Watergate Burglar: Talk is Cheap
Cuban exile Rolando Martinez, who served time in prison for his role in the Watergate burglary that eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the 1970s, showed up at an event Thursday sponsored by Directorio Democratico Cubano, a federally-funded non-profit that documents human rights abuses on the island. Martinez, an anti-Castro militant, is still a top official in the once feared militant group Movimiento de Recuperacion Revolucionaria. "I admire the people that work for Cuba’s freedom," he said. "Not the ones who talk. We’ve become great at talking about the problem in Cuba, but not doing anything about it." Martinez, who served 15 months in prison, was the only Watergate burglar to be later pardoned by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.
March 29, 2006 in Timbiriche Talk | Permalink | Comments (35)
Foundation to Bush: Lincoln's Words "Disturbing."
The Cuban American National Foundation published an open letter to president Bush today, signed by Chairman Jorge Mas Santos: "Mr. President, nothing has changed since the signing of the Helms Burton Law in 1996 to make us consider either one of the Castro brothers capable of guiding or participating in a transition effort toward democracy in Cuba, in fact, every one of their actions and statements, before and after the enactment of Helms-Burton, demonstrates a complete disdain for democratic change. In our opinion, it is naive to suggest that either one are interested in true democratic change even if they were to temporarily submit to the three conditions attributed to Congressman [Lincoln] Diaz-Balart. If the Castro brothers are serious about contributing to a peaceful transition, let them retire to a safe haven outside Cuba after submitting to a transitional government comprised of a wide spectrum of the Cuban population. Otherwise, the only exchange with the Castro brothers CANF would consider meaningful would be one before a court of law during the course of their prosecution for crimes against humanity, including the long awaited prosecution for the Brothers to the Rescue murders, as urged by Congress under Section 116, (b) (3) of the Helms-Burton law. We do not consider it beneficial to alter or suggest altering Helms-Burton now or at any time in the future since the law in its current form provides for its own demise once a democratically elected government is inaugurated in Cuba. In addition, it is our view that talks with the Castro brothers or any other party to undermine the Helms-Burton law is inimical to what needs to be done to fulfill the promise of a free Cuba. Mr. President, on behalf of the men and women of the Cuban American National Foundation and that of the overwhelming majority of Cuban Americans, I urge you to keep close watch of these disturbing developments and take all necessary steps to prevent them."
March 28, 2006 in U.S. Cuba Politics | Permalink | Comments (3)
Models of Anti-Castro Youth
Young, smart and political, Diane Cabrera, 22, and Veronica Nur Valdes, 21, may have been born in the U.S., but they refuse to turn a blind eye to Cuba. They talk big about the island and what they can do to help the situation. "We’ve woken up to our role in the history of Cuba," said Valdes. "There’s an injustice being committed in Cuba and we’ll do anything no matter how big or small to stop it." Cabrera adds: "We’re fighting for what’s right, to bring out the truth." Both work for Directorio Democratico Cubano, a federally-funded non-profit that documents human rights abuses on the island. They also belong to the anti-Castro youth group Raices de Esperanza. Cabrera, a Georgetown U. grad, has law-school ambitions. Are politics on her horizon? Valdes is an FIU student. Photo: Cabrera, left, Valdes, right.
March 28, 2006 in Generation X-ile | Permalink | Comments (17)
Farrakhan: U.S. Embargo of Cuba is "Wicked"
The AP's Anita Snow reports: HAVANA -- (AP) -- Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan called the U.S. embargo against Cuba "wicked'' and said Monday that American officials could learn much by studying the communist country's disaster preparedness plans...‘‘Our government, with its enormous power (uses) its wicked blockade to punish the Cuban people for daring to believe differently ... in hopes that they would rise up against their own leaders," said Farrakhan.
Any comments out there on Farrakhan's take?
March 27, 2006 in Timbiriche Talk | Permalink | Comments (9)
FIU Prez: I Harbor No Info. Cuban Gov. Could Use
Florida International University President Modesto "Mitch'' Maidique says he's stumped by an FBI report that maintains two members of FIU's staff were spying on him and reporting the details to the Cuban government.
Maidique told The Miami Herald that he doesn't have any information that could be of value to the Cuban government.
FIU professor Carlos M. Alvarez and his wife, Elsa, an FIU counselor are both accused of being agents for Cuba for more than two decades.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Maidique said Tuesday.
An FBI affidavit said the Alvarezes gathered information about Maidique -- including a visit he made to the White House -- and provided it to Cuban intelligence handlers.
"Both Carlos and Elsa Alvarez reported on prominent university-level academics in South Florida," the affidavit said. "These targets included colleagues of the Alvarezes at FIU, and included Modesto Maidique. . . . This information has been verified by data taken from the home computer of the Alvarezes, which shows them reporting on the activities of President Maidique, including an invitation he received to attend a function at the White House."
Maidique has said very little publicly about the Alvarez case, referring questions from reporters mostly to written statements and university spokespeople. But on Tuesday, he played down the FBI's contention that he was being spied upon.
"There's nothing that I know that I believe would be of particular value to the Cuban government," Maidique said. ‘‘That's why the whole thing is so enigmatic to me."
Maidique answered a reporter's questions about the Alvarez case following a meeting with The Miami Herald's editorial board in which he focused on FIU's ambitions for a new medical school.
Maidique acknowledged that the Alvarezes were friends of his, but said they never probed him on politically sensitive issues.
"I don't remember them every questioning me on anything political, the White House, Cuba -- it was just not part of our relationship," Maidique said. "I'm not saying it didn't come up. I just don't recall it."
He added that FIU, by nature of its public status, harbors few sensitive secrets.
"I run an academic institution, which by definition is absolutely open," Maidique said. "There [are] virtually no secrets. Everything is done in the sunshine."
March 27, 2006 in Spy vs. Sly | Permalink | Comments (6)
Traveling on a Budget
This is Ken Lundberg, press secretary for U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez. Lundberg was in Miami last week for business, not that he didn't appreciate fleeing the DC winter for a few days. He's a low-maintenance kind of guy. He didn't stay at a Beach Hotel, opting instead for a budget hotel inland, he said. Oh, the sacrifices of government service! Lundberg says Martinez's top three priorities are offshore drilling, immigration and bringing more attention to Latin America. Does that mean Cuba too?
March 27, 2006 in Timbiriche Talk | Permalink | Comments (1)
Relative of Repatriated Migrants Will Buck Republican Party
Mercedes and Aracelys Hernandez pose at the historic monument at Cuban Memorial Boulevard Tuesday. Mercedes, 42, and Aracelys, 31, are awaiting word on whether their niece, Elisabet Hernandez, will be allowed to leave Cuba to come to the United States. Elisabet was among the 15 Cubans the Coast Guard repatriated after they were found on an old bridge in the Florida Keys in January. A judge’s ruling has since found that they should not have been taken back to Cuba because the bridge is U.S. territory. Taking a political stance, Mercedes said she plans to switch her party registration from Republican to Democrat because, as she puts it, “the only people that have recognized us and seen us are the ones we went to see in Washington March 8.” Hernandez and Ramon Saul Sanchez met with Democrats Bob Menendez and Bill Nelson, Sanchez said. The U.S. government has helped the Cubans get visas to come to the United States. Sanchez didn’t want to touch the politics of it. “My position is that this is not a partisan issue, but a humane one.” Photo: sisters Mercedes and Aracelys Hernandez
March 26, 2006 in The 90-Mile Moat | Permalink | Comments (22)
TV Exec: Trial and Error in Miami Market has Worked
Omar Romay quietly entered Miami’s tumultuous media scene a few years ago as owner of Channel 41, America TeVe. Today, he says he’s enjoying some of the fruits of the station’s success. Photographed here at Diego’s Restaurant in Coral Gables, Romay, an Argentine, said the secret to his station's success is “trial and error…We are going through good times now.” Among the station's popular shows is A Mano Limpia, hosted by Oscar Haza.
March 25, 2006 in Cultured and Groomed | Permalink | Comments (1)
Granma: "Dirty Game Against Cuba"
Granma, Cuba's Communist Party daily paper, writes today: "El Nuevo Herald published an insidious article titled "U.S. and Cuba clash over World Classic earnings," which, citing a so-called spokesman for baseball’s Major Leagues, attempts to ignore Cuba’s decision to donate to the victims of Hurricane Katrina earnings that legitimately should go to our country for having won second place in the tournament, which would not be handed over to Cuba by virtue of the criminal and shameful laws of the blockade."
http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/secciones/ingles/noticias/art35.html
March 24, 2006 in The Communist Spin | Permalink | Comments (2)

