U.S. gov’t targets travel to Cuba

U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of South Florida announced on Oct. 10 the creation of a task force of federal agencies that will target violators of the U.S. blockade on Cuba, including travelers.

According to Acosta, “The purpose of these sanctions is to isolate the Castro regime economically and to deprive the Castro regime of the U.S. dollars it so desperately seeks.”

This is the latest step by the Bush administration to try and punish not only supporters of the Cuban Revolution that travel, but also those that desire to travel to Cuba as tourists. The newest provocation is merely one in a long line that include: a direct invasion of the island in 1961, support for terrorist attacks on the island, many attempts on the life of the beloved revolutionary Fidel Castro, a racist genocidal blockade that has been in effect for over forty years, and travel restrictions against U.S. citizens traveling to the country. U.S. imperialism has always sought the demise of the Cuban revolution, which is strong despite the efforts of the colossus 90 miles to its north.

The last two U.S. administrations have stepped up the U.S. ruling class assault on the revolutionary socialist country. The Cuban Five still languish in U.S. prisons on trumped up charges. The Bush administration in 2004 tightened travel restrictions even for Cuban Americans that want to visit family members—they can now only visit once every three years. And in 2004, a 500-page document was written by the State Department, under Colin Powell, outlining U.S. future policy to further undermine the Cuban Revolution.

Remittances have been severely restrained as well, with the U.S. deeming that only immediate relatives, mothers, fathers and children can receive money from relatives in the U.S., and curbing how much can be sent.

Recently, when President Fidel Castro became ill and required surgery, and so was obligated to relinquish his duties to Raul Castro, the Bush administration provoked the people of Cuba by issuing dangerous remarks.

The newly created task force will include the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Treasury Department and other agencies. Acosta says the task force is being established “with the aim of hastening the transition to democracy in Cuba.” Punishments can range from heavy fines to up to 10 years in prison.

There are many individuals that travel to Cuba, and getting licenses is increasingly more difficult.

Workers and the oppressed must see the blockade and attacks against Cuba revolution for what they are—U.S. imperialism’s attempt to destroy a great beacon of what’s possible for human societies.

Despite all the harsh measures and attacks, the Cuban revolution has survived and is now being strengthened. This scares the U.S. ruling class.

Cuba has a long history of support for national liberation movements, socialist countries, and anti-imperialist governments, most recently Venezuela, and its example is only 90 miles away from the southernmost tip of Florida.

It is an example of true democracy. When the U.S. talks about democracy, workers in the U.S. need only look at Iraq, or at New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina, for examples of U.S.-style democracy—for the rich owners and rulers of capitalist society.

Democracy in Cuba is democracy of the producers, the workers, where there is social security from cradle to the grave, free schooling from preschool through university, universal health care, housing for all, and virtually no unemployment. This is true democracy and this is what the U.S. capitalist class fears.