Is the US Trying to Relax the Internet Blockade on Cuba?
HAVANA TIMES, March 16 — Last week the US Treasury Department announced it would allow exports to Cuba of software and Internet services such as instant messaging, e-mail, Web browsing and social networks.
In response, the Cuban government lashed back saying this measure is part of a plan to destabilize the country and not one of loosening the economic blockade.
What do you think?
Do you believe Cuba should accept this gesture by the United States?
Why has this announcement triggered such indignation from the Cuban government?
In your opinion, what aim is being pursued by the United States in now allowing the export of services that were previously prohibited?
I remain deeply disappointed in the Obama administration’s position on its foreign policy toward Cuba! During Obama’s campaign for President I made contact with some of his top campaign advisors who assured me and others that Obama would make major changes in U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba. Instead, Sec. of State, Clinton, has kept many staff members from the Bush years in the Department of Cuban Affairs. I felt certain that Obama, by Executive order, would move to lift the travel ban to Cuba for all U.S. citizens. Though I wish all Cubans had access to the internet, (an informed people make for a stronger nation) I would be very suspecious of the U.S. offer of high-tech hardware!
I think this is a case of dam if you do and dam is you don’t!
I wonder what the Cuban regime will say if the american government were to drop what remain of the embargo?
Will they also say they do it to destabilize the country?
So let us think a little deeper. Is the situation in Cuba so instable that just by citizen having access to information will provoke a regime change? that is food for thought.
It is then the tacit recognition by the regime that they are holding power against the will of the people and that they keep them misinform on purpose controlling all the press. So that people can be manipulated and they can keep the honey of power.
“The Americans will never stop wanting Cuba back in their possession.” I don’t know why, but that statement irks me. It is also quite obvious that any country/government would have an “agenda”. Hugo Chavez has an agenda and he didn’t need the US’s help in destabilizing his country. Unless Chavez is working for the CIA and secretly fighting a war against aliens causing the power problems and drug cartels. Oh wait, he is not.
As for the topic on hand, the internet is awesome. It’s like, well an ocean. It’s great that you can float around with a small canoe, but it’s much much better with a boat with motors. When you get to love the ocean, you buy an expensive rig that super cruises the waves fighting off pirates and doing piracy yourself…not that I pirate myself or anything like that >_>. So Cuba, the choice is yours with the consent of you leaders, er leader, er that old guy with the funny track suit.
Washington’s “regime change” program for Cuba, an element which Barack Obama campaign enthusiastically for as a candidate, remains in full force and effect today. The arrest of US agent Alan Gross in December, and the phony propaganda campaign in support of his activities there simply confirms these facts.
If Washington wanted to improve its internet relationship with Cuba, it could begin easily be removing its efforts to block websites with Cuba in the domain name, as the New York Times reported:
http://www.cubanow.net/pages/loader.php?sec=12&t=2&item=4454
I cannot speculate on the motives of the Cuban government, but when a rapist stops raping a woman, should the woman be grateful and should the rapist receive praise for stopping the assault? I don’t think so.
Why does Havana Times pose these matters in the form of a question. Don’t you have any opinion yourself about what Washington is up to with this?
Thanks,
Walter Lippmann
Los Angeles, California
I am Canadian and i do not trust the Americans one bit, they always have their ‘agendas’. And much like Radio Marti i believe the US would use the internet to again try and destabilize Cuba. The Americans will never stop wanting Cuba back in their posession. The internet is a great tool but it can be used for both good and bad.
Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation available on the internet. It would be great to talk to my friends in Cuba on the net, but at what price. A real goodwill gesture would be to lift all the embargos against Cuba. And then Cuba as a sovereign country can decide with who it wishes to ‘freely’ deal with.
I vote for Cuba to accept and embrace the new technology whereever it becomes available, and from whomever. What’s the alternative? For Cuba to isolate and become a sort of DPRK of the Caribbean? Hardly! Not really an option, especially given the historic fact that Cuban culture has always been at intersecting cross roads where many cultures have met, cross fertilized and mutually benefited each other.. Technology can be used in many ways, including those which benefit the Revolution. The free-flow of knowledge, ideas and information in both directions can but benefit both the Cuban people and the rest of the world.