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Anti-government demos in Havana are not evidence that socialism doesn’t work – they’re caused by crippling US sanctions

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3 years ago

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Cuba’s 11m people aren’t suffering food shortages and poverty because of communism – but because its bully boy neighbour has spent 60 years seeking to destroy it and institute regime change.

There are widespread reports of anti-government protests in Cuba. Aggravated by Covid-19 and the country’s struggling economic situation, some people took to the streets calling for an end to the island’s communist regime. This has, unsurprisingly, provoked an outpouring of support from the western mainstream media and all the usual suspects in the US, not least from the foaming anti-communist Cuban diaspora in Miami, perfectly encapsulated by the likes of Marco Rubio, the Republican senator.

It would surprise few that in coverage of these protests, we’re seeing all the usual rhetoric, the stellar claim that the “people of Cuba want democracy and freedom” etc. Of course, the authorities in Havana have immediately blamed the United States and the CIA for fomenting the situation, and promoting a “colour revolution”.

In all fairness, we’re yet to see any evidence of that, but on the other hand one would be completely foolish in ignoring the long history of US political coercion and interference towards the island. Washington has had it in for the socialist state since the day it came into existence in 1959.

Those who detest the regime in Cuba point to its impoverished economic situation, of course, to justify their position, arguing the commonly held narrative that “socialism doesn’t work, that’s why they are poor.” But is this not more illustrative of a bigger and more obvious truth? That the United States is more responsible for the economic catastrophe in Cuba than the authorities within that country, through its brutal 60-year long embargo against it that has blocked trade and investment. Recently, the Trump administration purposefully tightened the noose with its opportunistic rendering of Havana as a “state sponsor of terrorism” – and Joe Biden has shown no interest in changing this policy.

Let’s consider a couple of questions: Why does the United States political class have it in for Cuba so much? Is Washington really motivated by benevolence and altruism and a desire to extinguish a brutal authoritarian state? Mike Pompeo once called Cuba a “threat to the world” on Twitter, but this is plainly ridiculous.

The real reason, which also ties into the ideological dynamic, is inherently geopolitical: it’s a Communist regime sitting on America’s doorstep. The US approach towards Cuba stems from a foreign policy logic known as the “Monroe Doctrine” – whereby the US sees it as a necessity, to uphold its own sense of security, to maintain complete political dominance in the western hemisphere at all costs.

In a nutshell, no regime or state which is different or diametrically opposed to US interests within the Americas is allowed to exist, or at the least, succeed. Since the 19th century this has translated into a set of foreign policy actions which have sought to crush, curtail or influence such countries at all costs.

This has been achieved through a variety of means, including outright invasion (Haiti, Panama, Grenada), military coups (Chile, Costa Rica), promulgation of civil war (El Salvador) or crushing sanctions (Venezuela) and since the Cuban revolution and rise of the Castros, Havana has been in the firing line.

Over the span of 60 years or so, the United States has pursued a number of brutal policies to try and end or curtail the regime. This has included a reported 634 assassination attempts against Fidel Castro by the CIA, the botched Bay of Bigs invasion in 1961, and the signature US trade embargo and other sanctions, which have been repeatedly condemned by international bodies. America’s obsession with all out-regime change in Cuba led the island to look for support from the Soviet Union, which led to the Cuban missile crisis of 1962.

The cold war is long over, but the US obsession with Cuba is not. While the Obama administration was pragmatic enough to end this legacy by normalizing relations with Havana, the Trump administration quickly reversed it, motivated by a mix of neo-Monroe hegemonic politics, neo-Conservative fanaticism and supporting the Miami anti-communist Cuban lobby.

It decided to tighten the sanctions noose, severely limiting assistance to the country, while the Treasury department restricted the passage of remittances back into the country (amounting to $3 billion per annum), forcing Western Union to close 407 outlets. In addition, the presidency limited trips to the country and restricted imports of a number of Cuban products.

The impact of Covid has left the country suffering deeply, adding to the weight of these sanctions, and triggering the unrest. While the western mainstream media narrative has focused on these, there have also been demonstrations in support of the revolution, but these have been ignored.

As a whole, Cuba isn’t a failure; it is a country that, despite being subjected to endless and overwhelming US pressure, has otherwise held itself up well. Rather than making misleading arguments about the “failure of socialism”, we have to look at the bigger picture of the bully boy superpower Cuba sits right next to, and its determination to undermine the island every step of the way.

 

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Erdogan election defeat would be ‘revenge’ – Syrian Kurds

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2 years ago

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May 23, 2023

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The YPG claims the Turkish president failing to win another term would be payback for Ankara’s counter-terrorism operations in Syria

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s defeat in this month’s presidential election would serve as “revenge” for Türkiye’s military operations in Syria, a top official of the People’s Defense Units (YPG) has said.

Salih Muslim, one of the leaders of the YPG — a Syrian militant group affiliated with the Turkish Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and designated by Ankara as a terrorist organization — said in an interview with Medya Haber Kurdish TV channel that his organization has grown frustrated with Türkiye’s counterterrorism operations ongoing in the northern part of Syria since 2016, Daily Sabah reported.

“Now, we have an opportunity in our hands,” Muslim said, stressing that the YPG is eager to see Erdogan unseated. “It’s the first time we have such a thing happening in elections.” He added that “If we can win at the ballot box, we will take all the revenge from [the defeat of] one person.”

Muslim’s statement comes as several members of the YPG and the PKK have openly expressed support for Erdogan’s main challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, as the two head into a runoff election on May 28. In the previous round, held on May 14, both candidates failed to secure an outright majority with Erdogan gaining just over 49.4% of the vote while Kilicdaroglu received 44.96%.

Kilicdaroglu has vowed to mend Ankara’s relations with NATO and revive Türkiye’s EU membership talks, which have been effectively stalled since 2016. He has also accused Russia of spreading “conspiracies” and “deep fakes” apparently referring to footage circulating online purportedly linking him to the PKK, and told Moscow to get its “hands off the Turkish state.” Russia has rejected the accusations.

Somalis cheer on Türkiye’s Erdogan to win re-election

Erdogan has repeatedly accused his rival of “colluding with terrorists” and threatening to undo Türkiye’s achievements in its war on terror. He has also blasted Kilicdaroglu for trying to “detach” the country from Russia.

Türkiye has been waging low-intensity warfare against Kurdish militias along its Syrian and Iraqi borders for four decades, in a back-and-forth campaign that has claimed the lives of over 40,000 people.

The PKK and its affiliates have been waging an insurgency since 1984 demanding political and cultural autonomy with the final goal of establishing an independent Kurdish State, laying claim to territories in southeast Türkiye and northern parts of Iraq and Syria.

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Chinese special envoy meets with Zelensky

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2 years ago

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May 19, 2023

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Li Hui visited Kiev to share Beijing’s views on a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has met with China’s newly appointed special envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, who traveled to Kiev to convey Beijing’s views on a diplomatic resolution to Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.

According to a statement published on Thursday by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Li held talks with Zelensky as well as the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, Andrey Yermak, Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, and representatives from several other ministries.

Beijing said both sides had agreed that the recent phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Zelensky had outlined the direction for future relations between their two nations, which it stated should be built on mutual respect and sincerity.

During his trip, Li reiterated that Beijing is willing to serve as a peace broker to help reach a political resolution to the conflict with Russia, based on the principles outlined in a 12-point roadmap published by China in late February.

“There is no panacea in resolving the crisis. All parties need to start from themselves, accumulate mutual trust, and create conditions for ending the war and engaging in peace talks,” Li said, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement.

The special envoy’s two-day trip to Ukraine is the first leg of a wider European tour, during which he is expected to visit Poland, France, Germany, and Russia. Beijing has explained that the trip aims to promote communication toward “a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.”

Hungary backs Chinese plan for Ukraine

China’s peace efforts have been welcomed by Russia as well as some European nations such as Hungary, and have been praised for acknowledging the national interests of both parties.

The roadmap, however, has been criticized by some in the West. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claimed that China lacked “credibility” as it has refused to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell insisted that “the only thing that can be called a peace plan is Zelensky’s proposal.”

The Ukrainian president has demanded that Russia must withdraw from territories that Kiev claims as its own, as well as pay war reparations and face an international tribunal. The Kremlin has dismissed the initiative, claiming it does not take into consideration “the realities on the ground,” including the new status of four former Ukrainian regions as part of Russia.

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Pakistan’s top court orders release of former PM Imran Khan

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2 years ago

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May 12, 2023

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Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered the release of former prime minister Imran Khan, whose arrest earlier this week triggered deadly protests across the country, Geo TV news channel has reported.

The court considered an appeal by Khan’s legal team on Thursday, ruling that the arrest of the opposition figure was illegal, according to the broadcaster.

The leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was detained on an order from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday as soon as he arrived at a lower court in connection with a graft case against him. He has been held at a police compound in the capital, Islamabad, since then.

Khan’s spokesperson told Al Jazeera that the 70-year-old was apprehended in court before he could even appear before the judges, which was “in violation of all laws.” The PTI party claimed that it was not an arrest, but “an abduction,” and called on its supporters to take the streets.

Pakistan deploys army after Imran Khan’s arrest

Pakistan has been gripped by violent protests for the last three days, with demonstrators clashing with security forces and setting government buildings on fire in major cities across the country. The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has deployed the military in an attempt to curb the unrest.

Some 2,500 of Khan’s supporters, including some top figures in his party, have been arrested so far. Local media have reported at least 11 protesters killed and hundreds of police officers wounded.

Numerous criminal cases have been launched against Khan since his removal from office after a no-confidence vote in April 2022. The PTI leader, who remains highly popular in the country, denies all accusations against him.

The politician claimed a year ago that he had been deposed as a result of a US-led “international conspiracy” and accused his opponents of receiving money from foreign forces.

Khan has been making active attempts to return to power since then, staging massive rallies across the country. The former premier survived an assassination attempt last November, escaping with a non-life-threatening leg wound after several bullets were fired at him.

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