Former Cuban Intelligence Chief Sees Cuban Revolution in Danger, Calls for Action

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From Venezuela and made by Venezuelan Chavistas
By W. T. Whitney Jr. – Sep 25, 2021
Fabian Escalante, a founder of Cubaâs state security services, served as head of Cubaâs Department of State Security in 1976 -1996 and vice-minister of the Interior Ministry. After 1993, he headed the Cuban Security Studies Center. In short, his views on threats posed by U.S. government agencies and on protecting Cubaâs Revolution carry weight
Writing September 23 on Cubaâs Pupila Insomne website, Escalante notes that, âthe internal counterrevolution is reorganizing its forces and is on the offensive.â They are âcalling for a ânational strikeâ for October 11 ⌠to secure the âliberation of political prisoners.ââ He insists that, afterwards, âa group of âactivists,â presumably counterrevolutionaries,â will be seeking authorization from Havana municipal authorities âfor a peaceful march against âviolenceâ in November.â
He regards the timing as crucial, inasmuch as in November Cuba will be re-opening its borders to international tourists; theyâve been excluded since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. At issue is revival of Cubaâs economy.
Escalante cites a Miami periodicalâs report asserting that âmarchers will be calling for rights for all Cubans, liberation of political prisoners, and democratic and peaceful solutions of differences.â The story portrays island-wide marches as challenging Cubaâs government to honor a constitutional right to âpublic protest.â
He also observes that, âlies and half-truths, swarming around via social media, are disparaging government leaders, especially Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel.” Accusations center on âfailing to improve living conditions in deprived, vulnerable urban districts.â
Escalante notes also that in Miami, âa sector of the Cuban community, manipulated by fundamentalist congresspersons Marco Rubio, MarĂa Elvira Salazar and their acolytes, are readying their weapons, coordinating and paying local peons.â These are âin close touch with counterparts on the island and will assist in creating an environment of social destabilization.â
Adding substance to a grim scenario is the reality of long-term and bipartisan U.S. funding of counter-revolutionary activity in Cuba. Journalist Tracey Eaton reports that presently âThe U.S. Agency for International Development is offering up to $2 million for new democracy-promotion programs in Cuba. USAIDâs goals are to Advance the effectiveness of independent civil society groups ⌠[and to] Develop broader coalitions to expand civil societyâs impact.â
In July, the House Appropriations Committee âapproved a bill that would authorize the State Department to spend $20 million on democracy promotion projects in Cuba during fiscal 2022 ⌠Nearly half the money â $9.98 million â would go toward civil society; $4.78 million would be spent on independent media and free flow of information and $5.24 million would be used to promote human rights.â
Regime-change fervor in official Washington is always intense. Miami congressperson Mario Diaz-Balart recently issued a statement praising âthe many activists who have suffered or perished for simply daring to speak against the regime.â He had just introduced a resolution seeking international support for counterrevolution in Cuba.
Fabian Escalante is alarmed. He declares that, âIn circumstances like those at present â pandemic, escalation of the blockade, scarcities etc. â we must not underestimate the enemy and if we want to transcend the impasse, we must accept the challenge, with MORE REVOLUTION, as Fidel taught us.â
Escalante calls for mass action, âlocal political and patriotic mobilizations.â And, âwe will do what we know to do, which is to mobilize the people.â We will âstrengthen the bases of our organizations with ânew ideas [and] with concepts exceeding tired prescriptions for âchange in style and working methods.ââ
He calls upon âcommunists occupying the superstructure to come down ⌠to organizations at the base and other area-based centers and, from there, [move on] to leadership elements of the remaining revolutionary forces.â They must âdialogue and hear about conflicts and local necessities and [then] undertake a counter-offensive.â
He believes that the âenemy of humanity, the U.S. government⌠is preparing to deliver the final blow to the Revolution.â He suggests that the Biden administration, presuming Cuba to be weakened, wants a âconsolation prizeâ in view of recent U.S. defeats. Now, therefore, âThe street belongs to the revolutionaries, as DĂaz Canel has alerted us.â
Featured image: Habana entrance Fidel Castro and Huber Matos. January 8, 1959.
W.T. Whitney Jr. grew up on a dairy farm in Vermont and now lives in rural Maine. He practiced and taught pediatrics for 35 years and long ago joined the Cuba solidarity movement, working with Let Cuba Live of Maine, Pastors for Peace, and the Venceremos Brigade. He writes on Latin America and health issues for the People's World.
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