inauguration of the first black president of the US to downplay the death of their maximum leader, but because they will be able to extract the biggest possible gains and favorable publicity by timing their announcement right around the same time as the inauguration.

Consider the plethora of anti-embargo, pro-Castro articles and editorials that have been flooding the news wires as of late and combine that with the sudden appearance of news articles claiming that Obama will close the Guantanamo prison on his first day in office. The articles are not only stating this, they are demanding it and arguing the point that such an act would send a message to the world that Obama really is the embodiment of change.

Obama can easily announce that he will close Guantanamo without actually closing it, and without expending much, if any, political capital. Instead he will score big points with his base on the left and world opinion, and in a way address the Cuba/US policy issue without actually addressing it. Now let's say that in his first day in office, his first official act is to sign an executive order to close Guantanamo. The press will go wild and even more Cuba stories will flood the airwaves and internet.

Then, suddenly, BAM! Either on the same day or a day later, the regime announces the death of the bearded one. Double the bang, double the coverage!

Puff pieces recounting Castro's great contributions to Cuban society and the world will run alongside puff pieces praising Obama's wisdom for closing Guantanamo and closing that dark chapter (their words, not mine) in American history. The synergy created between these two stories covering separate events will join them together as one. The US is finally respecting Cuba's sovereignty and not torturing those poor, hapless terrorists on Cuban soil, and Cuba, who is in mourning after having lost their beloved leader, will give the US a somber thank you and praise Obama for doing the right thing.

Wouldn't this be a perfect time for both countries to come together and put behind their differences, forget the past, and be friends once more?

Maybe my imagination is too wild, but as they say, truth indeed is stranger than fiction.

Posted by Alberto de la Cruz at January 15, 2009 08:39 AM

Comments

Barack and raul: BFF's!!!

Your theory is as plausible as any Ive read or heard these past few days but, unfortunately, since we arent even pawns in this chess game, all we can do is wait for the next move.

Id find it ironic indeed if, in fact Obama lifted the embargo. The first Black US President of African descent becoming chummy with the western hemisphere's biggest slaveowner.

Posted by: Val Prieto [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 15, 2009 09:09 AM

Make sense

Posted by: Laz [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 15, 2009 10:27 AM

Brilliant analysis that is more plausible than most considering the players involved.

Posted by: Universal Spectator [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 15, 2009 10:30 AM

Dear Alberto and fellow babalublog readers -

Your imagination seems to be working efficiently. Wouldn't it make sense for sympatico regimes to time announcements for maximum mutual benefit?

Doesn't Catherine Austin Fitts say that what many people believe to be 'conspiracies' are in fact just individuals preserving and increasing their wealth and power?

The below was described as an old Cuban adage when I read it. Though that may be incorrect, doesn't it make sense?

"A coincidence is just a coincidence. Two? A pattern. Three? Conspiracy."

Don't many cops and researchers that increasing numbers of 'coincidences' suggest a design?

I can't recall the name of the UK statesman, might have been Lord Acton, but one of them said little on the world occurs by happenstance.

Given the extreme leftward slouch of the incoming regime, I'd sooner view this news item as a remote possibility that can't be ruled out, rather than be rudely surprised.

Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasota Key, Florida
15 January, 2009


Posted by: paul vincent zecchino [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 15, 2009 10:31 AM

Paul:

That regimes, or anyone else, would time announcements to reap the most benefit is a given. But when you have two governments working together on separate, unrelated announcements so that it can benefit yet another mutually desired goal, then it starts to smell. It requires too much planning, too much preparation, and way too much chumminess.

Again, it is all conjecture on my part, but it's hard to control my imagination.

Posted by: albertodelacruz [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 15, 2009 10:39 AM

Can I get jamón serrano in Publix? That's where I go for my gabagool and pruhshoot.

Posted by: Claudia [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 15, 2009 11:03 PM


You have reached an old version of a post at BabaluBlog.com, probably because a search engine referred you or you followed an old link. If you'd like to view this post at its new home you can do so by clicking here and searching for the post on our new site. Tip: Take note of the date of this post and use our calendar feature to find it in its new home.