The Miami Machine: Cuban terrorists triumph in Election 2000, 12/13

Funding Dissidents: 2001

With the advent of the Bush presidency, the Cuban American right wing  feels it is owed a major payback given their pivotal roles in imposing the outcome of the election, from pre-election shenanigans to election day and post election muscle. Here we track what some of this payback might be.

The government's unusual concession, analysts say, is part of a much broader strategy to give Cubans more information about the outside world - and prepare them for a new onslaught from their powerful foes in the United States. Even before George W. Bush took office, Washington began stepping up efforts to force Fidel Castro from power.

... the U.S. Agency for International Development plans to give some $5 million this fiscal year to nonprofit anti-Castro groups, compared with $6.4 million for the entire period from 1996 to April 2000.The epic contest for the hearts and minds of 11 million Cubans is heating up once again, and Cuban-American exiles are in the thick of it...

Your tax dollars at work:

USAID/Cuba Program (Called "TRACK 2") January 2001

GOAL: Promote a Peaceful Transition to Democracy in Cuba OBJECTIVE: Increase the Free Flow of Accurate Information on Democracy and Human Rights To, From and Within Cuba (Build and finance a dissident /contra movement in Cuba )

PROGRAM ELEMENTS

A. BUILDING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA'S HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

• Freedom House: Transitions ($500,000 - completed) (Just financed Czechs in Cuba)
• Center for a Free Cuba ($1,450,000)
• The Institute for Democracy in Cuba ($1,000,000 - completed)
• Cuban Dissidence Task Group ($250,000 - completed)
• International Republican Institute ($1,175,000)
• Freedom House: Cuban Democracy Project ($825,000)
• Grupode Apoyo a la Disidencia ($400,000)

B. GIVING VOICE TO CUBA'S INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS

• Cuba Free Press ($280,000 - completed)
• Florida International University ($292,000)
• CubaNet ($343,000)

C. HELPING DEVELOP INDEPENDENT CUBAN NGOs

• Partners of the Americas ($172,000 - completed)
• Pan American Development Foundation ($237,000)
• ACDI- VOCA Independent Agricultural Cooperatives ($265,000)
• University of Miami: Developing Civil Society ($320,000)

D. DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF CUBAN WORKERS

• American Center for International Labor Solidarity ($168,575)
• National Policy Association ($225,000)

E. PROVIDING DIRECT OUTREACH TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE

• CubaOn-Line ($800,000)
• Sabre Foundation ($85,000 - completed)

F.PLANNING FOR TRANSITION

• Rutgers University: Planning for Change ($99,000)
• International Foundation for Election Systems ($136,000 - completed)
• U.S.- Cuba Business Council ($852,000)

G. EVALUATING PROGRAM IMPACT

• University of Florida: Measuring Public Opinion ($110,000 - completed)

A. BUILDING SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA'S HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

Freedom House: Transitions

Provided 40,000 Spanish language books, pamphlets and other materials( computers, money, fax machines, telephones, printing presses) to the Cuban people on issues such as human rights, transition to democracy and free market economics.

The Center for a Free Cuba

Gathers and disseminates information concerning the human rights situation in Cuba. Transmits the writings of Cuban human rights activists to non governmental organizations worldwide. Sponsors travel to Cuba by representatives of democratic societies.

Distributes pro-democracy literature on the island.

The Institute for Democracy in Cuba

Assisted democratic activists in Cuba and gathered and disseminated information from inside Cuba on human rights.

Provided humanitarian assistance (food and medicine) to political prisoners, their families, and other victims of oppression.

Cuban Dissidence Task Group

Published and disseminated worldwide the written analysis of Cuban democratic activists on the island. Provided humanitarian assistance (food and medicine) (money)to political prisoners, their families, and other victims of oppression.

International Republican Institute

Helps create and bolster international solidarity committees in Latin America and Europe in order to provide material, moral and ideological support for democratic activists in Cuba. (uses mercenaries in other countries to lobby/act against Cuba, and other influence peddling)

Freedom House: Cuban Democracy Project

Promotes the formation of civic and political leadership in Cuba by linking professional organizations in Cuba to one another and to those in free democracies in Europe, North America and elsewhere.

Grupo de Apoyo a la Disidencia

Provides humanitarian assistance to victims of repression in Cuba. Assistance includes non-financial material support (e.g., food and medicine) as well as informational material on transitions to democracy, human rights, and market economies.

B. GIVING VOICE TO CUBA'S INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS

Cuba Free Press

Publishes the work of professional and independent writers and journalists in Cuba.

Florida International University

The FIU International Media Center teaches Cuba's independent journalists professional journalism skills.

CubaNet

CubaNet is expanding its comprehensive on-line coverage of Cuba's independent journalists and other national and international press reports on Cuban human rights and economic issues.

C. HELPING DEVELOP INDEPENDENT CUBAN NGOs

Partners of the Americas

Helped establish professional and institutional linkages for emerging Cuban community grassroots and professional organizations and cooperatives with counterpart organizations around the world.

Pan American Development Foundation

Establishes linkages between Cuban NGOs and counterpart organizations operating elsewhere in the Americas to demonstrate how NGOs function within democratic societies to help conserve, manage and protect natural resources.

ACDI-VOCA Independent Agricultural Cooperatives

Works to strengthen Cuba's independent farmers by providing technical information and (non-cash) material assistance.

University of Miami: Developing Civil Society

Promotes the development of civil society in Cuba through a series of seminars for Cuban citizens on topics including: the role of the state in a democratic society, the role of independent non-governmental associations, and the roles of free enterprise, free press and independent mass communications.

D. DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF CUBAN WORKERS

American Center for International Labor Solidarity

Works with trade union movements worldwide to persuade foreign firms to respect the rights of Cuban workers in their operations inside Cuba. Will monitor the firms' performance and train leaders of emerging independent workers' associations.

National Policy Association

Grantee has formed an international private sector working group to encourage companies doing business in Cuba to respect the rights of Cuban workers and to promote democracy.

E. PROVIDING DIRECT OUTREACH TO THE CUBAN PEOPLE

Cuba On-Line

Transmits information on democracy, human rights and free market economics directly to the Cuban people through the international mail system and by electronic means.

Sabre Foundation

Established and operated program to donate new books and other informational materials to individuals in Cuba. Subject matter included market economics, business, political science, government, law, medicine, nursing and health care.

F. PLANNING FOR TRANSITION

Rutgers University: Planning for Change

Supports planning for future assistance to a Cuban transition government and, eventually, to a democratically elected government in Cuba. Transmits planning results to the Cuban people.

International Foundation for Election Systems

Analyzed assistance requirements for supporting transitional elections in Cuba. Without discussing or considering the possible timing of elections, the study established guidelines, costs, and options concerning international assistance requirements or local administration of comprehensive voter registration and conduct of free and fair presidential and congressional elections in Cuba. USAID will disseminate the findings to the Cuban people.

U.S-Cuba Business Council

Surveys U.S. private sector resources and plans to assist the eventual reconstruction of the Cuban economy. Conducts a conference series on Cuba's democratic free market future. Provides training and technical assistance to Cuba's independent entrepreneurs.

G. EVALUATING PROGRAM IMPACT

University of Florida: Measuring Public Opinion

Helped to monitor USAID program impact by estimating public opinion, knowledge and attitudes in Cuba through telephone interviews with recent Cuban migrants. (And others, as just this morning I received a call from these folks soliciting information about our level of involvement in supporting the suffering Cuban people.)