Saul Landau How to evaluate events in Syria and what to do? Syria borders on Turkey (north), Iraq (east), the Mediterranean (west), Lebanon (south and west), Israel (Golan Heights) and Jordan (south). Unlike the “humanitarian” intervention in Libya -- now edging toward chaos  -- outside fiddling with Syrian destiny will have great costs Syria’s strategic location and alliance with Iran means its internal vi ...

“Daddy,” the little boy on the bus asks, “what park is that?” “I don’t know.” Two blocks later. “Who’s the man in that statue?” “Beats me.” “What’s that big building with the point on top?” “I haven’t a clue” “Dad. Does it bother you if I keep asking questions?” “If you don’t ask questions how will you learn?”   We once learned that a free press would protect the public from shady government and busine ...

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 medical brigades to 30 countries. From 1963 to 2010, 135,000 Cuban health professionals worked in 108 ...

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 troublesome island: ignorance and arrogance. Few Americans even in the Foreign Servic ...

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 “Oy-ster.” Did a  perverse talent agent find actors in an insane asylum by asking the inmates: “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   Saul Landau and Nelson P Valdés   After 53 years, we ask. Did the Cuban revolution accomp ...

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 the first media magnet for Mexican Americans. Cesar Chavez became an al ...

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 fist. We did the same. He stayed in Hell (13 years ...

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 a priest in the Miami diocese [Father Bryan Walsh] ... worked out with the US State Depar ...

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 in Teheran and briefly grabbed some embassy staff ...