A Greek bearing gifts... look who's supporting a change in US policy

Reuters reports today:

"The White House should expand licensed travel for all Americans to Cuba and increase support for civil society on the communist-ruled island, according to an open letter to President Barack Obama that was signed by an unprecedented group of 44 former top U.S. government officials and advocates of policy reform and released on Monday.
"The letter, which lists a series of policy recommendations, was signed by John Negroponte, the former Director of National Intelligence under president George W Bush...."

This is most interesting. For those who don't know him, the British born John Dimitri Negroponte (of Greek descent) was a cold warrior extraordinaire  (see: JOHN NEGROPONTE & THE DEATH-SQUAD CONNECTION) who has been accused, among other nefarious acts, of being a terrorist for the CIA. An avowed anti-communist, Negroponte is on record (see video below) as saying he thinks democracy in Latin America is a threat to US interests.  He would hitherto have been the last person you'd expect to want to see a change in US policy towards Cuba.

 

It will be interesting to see the Cubans' reaction, Raúl Castro was schooled in the classics and knows full well the adage about Greeks bearing gifts...

A full text of the open letter to Obama is available at this website.

Even more interesting is the fact that among the signatories are no fewer than 15 extremely rich Cuban-American businessmen and community leaders. With these people calling for change in Cuba policy there is really nothing stopping Obama now.

Scientific diplomacy across the Florida Straits

A female Aedes aegypti mosquito acquiring a blood meal from a human host. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is one of two types  that can carry the chikungunya virus

U.S. and Cuban scientists engaged in "science diplomacy" recently when they signed an agreement that furthers scientific and medical cooperation, accolrding to thbis post in the People's World.
The deal was made after a delegation from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) visited Havana for a three-day tour hosted by the Cuban Academy of Sciences and other institutions. Although Cuba is a logical partner for the United States to collaborate with on medical research and development, the  U.S. embargo severely limits trade, travel and exchanges.
"This trip was a wonderful opportunity to reinvigorate the long-standing friendship between U.S. and Cuban scientists and to form a specific plan of action," biologist Gerald Fink said. Fink is current President of AAAS, the largest organization of scientists in the United States. The plan of action covers four areas in the life sciences: emerging infectious diseases, brain disorders, cancer and antimicrobial drug resistance.
An article in Science April 24, 2014, published by AAAS, reports, "The country has committed a large amount of its resources to its scientific, medical and public health systems, including a hardy biotechnology industry that exports a number of vaccines, antibody based drugs, and other medical technologies." (The magazine does not add that the U.S. blockade prevents people in the United States from benefitting from Cuban medical exports.)
Science also reports that life expectancy in Cuba is as high as in the United States. A large ageing population gives rise to many common interests in fighting cancer and diseases of older people. Both countries are also at risk for mosquito-carried viruses such as dengue and chikungunya. To date, there is no vaccine for either disease.
Neither Cuba nor the U.S. has ever had a known case of chikungunya. But it is spreading across Caribbean Islands and both countries are concerned. In December it was spreading In Saint Martin by mosquitoes infected with the disease. That is just the kind of issue where international cooperation among scientists can save lives and turn back the disease. However, scientists from both Cuba and the U.S. noted that U.S. scientists were still limited in their travel to Cuba.
To read more about the AAAS trip and a fascinating history of Cuban science and medicine go to "Science diplomacy visit to Cuba produces historic agreement" at aaas.org.