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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Feb. 6, 1997
issue of Workers World newspaper
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Editorial: Albright & Cuba

The Reuter headline Jan. 24 said: "Albright takes firm positions on China, Cuba." That was the key message of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's first news conference. Some have called her attacks on Cuba and China, allegedly over "human rights," the opening of a New Cold War.

Albright's statements on China were couched in slightly diplomatic language. But with a hard edge. The rhetoric is aimed at one goal: replace socialized property with capitalist privatization.

No diplomatic niceties were used in her remarks about Cuba. Socialist Cuba is a much smaller country. And it is only 90 miles from the United States. It is subject to the most severe abuse the U.S. government can dish out.

Albright made it clear there is no difference on Cuban policy between the Clinton administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. Jesse Helms and Madeleine Albright see eye-to-eye on this one.

Albright called Fidel Castro-a leader vastly more popular in his country than Bill Clinton is in this-a "dictator." While the secretary of state is usually expected to speak in diplomatic terms and to observe the formalities of international law, Albright openly called for the ouster of the Cuban government.

International law does not allow for a top official of one government to call for the removal of the government of another country, a fact well known by Albright. Such a statement can be considered an act of war.

Washington's anti-Cuba crusade is unpopular abroad as well as at home. The Helms-Burton law, which attempts to extend the U.S. trade blockade of Cuba to all non-U.S. companies, has led to open opposition and defiance, particularly by the imperialist allies in Europe as well as in Mexico and Canada.

Canada even boldly announced a 14-point trade agreement with Cuba Jan. 23, making Canada Cuba's largest trading partner.

The Canada-Cuba trade agreement is a welcome development for Cuba. And it will help in the struggle to overcome the U.S. blockade.

But it is only one step. And it certainly won't end all of Cuba's difficulties.

As Albright's opening shots indicated, the Clinton administration is determined to maintain the harsh blockade of Cuba. And it will continue to work at overthrowing the Cuban government. The threat of a U.S. military intervention remains as real today as ever.

Anyone who thought that Clinton would soften his policy after his election battle was wrong. If anything, the Clinton administration's policies have been moving rapidly to the right.

The danger for Cuba is real. But the Cuban people and their revolution are strong. And they have many supporters and defenders in the United States as well as around the world. That solidarity is the best defense against the U.S. government's continuing threats.

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