U.S. ships carrying food prepare for trip to Cuba

Orlando Sentinel ^ | December 14, 2001 | Rafael Lorente | Washington Bureau

[Cincinatus' Wife]

WASHINGTON -- The first commercial shipment of food from the United States to Cuba in almost four decades is expected to leave New Orleans this morning on a two-day voyage to Havana.

The 26,000 tons of corn, mostly for animal feed, is the first of several in the next few months as Cuba attempts to recover from the devastation that Hurricane Michelle caused last month.

Archer Daniels Midland, the Illinois-based food giant shipping the corn, also has contracts to sell rice, soybeans and soybean meal to Cuba. The Cubans are buying wheat, crude vegetable oil and chickens from other companies.

Altogether, Cuba is expected to purchase about $30 million in food and medicine for hurricane recovery.

The sales, the first under last year's revisions to the four-decade-old embargo, have re-ignited the farm lobby's efforts to make it easier to sell food to Cuba. But it remains doubtful that policies will change because President Bush is an embargo supporter. Today's shipment includes 22,000 tons of corn for animal feed and 4,000 tons for human consumption.

Under last year's law, Cuba can buy food and medicine as long as it pays cash without public or private U.S. financing. But the administration remains adamant that it will not ease the embargo unless Cuba holds free elections, releases political prisoners and takes other steps toward democracy.

Earlier this month, the administration sent Lino Gutierrez, acting assistant secretary of state, to Miami to reassure Cuban exiles -- whose votes Bush will need in 2004 -- that his hard line toward the island has not changed.

The Cuban government said the financing restrictions are insulting and until they are lifted, there will be no more food purchases.

Joe Garcia of the Cuban American National Foundation said his organization does not oppose this sale as long as the cash-only rules apply.

"It's $30 million that they're not going to be able to spend on repression," he said.

Rafael Lorente is a Washington correspondent for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, a Tribune Publishing newspaper.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Cuban President Fidel Castro (L), Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (C) and Colombian Andres Pastrana talk during the closing of the III summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) on Margarita Island, Venezuela, December 12, 2001. Caribbean leaders signed cooperation and trade agreements where Chavez carried his left-leaning agenda into the Caribbean Summit urging his Caribbean neighbors to shun a U.S.-backed hemispheric free trade zone. REUTERS/Jose Miguel Gomez

Caribbean Leaders Endorse Trade Pact -- Despite the summit's formal FTAA endorsement, Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro warned that the FTAA could drown tiny economies at the hands of such powerhouses as the United States and Canada. Chavez said his government will put the deal to a popular vote.

Hugo Chavez: Castro II?

Cuba's Castro Calls Spies 'Heros'

U.S. embargo of Cuba remains strongly in place, U.S. official says

[Ironword]

Archer Daniels Midland (federally convicted "price-fixer to the world") operates a molasses factory in Cuba via its Spanish subsidiary. I'm sure they'd like to tap further into slave-labor agricultural production in Cuba.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It's time for Castro and his accomplises to unshackle the Cuban people.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It'll happen when Fidel croaks.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Well, that can't happen soon enough.

[Don Myers]

Did we get money upfront?

[RMDupree]

Today's shipment includes 22,000 tons of corn for animal feed and 4,000 tons for human consumption.

Correction: 10,000 tons for animals feed, 12,000 tons for the unwashed masses and 4,000 tons for members of the Communist Party and tourists.

Also, during the Elian Gonzalez saga, many FReepers researched and made connections from Greg Craig, Bill Clinton and ADM that led to the decision to send Elian back. The truth always comes out.

[RMDupree]

Here's one thread that shows the connection to which I was referring.

Click Here

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Good question.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

BIG BUMP and thank you for the LINK!

[RMDupree]

Volley BUMP!!

[Ironword]

It's time for Castro and his accomplises to unshackle the Cuban people.

What the heck is Gerry Adams going there to see? The fruits of oppression?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Oppressors like to check each other out.