Cuba and those that Practice Entrapment
Erasmo Calzadilla
HAVANA TIMES — About ten years ago, I had a bunch of friends who were “burnouts” (as we used to call them) because of conditions of life here, though I didn’t choose them because of that condition.
Most of them did nothing more than whine in private about things, but the boldest became associated with political parties that emerged back then, mostly the “sui generis” pro-capitalists ones.
The political education of typical neighborhood kids was terrible. They had no idea of the mess they were getting into; they didn’t even know what the hell “liberalism” was. To them it sounded like freedom and capitalism – which to them were synonymous.
They had good times in the activities of their parties – channeling their angst, meeting cool people who “opened their eyes”… and at the same time filled their bellies.
They weren’t afraid, and in the middle of 2003 it seemed like the regime was retreating and reluctantly tolerating an emboldened opposition.
Naïve, they were being given more and more rope to hang themselves, but at the decisive moment the stool was kicked out from under them. State Security agents permeated these groups and directed them into the arms of the US government, which at that time had begun to openly financing dissidents and non-violent subversive groups.
One of the leaders of this “heroic deed” was Aleida Godinez (Agent Vilma). It’s amazing to hear from her very own mouth how she, as an opposition leader, requested logistical support and money from our generous neighbors to the north.
In the way that Godinez tells her story to US journalist Tracey Eaton, I would say that she’s even proud of her achievements.
The worst sentiments come out in me listening to such a person who deliberately embroiled the lives of so many people and crushed a process of political reform (not just pro-capitalist), which perhaps at this point would now be bearing fruit.
But the discomfort aside, I recommend the interviews conducted by Eaton to (Cuban) political activists of various currents and human rights defenders. They are excellent documents to understanding the political drama of today’s Cuba.
Intervew by Tracey Eaton with Aleida Godinez
Video (Spanish)
part 1: http://vimeo.com/23452713
part 2: http://vimeo.com/23564442
Text version (Spanish)
part 1: http://alongthemalecon.blogspot.com/2012/02/aleida-godinez-aka-agent-vilma-part-1.html
part 2: http://alongthemalecon.blogspot.com/2012/02/aleida-godinez-part-2.html
A hate site? Yeah, right.
Moses:
I am not the kind of person you would ever see justifying that any person is put behind bars for their thinking, even if it means challenging the Government, in Cuba or elsewhere. What is more, I think every Cuban has the right to do so. What I mean here is that Cuban dissidents should beware of being in cahoots with the same government that has been seeking to destroy the Cuban revolution and murder its leaders for over half a century. In the past, contacts between US government officials, US intelligence and Cubans dissatisfied with Socialism would usually lead to anti-Castro plots in the Island and outside. When Cuban intelligence managed to thwart most of those plans, which included armed confrontation and assassination attempts, they started resorting to more sophisticated means, which they continue to do today. That is what I oppose: The most powerful government on earth aiding and abetting dissidents, which is just one more way to seek war by other means.
Jhon when in question please visit the realcuba.com, there you’ll find the names and addresses.
I second that. I’m from one of the many Latin-American countries (Brazil) who suffered from the deadly hands of the CIA and the ‘School of the Americas’… they taught the military ‘gorillas’ of ours how to persecute, assassinate and torture political dissidents.
ALL SYSTEMS INCLUDING POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT TEND TO PERPETUATE THEMSELVES. in physics it’s called inertia. i do not believe that putting political dissidents in prison does much good. that does not ensure no change. words mean whatever i want them to mean, neither more nor less. humpty dumpty in alice in wonderland. what are these horrendous human rights abuses that moses writes about? could moses be more specific? when freud asserted that cuba is a bloody dictatorshp i asked for the names and addresses of the disappeared, those murdered as in other latin american and other countries. i am still waiting for the names and addresses of the disappeared and i add tortured today. the names of those who have gone to prison for political activities are well known. the catholic church for 1 can provide a list. i also asked freud for the curriculum of the school of the americas at fort benning, georgia. every year, thousands of americans go to fort benning for a fiesta. moses, believe it or not, the protestors allege that the school teaches things that are not nice. the school has user guides for…………………………….horrendous human right abuses. i think that assassination, murder and torture are the words that they are looking for. what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. you allege horrendous human rights abuses by the cuban government. the american protestors, not me, allege that the school of the americas, now rebranded, teaches human rights abuses. human rights abuses for dummies. in fact, the user guide which could be given the title……..human rights abuses for dummies, has been published by leftists who, believe it or not, moses, allege that it is genuine. that is, it is paid for by the taxpayers which is 1 reason why some people won’t pay taxes but so they can’t be prosecuted by the IRS they get into the barter economy. the IRS hasn’t figured out a way to tax the barter economy. hey, we need a plumber at the tax office. you can have a free lunch in the cafeteria. THERE IS A VERY OLD EXPRESSION. PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN’T THROW STONES. the pot is calling the kettle black is another one.
Isidro, after 9/11, the US Congress passed the Patriot Act, a new law which gave the government unprecendented powers to invade the public’s privacy through wiretapping, warrantless searches and seizures, etc. We allowed this reversal of our rights because we were afraid. We were afraid of terrorism. The Castros engage in their horrendous human rights abuses because they are afraid. They are afraid of losing their grip on Cuba. I do not know what percentage of Cuban dissidents recieve money for their acts in defense of Cuban democracy but I believe there are many Cubans who simply wish to see a free Cuba. Free of dictators AND foreign intervention. Surely, you do not believe that everyone who oppose totalitarianism in Cuba does so at the behest of the CIA? Surely, there must be at least one Cuban who loves freedom for freedom’s sake? I support that Cuban.
Regardless of what Aleida Godinez might have done, it is a stubborn fact that some of the most noted figures among Cuban dissidents have turned the US Interests Office in Havana into their “reference center”, a place they often visit, God knows in search for what kind of advice. This was and has been like this before and after Aleida’s “mission” was accomplished. Perhaps, if the U.S. premises in Havana would limit its actions to offer courses on Walt Whitman’s poetry there would not be much to be feel uneasy about, but given the usual attitude of the U.S. toward the island, I guess the Cuban government is mostly right on its inklings. Today, US diplomats in Havana often distribute shortwave radios and ham sandwiches among the local malcontents, but about 40 years ago, the gifts offered by US intelligence services were a little bit more “lethal”. An example? The promised weapons cache for former Cuban commander Rolando Cubela, including a telescopic rifle to put a bullet between Fidel Castro’s eyes. So, Moses, I guess Churchill was right, wasn’t he?
Summary. In Cuba, only she and those who think like her would do that without being paid. For all the others to express those ideas, they want to be paid by imperialism.
The idea of a country without a legitimate political opposition is so absurd. She could talk a hundred hours about money and more money but that wouldn’t make the repression of dissenting and opposing views any more legitimate.
Hans, I think it was Winston Churchill who said: “Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it”.
I can not go back into the past I wish to look forward into the Future of Cubean Society, so be it!