U.S. embassy in Havana, Cuba was reopened in 2015 as part of former President Obama’s détente with the Cuban regime.
The Cuban bloody oppressive regime has a very long history of harassing and subjecting to surveillance American diplomats in Havana. Cuban intelligent agents have frequently entered American diplomats’ homes and tampered with their computers, moved their books, and left feces. Often times, the electricity was cut off in their homes. Sometimes Cuban agents damaged their cars.
America tolerated these abuses for many years. The Castro brothers, who hated profoundly the United States, believed that they could continue to harass American diplomats forever with complete impunity.
Regime intelligence agents followed American diplomats as they drove in their cars. These agents would tailgate diplomats’ vehicles and make it impossible to change lanes. However, attacking American diplomats with covert sonic weapons with the intent to seriously damage their health is a grave matter and substantial escalation that needs a very strong response from the United States.
Once again these events show clearly the total failure of former President Obama’s Cuban policy of giving the bloody communist regime in Havana a series of unilateral concessions with no “Quid Pro Quo” or nothing in return. In fact, the brutal Cuban regime has increased the number of arbitrary arrests and beatings of peaceful opponents of the regime.
Ladies in White and other peaceful opponents of the Cuban tyranny are beaten up and arrested frequently in Cuba.
Cuba is a merciless totalitarian state and its military and secret police continue to assassinate, beat up, and arrest peaceful opponents and systematically suppress the Cuban people’s legitimate aspirations for freedom, self-determination, democracy, and prosperity. The Castro regime has an Occupation Army of several thousand soldiers led by Cuban generals in Venezuela to prop up the brutal Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship and its violent efforts to crush the Venezuelan people’s legitimate demands for freedom and democracy. Maduro follows orders from Cuban dictator Raúl Castro. Venezuela has virtually become a colony of Cuba.
Venezuela and Cuba are strong allies and both nations assist Islamic terrorist groups. There is a Hamas office in Havana. Cuba has always been a center of terrorism. Similar to Venezuela, the Cuban military participates in drug trafficking. On April 8, 1993, prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami drafted a proposed indictment charging the Cuban government of being a racketeering enterprise.
The Armed Forces Minister Raúl Castro was charged as the chief of a 10-year conspiracy of sending tons of Colombian cartel cocaine through Cuba to the United States. However, sadly this case was later dropped.
Cuba sends intelligence agents to America to commit fraud with Medicare, Medicaid, other government services, and private businesses. Tens of millions of dollars have been stolen by Cuban agents with complete impunity. The fates of the two communist regimes are interrelated. Venezuela and Cuba are a national security threat to the United States and both are close allies of North Korea, Iran, Syria, Russia, and China.
American and Canadian diplomats were attacked with sonar weapons in Havana
On August 9, 2017, the State Department revealed a new dispute between the America and Cuba when it said that American diplomats serving in Cuba were subjected to an “acoustic attack” in fall 2016 using a covert sonic weapon that left the Americans with severe hearing loss. Canada also reported mysterious illnesses among its diplomats in Havana. The United States embassy in Havana reopened in 2015 as part of former President Obama’s détente with the Cuban regime.
In the fall of 2016, a series of U.S. diplomats began suffering unexplained losses of hearing. After months of investigation, U.S. officials concluded that the diplomats had been attacked with an advanced sonic weapon that operated outside the range of audible sound and had been deployed either inside or outside their residences.
CNN reported that “the employees affected were not at the same place at the same time, but suffered a variety of physical symptoms since late 2016, which resembled concussions.” Along with investigating possible Cuban regime involvement, investigators are also exploring the possibility that the attack was carried out by a third country, such as Russia, operating without the Cuban regime’s knowledge. The Foreign Ministry of the regime stated that “Cuba has never, nor would it ever, allow that the Cuban territory be used for any action against accredited diplomatic agents or their families.”
On August 11, 2017, Frances Robles and Kirk Semple wrote an article titled “Health Attacks on U.S. Diplomats in Cuba Baffle Both Countries” which was published in the New York Times. The reporters explained that at least six American diplomats in Havana who were getting sick with headaches, dizziness and hearing loss were flown from Cuba to be treated at the University of Miami hospital in Miami. The illnesses may have been caused by some kind of sonic wave machine and the symptoms worsened with prolonged exposure.
Robles and Semple said that one of the diplomats had a more serious illness that involved a blood disorder. A University of Miami specialist went to Havana this month to examine others who work at the embassy because officials expect that more people were affected.
The reporters interviewed James Cason, who ran the United States Interests Section in Havana a decade ago. Carson stated the following regarding the Cuban intelligence agents: “They would come into your house and erase the pictures of your kids off your computer, or turn all the books around on your bookshelf, just to show you that you had no privacy. They never did anything physical to anybody. This sounds like a science experiment.”
Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said in the fall of 2016 American diplomats were attacked with a covert sonar weapons. U.S. diplomats began suffering unexplained losses of hearing.
Two Cuban diplomats were expelled from Washington, D.C. in May 2017, yet the news of their expulsion and the sickness of U.S. diplomats in the fall of 2016 were not revealed until August 2017. Why were these events not reported earlier?
On August 11, 2017, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said the illnesses were a result of “health attacks,” and added, “We’ve not been able to determine who’s to blame.”
Robles and Semple said that John Caulfield, who was chief of mission at the United States Interests Section in Havana from 2011 to 2014, stated it was “inconceivable” that a third government would have been able to act without the knowledge or cooperation of the Cubans. The Cuban government, he said, kept “such close tabs on us they would’ve immediately detected someone else.” Caulfield added, “My speculation is that it was a surveillance effort that went bad.”
The reporters pointed out that the State Department said many Americans cut their tours in Cuba short after falling ill in 2016. The Trump administration expelled two Cuban diplomats from Washington, D.C. because Cuba had failed in its obligation to keep American diplomats safe. The FBI is investigating these sonar attacks against American diplomats in Havana.
Ben Rhodes negotiated secretly with Cuban officials to recognize the regime diplomatically. He may have been involved in the illegal unmasking of President Trump campaign officials. Rhodes continuous to be an appeaser of the brutal Cuban regime!
When asked about the sonar attack against American diplomats in Havana, Rhodes said the following: “It just doesn’t strike me as something the Cuban government would do. They’ve been pragmatic about Trump.” Once again, these remarks showed Rhodes’ ignorance about the nature of the Castro totalitarian regime. The communist regime in the island has already caused immense damage to this nation and is very capable of inflicting even more damage driven by its enormous hatred of America.
What is America to do if the agents of the tyranny were involved in damaging the health of its diplomats?
On June 16, 2017, President Donald J. Trump announced his new Cuban policy to about 1,000 enthusiastic, mostly Cuban American supporters including this writer and many of his West Dade Trump Victory Office volunteers, at the Manuel Artime Theater in Little Havana, Miami, Florida. The president partially reversed Obama’s Cuban policy.
On the same day that the president spoke, Berta Soler, leader of the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco), wrote a letter to President Trump stating the following:
“Taking advantage of the lack of pressure from the United States, the Castro regime increased its repressive actions to levels not seen since the Black Spring of 2003 when 75 peaceful dissidents were sentenced to terms of imprisonment of up to 25 years. That was when our organization, the Damas de Blanco, was born to fight for the release of our husbands, fathers and sons imprisoned under miserable conditions far away from their families. Today, we continue to fight for all the political prisoners, more than a hundred, and for respect to the inalienable rights of the Cuban people.
But, we need your help Mr. President; we need your support. For more than half a century, our nation has suffered under a merciless totalitarian regime. We will continue to fight for our rights because we recognize it is our duty to free ourselves, but we can’t do it alone.
It is also the duty of the freedom loving peoples of the World. The United States must continue to be the first defender of those who lack rights and freedoms in the world. The free world must isolate and punish unrepentant dictatorships and send a strong message to the tyrants that they will no longer be allowed to commit their crimes with impunity.”
This photo shows the Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C. The Trump administration expelled two Cuban diplomats from Washington, D.C. in May 2017 because Cuba had failed in its obligation to keep American diplomats safe.
Possible actions by the United States recommended by this writer if the Cuban regime ordered the attacks against American diplomats
President Donald J. Trump has already ordered the expulsion of two Cuban diplomats from Washington, D.C. However, if the FBI investigation discovers that the Castro regime ordered such uncivilized, unprecedented, and brutal attacks against American diplomats, attacks that Cuban thugs are very capable of having done, then America must consider a range of responses. Below are some of the suggested action(s) by this writer that could be taken by America:
- Add Cuba to the list of terrorist nations.
President Donald J. Trump in his speech in Miami stated that the Cuba regime sent illegal weapons to North Korea and helps the regime in Venezuela to oppress its people. Cuba has a Hamas office in Havana and provides sanctuary to many American and foreign terrorists and murderers. The Cuban military and intelligence services assist Venezuela in providing financial support to Hezbollah, participate in drug trafficking, send uranium to Iran, and engage in subversion in Latin America.
2. Add Cuba to the list of nations involved in human trafficking.
The Department of State in a previous Trafficking in Persons Report regarding Cuba stated the following: “Cuba is principally a source country for children subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically commercial sexual exploitation within the country… The Government of Cuba does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so.”
Cuban medical doctors, dentists, nurses, engineers, sport trainers, musicians, and other professionals have stated that they are forced against their will to leave their families and sent to nations in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Cuba charges up to $5,000 per month for the “enslaved” medical professionals’ involuntary postings abroad. The Cuban doctors are paid $200 a month upon their return. The passports of the Cuban professionals are withheld while they perform their services. These doctors live in miserable conditions while they are also watched by members of the intelligence services. The Cuban regime receives tens of millions each year as a result of “enslaving” Cubans from many professions. Communist Cuba is one of the worst nations in the world involved in human trafficking.
3. Stop U.S. cruise lines and private yachts from visiting Cuba
Carnival, Holland American, and other cruise lines have announced that they will increase their current sailings and services to Cuba. Nearly 200,000 Americans are expected to sail from the United States to Cuba this year.
When these ships arrive at Cuban ports they will be forced to violate President Trump stated policy of prohibiting U.S. business dealings with companies tied to the Cuban military and intelligence services. The cruise lines will pay fees to the regime for using its piers and disembarkation facilities. Cruise lines are hiring and will continue to hire regime buses with intelligence agents as guides to take American tourists to military-owned restaurants, night clubs, bars, shops, and tourist sites such as Spanish fortresses.
There are no private companies in Cuba that have buses or large restaurants. The private restaurants known as “paladares” are too small to accommodate thousands of cruise liners tourists. American private yachts dock in military-own marinas, such as the Hemingway Marina in Havana harbor, and some participate in fishing tournaments with Fidel Castro’s sons.
American owners of private yachts pay fees and purchase food, supplies, and gasoline at these military-owned marinas. The increased American tourism brought by cruise liners and private yachts to Cuba will enrich the oppressive communist regime that has been the worst and longest-lasting unrepentant abuser of human and civil rights in the Western Hemisphere.
4. Work diplomatically with Western allied nations to condemn and impose economic sanctions on the rogue and illegitimate Cuban regime.
The United States and its allies imposed severe economic sanctions and commercial restrictions to South Africa during Apartheid. Sadly, instead of implementing economic sanctions to Cuba, Western nations have continued to conduct business as usual with the military dictatorship for many years. America and its allies must isolate and punish the unrepentant and oppressive Cuban dictatorship.
5. Impose economic sanctions and deny visas to high officials and high ranking military officers of the Cuban and Venezuelan regimes.
High ranking government and high military officers from both nations travel to the United States and invest in property with the stolen funds from their nations. Freezing the assets of these oppressors is an effective way to punish those who abuse, incarcerate, and assassinate their fellow citizens.
6. Limit the amount of remittances allowed to be sent to Cuba from the United States
Previous presidents have suspended temporarily or limited the amount of remittances sent by Cuban Americans in the United States to Cuba. This is another way the Cuban oppressive regime earns tens of thousands of dollars each day. Current policy allows unlimited remittances to the island. In 2016, over $3.5 billion were sent to Cuba by Cuban Americans who had relatives and friends in the island.
7. Break diplomatic relations with Cuba
President Dwight D. Eisenhower broke diplomatic relations with Cuba when Fidel Castro ordered the America embassy in Havana to drastically reduce the numbers of its employees. Attacking American diplomats with sonic wave weapons to harm their health is far more serious.
8. Implement regime change strategies in Cuba and Venezuela
By declaring a total economic embargo to the narco military regime in Venezuela and ceasing the purchase of oil or the sale of gasoline and other goods, Maduro’s dictatorial regime will collapse and freedom and democracy will be restored. If democracy were to be restored in Venezuela that nation would cease supplying free oil to communist Cuba. The Cuban regime could also collapse in a short time.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke at the Museum and Library of the Assault Brigade 2506 in Miami, Florida after he was endorsed as president. This writer had the honor of presenting Mr. Trump, along with the president of the Bay of Pigs Veteran Association Assault Brigade 2506 and another brigade member, with the Bay of Pigs insignia.
Behind Donald Trump are the brigade flag and the pictures of the heroes who died trying to free Cuba. During Donald Trump’s visit, he promised the Bay of Pigs veterans that he would make changes to the Cuban policy made by President Barack Obama and supported by Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
Conclusion
The FBI investigation must be conducted quickly to determine if the Castro regime is responsible for the attacks on American diplomats. If it is determined that the Cuban regime was involved, then the Trump administration will need to consider some or all of the recommendations outlined by this writer. America should not tolerate such an abuse to its diplomats.
Today in Cuba there is more repression, beatings of peaceful opponents, and arbitrary arrests than before the restoration of United States diplomatic relations with the communist regime and the many concessions given by President Obama. President Trump has severely criticized the enormous abuses of human and civil rights by the Castro regime.
Upholding the Helms- Burton Law is crucial. Restating the important parts of the Helms- Burton Law was necessary and President Trump did it in his speech in Miami. The president stated the following: “We will not lift sanctions on the Cuban regime until all political prisoners are free, freedoms of assembly and expression are respected, all political parties are legalized and free and internationally supervised elections are scheduled.”
Venezuela and Cuba are strong allies and both nations assist Islamic terrorist groups. There is a Hamas office in Havana. Cuba has always been a center of terrorism. Similar to Venezuela, the Cuban military participates in drug trafficking.
Cuba has an Occupation Army in Venezuela led by generals and assisted by its intelligence services. Venezuela sends financial help to Iran’s militia Hezbollah. Venezuela sends uranium to Iran, a close ally. The fates of their communist regimes are interrelated. Venezuela and Cuba are national security threats to the United States and both are close allies of Russia and China.
Cuban Raúl Castro and Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro are two bloody dictators who are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of their people and others around the world.
If such a courageous regime change policy were implemented successfully by President Donald Trump, he would go down in history as the Liberator of two savage and bloody communist regimes that have brought much suffering to their people and other nations throughout the world. This writer hopes and prays that President Donald J. Trump will Make the Americas Great and Save Again!
Frank de Varona is an educator, historian, journalist, and internationally known expert on politics, economics, foreign affairs, and national security issues. He was an Associate Professor in the Curriculum and Instruction Department, College of Education, at Florida International University (FIU) from 1997 to 2004. During his seven years at FIU, he taught many graduate and undergraduate courses and supervised social studies student teachers in secondary schools.
Mr. de Varona was born in Cuba. At the age of 17, he participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion in an effort to eradicate communism in Cuba. After the defeat, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison and served two years. When Mr. de Varona returned to the United States, he continued his education and received a Bachelor’s degree in political science and economics and a certificate in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida. He earned a Master’s degree in social studies at the University of Miami and a Specialist in Education degree in educational administration and supervision at the University of Florida. He completed additional graduate work at the University of Florida, FIU, and Boston University.
From April to August 1966 and during the summer of 1968 Mr. de Varona worked as an escort interpreter for the U.S. State Department. In this position, he traveled with Latin American professionals from many fields throughout the United States. One of the visitor participants, Jorge Sánchez Méndez, became Minister of Industry and Vice President of Costa Rica.
Mr. de Varona had a 36-year distinguished career in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) as a social studies teacher; intergroup relations specialist; assistant principal; coordinator of adult education; principal of an adult education center, middle school and senior high school; region director for personnel and labor relations; region superintendent; associate superintendent responsible for the Pre-K-12, adult and vocational curriculum, alternative, magnet, community schools, adult and vocational schools, public radio and television, and student services; and interim deputy superintendent of schools for federal programs, equal education opportunity, food service and transportation. Mr. de Varona retired from M-DCPS, the fourth largest school district in the United States, in March 2012. Upon his retirement, he continued his career as a journalist and writer.
Mr. de Varona has written 19 books and published many articles in magazines and books in the United States and Spain. Mr. de Varona has worked as a contributing writer and/or editorial consultant for over 18 different publishers. In this capacity, Mr. de Varona has reviewed over 70 world history, world geography, U.S. history, civics, government, economics, Spanish, language arts, and elementary textbooks as well as biographies. King Juan Carlos I of Spain awarded Mr. de Varona the Order of Isabel La Católica with the rank of Encomienda in 1994 for his many books and articles regarding the Hispanic contributions to the United States and his work to include these contributions in U.S. textbooks.
Frank de Varona has written several articles; biographies; summarized documents; has written curriculum for school districts and conducted workshops for teachers and school administrators in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach Counties and New York City Public Schools.
Mr. de Varona He has been a consultant in Spain, Dominican Republic, and Honduras as well as various school districts in the United States. As a journalist, Mr. de Varona has written many articles on political, economics, national security, foreign affairs, Hispanic presence and contributions to the United States, historical and educational issues. He has produced four television documentaries for Channel 17. He was producer, director, and interviewer for a one-hour weekly program in Channel 14 from 1990 to 1992. He had a radio program called Hispanic Contributions to the United States in La Poderosa Radio Station from 2007 to 2008. He has appeared on numerous local, national, international television, and radio programs. He has conducted workshops at various colleges and universities and at national conferences. He has been active in state, regional and national organizations, he has been appointed to various state commissions by governors. He served as vice president, secretary, and treasurer of the Governor´s Hispanic Affairs Commission, Governor´s Commission on a Free Cuba, and Florida International Education Commission.
U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander appointed Mr. de Varona to the U.S. Department of Education National Council on Educational Statistics Advisory Committee under the administration of George H.W. Bush. He was invited to the White House on three occasions during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Earlier, he had served on the Advisory Board of the U.S. Department of Educational Southeastern Educational Improvement Laboratory. The Florida Secretary of State appointed him to the Florida Historical Markers Commission, Florida Cuban Heritage Trail Commission, and the Florida Historical Preservation Board. He is an author contributor to Bear Witness Central.
Frank de Varona is the Bear Witness Central Director for Miami and South Florida.
