You know, there have been a couple of stories or so lately about Br'er Jimmeh's Excellent Adventure, but one thing (among more than a few) that has bugged me is the feeling that somehow all of his profound concerns about the embargo against Desi Arnaz's homeland could have been addressed earlier. Seem like Billy's Brother was at one time in a relatively important position and could have saved everyone a lot of grief had he done everything he's talking about now, then. But I guess that's being a little too simplistic. In any event, I thought a little primer on U.S.--Cuba relations during the Carter years would make some interesting reading. The "Informational Letter on Contemporary Cuban-American Relations," 26 April 1979 found over on the Cold War International History Project website sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars gives an interesting summation of the time from a perspective not normally heard in the debate, since it was a Top Secret document prepared by the ambassador of the USSR to Cuba, V.Vorotnikov. An excerpt:

[...] It was indicated further that Cuba did not oppose a peaceful political settlement to the problems of Zimbabwe and Namibia, but that it refused to bind itself in connection with its future policy in that region, considering that the racist regimes might undertake such provocations and aggressive actions against Angola as would "demand a response." At the same time it was emphasized that Cuba adhered to a constructive position and consistently therewith was in favor of a peaceful settlement to conflicts, including those arising among African countries. As an example, they pointed to the efforts previously undertaken by the Cubans to attain a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia, and the assistance rendered by them in support of an improvement in relations between Angola and Zaire.

In the course of meetings with official representatives of the Carter administration, Castro emphasized that the principal impediment to the normalization of relations was the economic blockade and the presence of the American base at Guantanamo. He stressed that Cuba regarded as highly immoral the policy of utilizing a blockade as an "instrument of pressure and imposition of demands." It was stated to the Americans that the problems of Africa and Puerto Rico were not related to the economic blockade and that Cuba would not conduct negotiations on those questions in exchange for its lifting. "Cuba," Castro emphasized, "is not China and is not Egypt. It has nothing in common with those countries which can be pressured or bought."

All the same, in the course of these contacts with the Cuban side an obvious degree of flexibility was demonstrated. A readiness was declared to include, in the general discussion of normalizing relations, as a condition to the lifting of the economic blockade, the issue of compensation for the nationalized property of Americans, claims for which were calculated at 1.8 billion dollars (considering interest at 6% for 18 years, that sum will almost double). The Americans were apprised that Cuba, in turn, has counterclaims for losses resulting from the economic blockade, and that only on this basis could negotiations on that theme be conducted. [...]

Looks to me like Rabbitstalker had his chance way back when--and Fidel was even more cute and cuddly then.

UPDATE: Possumblog may only have six readers, but they sure as heck are a fun bunch. Just received this from Mr. Larry Anderson:

Subject: Jimmeh

Doggone it Mr. Possumblog Person, you know dern well that Jimmeh was fully occupied destroyin' the American economy in 1979. I doubt that he had much time to worry about Cuba's.

Larry Anderson
Kudzu Acres, AL

Actually, I believe it was part of grand plan to replicate Cuban economic success on a much larger scale.

And, since we're beating a dead rabbit with a paddle, for everyone who mocks GWB's manglement of "nucular," please remember that James Earl Carter, Junior, who did graduate work in nuclear science at Union College in Schenectady, New York and worked with Admiral Hyman Rickover in the nuclear submarine program, managed to completely do away with the "ell," and gave the world "nukier." It was wonderful to watch his performance in the debate with Reagan, in which he recalled that lovely Amy's biggest concern was "nukier" weapons. Following is a snip from that debate from the Commission on Presidential Debates website (and yes, they went to the trouble of spelling "nuclear" as it is spelled, rather than the more comical spoken version I have rendered):

MR. CARTER: I think, to close out this discussion, it would be better to put into perspective what we're talking about. I had a discussion with my daughter, Amy, the other day, before I came here, to ask her what the most important issue was. She said she thought nukier weaponry - and the control of nukier arms. This is a formidable force. [...]

Yep, formidable.

posted by Terry at 11:56:00 AM