By Saul Landau and Nelson P. Valdés Since 1959 Cuba has played a significant world role, quite a feat for a nation of 5 million – 11 million now. Cubans have shown their values, commitment and solidarity in dealing with the aftermath of natural disasters around the world. Between 1960 and 2011, Cuba sent 45 [...]
By Saul Landau and Nelson P. Valdés In 2012, the White House will focus on the most important of international and national issues: the re-election of the President. US-Cuba policy will fall into “Next Year’s” box – or the year after that. The National Security staff reverts to its familiar positions on relations with that [...]
By Saul Landau “Oy,” sobs the old woman. “Oy! Oy!” “What’s the matter, grandma?” asks a man passing by. “Oy, I’m so thirsty!” He returns with a glass of water. She drinks it and says: “Oy!” “What’s the matter now?” “Oy, was I thirsty!” Watching the Republican presidential debates has turned me –into an [...]
“…they cannot forgive us that we are just so close to them, that we have made a Socialist revolution under the very nose of the United States!” - Fidel Castro, April 16, 1961 “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.” - English book of Common Prayer, 1662 [...]
By Saul Landau Frank Bardacke has written the comprehensive history of the United Farm Workers, a definitive biography of Cesar Chavez and a magnificent guide to the politics and sociology of the 1960s-80s. In the mid 1960s a nascent union of field workers transformed themselves into moral guideposts for middle class liberals as well as [...]
Danny Glover and Saul Landau 2:30 PM, departure time the most excruciating part of visiting Gerardo Hernandez. A prison guard announced: “Visiting hours are over.” Gerardo lined up against the wall with the other inmates. We stood with wives, children and mothers. Finally, the electronically controlled, heavy metal door opened. Gerardo held up a triumphant [...]
By Saul Landau and Nelson P. Valdes “Los niños nacen para ser felices.” — José Martí On November 19, 2011 NPR broadcast “Children Of Cuba Remember: Their Flight To America.” Reporter Greg Allen claimed the 1960-62 journey from Cuba to the United States of 14,000 plus Cuban children “was made possible because of a deal [...]
By Saul Landau In late November, NATO (heavily U.S.) forces whacked 24 Pakistani soldiers on the Afghan border. As of November 30, Pentagon and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton had not yet accepted blame; but they were “investigating” and “regretting.” However, the next day, Iranian demonstrators invaded and destroyed property at the British Embassy complex [...]
By Saul Landau In the early Spring 1982, I accompanied former US Senator Jim Abourezk (D-SD) to Libya. National Geographic had asked him to get Libyan permission to film several sites of Roman ruins. He met with officials I walked Tripoli’s streets. At a coffee shop near the hotel, a group of young men stopped [...]
By Saul Landau An advanced university degree can’t help you find a position –for a year or more. Yet, stocks, bonds, and derivative dealers, and those peddling hedge (evade, prevaricate, get around, beat around the bush) funds amass money (including tax dollars). Pious government officials and TV pundits assure you: the Wall Street establishment maintains [...]
