How to score $$$$ of US taxpayer money in Cuba

The US is giving away more than US$3.5 million to groups and individuals that would “expand Cuban civic participation and leadership in social relationships and independent civil society groups with a view to supporting the ability of Cuban citizens to freely determine their own future.” How nice. In other words, anyone who opposes Castro and the Communist Party. Pity that US citizens cannot be granted the same type of money for similar activities.

The US Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor does have a few vague stipulations. Cuban aid recipients should be “local groups; cooperatives; associations; informal groups; NGOs; student groups; and media outlets” that do not support a “member, affiliate, or representative of a designated terrorist organization, whether or not elected members of government.” Oh dear, I saw that dreaded term in the middle - NGOs. In the West, an NGO is precisely that - a non-governmental organisation. In emerging and developing countries, especially ones going through democratisation, an NGO is usually a Western-funded slush fund fronted by those working solely for the benefit of their Western patron's interests. 'NGOs' were the main tool used in the Western-funded, fake, colour revolutions of Eastern Europe (Serbia 2000, Georgia 2003, Ukraine 2004, Kyrgyzstan 2005). Basically, most NGOs are usually not trusted in these countries, especially when NGO heads and their children are often seen driving around in fancy Jeeps.

In Cuba's case, the breakdown of the US$3.5 million goes like this: The sum of $500,000 will be distributed to family members of Cuban political prisoners. Using dissident Elizardo Sanchez’ own figures, there will be about 100 political prisoners in Cuba once the releases that are currently underway are completed. That calculates to about $5,000 per dissident in a country where a decent yearly wage is around $300. It surely does pay to be a 'dissident' in Cuba then. And now it also can mean a quick and all-expenses paid getaway to Spain as well.

The US government will also be scouting talent and doling out a whopping $1,500,000 to their preferred performing artists, visual artists, musicians, poets, writers, journalists, and bloggers who apparently charge to freely express themselves. The US knows that entertainers and celebrities are the real money when it comes to 'capturing the hearts and minds'.

Another $500,000 will be awarded to religious groups to foster freedom of religion. Never mind the fact that religions of all shades are already freely practiced on the island. An additional $500,000 is also tagged for “independent” labor unions, obviously excluding the already existing unions. Visions of Polish Solidarity come to mind.

Women rate second to last with only $350,000 earmarked for supporting “on-island efforts to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of women.” One wonders, does an equivalent grant for Las Vegas exist? Anyway, it would be nice if that money were to be granted to the organizations currently working on this issue in Cuba, e.g. CENESEX and the Cuban Women’s Federation, but that’s doubtful.

Lastly Santa Sam will give $300,000 to “groups and individual Cubans who request small grants for independent civil society initiatives that are Cuban-conceived and Cuban-led.” Can’t get any vaguer than that! A lot of small grants can be carved out of $300,000 and being on the US payroll is one of the best paying jobs around. Too right!

The report goes on to say: As a US taxpayer and thus contributor to this program, I would at least like some accountability. But to my dismay, when I tried to get information on last year’s award winners (yes this has been going on for years), the grants manager informed me that they do not “make the names of the organizations or the amounts they were awarded a matter of public record” because “information about the programs would jeopardize the grantees’ ability to operate safely on the island,” and to “minimize the risk that their Cuban partners on the island would be targeted for harassment or reprisal from the Cuban government.”

So, while the US government cannot see fit to extend unemployment benefits to its own struggling citizens, it is clandestinely paying Cubans to work against their own government — thus turning those accepting the money into what we in the US call “unregistered agents of a foreign government”.

But that’s OK, because when the recipients get arrested sometime down the line, the US will have new political prisoners to replace those being released nowadays with which to attack Cuba in the international public opinion arena. It’s a win-win situation!

So when they show images of the 'brave dissidents' and their families, just remember that their motivation is not so much for their often vague ideals of a better Cuba but because being a 'dissident' is a very profitable profession.

Thank you Gary for alerting me of this.