Breaking Trump’s Cuba Siege | David Adler | TMR
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The US policy towards Cuba is a 'siege' comprising a 60-year blockade, the 'State Sponsor of Terrorism' (SSOT) designation, and aggressive secondary sanctions.
- ❖This policy is largely driven by the far-right Cuban diaspora in Florida, influencing both Republican and Democratic administrations.
- ❖The SSOT designation, reinstated by Trump and not removed by Biden, severely restricts Cuba's participation in the international financial system.
- ❖Secondary sanctions criminalize third-party nations (e.g., Mexico) from trading or providing fuel to Cuba, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
- ❖The US public overwhelmingly opposes these policies, yet political leadership fails to challenge them.
- ❖The 'Nuestra America flotilla' aims to deliver humanitarian aid and challenge the siege through popular diplomacy and direct action.
Insights
1Multi-Layered US Siege on Cuba
The US policy towards Cuba is not merely an embargo but a complex 'siege' with multiple layers. This includes a 60-year blockade preventing both US companies and third-party countries from trading with Cuba, and the 'State Sponsor of Terrorism' (SSOT) designation. The SSOT listing, particularly when reinstated by Trump and not reversed by Biden, bars Cuba from accessing international financial systems, developmental aid, and even basic wire transfer services like PayPal. These policies are designed to inflame hunger and desperation, aiming for social uprising.
Adler details the 'original blockade' () preventing trade with US and third-party companies, citing Obama's sanctioning of BNP Paribas (). He then explains the 'state sponsor of terrorism list' () and its financial strangulation effects ().
2Policy Driven by Far-Right Diaspora, Not Strategic Objective
The aggressive US policy towards Cuba, particularly the escalation under Trump and Biden's inaction, is primarily a 'gift' to the far-right Cuban diaspora in Florida, represented by figures like Marco Rubio. This policy lacks a discernable foreign policy objective beyond historical 'humiliations' and anti-communism, contrasting with resource-driven interventions in places like Venezuela. The guest argues it's a 'parasitic' influence on US democracy, overriding public opinion which is largely against intervention.
The host states there's 'no discernable foreign policy objective except as a gift to the farright Cuban diaspora' (). Adler elaborates that Trump 'gave away the game' by referring to 'the people that are here' (), meaning the far-right diaspora (). He later calls this community 'parasitic' ().
3Secondary Sanctions as a Tool of Global Control
The US leverages its hegemonic control over international financial and trade systems through 'secondary sanctions.' This means any third nation choosing to engage in trade with Cuba, such as providing fuel, faces massive tariffs or punitive measures from the US. This effectively criminalizes solidarity efforts from other countries, dictating terms of engagement with Cuba under an updated 'Monroe Doctrine' and extending the siege beyond direct US-Cuba relations.
Adler explains 'secondary sanctions' (), stating the US 'will initiate massive tariffs against that country' () if they trade fuel with Cuba, citing Mexico as an example (). He notes this is 'about the US dictating the terms' ().
4Humanitarian Crisis and War Crime Allegation
The cumulative effect of these policies is a rapid collapse of critical infrastructure, leading to severe humanitarian consequences including lack of electricity, inability to store blood or medicine, and widespread suffering. The guest explicitly labels this as a 'historic war crime' that will not be forgotten, drawing parallels to the siege tactics seen in Gaza.
Adler describes the 'rapid collapse of critical infrastructure' () affecting homes, hospitals, schools, and basic medicines (). He concludes that 'what we're doing right now is a historic uh uh war crime' ().
Bottom Line
The US maintains an active military occupation of Cuban territory at Guantanamo Bay, which is not merely a detention camp but potentially a forward-based operation facility, complicating the narrative of Cuba as a fully sovereign nation under siege.
This challenges the perception of Cuba's sovereignty and suggests a more direct US presence and potential for intervention than commonly acknowledged, adding another layer to the 'siege' beyond economic measures.
Investigate the current operational status and activities at Guantanamo Bay beyond its prison function, and its strategic role in US policy towards the Caribbean and Latin America.
The US public is overwhelmingly against interventionist policies in Cuba, yet these policies persist due to the disproportionate influence of a specific, well-organized domestic lobby (the far-right Cuban diaspora).
This highlights a significant democratic deficit where public opinion is overridden by special interest groups, leading to policies that are both unpopular and detrimental. It suggests that the 'tail wags the dog' in US foreign policy decisions concerning Cuba.
Progressive political movements and advocacy groups can leverage this public sentiment to build broad-based opposition to current Cuba policy and pressure elected officials, particularly Democrats, to align policy with voter preferences.
Key Concepts
Economic Siege Warfare
The deliberate use of economic and financial tools (blockades, sanctions, financial isolation) by a powerful nation to cripple another country's economy, aiming to incite social unrest and regime change, akin to a military siege but without direct armed conflict.
Tail Wagging the Dog
A situation where a small, influential group (the far-right Cuban diaspora) disproportionately dictates the policy of a larger entity (the US government), even when that policy contradicts broader national interests or public opinion.
Lessons
- Organize your community to gather critical humanitarian aid for Cuba, utilizing published FAQs on what is most needed.
- Plan a delegation trip to Cuba to deliver aid, engage with people on the ground, and witness the reality of the siege firsthand, as this is legal under OFAC licenses.
- Pressure elected representatives to end the siege, remove Cuba from the SSOT list, and restore diplomatic relations, advocating for a policy based on sovereign equality and mutual benefit.
Organizing the Nuestra America Flotilla for Cuba
Convene people to join the mission, either through sea-based routes or by sending humanitarian aid via land (loaded onto cargo ships) or existing flights through Mexico or Colombia.
Consult the Progressive International website for an FAQ detailing the most needed humanitarian aid items in Cuba.
Plan a legal delegation trip to Cuba, staying with families or engaging with locals to understand their reality and directly deliver aid, thereby breaking the siege both literally and politically.
Notable Moments
Guest David Adler recounts his harsh treatment as a Jewish American in Israeli detention during a Gaza aid flotilla, drawing parallels to the humanitarian crisis in Cuba.
This personal experience grounds the discussion in direct action and highlights the guest's credibility and commitment to challenging sieges, setting the stage for the Cuba discussion.
The host and guest critique Trump's claim of 'talking to Cuba' and his assertion that an invasion 'wouldn't be a very tough operation,' contrasting it with historical US failures.
This exchange exposes the perceived arrogance and misinformation surrounding US policy, underscoring the guest's argument that the policy is based on revenge and humiliation rather than realistic strategy.
Adler highlights that 98% of the global community at the United Nations condemns the US blockade of Cuba annually, including traditional US allies.
This statistic powerfully demonstrates the international isolation of the US position on Cuba, framing the policy as a violation of international law and a dangerous precedent for global stability.
Quotes
"This is not an embargo. This is a siege and it's a revenge. They're starving people in this country right now over uh decades old humiliations to the United States intelligence and and and power and uh and and capital here in this country."
"Calling this an embargo seems to be a criminal understatement of the siege that we are now laying against Cuba."
"We're going to make you poor. We're going to kill babies. We're going to kill mothers. We're going to kill grandmothers and grandfathers um in order to secure their freedom. And that white Orwellian logic is the dominant one."
"The US public is overwhelmingly against these policies and it's high time that we kick the tail that's whacking the dog, so to speak, and say we're not going to have these psychopathic Flidians control our US foreign policy."
Q&A
Recent Questions
Related Episodes
Robby Soave GOES OFF On ANNOYING Liberal Black Woman Making Emotional Trump Deranged Arguments!
"The host dissects a heated foreign policy debate, arguing that 'left-wing' emotionalism and 'Trump derangement' prevent a rational understanding of US sanction strategies against Cuba and Iran."
Richard D. Wolff & Michael Hudson: Oil Wars Without War: Sanctions, Seizures, and Control
"Michael Hudson and Richard Wolff dissect how the US's 'rules-based order' leverages oil control, financial coercion, and suppression of green energy to maintain global hegemony, framing these actions as a desperate, irrational phase of capitalism leading to international instability."
Trump Vows to “Indefinitely” Control Venezuela’s Oil
"The US seized Venezuelan oil tankers and allegedly abducted President Maduro, with President Trump declaring indefinite control over Venezuela's oil sales, sparking debate over international law and internal Venezuelan dynamics."
Trump LASHES OUT at MAGA, Republicans Predict HUGE DEFEAT
"Donald Trump's erratic foreign policy in Iran, his lashing out at MAGA critics, and a surprising shift in Democratic electoral performance are shaking up the political landscape, while Melania Trump makes a bizarre public denial about Jeffrey Epstein."