Cooder's Buena Vista Project Scuttled By Cuba Policy

[Jahfin]

From the Mountaintimes.com:
http://www.mountaintimes.com/mtweekly/2 ... ooder.php3

Cultural Exchanges Under Fire from Bush Administration

By Jeff Eason

Last Sunday CBS aired the 45th Annual Grammy Awards live from New York City. The televised portion of the awards ceremony lasted nearly four hours and included performances by many of the evening’s nominees.

None of these musical artists mentioned Ry Cooder.

Guitarist, singer and producer Ry Cooder won a Grammy five years ago for his groundbreaking album The Buena Vista Social Club recorded in Cuba with some of that country’s premiere musicians, many of whom were well into their eighties at the time. The album earned a Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Performance and sold over 8 million copies worldwide.

Cooder returned to Cuba last year and recorded another album in the Buena Vista series for Nonesuch Records, this one with guitarist Manuel Galban called Mambo Sinuendo. Cooder was allowed to return to Cuba and record Mambo Sinuendo thanks to an exemption from the travel ban between the two countries. The exemption was given to Cooder by President Clinton shortly before his departure from office. Cooder’s exemption was partly due to an appeal to the President by Representative Howard Berman (D-California), who stepped in on his behalf. Berman had previously written an amendment to United States law that would exempt cultural exchange from the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba.

Despite the exemption granted by Clinton and the State Department, the Bush Administration has decided to fine Cooder $100,000 for returning to the communist country. The fine was later reduced to $25,000 but has effectively halted Cooder’s ability to return to Cuba for further recordings. Cooder would also face imprisonment by the United States government if he returns to Cuba.

The sudden hard-line stance taken by the Bush Administration toward Cuba has taken some people by surprise. Because of free travel between Cuba and countries like Germany and Canada, many Americans believe that the embargo is being phased out by the U.S. government. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In July of last year Republican House of Representatives ranking member David Obey, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Treasury Paul O’Neill collaborated on a letter opposing any legislative attempts to ease U.S. sanctions against Cuba or change restrictions on travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens. The three also recommended that the President veto any legislation easing relations between the two North American neighbors.

“Our Cuban policy recognizes that a relationship of continuing hostility exists between the Government of Cuba and the United States,” stated Powell and O’Neill in a joint letter to Obey. “Cuba has long been listed by the State Department as a state-sponsor of terrorism.”

Oddly, despite claims that Cuba sponsors terrorist activities, the Administration has no problem imprisoning hundreds of accused of al-Queda and Taliban terrorists in Cuba. The prisoners are awaiting trial at the U.S. base in Guantanimo Bay in Cuba on land that the United States government rents from Cuba for $4,000 a year.

On May 20, 2002 George W. Bush laid out his “Initiative for a New Cuba,” basically telling the island nation that the economic embargo would continue as long as Fidel Castro is President.

Other political leaders including former President Jimmy Carter have taken a more progressive view toward Cuba and encourage dialogue between the two governments that would result in economic and cultural benefits for the peoples of both countries. On May 20, 2002, the same day that President Bush unveiled his plans for strengthening the embargo, Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, complimented Carter on his recent fact-finding mission to Cuba.

“He (Carter) rightfully called upon President Castro to respect the rights of Cuban citizens and to allow for an open dialogue among the various members of Cuban society,” stated Dodd. “He also called upon the United States to lift the embargo and allow Americans to travel freely to the island.

“President Carter’s visit has opened up opportunities which could lead to improved relations and a more political space inside Cuba. The operative word is could. Sadly, the Bush Administration has not sought to take advantage of President Carter’s visit.

“Bush has set forth a laundry list of actions that the Castro government take before the U.S. takes even one step toward modifying U.S. policies. By doing so he has guaranteed that the current political system in Cuba will remain the same—as it has for the last forty years that the U.S. has pursued this ill advised policy.”

In essence, don’t expect any more cultural exchanges between the United States and Cuba like Cooder’s recent recordings in the near future.