Senator Martinez deplores OAS reversal of Cuba’s suspension

June 4, 9:21 PMOrlando Republican ExaminerBlas Padrino

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Yesterday, the Organization of American States reversed its stance of 47 years and rescinded its suspension of Cuba from participation in the group. Apparently, the motion to clear the way for Cuba’s reinstatement was approved by acclamation, so that there are no recorded individual votes on the interamerican body’s action. Although Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left the meeting, held in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, before the resolution was passed, it is apparent that the United States resigned itself to this expected outcome with nothing more than a symbolic shrug. After all, while quick to criticize the Latin American policies of the Bush Administration, Obama’s State Department’s attitude toward Latin America so far has been a mixture of benign neglect towards our friends and limp-wristed sufferance of our adversaries.
As U.S. bashing left-wing governments take hold in El Salvador, Ecuador, Bolivia and Nicaragua, and join Cuba and Venezuela in the march toward Socialism, Washington has no coherent policy to strengthen our ties to moderate governments in Peru, Colombia and Panama, or to center-left, but U.S. friendly regimes in Chile and Brazil. Instead of promoting the sidetracked free-trade agreement with Colombia, or allowing imports of ethanol from Brazil, President Obama’s policy is stuck on appeasing the Castro dictatorship in Cuba. Mr. Obama fails to understand that, no matter what friendly moves he makes toward Cuba, the communist regime will not change its repressive policies, nor allow a free market to operate.
Thus far, the Obama Latin American performance has consisted of sitting through a scathing 45 minute anti-American screech by Nicaragua’s Sandinista President Daniel Ortega without response; receiving an anti-American book from Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez with a handshake and a smile; and being rebuked by both Fidel and Raul Castro on his claim that Cuba was ready for substantive discussions. Mr. Chavez’s recent remarks about President Obama provide a measure of how little respect the Latin American tyrants have for the U.S. President. In his weekly television program, Señor Chavez joked that ‘comrade Obama’s nationalization of General Motors’ placed him to the left of both Fidel Castro and himself. Obviously, these dictators look at Mr. Obama’s domestic economic policies as a sign to Latin American governments that U.S. owned properties can be confiscated without fear of U.S. government backlash.
A few voices in Congress have been warning the Administration about the danger of taking a weak stand on Latin policy, especially as it pertains to Cuba and Venezuela. Florida’s Senator Mel Martinez has been a consistent voice for taking a firm and unequivocal stand on behalf of democracy and human rights. On May 20th, on the occasion of the 107th anniversary of Cuba’s independence, he was a lone voice in Congress speaking up for the restoration of democracy in Cuba. Yesterday, on the occasion of the OAS actions to pave the way for readmission of Cuba to that body, he issued the following statement:
 

“The fact that the OAS backed away from Cuba’s suspension is deplorable; nothing has changed in Cuba in the areas of human rights and democracy and in fact, conditions have only worsened.
“The Cuban regime has given no sign that it wants to be reincorporated; nothing has changed in the regime’s behavior to merit readmission including its continued adherence to Marxism and Leninism.
“I look forward to hearing from the Obama Administration on how they will ensure the OAS upholds its fundamental principles in relation to Cuba.”
 

Also yesterday, joined by Senators Bill Nelson, Joe Lieberman and Bob Menendez, he sent a letter to President Obama requesting that the United States do not allow our telecommunication companies to enter into any agreement with Cuba that allows the Castro dictatorship to censor content or monitor users. A copy of the letter appears below. The President would be well advised to take a firm stance to protect American interests in the region, instead of giving the impression that, under his leadership, the country has become, in the words of Mao Zedong, a paper tiger.

Letter to Obama Re Cuba Telecommunications Links

 (Above right: Sen. Mel Martinez official photo)