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Carter to visit Cuba; he'll be 1st ex-president there since '59
Miami Herald ^ | March 23, 2002 | ALFONSO CHARDY achardy@herald.com

Posted on 03/23/2002 5:37:38 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife

Jimmy Carter said Friday that he will travel to Cuba sometime this year -- a trip that would make him the highest-ranking former U.S. official to have visited the island since Fidel Castro seized power in 1959.

''We are making plans now and, as we have said, we have been invited to go to Cuba and we intend to go,'' Carter said during an interview with CNN. ``But I'm not prepared at this point to give our goals and the names of people that will go or when we will go because we haven't really made those plans yet.''

The trip could have significant impact on U.S. policy at a time when the Bush administration is under increasing pressure to shift strategies and open up to the Castro regime. While many members of Congress have visited the islands, Carter would be the first former president to travel there since the Cuban revolution.

Carter told CNN that the Bush administration may not like the fact that he's going but likely won't stand in the way. ''I expect to get their tacit approval, not their blessing,'' he said. ``We can't go, obviously, without the permission of the government. My understanding is that they will give that approval.''

REACTION

Cuban Americans reacted swiftly to Carter's announcement.

Joe Garcia, executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation, said his organization welcomes the trip -- if Carter intends to tell Castro to leave power.

Garcia said, however, that if Carter intends to promote better relations with Castro, the influential exile organization would oppose the trip.

''If he is going the way he went to Haiti [in 1994] to tell [Haitian military leader] Gen. Raoul Cedras to leave, then we welcome his trip to Cuba if he is going to tell Fidel Castro to leave,'' Garcia said. ``However, if he's going to give legitimacy to a 43-year-old dictatorship, then I think it would be unfortunate.''

While Carter declined to outline his objectives in Cuba, he indicated to CNN's Judy Woodruff that his intention was to improve relations between Cuba and the United States -- not to deliver an ultimatum to Castro.

Carter indicated support for easing the embargo and allowing U.S. citizens to travel freely to the island, though he spoke strongly in favor of democracy on the island.

VISION FOR ISLAND

''As you probably would remember, when I was president, I departed from my predecessors and unfortunately my successors, in lifting all travel restraints on American citizens to go to Cuba almost immediately when I was president within a few weeks,'' Carter said.

``And I also established interests sections, which is one step short of full diplomatic relationships between Havana and Washington. And those interest sections with staffs representing our countries have never been closed.

``So I think the best way to bring about democratic changes in Cuba is obviously to have maximum commerce and trade and visitation by Americans and others who know freedom and to let the Cuban people know the advantages of freedom. That's the best way to bring about change and not to punish the Cuban people themselves by imposing an embargo on them, which makes Castro seem to be a hero because he is defending his own people against the abuse of Americans.''


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: carter; communists; embargo; socialists
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To: hinckley buzzard
For that response, I award you the knowledge award.
61 posted on 03/23/2002 12:34:25 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
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To: Atlantian
What an indictment! Carter and Clinton were competing for first place as the most inept presidents in the history of the U.S. But, can Carter fall even lower than Clinton in the moral realm. Aiding and abetting an enemy of the U.S. is treason, don't you have any sense of shame, Mr. Carter?
62 posted on 03/23/2002 2:44:13 PM PST by Cardenas
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To: Landru; scholar; Mudboy Slim
Now you know Jimmy hasn't been quite right ever since he lost that fight with the "mad beaver".
63 posted on 03/23/2002 3:58:40 PM PST by sultan88
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To: All
Bump for the Sunday FReeping crowd.
64 posted on 03/24/2002 3:37:34 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Landru
Castro, Carter, and the rest of the RATS/Commies have always been fellow travellers on the road to an all-powerful, unaccountable central leviathan...all this trip does is bring those allegiances out in the open.

FReegards...MUD

65 posted on 03/24/2002 7:08:19 AM PST by Mudboy Slim
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To: sultan88
"...he lost that fight with the "mad beaver".

Nawww, MalaiseJimmy whupped up on Jerry Ford as I recall, but he ain't never been quite right!!

FReegards...MUD

66 posted on 03/24/2002 7:12:16 AM PST by Mudboy Slim
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To: sultan88
Now you know Jimmy hasn't been quite right ever since he lost that fight with the "mad beaver".

It was a RABBIT swimming and trying to get in his canoe! A RABBIT!

Obviously, a patriotic, smart rabbit.

67 posted on 03/24/2002 7:29:18 AM PST by Miss Marple
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To: Luis Gonzalez
re 50, Your unwillingness to establish relationships with dictators is the most narrow view of US foreign relations I have ever heard. If you think it's pratical to eliminate diplomatic relations with a significant part of the world that is controlled by dictators, you have a head-in-the-sand view of what is possible through diplomacy. Do you think that by ignoring Castro it is conducive to improving the Cuban government now or after his death. Kind of a do nothing and things will change approach?

Every communist and totalitarian government has confiscated private property, but we deal with them. I guess you think that the policy that results in the property not being recognized after 40 years will get the job done. One definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing, getting the same results, but hoping for a different result. Your 41 years of lack of results proves the wrongheadness of your approach.

68 posted on 03/24/2002 8:39:33 AM PST by breakem
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To: lavaroise
your 52 I believe it is in the self interest of the US AND Cuba to start changing this failed policy.
69 posted on 03/24/2002 8:41:30 AM PST by breakem
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To: Dqban22
We have been very well educated of Castros purges and the rest. The question is how best could we influence the situation. The 41 year policy has not done that, I would suggest that after the fall of the USSR, we had a golden opportunity to change direction.

The rest of your reply is about economics and I posit that the same was true of China when Nixon went there. You have to start somewhere.

Is it your conclusion that trade and open travel with us would not be a foot in the door for capitalims either now or soon after the old man is dead? Or that some cultural or social changes would not result?

70 posted on 03/24/2002 8:47:03 AM PST by breakem
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To: MinuteGal
Dear President Carter:

I saw yesterday with dismay your announcement that you intend to visit Cuba and that you favor the end of the US embargo and the end of restriction of trips by US trips to Cuba.

You certainly know the many crimes against the Cuban people that Fidel Castro and his cronies have committed. The virtual destruction of the country's economy is certainly known to you as is the current lack of the most elementary liberties by the people. Mr. Carter, the responsibility for these crimes fall squarely upon the shoulders of one man: Fidel Castro, the same man you intend to visit and greet. Would you have befriended Adolf Hitler? Why do you now intend to befriend Fidel Castro?

The propositions you have advanced: the end of the embargo and the lift of travel restrictions to Cuba, although in your judgement will be conducive to the improvement of the lot of the Cuban people, are the primary foreign policy initiatives of Fidel Castro. Do you believe that these innitiatives were in the interest of freedom for that people Fidel Castro would seek them now? Cuba can now purchase food and medical supplies in the United States.

The end of the embargo is in reality a policy to grant credits and international loans to Cuba, a country that has officially renegued its financial commitments. What you are proposing is, in fact an injection of hard cash for the benefit of the Cuban Nomenklatura. By your proposal you are becoming in fact, if not in intention, part and parcel of the possibility of a prolongation of the sufferings of the Cuban people.

While you were president I had the opportunity to visit the White House and, full of pride, posed next to you for a photograph that I still keep. I can not express my dissapointment. I once believed in you as an honorable man committed to humane values and human rights. I must say that today you are forcing me and thousands of other Americans of Cuban origin to evaluate our admiration for you.

If you still harbor your beliefs in human rights for which you are so well known, I challenge you to bring some books to the independent "public libraries" - in reality living rooms in people's homes who lend their books to their neighbors... Ask your hosts if you can go and bring books you bring to an independent public library...

In the name of all that is decent in you, I urge you not to go to Cuba and lend your support and credibility to a man whose hands are full of blood.

When you shake them, remember that your hands will be bloody too with the blood and sufferings of millions of Cubans who are in no position to express themselves. You will be wined and dined while Cubans will go hungry. You will sleep in a confortable bed with a beautiful view while thousands of Cuba languish in political prisons. You will be able to read your Bible before going to bed while Cubans are beaten by government-sponsoed thugs for insisting in their right to read and believe that they wish.

How sad it is, Mr. Carter, that you will lend yourself to this charade.

Respectfully yours,

Enrique Rueda Let Mr. Carter know your opinion carterweb@emory.edu

71 posted on 03/24/2002 10:38:57 AM PST by Cardenas
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To: President
ExPresident Carter,
Your "15 minutes" of fame is over.
You've been thrown out of office with a fat pension, for nearly destroying the economy and nation.
You have embarrassed this nation in more way than I care to remember.
STOP!
Stay home, shut up and stop being the damned fool.
Your leadership is unwanted and your opinions are irrelevant. You now have just ONE VOTE....nothing more ---- Thank God!
Semper Fi
72 posted on 03/24/2002 11:33:51 AM PST by river rat
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To: Mudboy Slim

Fidel Castro & Hugo Chavez
admiring their goodluck necklaces.
73 posted on 03/24/2002 11:44:54 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cardenas; All
Cuba Blasts Mexico Over U.N. Aid Summit
74 posted on 03/24/2002 11:46:51 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Lets hope they keep him!
75 posted on 03/24/2002 12:06:41 PM PST by nomad
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To: breakem
Let me explain to you one of the many things the embargo accomplished. In 1987 Castro had 297,000 active members in his armed forces, 70,000 were sent around the world as the Atila hordes bringing destruction and suffering with them. In 1997, Castro was forced to reduce his forces to 55,000; the Soviet Union was not longer providing over 5 billion dollars in subsides every year plus unlimited free war material.

In truth, it is not the embargo the one that failed, but the policy of appeasement by Canada, Mexico, Spain and 150 other countries toward Cuba, which under the pretense that trading with Castro would bring capitalism, freedom and democracy, went to Cuba for the exploitation of cheap slave labor. History repeated itself; you and all those countries are following the same failed policies of Western Europe toward the Soviet Empire, where, as with Cuba, they ended loosing hundreds of billions of dollars. It was not appeasement, but the strong policies of Reagan and Thatcher that brought for freedom to Europe.

76 posted on 03/24/2002 12:08:07 PM PST by Cardenas
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
You know, making the case for Cuba trade would be allot easier if they would agree to keep Jimmy there.

And it sounds like he might run afowl of the Logan act.

77 posted on 03/24/2002 12:38:11 PM PST by Jhoffa_
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To: Miss Marple
That was hysterical..

He makes Elmer Fudd look like a bad ass.

78 posted on 03/24/2002 12:39:49 PM PST by Jhoffa_
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Aw, look at those two witchdoctors. Those look like santero necklaces. Fidel's are black and red for Afrocuban deity, Chango. (Same colors Joan Brown Campbell was wearing day after day, he he he). I can't make out Hugo's, black and white? No afrocuban deity with those colors, as far as I know, but Venezuela has some indigenous cults that might use other colors.
79 posted on 03/24/2002 12:44:51 PM PST by Prodigal Daughter
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Aw, look at those two witchdoctors. Those look like santero necklaces. Fidel's are black and red for Afrocuban deity, Chango. (Same colors Joan Brown Campbell was wearing day after day, he he he). I can't make out Hugo's, black and white? No afrocuban deity with those colors, as far as I know, but Venezuela has some indigenous cults that might use other colors.
80 posted on 03/24/2002 12:44:51 PM PST by Prodigal Daughter
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