Desperation Is No Substitute For Shame

In their desperate zeal to unconditionally eliminate provisions in U.S. law that condition trade and tourism with the Castro regime to the respect for human rights and democratic reforms, U.S.-based opponents of sanctions policy have hit a new low.

Since their policy arguments haven't swayed the U.S. Congress, they've opted to unscrupulously add the names of various courageous Cuban dissidents to a letter espousing their views on U.S. policy.

Let's be totally clear, this letter was not based on the volition of Cuban dissidents -- its timing, legislative insight and political specificity make that glaringly obvious. This letter was the initiative of U.S.-based organizations, the Cuba Study Group and the so-called Center for Democracy in the Americas, which lobby against sanctions.

But what's most reprehensible about this letter are growing indications that many of the dissidents that were signed-on have been misled as to its content, purpose and intent. Some have even confirmed that they've never heard of, let alone signed, such a letter. That's scandalous.

Surely, there are pro-democracy activists in Cuba that oppose U.S. policy -- and that is positive, for diversity of opinion is the basis of a future democracy -- but for every dissident that opposes U.S. policy, there is at least another that supports it.

Do they now want a competing letter from dissidents supporting U.S. policy (opposing the H.R. 4645)? Is that what they're trying to extract?

Unfortunately, that would be doing the Castro regime's bidding; for Cubans that express their support for U.S. sanctions automatically risk a 10-15 year prison term in Castro's gulag -- an indicative fact in itself.

So why would any well-intentioned person seek to further endanger these courageous advocates, which are already facing daunting challenges against Cuba's military dictatorship, by essentially entrapping them?

Must be the price of an ag profit.

Finally, for those wondering what tourism travel has to do with the Agriculture Committee, don't count on Chairman Peterson shedding any light.

Instead, in a foreign-policy focused press release, he opted to audaciously insult the Cuban-American community by stating:

"The statement of these pro-democracy, anti-Castro dissidents supporting H.R 4645 is a strong indication that people who oppose this bill are not speaking on behalf of the Cuban people, regardless of what they say."

So how many victims of Cuban repression does Chairman Peterson represent? None.

In contrast, the democratically-elected Members of the U.S. Congress (from both parties) that represent nearly 100% of the Cuban-American community -- those who represent the families and friends of the largest political prisoner population (per capita) in the world; those who represent 20% of Cuba's overall population, which lives in exile, and are the free voices of the Cuban people; those who represent the numerous victims of Castro's executions, tortures and multiple deprivations -- unanimously oppose Chairman Peterson's efforts to double the income of the brutal Castro regime.

Desperation is no substitute for shame.