As promised in LA GUAGUA: Four Questions on the Blockade we bring on board this journey digital comments from readers who answer the questions, in this case, the answer is from Clara Lida Machin to whom we will make specific observations, before transcribing literally her writing to which we made spelling arrangements, but that remain the original publication.
Don’t say what they said in ’60
We clarify that it was not a Cuban, much less a revolutionary, who said on April 6, 1960:
Most Cubans support Castro
That was a realistic conclusion of Lester D. Mallory, then Assistant Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, who from that fact, outlined the actions to be taken to overthrow the Cuban Revolution.
Since he was not mistaken in his assessment of the support for the Revolution, he put forward a more accurate philosophy to achieve through the economic, commercial and financial blockade what today they call «regime change», and which has undoubtedly caused more damage than the use of invasions such as those of Giron (Bay of Pigs), banditry or terrorist and sabotage actions.
Clara Lida Machin says:
say what the people say now in 2024 without repressing them, it would be a reality, the people do not want them but they are afraid,
With much respect to the criteria of the commentator, we also express to her that it is an offense to the Cuban people to say that they are afraid, since there are plenty of facts that demonstrate that throughout history they have been capable of feats such as burning a city before allowing it to fall into the hands of the enemy; facing an invasion such as that of Giron (Bay of Pigs) and defeating it in less than 72 hours despite knowing that it was organized, financed and armed by the government of the most powerful country in the world.
Therefore, Clara Lida Machin, if you are afraid, know that you are among the exceptions of the Cuban people.
Clara Lida Machin says:
Why are they afraid? We all know what would happen to a people ruled by a cruel dictatorship, and the press is an accomplice of that dictatorship.
The correct question would be: why do some people believe that these brave people are afraid? Or with what bad intentions do they say that the Cuban people are fearful?
Supposing this were a dictatorship that bombed a presidential palace with the president inside, that massacred a whole people in a strip of land and cut off their supplies… supposing all that… let there be no doubt that for much less than that, these people would take up arms as they have done to defend the Revolution and also resist the methods exposed by Lester D. Mallory:
The majority of Cubans support Castro (…) the only foreseeable way to undermine his internal support is through disenchantment and dissatisfaction arising from economic distress and material difficulties (…) all possible means must be rapidly employed to weaken the economic life of Cuba (…) a line of action which, being as skillful and discreet as possible, will achieve the greatest progress in depriving Cuba of money and supplies, to reduce its financial resources and real wages, to provoke hunger, despair, desperation, and the destruction of its economy (…). ) a line of action which, being as skillful and discreet as possible, will achieve the greatest progress in depriving Cuba of money and supplies, in order to reduce its financial resources and real wages, to provoke hunger, despair and the overthrow of the Government.
Clara Lida Machin says:
Do not say what they said in the ’60s, say what the people say now in 2024 without repressing them, it would be a reality, the people do not want them but they are afraid, because they are afraid? no need to ask, we all know what would happen to a people that is ruled by a cruel dictatorship, and the press is an accomplice of that dictatorship.
In summary: Although one must think very carefully before believing that the U.S. official was wrong, Cuban union leaders in particular are invited to reflect on what Mallory described as the only foreseeable way to undermine domestic support for the Cuban Revolution.
